https://matthewmeyer.net/blog/2009/10/09/a-yokai-a-day-rokurokubi/ illustrations, folklore, and blog Thu, 03 Oct 2024 11:17:53 +0000 hourly 1 https://matthewmeyer.net/blog/2009/10/09/a-yokai-a-day-rokurokubi/comment-page-1/#comment-9815 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 02:35:37 +0000 http://matthewmeyer.net/?p=4917#comment-9815 […] While having your pillow stolen may seem like a silly way to die, it is connected to ancient folk superstitions and black magic. Long ago, dreaming was believed to be an act very close to death. The human soul fled the body and could travel on Earth or in different dimensions while one slept. Oftentimes special incense would be burned solely for the purpose of traveling to other worlds while sleeping. However, this act is dangerous, as if the body is moved while asleep, the soul will not be able to find its way back to it, and the person will die. Even the mere act of flipping a pillow changes the situation enough that a dreaming soul might not be able to return to the body. (This phenomenon comes up in other yokai tales too, and is even one of the only known ways to kill a rokurokubi.) […]

]]>