Name Meaning
Overview
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Oboro-guruma (朧車) means “hazy cart” or “ghostly oxcart,” suggesting an ethereal or eerie presence associated with a traditional carriage.
- Oboro (朧) = hazy, dim, ghostly
- Guruma (車) = cart or vehicle
Origin
- Appears in classical Japanese ghost tales and illustrated yokai scrolls.
- Often associated with Kyoto, where such carts were once common.
- Thought to arise from lingering resentment or jealousy from its former owner or rider.
Appearance
- A wooden oxcart that floats or rolls through the night without oxen.
- The cart’s wheel bears a human face—often weeping or screaming.
- Glows faintly in the dark or is shrouded in a ghostly mist.
Behavior & Myths
- Appears outside the homes of those who harbor jealousy or envy.
- Its eerie creaking sound is said to signal a coming misfortune.
- Some say staring at the face on the wheel invites spiritual possession.
Symbolism
- Embodies lingering grudges and regrets from past lives.
- A warning against excessive pride and unrepented wrongdoing.
- May serve as a karmic force of retribution in folklore.
