| Abstrakt: |
This article tells the story of Kashima, a god in Edo, Japan, who is tasked with keeping Namazu, a catfish, from causing earthquakes. Kashima is unable to move from his shrine, as any movement could cause Namazu to wreak havoc. However, when a farmer asks for help with a giant pumpkin that threatens his house, Kashima decides to temporarily leave his post. As Kashima cuts the pumpkin loose, an earthquake occurs, and Namazu starts to move. Kashima manages to stop Namazu by pressing the pumpkin onto its head. The article explains that in Japanese mythology, earthquakes were believed to be caused by creatures like Namazu, and the story of Kashima and Namazu became popular after a devastating earthquake in Edo in 1855. [Extracted from the article] |
