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A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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Dragon-flies 91<br />

dragon-flies are said to carry the Hotoke-Sama,<br />

the August Spirits <strong>of</strong> the Ancestors, who then<br />

revisit their former homes. Therefore during<br />

this Buddhist " All-Souls." children are forbidden<br />

to molest any dragon-flies, — especially dragon-<br />

flies that may then happen to enter the family<br />

dwelling. This supposed relation <strong>of</strong> dragon -flies<br />

to the supernatural world helps to explain an old<br />

folk saying, still current in some provinces, to the<br />

effect that the child who catches dragon -flies will<br />

never "obtain knowledge." Another curious<br />

belief is that certain dragon-flies " carry the<br />

image <strong>of</strong> Kwannon-Sama (Avalokitesvara),"<br />

— because the markings upon the backs <strong>of</strong> the<br />

insects bear some faint resemblance to the form<br />

<strong>of</strong> a Buddhist icon.<br />

II<br />

Different kinds <strong>of</strong> dragon-fly show themselves<br />

at diff'erent periods ; and the more beautiful spe-<br />

cies, with few exceptions, are the latest to appear.<br />

All <strong>Japanese</strong> dragon-flies have been grouped by<br />

old writers into four classes, according to the<br />

predominant color <strong>of</strong> each variety, — the Yellow,<br />

Green (or Blue), Black (or Dark), and Red

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