User blog:Ghostexorcist/The Origins of InuYasha's Magic Necklace

InuYasha's magic necklace is most likely based on the golden headband worn by Sun Wukong the Monkey King in the great Chinese classic Journey to the West (1592). Here are some similarities


 * 1) Both are designed to reign in powerful and mischievous animal spirits, in this case Sun Wukong and Inuyasha.


 * 2) Both cause the wearer great pain when the correct words are spoken. The golden headband tightens around Monkey’s head, while the necklace slams Inuyasha to the ground.


 * 3) Both cannot be removed by the wearer.


 * 4) Both spirits are tricked into wearing them by their companion, a religious figure. Sun’s companion is the Buddhist priest Tripitaka. The Shinto priestess Kikyo was originally going to use the necklace on Inuyasha, but her sister Kaede later does.


 * 5) Both are given to each spirit after they are released from a long period of imprisonment. Monkey is released from 500 years under the five elements mountain. Inuyasha is released from 50 years pinned to the tree.

I wrote an article exploring the history of the golden headband. I traced it to ritual headgear worn by Esoteric Buddhist yogins in 8th-century India.