[Books] The Hyakkiyagyō series (百鬼夜行シリーズ) by Kyōgoku Natsuhiko (京極夏彦)
If you can read Japanese (preferably some archaic Japanese and a lot of difficult kanji at that), and if you are ever in the mood for something like Umberto Eco’s erudite thrillers with shocking endings like The Name of the Rose and Foucault’s Pendulum, broad literary canvas of interlocking individual lives captured in a certain historic period like Honoré de Balzac’s magnum opus The Human Comedy, and pure masterpieces of interwoven arcane lores and mystery like Robertson Davies’ The Deptford Trilogy, combined with touches of the eerily beautiful that is typical of Japanese kaidan tales, I would recommend to you without reserve a series of supernatural detective novels written by Kyōgoku Natsuhiko (京極夏彦) known as the Hyakkiyagyō series (百鬼夜行シリーズ), which is also popularly referred to as the Kyōgokudō series (京極堂シリーズ).
A screenshot from the DVD of "Ubume no Natsu" (姑獲鳥の夏), a movie adaptation of the first novel of the series.
The Background
This novel series is set in Japan in the 1950′s when society was just returning to some resemblance of order after WWII. I personally think there couldn’t be a better time to set a series like this in. The war put a pause of seven or eight years in people’s lives – men were conscripted to fight abroad and those who remained behind were dislocated etc. But past action, no matter how long ago and how much the face of society has changed, always has an effect in the present. The past just never goes away.
The timescale of some of novels in the series spans across centuries and millennium. Actions from distant history, actions before and during the war, and actions in the near present combine to form these stories. The 1950′s was a time for unearthing past shattering secrets and settling scores.
It was also an interesting time from the reader’s point of view. The 1950′s was a time of transition when old beliefs gave way to the unknown. The country was directionless and exhausted from the high tension and mass hysteria during the war. A number of new spiritual cults were springing up from nowhere. The characters in the books can only ask open questions as to what the new social order and various trends in technology may bring in the future. Now that some sixty years had passed since the 1950′s, the reader is free to draw his or her own answers to those open questions in the series.
The Novels
There is a total of 13 books under this series published to date. Each story is self-contained and can be read separately, but reading them in combination would of course add more to the reader’s depth of understanding. The plots are too complicated for me to summarize in a few words, so I will just list out the titles:
A poster image of the film adaptation of "Ubume no Natsu"
1 ) Ubume no Natsu (姑獲鳥の夏)
2 ) Mouryou no Hako (魍魎の匣)
3 ) Kyōkotsu no Yume (狂骨の夢)
4 ) Tesso no Ori (鉄鼠の檻)
5 ) Jorōgumo no Kotowari (絡新婦の理)
6 ) Nuribotoke no Utage – Utage no Shitaku (塗仏の宴 宴の支度)
7 ) Nuribotoke no Utage – Utage no Shimatsu (塗仏の宴 宴の始末)
8 ) Onmoraki no Kizu (陰摩羅鬼の瑕)
9 ) Hyakkiyagyō – In (百鬼夜行――陰)
10 ) Hyakki Tsuredure Bukuro – Ame (百器徒然袋――雨)
11 ) Hyakki Tsuredure Bukuro – Kaze (百器徒然袋――風)
12) Konjaku Zoku Hyakki – Kumo (今昔続百鬼――雲)
13) Jami no Shizuku (邪魅の雫)
Each story typically begins with a mystery, sometimes involving a youkai (妖怪), sometimes not. Each story has a massive set of facts and there are many ways to look at them – think the old analogy that a coin placed on a desk is a circle, but if you look at it sideways it is a rectangle. While it is oversimplifying to explain what youkai is in a few words, in the context of these stories you may think of it as a psychological original sin (whether it is a conscious or unconscious one) giving rise to a certain neurotic condition. I think the below quote from The Symbolic Life by C.G. Jung is a good explanation:
Formerly they spoke of “evil spirits”, now we call them “neuroses” or “unconscious complexes”. Here as everywhere the name makes no difference. The fact remains that a small unconscious cause is enough to wreck a man’s fate, to shatter a family, and to continue working down the generations like the curse of the Atrides.
You can find out more about the curse of Atrides here.
