Part of the series on Japanese Mythology

Divinities Kami & Megami, Seven Lucky Gods List of divinities in Japanese mythology Japanese mythology is an extremely complex system of beliefs. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Amaterasu_cave_wide. ... A deity or a god, is a postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. ... Kami (神) is the Japanese word for deity. The word is used to indicate any sort of god, beings of a higher place or belonging to a different sphere of existence. ... The seven fortune gods (七福神, shichi fukujin) in Japan refer to the seven gods of good fortune in Japanese folklore: ; . They are often the subject of netsuke carvings and other representations. ... This is a list of divinities native to Japanese beliefs and religious traditions. ...

Legendary Creatures & Spirits Dragons, Obake, Yokai, Yūrei List of legendary creatures in Japanese mythology For creatures that are wholly fictional creations, see Category:Fictional species. ... A ghost is an alleged non-corporeal manifestation of a dead person (or, rarely, an animal). ... A Japanese dragon is a legendary creature with physical attributes and disposition similar to the Chinese and Korean dragons. ... Obake, also called obakemono, are the traditional ghosts, goblins and monsters from Japanese folklore; the term includes youkai (goblins and monsters) and yuurei (vengeful spirits of the dead). ... YÅ«rei (幽霊) are Japanese ghosts. ... The following is a list of yokai, obake and yurei which are notable in Japanese mythology. ...

Legendary Figures Abe no Seimei, Hidari Jingoro, Kintaro, Momotaro, Nezumi Kozo, Tamamo no Mae, Tomoe Gozen, Urashima Tarō A legend (Latin, legenda, things to be read) is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. ... Abe no Seimei (安倍 晴明 921?-1005?) was a leading specialist of onmyodo during the middle of Heian Period. ... The Famous, the Unrivalled Hidari Jingoro (Meiyo migi ni teki nashi Hidari Jingoro); by Utagawa Kuniyoshi Hidari Jingoro (å·¦ 甚五郎 ; ひだり ジンゴロウ) was a legendary Japanese artist, sculpurer and carpenter, active from 1596-1644. ... Kintaro (Golden Boy) is a hero from Japanese folklore. ... Bisque doll of Momotaro Momotaro (peach boy) is a hero from Japanese folklore. ... Jirokichi the Rat or Nezumi Kozo, (次郎吉 or ねずみ小僧, the latter literally meaning rat boy, ?? - 1832) is a Japanese folk hero, a legendary benevolent outlaw similar to the English Robin Hood. ... Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻前) is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. ... A woodblock print of Tomoe Gozen in battle. ... Urashima Tarō ) is a Japanese fairy tale about a fisherman who rescues a turtle and is rewarded with a visit to the RyÅ«gÅ«-jō, the Dragon Palace. ...

Mythical & Sacred Locations Horai, Mt. Hiei, Mt. Fuji, Rashōmon, Ryugu-jo, Suzakumon, Takamagahara, Yomi A mythical place is a place that does not really exist but is accepted folklore or speculation that it might exist or might have existed in earlier times but its actual location is now lost. ... In various religions, sacred (from Latin, sacrum, sacrifice) or holy, objects, places or concepts are believed by followers to be intimately connected with the supernatural, or divinity, and are thus greatly revered. ... Horai is a place in Japanese mythology. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Mount Fuji (富士山 Fuji-san, IPA: [ɸuʝisaɴ]) is the highest mountain on the island of Honshu and indeed in all of Japan. ... Marker at site of Rashōmon The Rashōmon (羅生門 or 羅城門 Rajōmon;the castle gate) was formerly the grandest of the two city gates of the Japanese city of Kyoto during the Heian period. ... In Japanese legend, Ryūgū-jō (竜宮城) is the undersea palace of Ryujin, the dragon god of the sea. ... The Suzakumon Gate was the main gate of the imperial palace in the Japanese ancient capital of Fujiwarakyō, Nara, and later Kyoto. ... Takama-ga-hara (Japanese: 高天原), or The High Plain of Heaven, is a place in Japanese mythology. ... Yomi (黄泉), the Japanese word for underworld in which horrible creatures guard the exits, is similar to Hades or hell and is most commonly known for Izanamis retreat to that place after her death. ...

Sacred Objects Amenonuhoko, Kusanagi, Tonbogiri Three Sacred Treasures The following is a list of sacred objects in Japanese mythology. ... Amanonuhoko (Lit. ... Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (Japanese: 草薙の剣) is a legendary Japanese sword as important to Japans history as Excalibur is to Britains. ... The Tonbogiri is one of three legendary spears created by the famed swordsmith Masazane. ... A representation of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. ...

Writings Konjaju Monogatari, Kwaidan, Otogizoshi, Yotsuya Kaidan Writing may refer to two activities: the inscribing of characters on a medium, with the intention of forming words and other constructs that represent language or record information, and the creation of material to be conveyed through written language. ... Konjaku Monogatarishū (今昔物語集, kon present + jaku past + monogatari tale + shū collection) is a Japanese collection of over one thousand tales written during the late Heian Period (794-1192). ... This article is about the classical Japanese texts. ... Yotsuya Kaidan (四つ谷怪談) is a Japanese ghost story. ...

Shinto & Buddhism Bon Festival, Tanabata A torii at Itsukushima Shrine Shinto (Kanji: 神道 Shintō) (sometimes called Shintoism) is a native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ... A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found from Sarnath, near Varanasi. ... Illuminated by the Albuquerque Bridge, Japanese volunteers place candle lit lanterns into the Sasebo River during the Obon festival. ... People dressed in yukata at Tanabata Tanabata (七夕, meaning Seven Evenings) is a Japanese star festival, derived from Obon traditions and the Chinese star festival, Qi Xi. ...

Folklorists Glen Grant, Lafcadio Hearn, Shigeru Mizuki Folkloristics is the formal academic study of folklore such as fairy tales and folk mythology in oral or non-literary traditions. ... Glen Grant, looking through the window of his store, the Haunt, in a 2001 photo. ... Lafcadio Hearn, aka Koizumi Yakumo. ... Shigeru Mizuki (水木しげる b. ...

The ghost of Oiwa manifesting herself as a lantern obake. From the classic ghost story Yotsuya kaidan. Print by Shunkosai Hokuei

Yōkai (also spelled Youkai; Japanese: 妖怪, "apparitions", "spirits", or "demons") are a class of obake (お化け, also called obakemono), creatures in Japanese folklore ranging from the evil oni (鬼) to the mischievous kitsune (狐) or snow woman Yuki-onna (雪女). