[Goldfish Spells] Vol.1: Red Goldfish as Guardian Gods that 'Extinguish Fire'

It is unimaginable today, but for towns in the Edo period, the most terrifying disaster was "fire".In the fear that the whole city would be burned down once a fire broke out, people believed in a certain "spell" with desperation.That is the belief that "houses keeping goldfish will not catch fire".

The Power of Spells to Control Red with Red

Why was the "red" goldfish, which reminds us of fire, considered to prevent fire ? Hidden there are the concept of Yin - Yang and the Five Elements and the wisdom of spells that have been passed down in Japan since ancient times.Goldfish are creatures that always live in water, and from the natural principle that "water controls fire", people tried to calm the energy of fire by placing that power nearby.

Furthermore, people of that time had a way of thinking like "poison cures poison", which is to seal the opponent by hitting something of the same nature, contrary to "birds of a feather flock together".The reason why goldfish like bright red "Shojo" were believed to repel sparks is that their intense red color was thought to overwhelm the fire.

Scenery of Prayer Placed at the Eaves of Nagaya(Row Houses)

The reason why goldfish bowls were lined up at the eaves of Edo's Nagaya was not just for appreciation. Because it was a place where wooden houses were densely packed, people put their earnest wish into keeping goldfish, asking them to protect this house from fire. For the people of that time, the goldfish bowl was like a small but reliable guardian god that gave a sense of security in their lives.

The reason why we in the modern day feel somewhat relieved when we see red goldfish may be that the memory of peace entrusted to "protect the house, protect life" by our distant ancestors is still connected somewhere.The red color flickering in the bowl was once a light of hope to repel the sparks glowing in the dark night.

Nobuyuki Yoshida "Goldfish Spring and Autumn Cultural History"(Nippon Animal Pharmaceutical, 2014): Record of how goldfish were incorporated into customs in various parts of Japan as "fire protection".

"Dictionary of Japanese Folklore": Items related to the role of fish in folk beliefs and spells for fire prevention.

"Morisada Manko" Morisada Kitagawa(19th century): Description of how spells and superstitions were incorporated into Edo life.