Paranormal Urban Legends

Hitobashira

In Japan many,many years ago the practice of Hitobashira was a common way of ensuring the sturdy construction of important buildings,dams,bridges and tunnels.The practice continued steadily into the 16th century,but there has been evidence of it into the 20th century as well.It seems innocent enough until you realize that 'Hitobashira' translates to 'Human Pillar' and the practice involved burying living human beings in the foundation of these buildings.Hitobashira was a form of sacrifice that many believed created a magical ward that protected the building as it appeased the nature spirits that inhibited the area.By sealing people in the pillars and in the walls they make sacrifices to gods and if the gods are pleased the construction lasts longer.Building with human pillars are told to be haunted by the ones sealed in the walls.Hitobashira can also refer to workers who were buried alive under inhumane conditions.

Some of the earliest written records of hitobashira can be found in the (The Chronicles of Japan). One story centered on (323 A.D.) discusses the overflowing of the Kitakawa and Mamuta Rivers. Protection against the torrent was beyond the ability of the stricken populace. The Emperor had a divine revelation in his dream to the effect that there was a person named Kowakubi in the province of and a person called Koromono-ko in the province of . If they should be sacrificed to deities of the two rivers respectively, then the construction of embankments would be easily achieved. Kowakubi was subsequently thrown into the torrent of the Kitakawa river, with a prayer offered to the deity of river. Through the sacrifice it was possible to construct the embankment completely, Koromono-ko however escaped being sacrificed.

The Yasutomi-ki, a diary from the 15th century, documents the famous tradition of "Nagara-no Hitobashira". According to the tradition, a woman who was carrying a boy on her back was caught while she was passing along the river Nagara, she was buried at the place where a large bridge was then to be built. Hitobashira traditions are almost always connected with complex and dangerous projects that were required to be built and mostly with water. The stories of hitobashira were believed to inspire a spirit of self-sacrifice in people.

Stories of hitobashira and other human sacrifices were common in Japan as late as the sixteenth century. Hitobashira is no longer practiced in construction.

Some examples are-Matsue Ohashi Bridge,Matsue Castle,Maruoka Castle,etc.