Another photo from the film adaptation of "Ubume no Natsu". The actor Tsutsumi Shinichi (堤真一) is cast as Chūzenji Akihiko.
The Bodily Life and the Mind
There are many themes in this series and I think two major ones are i) 命 [inochi] or “the bodily life” and ii) 精神 [seishin] or “mind”. These were in fact among the objects of wartime experiments done by some of the characters.
In one story, one character who grew up under a set of unusual conditions believed that life is having physical presence in this world and death is disappearance from this physical world. Therefore, to him a human corpse still has “life” because it has physical presence in this world, and only when the corpse disappears is it considered “death”. If you think about it, you cannot entirely say that he does not have a point, even if his definition of life and death is at odd with what the majority of us have been taught to believe in, which brings me to the next point: -
“Being happy is simple. You just have to give up being human.”
This is conclusion drawn by the main character Chūzenji Akihiko (中禅寺秋彦) – whom you may think of as an onmyouji-detective – at the end of Mouryou no Hako.
The Japanese word for “human” is ningen [人間] and it means “one who lives among other humans”. Actually, the definition of “human” probably changed over course of history on account of race and ethnicity etc, but in short to be human means you have to subscribe to a set of shared beliefs and definitions held by all other human beings living on this side of the world. Often these are definitions and beliefs that will not make you happy and here are just a handful of examples: Human beings age and die. Time always moves forward. The past cannot be undone. People change. There is no such thing as happiness as long as you are a human being.
However, this is not to say you cannot choose to believe in some other definition of “life” and “death” or believe in a different “past”, especially if your happiness is at stake – but this also means that you would have to cross to the other side to uphold such beliefs. Once you cross over to the other side, you are no longer considered “human.” Of course, the other side is more always alluring and attractive: Human beings do not age and do not die. Time stays still. The past can be undone. People can stay the same. You can be happy.
In the old days, they would say that you were possessed by the devil. Now they would say that you need psychiatric help.
I know the last bit sounds rough, but after watching the reserved attitude towards happiness of so many characters in Ozu Yasujirō’s movies, who is to say that it is not a form collective madness in our present age to strive for the sort of “happiness” as defined in popular culture? To be always young and attractive. To have fun and never be bored. To live with exquisite pleasure from moment to moment. To never have to say “I am sorry” and regret the past… Who is to say that these are not symptoms of madness?
Tsukimono Otoshi [憑物落とし]
Tsukimono otoshi is a technique that Chūzenji Akihiko uses to resolve a case at the end of every book. Tsukimono [憑物] may be thought of as a “spiritual thing that attaches itself to an individual,” and you can think of otoshi [落とし] as “to let fall”. It is similar to psychiatric healing but there are some important differences I wish to highlight.
In Memories, Dreams, Reflections, C.G. Jung said:
“In many cases in psychiatry, the patient who comes to us has a story that is not told, and which as rule no one knows of. To my mind, therapy only really begins after the investigation of that wholly personal story. It the patient’s secret, to rock against which he is shattered.”
I have only seen psychiatric treatment on TV and in movies – usually the patients tell their untold story and are healed in some way by getting the load off their mind. There are skeptics out there as to how effective this actually is and whether it may not be just an exercise in self-indulgence; and they are not without good reasons.
But tsukimono otoshi (or as it is practised by Chūzenji) is just the opposite. Usually Chūzenji arrives at the scene knowing the full story already and tell the “patients” what their stories are very long-windedly. He usually has information which would have otherwise eluded the patients all their lives. Sometimes the information is from his personal past, sometimes from his vast and erudite reading, and sometimes from his putting two and two together to get five. The patients themselves do not say much by comparison, except when Chūzenji prompts them. Sometimes the story has its beginning from thousands of years ago, involving persons long died whose actions combine to cause the patients’ tragedy in some indirect but crucial way. The ending typically (though not always) involves the “patients” having to decide for themselves whether they want to live on this side or the other side.
This is just my personal feeling – whatever rock against which a character was shattered against, it certainly looks small and trivial in the vast stream of human history and the universe in general. I wonder if that is healing – ie. the recognition that you don’t just live one lousy life, and that you receive life – or at least elements of your life (good or bad as they may be) – from countless others you had never known, and in turn countless others you never know will also receive their lives or elements of their lives (good or bad as they may be) from you.
