Mount Oe- Japanese LocationLocation · Landmark"Demon Mountain"
Also known as: 大江山, Oeyama, Ōeyama, and Mount Ōe
Description
A mountain northwest of Kyōto where Shuten-dōji built his iron palace and kept court among oni. Minamoto no Yorimitsu climbed it disguised as a wandering priest, poured divine poisoned sake for the demon king, and took his head.
Mythology & Lore
The Iron Palace
Mount Ōe rises in the Tanba region, forested and steep, on the road between the capital and the Sea of Japan coast. In the tales compiled from the medieval period onward, Shuten-dōji claimed the mountain and built a palace of iron on its slopes. His oni band raided Kyōto from there, carrying off young women. The captives were brought to the palace, where Shuten-dōji feasted on human flesh and drank blood mixed with sake. The court received reports of the abductions but could not reach the mountain stronghold by force.
The Expedition
The Ōeyama emaki and the otogizōshi retellings give the fullest account of what happened next. The court sent Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his four retainers, the Shitennō, to Mount Ōe. They did not go as warriors. They dressed as yamabushi, mountain ascetics, and climbed the mountain carrying staffs instead of weapons.
On the road they met three old men, gods in disguise, who gave them a cask of sake. The sake was poisoned to work only on oni. At the iron palace, Yorimitsu offered it to Shuten-dōji as a gift. The demon king drank. His oni drank. When the poison took hold and Shuten-dōji lay paralyzed, Yorimitsu drew the sword Onikiri and cut off his head. The head flew up from the floor and bit at Yorimitsu's helmet before it fell still.
The captive women were found alive inside the palace. Yorimitsu's party led them back down the mountain to the capital.
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