著者

前川 美行

出版者

リトン

雑誌

死生学年報

巻号頁・発行日

vol.12, pp.107-126, 2016-03-31

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The Japanese folklore tale “Hebimukoiri” has various versions that have been classified into different types of tales such as “Odamaki-gata,” ”Mizukoi-gata,” and so on. It is a story that has undergone much symbolic transformation as it has been handed down orally over a long period of time. The story is alive and continues to develop because of people’s changing social, cultural, and psychological lives. At the same time, it includes a significant psychological theme for not only people of old, but also for people living nowadays. In this article, the author analyzes how the initiation of the “inner woman” occurs in this folklore tale from the perspective of the mother, the father, and the daughter who are its main characters. In addition, the author suggests a new, contemporary version of the tale that contains both the symbolic significance of the action of pulling out needles and the rebirth of the snake.