The Coal Pit (Yama) and the Fox (Exorcist to Drive out the Evil Spirit of a Fox)
1958 - 1963

Yama to Kitsune (Kitsune-tsuki o Otosu Kitoshi)
[The Coal Pit (Yama) and the Fox (Exorcist to Drive out the Evil Spirit of a Fox)]
21.0 x 30.0 cm Ink Painting

There were many people who were possessed by the fox in the coal pit in the past. They were inclined to always regard their bad health as resulting from the curses from the fox. There were many exorcists who cured their diseases in the pit. Most of the exorcists in the pit were amateurs with only hastily acquired knowledge of exorcism, though some of them were professional priests. It was not necessary for them to get an exorcist's license or enter the Buddhist priesthood at that time. Therefore, shrewd people praying to gods and Buddha every morning and evening by chanting "Nomuku sammanda" or something became exorcists without notice. While counting large beads, they recited charms against the evil fox. They prayed to every great god and bodhisattva in the world for the diseased.
Though the shown exorcist is a Shinto priest, he mainly offered prayers to Buddha and Buddhist guardian deities for his clients. He prayed to the Five Major Heavenly Gods, such as Acalanatha Vidya-raja, Trailokyavijaya Vidya-raja, Amrta Kundalin Vidya-raja, Yamantaka Vidya-raja, and Vajrayaksa Vidya-raja, as well as other dozens of gods and goddesses, such as Atavaka Vidya-raja, Krkara Vidya-raja, Marici-Deva, the Four Devas (Dhrtaraastra, Viruudhaka, Viruupaaksa, and Vaisravana), Brahma-Deva, Mahesvara-Deva, etc. The priest said that Acalanatha Vidya-raja was accompanied by two boys named Kimkara and Cetak. If the fox would not leave the client in spite of the priest's normal prayers, the god would punish the fox by using his secret power called Fudo no Kanashibari (the Art of Rooting of Acalanatha Vidya-raja).
Soon after, the exorcist started praying in his usual fashion and poked the client with the scepter in his hand, saying, "There! Go away, fox!" The client yelled in pain. He could not stand the pain because the priest jabbed his vital part to get rid of the fox. (I wonder if it was the power of Buddha or the acts of violence.) As the priest kept on praying, the staff with plaited paper streamers held in the client's hands began to shake. He raised the staff high, stood up, and fell down forward, throwing it out towards the doorway. Then the evil spirit of the fox was completely exorcized.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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