That is all I can say for now without going into spoilers. (Though I would be always happy to discuss further behind a spoiler curtain.)
Thank you very much, Kyōgoku-sensei, for writing this magnificent series of novels.
I have one more episode before I finish the Mouryou no Hako anime series and wow. And it was only by your posts that I found out it was based on a novel. You have no idea how much I want to read his books, they sound like they are right up my alley but it’ll be some time before my japanese gets good enough to fully savour them.
However, I did some research and it seems as if publishers have picked up the series! I’ve searched on Amazon and they have two of his books that have recently been published. The first book in this particular series and a newer book. So anyone out there wanting read his stuff – get to a bookshop. Although I doubt the experience will be the same reading the english translation but it’ll suffice.
All the same, thank you for talking about the series, otherwise I wouldn’t have found out about this particular writer – I really love your posts, they are everything I am fascinated by and more.
The first book of the series was recently released in English by Vertical Inc, as Summer of the Ubume… hopefully more will be following!
Anna:
So how did you find Mouryou no Hako? (I am guessing you should probably have finished watching by now.)
I was recently informed that there are English translations coming out too.
Anonymous:
Yes, hopefully more will be coming. These books really deserve to be better known.
I’ve been waiting on the subs and so I’ve got one more episode and all will be revealed! Although I’ve visited quite spolierific sites so I know what happens but still it’ll be fun to watch it all unfurl =DD.
But it is really well done, right up there with Mononoke. I loved Mononoke, and Mouryou no Hako has been pretty awesome stuff right down to the animation. I love shows with a lot of myth and history and lots of talking. I still feel kind of lost on some parts. It’s hard to absorb in a first sitting and I will probably watch it again once the subs come out. Everything the creators are doing, what the characters discuss are relevant – it’s just taking it all in =D.
I just hope that the translations still manage to capture the feel of the books.
Anna:
Totally agreed.
i’m really looking forward to reading the books when they come out, i still haven’t watched the anime yet, waiting for the last episode to be subbed so i can watch it altogether, i’m trying my best to be patient! even though i haven’t watched i can still feel that this anime is going to be one of the best, it really is my type of series, i’m hoping that there will be more shows like this to come out! from your entry i can see the amazing detail that the books will have, i love the themes, it definitely makes the stories more interesting!
and a story that would be great to discuss!
susperia:
Personally, I wish they had started with “Ubume no Natsu” if they were going to animate anything. “Mouryou no Hako” is most sensational thriller of the series – very gruesome and violent. Theme-wise, there are other books in the series that I personally thought were more profound and thought-provoking than “Mouryou no Hako”, and “Ubume no Natsu” is one of them.
BTW, I don’t know anything about the subs of “Mouryou no Hako” but there are actually 14 anime episodes in total, one of which is an unaired episode that is found only in the DVD.
there’s 14? i had seen that there was only 13, now i’m curious about that episode. the subs are quite slow but that might be because of the amount of time it takes to tranlate one episode.
was there ever film adaptation of Mouryou no Hako? i never knew they made Ubemo no Natsu, i should really give it a watch, it definitely does sounds interesting.
susperia:
There is a film adaption of “Mouryou no Hako” but I would suggest you to forget about it. It is too confusing to watch and feels as though it were filmed in haste.
The film of “Ubume no Natsu” is so-so – it is scary where it is supposed to be scary, but still a weak film adaptation compared to the book. I would only suggest you to watch it after finishing the book.
Just one more word in case I did not make it clear in the post itself – the novels are *not* light novels.
mmm i guess sometimes it’s hard to get some ideas from a book to the screen, i’ll probably be curious to see what they are like though!
ooo of course, i never really thought these books would be light, even so i’ll still like to try and read it and see if i can pick out anything from it! ;D
susperia:
If you really have to pick between the two film adaptations, I would suggest “Ubume no Natsu”. It is more coherent than “Mouryou no Hako” (which I couldn’t stand after 15 mins or so).
