These were most likely nukekubi since their heads were completely detached from their bodies. A rokurokubi's head does not detach from the body but merely travels far from it on the end of an infinitely extendable neck. He assumes they are rokurokubi, but they are more likely nukekubi (Hearn's mistake or Kwairyō's, we don't know for sure). Sleep eludes him and he is getting a drink when he finds five bodies on the floor, without heads. Kwairyō offers to recite some Buddhist sutras for him then retires to his room. Kwairyō meets the other four members of the household and has a brief conversation with the woodcutter who admits that he used to be a warrior of rank but through his selfishness, he brought about the ruin of his house. Kwairyō accepts the offer and follows the woodcutter to his warmly lit cottage. Having resigned himself to sleeping outside (something which does not bother our stalwart hero in the least), he is warned of “Hairy Things” and offered a place to pass the night by a woodcutter. Kwairyō finds himself traveling through the hills in a province called Kai when he realizes that he is far from any hamlet or village. At that time in Japan, regional warfare was rampant and feudal lords were constantly being uprooted, defeated, and having their houses thrown into disarray. The protagonist is said in the tale to have served well in the Eikyō War, which took place in 1438, during the Muromachi period. Considering Kwaidan was first published in 1904, the story is most likely from the Muromachi Period in Japanese history (c.1336-1573). It takes place, “nearly five hundred years ago”. When Isogai’s master was defeated, instead of finding another master to serve, he became an itinerant priest and assumed the name Kwairyō. His name is Isogai Heidazaemon Taketsura and was a vassal in the service of the feudal lord Kikuji. It features a protagonist who exemplifies the values of the time and age. It features a monster by the same name (actually a classification error took place in reality it features a nukekubi, not a rokurokubi).
Rokurokubi (ろくろ首) is a tale from Lafcadio Hearn’s Kwaidan. ( January 2009) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations.
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