[ Myth ] Meet Yomotsu-shikome – The Ultimate Nightmare Fuel from Japanese Mythology

Опубликовано: 28 Май 2025
на канале: Mythical Journey

Mythology, Folklore, Horro, Urban legend

#yomotsushikome #japanesemythology #japanmyth

Yomotsu-shikome: The Hag of the Underworld

Appearance
Yomotsu-shikome, a fearsome creature from Japanese mythology, is depicted as a terrifying and grotesque figure. Her name literally means "ugly woman of the underworld," and her appearance reflects extreme ugliness and horror.

Yomotsu-shikome symbolizes death and decay. Her skin is rotting and decomposed, and a repulsive odor of corpses emanates from her body. Her hair is disheveled and wild, and her eyes appear like deep, dark hollows. Her teeth are sharp but broken, and her breath carries the chill of death. Her hands and feet have transformed into claws, and her entire presence radiates a terrifying aura.

Role
Yomotsu-shikome mainly operates in the underworld, watching over the dead and hunting down those who attempt to escape.

Guardian of the Underworld: Yomotsu-shikome is tasked with ensuring that no one escapes the underworld (Yomi). As a horrific monster of the underworld, her role is to maintain order and prevent anyone from leaving. She serves as a guardian, mercilessly chasing down anyone who tries to flee the realm of the dead.

Servant of Izanami: Yomotsu-shikome was born from the corpse of Izanami, and she acts on Izanami's orders to pursue Izanagi when he tries to escape Yomi. As Izanagi fled the underworld, Yomotsu-shikome chased him, trying to drag him back into the realm of death.

Symbol of Death: Yomotsu-shikome is more than just a monster—she is a symbol of death and decay. Her horrifying appearance and foul smell represent the inevitability of death and the decomposition that follows. In Japanese mythology, she plays an important role as a manifestation of the ugliness and inescapability of death.

Mythology
Yomotsu-shikome is deeply connected to the myth of Izanagi and Izanami.

Transformation of Izanami and the Birth of Yomotsu-shikome: After Izanami's death, Izanagi descended into Yomi to retrieve her. However, by the time he found her, Izanami had already transformed into a decayed corpse. Shocked and horrified by her appearance, Izanagi fled, and in her rage, Izanami sent Yomotsu-shikome, who was born from her own decaying body, to pursue him. Yomotsu-shikome symbolizes Izanami’s anger and the grotesque nature of the underworld.

Izanagi's Escape and the Pursuit: As Izanagi tried to escape Yomi, Yomotsu-shikome relentlessly chased after him. Izanagi ran for his life and managed to block the entrance of the underworld with a large boulder, stopping Yomotsu-shikome’s pursuit. This event symbolizes the confrontation between the living and the dead, with Yomotsu-shikome playing a key role in trying to prevent Izanagi's escape.

Boundary Between Life and Death: Yomotsu-shikome represents the boundary between life and death, serving an essential role in separating the two worlds. Her existence embodies the inevitability of death, and she ensures that all attempts to escape the underworld are in vain. Izanagi’s escape illustrates the danger inherent in crossing the boundaries between life and death, with Yomotsu-shikome enforcing these boundaries.