Jokotsu Baba
In Japanese folklore there is a figure known as jakotsu baba, which is sometimes translated as the old snake bone woman. She is a yokai, or supernatural creature, who appears as an old hag and has the power to control snakes. Her legend first appeared in Toriyama Sekien’s Konjaku Hyakki Shui alongside the illustration later in this post.
Shigeru Mizuki |
Not much else is known about her although some sources suggest she
originated in northern Honshu, while others believe she was from China.
As well as being able to control snakes, it is said she carries with her
both a red and blue snake. She can command the blue snake to use its
icy breath to freeze anything in its path, while the red snake is able
to shoot out fire and reduce victims to ashes. There is one suggestion that after her husband died, she transformed
into a yokai to guard his grave and used snakes to attack anyone who
approached.
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