HANNYA

Lore

Hannya is a female demon of jealousy that takes shape out of the emotions of a devoted-or rejected-woman. The best-known story is the legend of Kiyohime and the bell of Dojo-ji. It tells of Kiyohime, daughter of a wealthy headman in Kii Province, who fell in love with a young monk named Anchin. Bound by a vow of chastity, Anchin tried to keep his distance, yet so as not to hurt her feelings he promised that on his way back from pilgrimage he would visit her.

Time passed; Anchin returned, but fearing temptation he decided to bypass Kiyohime's home. When the girl discovered this, wrath and longing drove her to chase him-but she could not catch up, for the boatmen refused to ferry her across the river. In despair she plunged into the turbulent water herself, and during the pursuit her rage and jealousy reached an inhuman pitch, turning her into a snake-like demon.

Realizing his pursuer was no longer a girl but a monster, Anchin raced to Dojo-ji Temple. The monks hid him beneath the great bronze bell, having no better refuge. Kiyohime found the hiding place, coiled around the bell, and with fiery breath melted the metal, killing her beloved inside. The monks recited sutras throughout, and in some versions of the tale both souls-Kiyohime's and Anchin's-are ultimately laid to rest.

A noteworthy detail: this legend became the basis for the Noh drama "Dojo-ji," where the enraged woman is depicted with the iconic horned and fanged Hannya mask. The transformation from a heartbroken woman into a terrifying fiend serves as a grim warning of the destructive power of unchecked obsession and resentment in Japanese folklore.