Koto-furunushi 琴古主

Koto-furunushi (琴古主), the “Old Master Koto,” is a gentle and musical Tsukumogami—a traditional zither that has acquired a soul after a century of being played with heart and dedication.

Meaning and Origin

The name translates to “Old Master of the Koto.”

A Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. Like the Biwa-bokuboku, the Koto-furunushi is part of the “Artifact Spirits” class of yokai. The legend reflects the deep Japanese respect for musical instruments, which were believed to absorb the emotions and the “breath” of the musicians who played them. If a koto is treated with great care for 100 years, it gains the ability to play itself.

Characteristics

In the artwork of Toriyama Sekien, the Koto-furunushi is depicted as a koto with a demonic, yet somewhat comical face growing on its front. Its thirteen silk strings are often shown tangled and wild, resembling a long mane of hair or the whiskers of a dragon.

Despite its monstrous appearance, it is considered one of the most harmless and even benevolent yokai. It doesn’t hunt humans or cause mischief; its only desire is to continue making music, even after the world has forgotten the songs it was built to play.

Legends

The most beautiful legend of the Koto-furunushi comes from Kyushu. It tells of an Emperor who left a magical koto as a gift in a garden. The instrument transformed into a giant camphor tree, and for centuries, people who napped under that tree claimed they could hear the faint, ethereal sounds of a koto echoing from the leaves above when the wind blew.

In more urban folklore, a Koto-furunushi is said to haunt the storerooms of old music schools. On quiet nights, it will begin to play forgotten, ancient melodies that haven’t been heard in centuries. Musicians who hear these phantom songs are said to receive sudden bursts of inspiration, as if the spirit of the instrument is passing on the wisdom of all the masters who once touched its strings.