Published December 15, 2023
5 min read
Witness the magic of Studio Ghibli’s latest adventure in The Boy and the Heron, where a young hero finds his path intertwined with that of an enigmatic, talking heron. Together, they embark on a spellbinding journey to rescue his beloved mother, weaving a captivating tale that draws inspiration from the revered 1937 book How Do you Live? and centuries-old heron mythology. Indeed, the heron has held a treasured place in Japan’s literature, art, and folklore for over a thousand years.
Known as sagi in Japanese, herons are often spotted in serene poses along the banks of rivers, in marshlands, and among rice paddies, with their slender legs, graceful necks, and distinctive pointed beaks. An encounter with a heron in flight is a vision of unexpected grandeur, offering a rare glimpse of sheer majesty. Unlike the crane, which represents peace, luck, and longevity, the heron’s symbolism is shrouded in mystery, associated with spirits, deities, death, and a connection to an alternate realm.
According to Mariko Nagai, a professor of Japanese literature at Temple University Japan, the earliest reference to a heron in Japanese literature can be traced back to the Kojiki, a revered ancient work dating back to the year 712. Rich with creation myths that underpin Indigenous Shinto beliefs and Japan’s folklore, the Kojiki holds a significant place in the country’s literary heritage.
One of these stories recounts the transformation of a prince’s soul into a resplendent white bird upon his untimely demise. Although the bird isn’t explicitly identified as a heron, scholarly studies strongly suggest that it was, in all likelihood, a heron. “The white heron assumes an ethereal quality in Japanese myth and folklore,” explains Nagai. She further observes that herons are frequently associated with tales of death, with birds in general being linked to funerary rites and the afterlife, often participating in processions or symbolizing other aspects of funerary rituals.
White herons, distinguished by their striking appearance, feature prominently in ancient stories and ukiyo-e (woodblock) prints, symbolizing divine messengers and transitions, as well as purity. However, the presence of other heron species like the aosagi (blue heron) or the goisagi (night heron) often carries a more ominous connotation. In fact, an entire book has been dedicated to exploring why Japanese people perceive gray herons—such as the one in The Boy and the Heron—as melancholic or eerie in contrast to their more favorable image abroad.
Records from the 1700s cite the existence of a yokai (supernatural creature) named Aosagibi, depicted as an eerily glowing blue heron or night heron perched on a tree. Sightings of this radiant bird have sparked speculation that it might be a ghost or shapeshifter. “The aosagi is a creature associated with darkness,” remarks Nagai. In flight, it seamlessly merges with the night, fading in and out of sight with the changing light. “It’s perhaps a symbolic reflection of the cyclical nature of life,” she suggests.
Learn more about the fascinating world of heron mythology in Japan by visiting National Geographic.
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