Hitobashira: When Human Sacrifice Became Foundation
Hitobashira (人柱), also known as daa saang zong in China, myosade in Burma, and tumbal proyek in Indonesia, is a cultural practice of human sacrifice in East and Southeast Asia. This ritual involves premature burial before the construction of large-scale buildings. Let’s delve into the eerie history of this tradition:
Origins and Purpose
Japan:In ancient Japan, Hitobashira was practiced as a form of human sacrifice.
A person, often a child, was buried alive under or near significant structures like dams, bridges, and castles.
The purpose was to appease the Shinto gods and protect the building from natural disasters (such as floods) or enemy attacks.
Some of the earliest written records of Hitobashira can be found in the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan).
China:Known as da sheng zhuang, this practice aimed to suppress evil spirits and prevent accidents during large-scale construction.
Legend attributes the proposal of da sheng zhuang to the renowned carpenter Lu Ban.
Archaeological evidence includes the remains of an infant used in the foundation of the Erlitou culture city.
Other Instances:During the construction of a levee at Dahu Park in Taiwan, an elderly beggar was allegedly buried alive.
In pre-WWII Hong Kong, rumors circulated about the prevalence of daa saang zong.
The phrase was even used by parents to scare disobedient children.
In modern times, some areas have replaced human sacrifice with the sacrifice of chickens.
Thin Boundaries
The line between fiction and reality blurs when we consider that Poe’s novel and the actual events aboard the ship Mignonette share eerie similarities. Both involve desperate survival, cannibalism, and the sacrifice of one for the many. Hitobashira remains a haunting testament to the depths of human desperation and the lengths we’ll go to ensure our structures stand firm.
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