If you cry, a "mokko" comes! ? We've been pursuing the mystery of trauma among children in Tsugaru [Aomori Prefecture]

"If you cry, a mokko will come from the mountains."

This phrase has been used for a long time, mainly in the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture, a "training phrase" , and even today, when I talk to people from Aomori Prefecture, there is a pretty high probability that there are people who say, "When I was little, my parents were threatened by my parents for talking about mokko..."

lullabies featuring "mokko" have also been handed down around the former wooden town (present-day Tsugaru city) in Aomori Prefecture

Although there are slight differences between "Moko", "Mokko", and "Moko", it appears to be common to some parts of northern Akita Prefecture and some areas of Iwate Prefecture. But what is actually a mokko?

Ghost? A monster? Or is there something else...?

This time, we will explore the history and legend of Tsugaru, introducing various theories about this mysterious existence called "Mokko"

Theory of Mokko = Mongolia

n't one of theories that is most often talked about "mokko" = "Mongoko." That's what it is.

Moreover, this Mokko-Mongolia theory diverges into two more theories.

Oral legend of refugees from Tsushima and Iki during the Mongol invasion

During the Kamakura period, the former Mongol Empire invaded Japan twice, in 1274 (as Fuminaga's role) and 1281 (as Koan's role).

the Genkou and is learned in Japanese history classes. At that time, Tsushima and Iki, which belong to today's Nagasaki Prefecture, were remote islands, and it is said that villages were burned and many residents were massacred.

Furthermore, there are many families in the Tsugaru region who use the surname "Tsushima" and it is said that "the people of Tsushima who had escaped the damage caused by the Mongol invasion drifted north and settled in Tsugaru, where they reached it."

• Reference: surname origin net - Origin and distribution of Saima
• Reference: surname origin net - Origin and distribution of Tsushima

isn't it "mokko" the "terror of the Mongol army" spoken by the refugees who reached Tsugaru from Tsushima and eventually became a "monster of the mountains kidnapping crying children" That's the hypothesis.

Oral legend from former Mongol Empire refugees invading Sakhalin

The former (Mongol Empire) sent troops to the north in the late 13th century.

that in 1284, after the role of Koan (1281), the second invasion of Japan, three times invasions of Sakhalin (Sakhalin)

The second theory is that, as this expedition expelled Ainu residents of Sakhalin (Sakhalin) from their land and evacuated to Hokkaido and even Honshu, the "terror of the Mongol army " "mokko" , just like those from Tsushima and Iki.

It's convincing, but there is no clear evidence in either theory.

Neither theory has any clear evidence and is not a presumption, but it is somewhat persuasive.

Perhaps both are true, and if you think that the refugees have come from the south, you'll also be able to go from the north a few years later.

It is possible that he incited the fear of the people of Tsugaru, saying, "How terrifying is the Mongol army raging in both the south and the north?"

It is also possible that the fear of "mokko" that has been deeply engraved in the hearts of the people of Tsugaru

Various other theories

There are various other theories about the origin of mokko. However, please be aware that all theories do not include speculation that it may be "may."

Theory of spiritual existence in the mountains

Since ancient times, it has been believed that "the mountains contain gods and spirits," can be considered an influence of this natural belief

Theory of origin of onomatopoeia and emotional expression

the word "mokko" itself does not have any meaning, but is an onomatopoeia that is conscious of "scary as a sound." the theory is that "mokko" was born as a "teller" that terrifies children just by the sound

Ainu and Northern etymology

There is also a linguistic perspective that "mokko" is a corrupted version of a northern language, such as the Ainu language There are some areas in the Tsugaru region that have been said to have been in contact with Ainu culture since ancient times, and it cannot be denied that a part of that culture had an influence on the tradition.

Symbolism of sanctions like "Namahage"

Maybe there was a person called "Mokko" who was known as "education officers" in a custom that was introduced to some area or village in Tsugaru, like Akita's "Oga no Namahage." There is also a theory that.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Why do Nama balds take knives to tempt people - Oga Peninsula and the Legend of the Demon (1) [Akita Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/34981

When you hear the word Oga, the first thing that comes to mind is Namahage. Every year on New Year's Eve, demon-like people wearing masks with scary faces and costumes made of straw visit people's homes shouting, ``No lazy people, no crying children!'' In his hands, he holds a Deba knife and a bucket. Namahage descends to the village from Mt. Kamiyama to pray for the villagers not to be lazy in the winter and for good health and a good harvest in the new year (at the Namahage Chaito Festival) ©Akita PrefectureThe Namahage is scary at first glance, but... In fact, we are trying to punish the lazy people who spend all their time at the kotatsu and the irori hearth during the winter agricultural off-season, so that they will not get sick.

read more

summary

The Tsugaru region is located on the Sea of ​​Japan side of Aomori Prefecture, and is also an area where trade was popular using the sea in exchange for the abundant products of the Tsugaru Plain. As the diverse cultures from north and south pass by, it may have been a time when a variety of memories, such as "mokko," was born.

In the end, I didn't know that Mokko's true identity was "this!", but what we can see through various theories is

"Mokko" is a symbol of "terror" and "control" that remains in the area

That's what it means.

If you travel around Tsugaru and suddenly hear the words "It's coming back..."