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Oct 8, 2024 · II. The Origins of Japanese Mythical Creatures. The origins of Japanese mythical creatures can be traced back to ancient texts and oral traditions. Historical records, such as the Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki) and the Record of Ancient Matters (Kojiki), provide insight into the early beliefs and stories surrounding these beings.
- Shikigami. The term shikigami is prominent in many manga and anime. A shikigami (or shiki-no-kami) is a fantastical creature who's magically summoned or conjured to serve a master.
- Kitsune. The kitsune (or fox spirit) is the most common Japanese mythological creature. Like the aforementioned bake-danuki, it's also a shapeshifter.
- Seiryu. The seiryu is the Japanese version of China's Azure Dragon. Seiryu is easily distinguished from other classic dragons from other (Western) cultures with its long, serpentine, wingless body.
- Tengu. The tengu is a supernatural being, initially described as a bird-man—the body of a human with the beaks and wings of a bird. It's also been described as a winged man with a red face and long nose.
Abumi-guchi. A small furry tsukumogami formed from the stirrup of a mounted soldier who fell in battle, it typically stays put and awaits its creator's return, unaware of said soldier's death. Abura-akago. An infant ghost that licks the oil out of andon lamps. Abura-sumashi.
- Tanuki – The Most Mischievous Japanese Mythical Creatures. The first, and possibly one of the most widely known youkai, is the raccoon dog, also known as Tanuki in Japanese folklore.
- Kitsune – The Divine Mythical Creatures of Japanese Folklore. Kitsune, or mythical foxes, are yet another famous youkai in Japanese mythology. They are known to be magical, highly intelligent Japanese mythical creatures that possess many powerful magical and spiritual abilities, including shapeshifting, far-seeing, high intelligence, and longer lifespans.
- Kappa – The Unique Inhabitants of Lakes and Rivers. Most youkai in Japanese mythology are more than animals with supernatural powers, some are incredibly unique in appearance and have many strange abilities.
- Tengu – The Mysterious Red-Faced Youkai. Tengu is another Japanese supernatural being that appears in many shapes and forms throughout history. The first Tengu depictions showed them as monsters with crow-like features such as kite-like black wings, bird heads, and beaks.
- Tengu. Tengu is a legendary yokai that you’d likely have come across whilst exploring Japan. This popular folklore creature is often printed on arts and crafts and is featured in many cultural performances.
- Oni. Arguably one of the most famous yokai in Japan, the Oni is an ogre who is strong, fearsome, and mischievous. They are known to bring bad luck and disaster with them wherever they go.
- Umi-bozu. This sea creature is usually described as having a huge dark head that just appears out of the water. It’s said that when it appears, it will break through any boat that is nearby and kill its passengers.
- Yurei. Yurei are the most typical-looking ghost creatures within the yokai category. They are often depicted as floating white corpses, dressed in a draping kimono, with long black hair.
Japanese folklore is full of supernatural beings, and one of the most popular are the Yokai. These creatures are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons that come in various forms. Some of the most well-known Yokai include: Kappa: A river creature with a water-filled dish on its head.
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Oct 9, 2023 · 8. Bakeneko. This is a shape-shifting mythical creature that is initially in the shape of a cat. Bakeneko can stay hidden while in their cat form, and change suddenly when needed. One of the origins of the Bakeneko is that cats used to lick lamp oils since they were made out of fish oil.
