The Ripple Effect of The Hyakumonogatari on Japanese Art

Abstract

During the Edo period, an eccentric ceremony centered on oral storytelling thrived. First introduced by a Samurai, as a test for courage, the Hyakumonogatari (A gathering of one hundred supernatural tales) would take place once the sun would set. This practice involved a somewhat intimate assemblage where one hundred candles would be the sole source of light. Each of the participants would then tell a short Kwaidan (Which translates to a ghost story) and blow out one of the candles. In the end, the room would be plunged into darkness, out of which a real Yōkai would emerge (A Yōkai is an embodiment of supernatural spirits in Japanese folklore). The Kwaidan could be seen as a reflection of the unexplainable affairs of daily life as well as a safe space to critique the social and political nature of the Edo period. There was a growing need to publish these tales within Edo society. And with this growing demand, its popularity influenced the aesthetics of that time. What originated as a parlor game, opened the door to a growing platform of Yōkai media for the following generations that surpassed the ancient Edo period. In this dissertation, the aim is to investigate the Japanese attraction toward the supernatural which has influenced artists, writers, and audiences. To dissect how the supernatural was utilized as a vehicle of artistic expression in Japanese society. The dissertation would also aim to explore the influences of Japanese aesthetics by reinterpreting existing literature and woodblock prints.