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curiousordinary.bsky.social
curious ordinary
@curiousordinary.bsky.social
10K followers 1.6K following 4.7K posts
▪️Folklore▪️Myth▪️Magic▪️Art▪️
Sharing Japanese and supernatural folklore, mythology, yokai, culture and art. Also love books, cats, crows and trees.
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
A perfect tale from #JapaneseFolklore for today's #WyrdWednesday theme about selfless acts.
curiousordinary.bsky.social curious ordinary @curiousordinary.bsky.social · Apr 28
Long ago in Japan a strange thing happened. It was rice planting season and one of the farmers in the village was without a helper. To his surprise and delight, a stranger arrived and offered to help him. He worked very fast and by the end of the day all the...
#MythologyMonday #JapaneseFolklore
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Landscape with two people working in rice fields in the foreground.
November 26, 2025 at 8:14 AM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
Another beautiful reason to visit Japan. My list of what to see next time I visit is getting very long.
camelliakyoto.bsky.social Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 5h
🍃🍁THE TEMPLE WITHOUT WALLS🍂🌨️

the autumn wind
twisting & turning
enters my gate
秋風や曲がり曲がりて門に入
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1814

Of all the temples in Kyōto, Jōjakkō-ji's (常寂光寺) seasonal transformations are some of the most beautiful.

...& this is where Kurobee lives🐈‍⬛
Pagoda at Jojakko-ji, framed by autumn colours. The thatched gate of Jojakko-ji during the early summer greens. Kurobee the black temple cat at Jojakko-ji reception. Stunning red and yellow autumn leaves.
November 26, 2025 at 8:11 AM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
Yatagarasu is a three-legged crow and messenger of the kami (gods). Originally in Japan there was no mention of Yatagarasu having three legs, but over time this myth was blended with the Chinese myth of the three-legged sun crow.
#LegendaryWednesday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore
curiousordinary.bsky.social curious ordinary @curiousordinary.bsky.social · Nov 10
In East Asian mythologies there is a three-legged crow believed to inhabit and represent the sun. In Japanese mythology the three-legged crow is Yatagarasu (which translates as eight-span crow), a divine messenger and servant of the sun goddess Amaterasu.
#FolkloreSunday #JapaneseFolklore
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A black crow with three legs holding its wings out and with beak open. A crow with three legs sits on a branch in front of an orange sun in the sky.
November 26, 2025 at 8:09 AM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
One of the most well-known #yokai in Japan are tengu. They resemble humans with bird-like features.
#LegendaryWednesday #JapaneseFolklore
bsky.app/profile/curi...
curiousordinary.bsky.social curious ordinary @curiousordinary.bsky.social · Jan 8
If you are visiting the mountains of Japan, beware, for there are #yokai lurking. The ferocious karasu (crow) tengu waits in treetops ready to swoop and snatch away unsuspecting victims. Hanataka (long-nosed) tengu are less dangerous but they can conjure up fierce winds...
#LegendaryWednesday
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A statue of a karasu tengu in front of a temple building. It has wings and a beaked face. A sticker created by amazing yokai artist Sam Kalensky. It is a winged creature with beaked face. Its hand is on a sword.
November 26, 2025 at 4:24 AM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Eagle' - Ohara Koson, ca. 1936.
#JapaneseArt #shinhanga
An eagle sits on a branch with autumn leaves in the rain.
November 25, 2025 at 10:49 PM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
In #JapaneseFolklore there is a tale about a powerful kijo (demon woman) called Momiji. The name Momiji is connected to maple leaves and the story takes place during autumn, when the leaves begin to fall. The tale begins with the samurai Koremochi who was given the task of...
#LegendaryWednesday
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A group of people gather under maple trees.
September 10, 2025 at 4:21 AM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
In Chinese mythology, Sun Wukong, also known as Monkey King, is a legendary figure and one of the main characters in the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West. Born from a magical stone, he possessed immense strength and supernatural abilities, including shapeshifting.
#WyrdWednesday
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A monkey dressed in robes and boots holding a staff.
October 8, 2025 at 9:19 AM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
The Kamakura Daibutsu (The Great Buddha of Kamakura) is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha over 11 meters tall that was cast in 1252. Originally it was inside a large hall which was destroyed and it now stands uncovered in the grounds of Kotokuin Temple in Kamakura, Japan.
#WyrdWednesday #Buddhism
A large statue of Amida Buddha sits with legs crossed. Pale blue sky behind.
August 6, 2025 at 1:03 PM
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xingwu.bsky.social
In Chinese #mythology, the Kunlun Mountain is a mythic realm where flames burn without fuel, and water won’t float a feather. It’s a threshold to the divine, home to immortals and ruled by the Queen Mother of the West. 1/2
🎨 The Peach Festival of the Queen Mother of the West, Ming or Qing Dynasty, 17th-18th century
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
Another fabulous thread from the wonderful @camelliakyoto.bsky.social. If you are not already following I highly recommend that you do.
camelliakyoto.bsky.social Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 1d
🍂NENBUTSU FALL🍁

Even the stoniest of hearts cannot help but enjoy autumn in Arashiyama.

