JIKININKI

JIKININKI

(1) The southern part of present-day Gifu Prefecture.

[1] Literally, a man-eating goblin. The Japanese narrator gives also

the Sanscrit term, “Râkshasa;” but this word is quite as vague as

_jikininki_, since there are many kinds of Râkshasas. Apparently the

word _jikininki_ signifies here one of the

_Baramon-Rasetsu-Gaki_,—forming the twenty-sixth class of pretas

enumerated in the old Buddhist books.

[2] A _Ségaki_-service is a special Buddhist service performed on

behalf of beings supposed to have entered into the condition of _gaki_

(pretas), or hungry spirits. For a brief account of such a service,

see my _Japanese Miscellany_.

[3] Literally, “five-circle [or five-zone] stone.” A funeral monument

consisting of five parts superimposed,—each of a different

form,—symbolizing the five mystic elements: Ether, Air, Fire, Water,

Earth.