Oni yokai

Interest in Japanese yokai culture has exploded in recent years.

Oni are a type of yokai that can be in the form of demons, devils, ogres, or trolls. Oni are generally thought of as evil beings. All oni possess extreme strength and constitution, and many of them are also accomplished sorcerers. They are ferocious demons, bringers of disaster, spreaders of disease, and publishers of the damned in Hell. They are usually depicted with red, blue, brown or black skin with red and blue being the most common , two horns on its head, a wide mouth filled with fangs, and wearing nothing but a tiger skin loincloth. They are humanoid for the most part, but occasionally, they are shown with unnatural features such as odd numbers of eyes or extra fingers and toes.

Oni yokai

Born in Specializes in Japanese religious history. Completed her doctorate in history and anthropology at Tsukuba University in While many researchers in Japan have studied ancient and medieval materials to write about the oni from the viewpoint of literature or folklore studies, scholar Koyama Satoko is the first to trace the image of the oni and its social background from a historical perspective. Tracing the oni lineage means peering into the psyche of the Japanese people. Gui were talked about as part of the world of folk religions, Confucianism, and Daoism, and also took influence from Buddhism, after it spread to China. Gui were also thought to spread disease. The concept spread to Japan no later than the seventh century, transforming to become more easily accepted. In the Heian period [—], mononoke [the spirits of unknown people] were sometimes called oni , but the Chinese idea of using the word for all the spirits of the dead was only partially adopted. In China, gui could be good or evil, but the word oni came to be used only for evil beings in Japan. There was also a strong influence from esoteric Buddhism , which had incorporated the concept of godlike oni. Ancient national histories, compiled under imperial orders, include descriptions of oni activities. Nihon shoki , completed in , reports how in people called the Mishihase from the northern part of Japan some scholars suggest they were Ainu or Tungusic came ashore on the island of Sado. The islanders feared to approach, in the belief that they were oni , and as they hesitated, some of them were abducted. In Shoku nihongi , there is a description of a rumored jujutsushi or sorcerer on Mount Yamato Katsuragi in , who could control a godlike oni and make it draw water and gather firewood; if it did not obey, he would prevent it from moving through a binding spell.

A yurei often resembles her oni yokai self, her living self, but in death is pale-skinned, arms dangling uselessly by her side.

.

Interested in Japanese mythological creatures? Check it out! Any mythology involves fantasy stories like fairy tales and demons and similarly, Japanese mythology also features a wide plethora of intriguing stories that ought to be known. Oni in Japanese mythology is known to have a terrifying appearance that can scare anyone instantly just by watching them. This demon holds a significant position in Japanese folklore and its characteristics are portrayed distinctly in various narrations. So keep reading further down below!

Oni yokai

Ushi-oni is a demon from the Japanese folklore of western Japan. The demon is known for its bovine-headed appearance and brutal, savage personality. According to the folklore, there are various kinds of ushi-oni, but the depiction of a bovine-headed monster is the most common. Ushi-oni generally appear on beaches and attack people who walk there.

Faterkcx

These types range from religious figures, to craftsmen, to beggars and pilgrims. Fuku-chan, at right, defeats an oni, while another child slashes an oni disguised as an enemy solder at left. How many yokai are there? Completed her doctorate in history and anthropology at Tsukuba University in This was why it was necessary to suppress them. Ijin are people from what is called Ikai, a world that is beyond our own. The tengu is one of the best-known types of Japanese yokai, often intertwined with stories of mountain spirits and forest dwellers. Interestingly enough, the Japanese word for giraffe is also kirin , perhaps because the African animal shares similarities with the Kirin: horns, scale-like patterned skin, and long legs. In fact, the term tsuchigumo is used in historical documents composed during the warring states period to refer to rebel factions. They are ferocious demons, bringers of disaster, spreaders of disease, and publishers of the damned in Hell.

Their behavior can range from malevolent or mischievous to benevolent to humans. One's ancestors and particularly respected departed elders could also be deemed to be nigi-mitama , accruing status as protective spirits who brought fortune to those who worshipped them. Animals, objects and natural features or phenomena were also venerated as nigi-mitama or propitiated as ara-mitama depending on the area.

Inability to communicate led to fighting and considerable injuries among the islanders before the interlopers left. Interestingly enough, the Japanese word for giraffe is also kirin , perhaps because the African animal shares similarities with the Kirin: horns, scale-like patterned skin, and long legs. In China, gui could be good or evil, but the word oni came to be used only for evil beings in Japan. If they were weak, they would not be seen as oni. These yokai are mischievous pranksters that resemble human children, though they are only visible to residents of a home. What Does Yokai Mean? These types range from religious figures, to craftsmen, to beggars and pilgrims. Contrary to its original portrayal, the new Tengu is unfeathered and unbeaked. The painting above shows a typical expression of the Daikokuten, with his beaming smile and exaggerated, gigantic ears. Loading Comments My Kind of Japan.