一説では越後国の鍛冶屋の息子として産まれ、母の胎内で16ヶ月を過ごしており、産まれてすぐに歩くことができて5～6歳程度の言葉を話し、4歳の頃には16歳程度の知能と体力を身につけ、気性の荒さもさることながら、その異常な才覚により周囲から「鬼っ子」と疎まれていたという。

In another legend, he was born as a son of a blacksmith in Echigo Province, spent 16 months in his mother's womb, started walking and speaking like a five or six year old boy immediately after delivery, was as strong and intelligent as a 16 year old by the age of four and was detested by all the villagers, who nicknamed him 'onikko,' or 'oni-like child,' because of his abnormal wit and rough nature. - Wikipedia日英京都関連文書対訳コーパス