I was watching an anime and it showed an assembly of spiritual beings traveling on a cloud, supposedly never to be seen again by the individual who witnessed it. (Correction, he does see them again at the end of the episode. But the point is the procession is rare) One stated that they were on a path of solitude. I’m pretty sure this is a reference to some Japanese folklore I’ve heard before. But I can’t remember the story and it’s bothering me.
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It would help if you said what anime and episode it was.
The Journey West? That gets referenced very often.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, maybe? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_the_Bamboo_Cutter
The night parade of one hundred demons?
Ahh Natsume’s Book fo Friends, love that show.
Haven’t seen that episode yet, but what you’re describing reminds me of the end of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語 ), where she is taken away on a cloud with spiritual beings. This is based on Buddhism. It is based on the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.
When looking at folklore you also have 来迎 (Raigō), when buddha comes to you on a cloud in a procession when you’re at the verge of passing away.