Greetings yokai lovers!

I took it easy and rested my arm today, while my wife did another illustration. She was very happy to read all of your comments! The good news is that the swelling in my elbow has gone down a lot, and I am regaining a lot of lateral motion in my arm. I think I will be able to draw again soon, although I won’t be out of the sling until the end of the month. I’ll revisit this post again later and update it with my own illustration too.

Today’s story fascinates me because it took place in the very town I am in right now. My studio is located in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture. Echizen City takes its name from Echizen Province, and Fūchū means “capital.” This city was the old capital of the province before the Edo Period, when it was moved to Fukui City. This is the second story in Shokoku hyakumonogatari to come from Echizen Fūchū (the other one being from last year’s A-Yokai-A-Day, featuring the rokurokubi of Echizen).

The temple in the story no longer exists today, and its location is unknown. 

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The Corpse That Came Back to Life in Echizen Province

In Echizen Fūchū there was a Tendai temple. One time, a corpse was brought to this temple to be washed and shaved. The high priest had tumors on his hands, so he had his disciple shave the corpse instead. The corpse’s hair suddenly became stiff like deer’s fur and the razor could not cut it easily. After that the hair gradually began to grow longer, and the disciple threw away the razor and tried to run away.

Then the high priest addressed the corpse: “You have always had such strong attachments that I see even in death you’ve gone astray.” Then he read a sutra, and as he did the corpse’s hair became softer and shorter. All who heard this were moved by the high priest’s saintly character.