Dorotabō
From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki
Dorotabō (泥田坊, the ghost of an old man whose rice fields were neglected and sold) is a paranormal phenomena or Yōkai from Japanese folklore. Dorotabō roam the overgrown fields of Japan. Dorotabō are the transformed ghosts of old men who toiled hard on their rice fields, only to see them lie in waste by neglectful owners after their death. Dorotabō continue haunting until the wasteful owners changes their ways or give up and flee, selling the field to someone who will take proper care of it.[1][2]
Origin[edit]
Most of Japan’s land is bound up in inhospitable mountain ranges where farming is impossible. The usable land is extremely valuable. Families can save for a lifetime just to buy a small plot of precious farmland, and hope to leave it to their offspring after they die. Of course, children do not always follow their parents’ wishes—a prodigal son who forsakes his father’s hard-earned fields in favor of vices like gambling and drinking will find a dorotabō waiting back home.
Appearance[edit]
Dorotabō are the transformed ghosts of old men who toiled hard on their rice fields, only to see them lie in waste by neglectful owners after their death. They appear as one-eyed, three-fingered humanoid figures rising out of the mud at night. It is said that the five fingers of the human hand represent three vices and two virtues: anger, greed, ignorance, wisdom, and compassion. The ghostly dorotabō appears with only the three fingers representing the vices. It is a spirit of vengeance and rage—angry at the ignorance and greed that now shame its life’s work.
Behavior[edit]
Dorotabō roam the overgrown fields, calling out in a mournful voice, “Give me back my rice field!” They haunt their fields after nightfall, disturbing the new inhabitants of their lands and preventing their sleep. Dorotabō continue haunting until the wasteful owners changes their ways or give up and flee, selling the field to someone who will take proper care of it.
In Popular Culture[3][edit]
Shonen Magazine[edit]
The Dorotabō are the spirits of dead farmers living in the waters of rice paddy fields. They used to live a docile life, but after their village was bought by the military to build an airbase on the fields, many of the farmers moved to the city, where they got sick and died. Because the farmers who stayed behind to protest could only build a small monument in their memory, their souls turned into evil spirits and grew into Dorotabō from the sludge in the city. They began attacking the airbase and destroying the armies jets, so Kitarō was called in to solve the problem. After a couple of battle, Kitarō learned the story of the Dorotabō from the villagers. The army agreed to build a better monument to the dead farmers and the Dorotabō went back into the mud.
Second Anime[edit]
Dorotabō appear in episode one of the second anime adaptation, Return of the Yōkai.
Third Anime[edit]
Dorotabō appear in episode #28 of the third anime adaptation, Return the Fields!! Yōkai Dorotabō.
Fourth Anime[edit]
Dorotabō appear in episode #22 of the fourth anime adaptation, Uprising! Yōkai Dorotabō.
Fifth Anime[edit]
Dorotabō appears in episode #70 of the fifth anime adaptation, Impossible to Kill!? Dorotabō.
Sixth Anime[edit]
Dorotabō appears in episode #54 of the sixth anime adaptation, Dorotabō, Life and Earth.
Reference[edit]
- ↑ "Dorotabō | Yokai.com". Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ↑ Bane, Theresa (2016-05-22). Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-2268-2. Search this book on
- ↑ "Dorotabō". GeGeGe no Kitarō Wiki. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
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