#otaginenbutsuji #愛宕念仏寺 #arashiyama #嵐山 #Kyoto #京都 #羅漢 #rakan #nenbutsuji #mtatago #愛宕山 #autumn #紅葉
The stone rakan of Otagi Nenbutsu-ji in the fall. Otagi Nenbutsu-ji's Kannon-do in autumn. The stone rakan of Otagi Nenbutsu-ji in the fall. Otagi Nenbutsu-ji's Kannon-do in autumn.
November 25, 2025 at 9:52 AM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.
#ToriiTuesday #Shinto #kitsune #Japan
Moss covered stone steps leading to Astone torii with stone foxes wearing red bibs either side.
October 7, 2025 at 7:37 AM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Torii at Itsukushima' from the series 'Views of the Famous Sights of Japan' - Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1896.
#ToriiTuesday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt
Print depicting the torii at Itsukushima (also known as Miyajima) that appears to be floating on water, with boats nearby and the shrine complex behind.
October 28, 2025 at 12:57 AM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
Okuninushi Shrine, in the grounds of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto.
#ToriiTuesday #Shinto #Japan
A stone torii leading to a small shrine. Red lantern to the left. In the right a stone statue of the kami Okuninushi holding a sack over his shoulder and looking down at a rabbit.
September 16, 2025 at 2:27 AM
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camelliakyoto.bsky.social
The 'gari' (狩り) in 'momijigari' (紅葉狩り) originally referred to the capturing of wild animals and birds, but over time also came to mean 'harvesting', 'gathering' or 'picking' plants.
Another example of this is 'kudamono-gari' (果物狩り), which means to gather fruit.
#紅葉
Woodblock print of people enjoying the momiji. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/ Woodblock print of maple leaves in Mama (Tekona Shrine). Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/ Woodblock print of people enjoying the momiji. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/ Woodblock print of people enjoying the momiji. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 AM
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xingwu.bsky.social
The Vermilion Bird (朱雀) blazes eternal, not consumed, but reborn in flame. Guardian of the south, summer, and fire, it’s one of the Four Symbols that anchor ancient Chinese cosmology.
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#mythology
🎨 Zhuque, by Shan Ze
🎨 Zhuque, by Shan Ze
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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xingwu.bsky.social
In Chinese #mythology, the north isn’t just cold. It’s sacred.

Xuanwu, the Black Tortoise entwined with a serpent, guards this direction as a symbol of deep transformation. Earth and snake, stability and change, his dual nature reflects the tension we all navigate in life.
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🎨 Xuanwu, by Huahua
November 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Look Back 3 Red' - Ono Tadashige, 2003.
#Caturday #JapaneseArt
A long haired black cat with golden eyes looks back over its shoulder. The background is bright red.
November 22, 2025 at 6:45 AM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
An amazing thread here if you want to take a virtual autumn walk along the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto. 🍁🍂
November 22, 2025 at 6:08 AM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine and Linked Bridge' from the series 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857. From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe
A landscape scene through maple leaves over a river towards hills on the horizon.
November 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Two Women in a Gusty Autumn Landscape' from the series 'The Six Immortal Poets' - Katsukawa Shunsho, ca. 1771. From the Art Institute of Chicago collection.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe
Two women walk along a path with a maple tree behind. Their clothes are blowing in a strong wind.
November 7, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by curious ordinary
curiousordinary.bsky.social
In Japan there is a famous tale about Oiwa whose husband disfigured her so he could remarry. This ukiyo-e print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1852) shows the vengeful ghost of Oiwa squeezing blood from her hair, watched by her terrified husband who she endlessly haunted.
#FolkyFriday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt
A man looks on in horror as a ghostly woman squeezes blood from her hair.
November 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
#FolkyFriday
curiousordinary.bsky.social curious ordinary @curiousordinary.bsky.social · Aug 4
Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai was a Japanese storytelling game popular during the Edo period. These gatherings were held on summer nights and to begin 100 candles or lamps were lit. Participants then took turns to tell 100 ghost stories (kaidan). After each story, a candle was...
#MythologyMonday
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People in a house being visited by a collection of spirits and yokai.
November 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Bird and Autumn Flowers' - Utagawa Hiroshige II, ca. late 1860s.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe
A golden bird and red and purple flowers on a green background.
November 7, 2025 at 12:24 AM
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curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Blue Bird in Autumn' - Ito Sozan, ca. 1910's.
#JapaneseArt #shinhanga
A blue bird sits on a branch in a red maple tree.
October 31, 2025 at 8:52 AM
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camelliakyoto.bsky.social
🌬️HUT OF THE FALLEN PERSIMMONS😮

A straw raincoat hangs beside the door at Rakushisha (落柿舎), indicating that the host is home.

The small cottage was home to Mukai Kyorai (向井去来), chief disciple of Matsuo Bashō. It was here Bashō composed 'Saga Nikki' (嵯峨日記) in 1691.
#Rakushisha #落柿舎 #Arashiyama
Persimmons hang heavy on the branches at Rakushisha (the 'Cottage of Fallen Persimmons'). A straw raincoat and hat hung by the door at Rakushisha indicates that the host is home. Rakushisha, the 'Cottage of Fallen Persimmons'. Rakushisha, the 'Cottage of Fallen Persimmons'.
November 18, 2025 at 1:31 AM