Ushi no toki mairi

What it is

Ushi no toki mairi is a traditional Japanese method of casting a curse on another person. The act requires a practitioner to visit a Shinto shrine during the specific hours associated with the Ox in the Chinese zodiac calendar. This time window falls between one and three in the morning. The core action involves driving iron nails into a sacred tree known as a shinboku. In later popular depictions, a straw effigy representing the target is placed against the bark before the nails are struck. The ritual is believed to inflict physical pain, sickness, or eventual death upon the individual represented by the doll.

Where it comes from

The term originally described simple worship at a shrine during the ox hour. The association with curses developed much later, particularly during the Edo period. A key legend involves Hashihime, a jealous noblewoman who sought to become a demon to destroy her rival. She performed rites at Kifune Shrine in Kyoto, where she was told to bathe in the Uji River rapids. While the shrine became famous for this practice, the legend suggests the actual transformation occurred elsewhere. The earliest written account appears in a late Kamakura-period version of The Tale of Heike.

How it is done

The practitioner, typically depicted as a woman in white robes with disheveled hair, performs the rite for seven consecutive nights. She wears an inverted iron tripod, called a gotoku, on her head with three burning candles attached to its legs. She may also carry a mirror hidden in her clothing and wear tall wooden clogs. The crucial step is hammering five-inch nails into the trunk of a sacred tree. If a straw doll is used, it is nailed to the tree, with the strike location corresponding to the intended injury on the victim. Being seen by others during the act is believed to break the spell.

Tools and materials

The ritual relies on several specific items. Five-inch nails, known as gosun kugi, are driven into the wood. A straw effigy represents the target if one is used. The practitioner wears an iron tripod as a candle holder. Other props mentioned in historical texts include a comb held in the mouth or a torch made from bamboo and pine roots lit at both ends. The sacred tree itself serves as the focal point for the magical transfer of harm.

What it is for

The primary intent is to cause harm, specifically illness or death, to a perceived enemy. Historically, this was often motivated by romantic jealousy. The practitioner believes that damaging the effigy directly affects the physical body of the target. The ritual is a form of sympathetic magic, where the symbolic action produces a real-world consequence. It is not used for protection or healing, but strictly for inflicting suffering on another person.

Who does it

Folklore typically depicts the practitioner as a scorned woman. She is shown wearing white garments and an iron crown with candles. The role does not require formal priestly training in most accounts, suggesting it was a practice undertaken by laypeople in distress. The gender association likely stems from societal views on female jealousy and emotional turmoil. The practitioner must maintain secrecy, as visibility nullifies the curse.

Peoples and places

This practice is specific to Japan and rooted in Shinto beliefs about sacred trees and spirits. It is closely tied to the Kifune Shrine in Kyoto, which became the most famous location for such rituals. The legend of Hashihime connects the practice to the Uji River area. While the core elements remain Japanese, similar concepts of voodoo dolls exist in other cultures, though the specific timing and shrine setting are unique to this tradition.

What people believe

The ritual operates on the principle that spiritual forces can be manipulated through precise actions at specific times. The ox hour is considered potent for contacting supernatural entities. The sacred tree acts as a conduit for the curse. Believers hold that the physical damage to the doll transfers to the human target. The appearance of a black ox on the seventh night is part of the mythos, symbolizing the completion of the transformation into a demonic state.

When it is done

The ritual must be performed during the hours of the Ox, between 1:00 and 3:00 AM. The most critical moment is often cited as 2:00 to 2:30 AM, known as ushi no mitsu doki. The entire process spans seven consecutive nights. Some legends mention performing the act during the ox hour of an ox day, month, and year for maximum power, though this is a later elaboration.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Scholars view the ritual as a product of Edo period folklore rather than ancient religious doctrine. The transition from shrine visitation to cursing reflects changing social attitudes toward witchcraft. Historical texts like Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki show variations in the ritual, sometimes omitting the doll entirely. Anthropologists note the influence of Onmyodo practices, which combined esoteric arts with folk beliefs. The legal system treats attempts via this method as impossible crimes due to the lack of scientific causality.

Compare and confuse

The practice is often compared to voodoo dolls found in African diasporic religions. Both use effigies to influence a target's body. However, ushi no toki mairi is distinct in its reliance on Shinto sacred sites and specific astrological timing. Unlike some other curse traditions, it does not typically involve animal sacrifice or blood offerings in its standard depiction.

Questions people ask about Ushi no toki mairi

Good reading and sources

• Ushi no toki mairi on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data