I recieved the The Summer of The Ubume book a few days ago and I’ve just finished it. Wow. Seriously, wow. I just had to tell someone how amazing a read it was – it was unbelievably good, and I hadn’t been so emmersed in a novel in a while. The english translation didn’t take anything away from the story. I can’t compare it with its japanese counterpart, but the english traslation flowed extremely well. I really think they did a great job with the material. Although, my one gripe with it – “the s*** hit the fan”…a bit out of context maybe? =P.
I have a test tomorrow, but the book was so compelling I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the other releases now.
God, I’m really gushing.
Anna:
Yes, “The Summer of Ubume” was just that amazing and mind-blowing. I was totally in a state of shell-shock after reading it.
(While you wait for the other Kyougokudou books to be translated, I would suggest you to check out the books by Umberto Eco and Robertson Davies I mentioned in the post as well. You may also add to your reading list A.S. Byatt’s “Possession”. They are all great reads.)
Sorry to ask but I am not sure I understand what you meant by “the s*** hit the fan”. If you don’t mind, may I ask you to please clarify? ^-^
I had my own ideas about what happened but wow, I was totally speechless afterwards and the thing is I can’t tell or explain how I felt about this series because no one I know personally has the same tastes as I do – so I had to come here.
(Oooo, thank you for the recommendations I’ll check them out!)
Oh sorry! I meant that in the english translation Kiba said “the shi* hit the fan”, I think meaning that everything was about the erupt, and it felt kind out of context certainly considering the period. It did make chuckle a bit though. Kyougokudou especially makes me laugh, some of things he says =DDD
Anna:
This blog is “where beauty moves and wit delights” and kindred spirits meet. You can always come to this small corner of the internet to discuss what appeals to you. ^-^
I know what you are feeling after reading “The Summer of Ubume”. I felt like an empty shell for two weeks afterwards. It may not be the most cunningly constructed story out of the series per se – it is after all the debut work and there may be something wanting in terms of technique and skill – but it is definitely the most emotionally powerful book of the series.
These books are just destructive to my productivity. >_<
This is the most in-depth description of anything by Kyogoku that can be found in English, I think. Thank you very much. Moryo no hako anime has already been recommended to me, and I will definitely take a look these days. Then, I will follow with the first book (in English), because the written Japanese is way too difficult for my reading ability.
By the way, Kyogoku has an utmost respect for Mizuki Shigeru-sensei, and that is how I first became aware of him.
Ridiculus:
You are very welcome. ^-^
Yes, I am aware of his relation with Mizuki Shigeru as well. I have also read a book of interviews he conducted with a number of famous persons in Japan who are connected to youkai in some way, and that was where I learned about his reverence for Mizuki Shigeru.
I like Japanese folklore and would like to know more about youkai (and many other things). Mizuki was my first reference and Kyogoku seems to be the most prominent proponent of the subject in the field of literature. (Another great youkai expert and great mangaka who I would like to see more of in English is Daijiro Morohoshi, but I’m afraid that will never happen, and that’s another story). So, for me at least, you are one of the precious few people who live in that part of the world, read novels and manga and write in English, so I’ll keep following this blog.
どうもありがとうございます！
Ridiculus:
I see, Daijiro Morohoshi. What an odd place to start. I have never read any of his works but will keep it in mind.
I don’t think I will have any more energy to check out any youkai writer other than Kyougoku Natsuhiko before year end. I have just ordered some of his essay collections and artbooks with commentary. And of course, I am determined to blog about his stories, book by book. That is a fair chunk already.
[...] Iwai ni Hana posts on the novel origins of mouryou no hako, themes, setting and information on all other novellas associated with the “kyougokudou” series. Will giving up ‘human’ beliefs really bring you happiness? [...]
I just started reading Summer of Ubume in English… about 50 pages in and loving it…
Micheal:
One more convert! Please remember to let me know what you think once you have finished reading.
[...] 『姑獲鳥の夏』as “The Summer of the Ubume” this year. Some people have reviewed it on the web. It seems that I’m not the only one who sees a parallel between Kyougoku and [...]
Wabisabi-san:
Found your blog while searching to see if 京極夏彦 has been translated into English. Love the content that you’ve been creating. Definitely coming back for more!
PS: I’ve linked to this page on my blog. Hope you don’t mind!
derek:
No problem at all. Be sure to spread the word about this blog to your friends as well. ^-^