| Kappa | |
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| A drawing of a kappa. | |
| Creature | |
| Name: | Kappa |
| AKA: | Gatarō, Kawako |
| Classification | |
| Grouping: | Legendary creature |
| Sub grouping: | Sprite |
| Data | |
| Mythology: | Japanese mythology |
| Country: | Japan |
| Habitat: | Water |
| Status: | Unconfirmed |
Kappa (河童? "river-child"), alternately called Gatarō (川太郎? "river-boy") or Kawako (川子? "river-child") , are legendary creatures; a type of water sprite found in Japanese folklore. A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature (often known as "fabulous creatures" in historical literature The term sprite is a broad term referring to a number of Preternatural Legendary creatures The term is generally used in reference to Elf -like creatures Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculture-based Folk religion. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature (often known as "fabulous creatures" in historical literature The term sprite is a broad term referring to a number of Preternatural Legendary creatures The term is generally used in reference to Elf -like creatures Japanese folklore is the Folklore of Japan. It is heavily influenced by both Shinto and Buddhism, the two primary religions in the country However they are also considered to be a part of cryptozoology, due to claims of sightings. Cryptozoology (from Greek κρυπτός kruptos, "hidden" + Zoology; literally "study of hidden animals" is the study of and search In Shintō they are considered to be one of many suijin (literally "water-deity"). is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. is the Shinto god of water in Japan.The term Suijin (literally water kami or water deity refers to the heavenly and earthly manifestations of the benevolent Shinto divinity
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Appearance
Most depictions show kappa as child-sized humanoids, though their bodies are often more like those of monkeys or frogs than human beings. A monkey is any member of either the New World monkeys or Old World monkeys two of the three groupings of Simian Primates the third group being This article is about the block cipher algorithm For the ultrafast laser pulse measurement technique see Frequency-resolved optical gating. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Some descriptions say their faces are apelike, while others show them with beaked visages more like those of tortoises or with duck beaks. Tortoises or land Turtles are land-dwelling Reptiles of the family of Testudinidae', order Testudines. For duck as a food see Duck (food; for other meanings see Duck (disambiguation. Pictures usually show kappa with thick shells and scaly skin that ranges in color from green to yellow or blue. In most biological nomenclature a scale ( Greek lepid, Latin squama) is a small rigid plate that grows out of an Animal
Kappa inhabit the ponds and rivers of Japan and have various features to aid them in this environment, such as webbed hands and feet. A pond is a body of water smaller than a Lake, both being examples of Terrain features Although the term pond is universally used to describe waterbodies that "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. They are sometimes even said to smell like fish, and they can certainly swim like them. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two The expression kappa-no-kawa-nagare ("a kappa drowning in a river") conveys the idea that even experts make mistakes.
The most notable feature of the kappa, however, is the water-filled depressions atop their heads. These cavities are surrounded by scraggly hair, and this type of bobbed hair style is named okappa-atama for the creatures. Haircut redirects here For the financial term see Haircut (finance. The kappa derive their incredible strength from these liquid-filled holes, and anyone confronted with one may exploit this weakness by simply getting the kappa to spill the water from its head. The kappa possesses a deep sense of etiquette, so one trusted method is to appeal to this, for a kappa cannot help but return a deep bow, even if it means losing its head-water in the process. Etiquette is a code that governs the expectations of Social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a Society, Once depleted, the kappa is seriously weakened and may even die. Other tales say that this water allows kappa to move about on land, and once emptied, the creatures are immobilized. Stubborn children are encouraged to follow the custom of bowing on the grounds that it is a defense against kappa. In addition, the Japanese Folklore says that the kappa is a master of Koppo; the bone-breaking technique, which was actually invented by them. Koppōjutsu (骨法術 means attacks against bones in Japanese.
Behavior
Kappa are mischievous troublemakers. Their pranks range from the relatively innocent, such as loudly passing gas or looking up women's kimonos, to the more troublesome, such as stealing crops, kidnapping children, or raping women. Flatulence is the production of a mixture of gases in the digestive tract of Mammals that are byproducts of the digestion process The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come In Criminal law, theft (also known as stealing or filching) is the illegal taking of another person's Property without that person's freely-given In Criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or Asportation of a person against the person's will usually to hold the person in False imprisonment Rape, also referred to as Sexual assault, is an Assault by a person involving Sexual intercourse with or Sexual penetration of another person In fact, small children are one of the gluttonous kappa's favorite meals, though they will eat adults as well. They feed on these hapless victims by sucking out the shirikodama (尻子玉?)[1] (or entrails, blood, liver, or "life force", depending on the legend) through the anus. Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an Animal 's Digestive tract from the Mouth. Even today, signs warning about kappa appear by bodies of water in some Japanese towns and villages. Kappa are also said to be afraid of fire, and some villages hold fireworks festivals each year to scare the spirits away. Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes
Kappa are not entirely antagonistic to mankind, however. They are curious of human civilization, and they can understand and speak Japanese. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities They thus sometimes challenge those they encounter to various tests of skill, such as shogi or sumo wrestling. or Japanese chess (literally "generals' chess" ˈʃoʊɡiː in English is the most popular of a family of Chess variants native to Japan. is a competitive Contact sport where two Wrestlers ( rikishi) attempt to force one another out of a circular ring ( Dohyo) or to touch the ground They may even befriend human beings in exchange for gifts and offerings, especially cucumbers, the only food kappa are known to enjoy more than human children. The cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the Gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same Japanese parents sometimes write the names of their children (or themselves) on cucumbers and toss them into kappa-infested waters in order to mollify the creatures and allow the family to bathe. There is even a kind of cucumber-filled sushi roll named for the kappa, the kappamaki. In Japanese cuisine, is Vinegared Rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish various meats and vegetables In Japanese cuisine, is Vinegared Rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish various meats and vegetables
Once befriended, kappa have been known to perform any number of tasks for human beings, such as helping farmers irrigate their land. Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops They are also highly knowledgeable of medicine, and legend states that they taught the art of bone setting to mankind. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the This article is about therapists for John D "Bonesetter" Reese see John D Due to these benevolent aspects, some shrines are dedicated to the worship of particularly helpful kappa. A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine" a Shinto Kami, and is usually characterized by the presence of a (also called Kappa may also be tricked into helping people. Their deep sense of decorum will not allow them to break an oath, for example, so if a human being can dupe a kappa into promising to help him, the kappa has no choice but to follow through. Decorum (from the Latin: "proper fit becoming" was a principle of classical Rhetoric, poetry and theatrical theory
See also
- Kappabashi-dori, a neighborhood in Tokyo. Kappabashi-dori, also known just as Kappabashi (合羽橋 or Kitchen Town, is a street in Tokyo between Ueno and Asakusa which Kappa here is a homophone, but the homophony is exploited.
External links
- Mark Schumacher (2004). Kappa -- River Imp or Sprite. Retrieved March 23, 2006. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
- Garth Haslam (2000). Kappa Quest 2000. Retrieved December 14, 2006. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
- Kirainet (2007). For a look at Kappa in popular culture Kirainet. Retrieved May 6, 2007. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
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| Religions | Sacred objects | Creatures and spirits |
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