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Double diversity of Japanese Folk Beliefs Related to Crows

Kim Yongui 1

1전남대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This article aimed to reveal the attribute of crows as birds of good and bad luck, focusing on the image of crows shown in Japanese folk beliefs. In addition to literature research, a field survey was conducted on several areas. Korean people misunderstand that crows are considered birds of good luck in Japan. This is likely among the most representative cases of Korean people’s insufficient perception/knowledge of Japanese culture. Historically, crows have been perceived as birds of both good and bad luck in Japan. Including a crow with three feet called “Yatagaras'” shown in a Japanese myth, crows like a crow as an envoy of God shown in Kumano beliefs and a crow related to good/bad harvests are certainly birds of good luck bringing about miracles. Conversely, in various places in Japan, a folk belief considering crows as birds of bad luck connected to death or fire has been deeply and widely rooted. In other words, in Japan, crows have dual characters with positive and negative aspects. This article revealed that the negative perception of crows as birds of bad luck has been more widely transmitted than their positive perception.

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* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.
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