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Makuragaeshi
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妖怪として知られるMakuragaeshi
This yokai is said to appear at night beside one's pillow,flipping it over-or in some cases,reversing the orientation of the head and feet.
Its appearance is not clearly documented,but in Toriyama Sekien's 「Gazu Hyakki Yagyou」,it is depicted as a small guardian statue-like figure.
The act of “flipping the pillow” is sometimes seen as a harmless prank,but there are also legends that suggest it can steal a person's life.
In ancient Japanese folklore,it was believed that while a person dreams,their soul temporarily leaves the body.
When waking,the soul returns to the body,using the pillow as a marker.
Thus,if the pillow is moved,the soul may be unable to return,causing the person to die.
Additionally,there is a belief that the dream world is an “Otherworld,” and in this context,the pillow is regarded as a “door” that connects the Otherworld and the real world.
Therefore,if the position of the pillow changes in the real world,it may signify a shift-or severing-of the connection between the two realms.
Naturally,this would prevent the dreamer from ever returning to the real world.
From a modern perspective,where pillows are not seen as mystical objects,「Makuragaeshi」 may simply appear to be a mischievous spirit. However,depending on the tradition,it can be interpreted as a far more malevolent being.
Makuragaeshi in Hyakki Dassyutsukou
The Makuragaeshi that appeared in this installment of 「Hyakki Dassyutsukou」 is based on the more sinister legends-specifically,the version that traps people in the world of dreams.
While dreams can sometimes be nightmares,they are often pleasant and healing,refreshing both body and mind.
Compared to the struggles of reality,it wouldn't be surprising if some people wished to remain in the dream world forever,even without the influence of a Makuragaeshi.
However,remaining in a dream forever means the body withers,vitality fades,and death draws near.
Some might say dying amidst happiness is a worthy end-but as mentioned earlier,dreams aren't always stable and can easily turn into nightmares,making that a dangerous assumption.
Perhaps the protagonist,in this chapter of 「Hyakki Dassyutsukou」,felt that “this world is like heaven,but something feels off-I don't belong here” because they instinctively sensed the danger of being trapped in a dream world.
