Datsue-ba: The Hag Who Strips Clothes in Japanese Hell
When travelers think of Japanese mythology, images of noble fox spirits (Kitsune), mischievous Tanuki, or the serene Great Buddha often come to mind. However, dig a little deeper into the Buddhist afterlife, and you will encounter figures far more terrifying. Among them stands Datsue-ba (奪衣婆), the “Old Woman Who Strips Clothes.” She is a gruesome yet vital figure stationed at the boundary of the underworld, tasked with a specific, chilling duty: stripping the garments off the newly deceased.
For cultural travelers and folklore enthusiasts, understanding Datsue-ba offers a fascinating glimpse into how traditional Japan viewed sin, judgment, and the afterlife.
Origins of the Underworld Crone
Datsue-ba finds her roots in Japanese Buddhist eschatology, specifically within the Pure Land traditions that describe the journey of the soul after death. While Shinto texts like the Kojiki describe the Land of Yomi (the dead), Datsue-ba belongs to the imported and adapted Buddhist geography of Hell (Jigoku).
She is not a demon in the traditional Western sense but an administrator of the afterlife bureaucracy. She resides on the bank of the Sanzu River (Sanzu-no-kawa), the Japanese equivalent of the River Styx. This river marks the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead. According to tradition, every soul must cross this river, but the ease of the crossing depends entirely on the weight of one’s karma.
The Legend of the Stripping
The name Datsue-ba literally translates to “Old Woman who takes off clothes.” The legend states that she waits on the near bank of the Sanzu River, often accompanied by her male counterpart, Keneō (懸衣翁).
The Judgment Process
When a soul arrives at the riverbank, Datsue-ba approaches them. Her role is to strip the deceased of their clothes. Why? Because in this mythological framework, clothing represents the heavy burden of earthly sins.
Once Datsue-ba has stripped the soul naked, she hands the garments to Keneō. The old man then hangs the clothes on a branch of a specific tree located by the riverbank. The degree to which the branch bends determines the weight of the soul’s sins:
- If the branch barely bends: The soul is light, indicating a life of virtue. They are allowed to cross the river via a bridge or a shallow ford.
- If the branch hangs low: The soul is heavy with sin. These unfortunates must cross through the deep, dragon-infested waters.
The Fate of the Naked
One of the more gruesome details of the legend involves souls who arrive without clothes. Perhaps they died naked or were stripped before burial. In these cases, Datsue-ba does not let them pass easily. Instead, she strips them of their skin to hang on the branch, ensuring that no one escapes the judgment of weight.
Datsue-ba in Modern Culture
Despite her terrifying appearance—often depicted as a withered hag with wild hair and bulging eyes—Datsue-ba has maintained a presence in modern Japanese pop culture. She appears in various manga and anime series, such as GeGeGe no Kitaro and Hozuki’s Coolheadedness (Hozuki no Reitetsu), where she is often portrayed as a stern, formidable, yet sometimes comedic character working within the hellish bureaucracy.
Interestingly, in the Edo period, Datsue-ba evolved into a folk deity of sorts. Because she strips away clothes, some worshipped her as a deity who could “strip away” sickness, particularly coughs and children’s illnesses. It is a classic example of the Japanese ability to find pragmatic benefits in even the most frightening figures.
Traveler’s Tips: Where to Find Her
For those visiting Japan who wish to see depictions of this formidable crone, she is most often found in Enma-do (halls dedicated to Enma, the King of Hell) within Buddhist temples.
1. Taiso-ji Temple (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
Located in the heart of the bustling Shinjuku district, Taiso-ji is home to a famous, frighteningly realistic statue of Datsue-ba. It was once a popular pilgrimage site during the Edo period for sex workers who prayed to her for protection against disease.
2. Sōgen-ji (Kappa-dera) (Tokyo)
While famous for Kappa statues, this temple also houses underworld imagery. Visiting these local temples offers a quiet respite from the neon lights and a connection to the spiritual history of the city.
3. Etiquette
When visiting these statues, remember that they are religious icons.
- Quiet Contemplation: Maintain a respectful silence.
- Photography: Check signs; many temples prohibit photography of specific statues to preserve their sanctity.
- Offerings: You may see small coins or incense left before the statues.
Sources & Further Reading
To dive deeper into the rich tapestry of Japanese mythology and the afterlife, the following texts are essential:
- The Ojoyoshu (The Essentials of Rebirth): Written by the monk Genshin in 985, this text provides vivid, terrifying descriptions of the Buddhist Hells that influenced figures like Datsue-ba.
- Jigoku Zoshi (Scrolls of Hell): 12th-century handscrolls depicting the torments of the underworld.
- Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): While primarily focusing on Shinto creation myths and history, it provides the cultural bedrock necessary to understand how Buddhism and indigenous folklore merged to create the Japanese afterlife.
Meeting Datsue-ba, even metaphorically, reminds us that in Japanese folklore, every action has weight, and at the end of the road, we all must shed our layers to be weighed.