KODAMA (Spirit of the tree)

Kodama is the spirit of the tree. Kodama is also considered to be something that can be understood as forest gods, and a tree deity. Not all trees have Kodama, Kodama only appear in old trees. The people of Japan say that those who accidentally cut down the trees containing the Kodama, disaster will fall on their village. The sacred rope tied around the trunks of those trees is called shimenawa.

According to the concept of the ancient Japanese, the sound of an old tree falling in the forest is the lamenting cry of Kodama residing in that tree. For the Japanese, all things in the world carry miracles and specialities, and so are the trees in the forest. Therefore, the concept of Kodama was born and became a special belief for the Japanese people.

Kodama in the past were considered deities residing in tree trunks. They are not linked to only one tree, but can freely move from tree to tree, going around the forest to guard, protect and preserve the balance of nature. However, others believe that Kodama actually resides in a tree of its own and that the tree is shaped like any other tree in the forest. Legend has it that disaster will fall upon carpenters who accidentally cut down a tree trunk where Kodama resides. They could only discern the Kodama's hiding in the trunk through the blood-red sap that flowed from the cut.

Besides, Kodama also exists in the form of sound, which is the echoes of the forest, mountains, and valleys. The sound of fallen trees is considered the mournful wail of the Kodama. However, today the sound of the mountains and forests is associated with youkai (Yokai), specifically the demon Yamabiko, not the sound of the "forest gods" Kodama as in the old Japanese concept.

Regardless of their form, Kodama are said to have supernatural powers, they can bless or curse ordinary people. Kodama, when worshiped and revered, will protect houses and villages. On the contrary, those who have the courage to mistreat or despise the Spirit Woods will receive deadly curses.

No one really knows what Kodama looks like. Of all the oldest records, the Japanese still consider them to be creatures with no definite shape. At the same time, it is difficult to distinguish Kodama from ordinary trees in the forest.

After this, people began to have many ways to describe Kodama: sometimes they were in the form of faint blobs of light floating in the air like fireflies, other times as a creature that looked like an elf inspired by it. from European culture. However, the recent Kodama image is associated with an image of a humanoid spirit with a cute little swaying head. This image is derived from Ghibli's animated film, Princess Momonoke, directed by Miyazaki Hayao. This image of Kodama makes them closer and more familiar to many people, so that now when it comes to Kodama, people will think of these revolving heads of souls.

Today, Kodama is still worshiped as a folk religion in various parts of Japan. In the area of Aogashima island in the Izu archipelago, people still build small shrines under the cedar tree (sugi) to worship the Kodama. Meanwhile, in Mitsune village, Hachijo-jima island, people will hold an annual festival to give thanks to "Kidama-san" or "Kodama-san", to ask for forgiveness when they cut down trees for mining. wood.

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