| Effigy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Japanese name | 人形見 |
| Romaji name | Hitogatami |
| Item type | Doll |
| Description | An old doll found at the Shrine of Dolls. It looks a little like Yuri. / A wooden doll left by the ghost of a child. It has been covered with a red cloth. A so-called "effigy". I think it was made to look like me... / The ghost dropped an old doll draped in a red cloth when it disappeared. |
| Purpose | Used as offerings |
| Location | Shrine of Dolls Rear Shrine of Dolls at Twilit Peak |
| Variants | Red cloaked effigy |
| Appearances | Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water |
Effigies are dolls used in rituals of Mt. Hikami in Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water. They were said to house the spirits of children and were used as offerings because of this. It appears to have been the custom for each child to have a doll of their own, which would be placed at one of the Doll Shrines after the child dies. A man who attempted to restore the Shrine of Dolls mentioned that all of the dolls had names carved on them somewhere, and sometimes hair or teeth hidden inside them.
Children near the mountain began to use their dolls in games based on local folklore, and Shiragiku would try to get visitors to play these games with her and the spirits of children accompanying her.
Memo[]
A doll in which a soul has been sealed. They were used in rituals in lieu of real people. When they are made to closely resemble a person, that person's spirit is said to be transferred to the doll. Then, should the doll be destroyed, the person it represented will die in the same manner.
The custom of concealing effigies that was practiced on Mt. Hikami is said to have grim roots. In times of famine children would be led into the mountains to die, told that they were playing a game. But perhaps the custom reflects the old practice of ritual human sacrifices.