By driving a nail into a sacred tree at Ushi no koku (midnight from 1 am to 3 am,) it was believed that the barrier between worlds would be broken and the evil-wreaking gods (devils and specters) would be summoned from the Tokoyo (eternal night kingdom of God), possessing the summoner and cursing whoever they hated. |
丑の刻(深夜)に神木に釘を打って結界を破り、常夜(夜だけの神の国)から、禍をもたらす神(魔や妖怪)を呼び出し、神懸りとなって恨む相手を祟ると考えられていた。 |