Shoro-uma: Japan’s Spirit Horses of Obon Festival
If you walk through a Japanese household or visit a traditional temple during mid-August, you might encounter a peculiar sight: a cucumber and an eggplant, each standing on four legs made of disposable chopsticks or matches. To the uninitiated, they look like children’s crafts or abstract food art. However, these are Shoro-uma (精霊馬), the “Spirit Horses” of the Obon festival, serving as supernatural vehicles for the souls of ancestors.
As a travel and culture enthusiast exploring Japan, understanding the Shoro-uma offers a profound glimpse into the Japanese view of life, death, and the enduring bond between the living and the departed.
The Origins of the Vegetable Vehicles
The tradition of Shoro-uma is deeply intertwined with Obon, a Buddhist event celebrated across Japan to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. While Obon customs vary by region, the creation of these vegetable animals is most prevalent in the Kanto region (around Tokyo) and other eastern parts of Japan.
The practice likely solidified during the Edo period, though its roots lie in the agricultural history of Japan. Summer is the harvest season for summer vegetables like cucumbers and eggplants. In a culture that values presenting the “first fruits” of the harvest to the gods and ancestors, using these readily available crops was a practical yet reverent way to construct offerings. Over time, these offerings transformed from mere food into the symbolic vessels of transportation we see today.
The Legend: Why Cucumbers and Eggplants?
The visual distinction between the two animals is specific and carries a touching meaning regarding the passage of time and grief.
The Cucumber Horse
The cucumber, green and slender, represents a horse. When families build the Shoro-uma, the cucumber is meant to be a swift steed. The symbolism here is urgency and longing. Families want their ancestors to return home from the spirit world as quickly as possible to join the festivities. The horse gallops fast, ensuring that the spirits do not waste a moment of their brief time in the mortal realm.
The Eggplant Cow
The eggplant, round and sturdy, represents a cow or an ox. This animal is associated with a slow, steady pace. When the Obon festival concludes and the spirits must return to the afterlife, they ride the cow. The family wishes for them to leave slowly, lingering as long as possible before saying goodbye. Furthermore, the cow is strong; it is believed to carry the offerings, food, and gifts back to the spirit world comfortably.
Modern Culture and Evolution
While traditional Shoro-uma are simple affairs made with wooden chopsticks, modern Japanese culture has embraced the concept with a blend of humor and creativity. In the age of social media, the hashtag #ShoroUma often trends on Twitter and Instagram during August.
You might see “Spirit Horses” carved with intricate details to look like actual racehorses, or eggplants carved into buses or airplanes. Some enthusiasts even construct “Spirit Motorcycles” or “Spirit Ferraris” out of vegetables, joking that their ancestors loved speed and would prefer a faster ride than a cucumber could provide.
Despite these modern twists, the core sentiment remains unchanged: a deep respect for those who came before and a desire to make their journey comfortable.
Traveler’s Tips for Observing Shoro-uma
If you are in Japan during Obon (typically August 13th to 16th, though July in some regions), here is how you can respectfully observe this tradition:
- Look for Butsudan Altars: Shoro-uma are primarily domestic traditions found on the butsudan (family altar) or specifically made bon-dana (Obon shelves) inside homes. If you stay at a traditional Ryokan or visit a friend’s home, you may see them.
- Temple Visits: Many Buddhist temples will display large versions of these spirit animals or have community areas where locals place them. This is the best place for photography.
- Supermarkets: Leading up to Obon, Japanese supermarkets sell “Shoro-uma kits,” which include straw mats and decorative chopsticks. Walking through the produce section is a cultural experience in itself during this season.
- Disposal: Traditionally, these were floated down rivers (Toro Nagashi) at the end of the festival. Today, due to environmental regulations, they are usually disposed of with salt to purify them, or buried. Do not be surprised if you don’t see them floating in rivers as often as depicted in anime.
Sources & Further Reading
The roots of Obon are found in the Ullambana Sutra (Urabon-kyo), which tells the story of Moginlin (Mokuren), a disciple of Buddha who saved his mother from the realm of Hungry Ghosts. While the specific tradition of vegetable animals is a later folk evolution not explicitly detailed in ancient texts like the Kojiki or Nihon Shoki, the underlying concept of Marei-bito (visiting spirits) is deeply rooted in the Shinto-Buddhist syncretism described in early Japanese folklore studies.
For those interested in the theological background, reading the Urabon-kyo provides context for the festival, while Yanagita Kunio’s The Legends of Tono creates a broader picture of Japanese folk beliefs surrounding spirits and the afterlife.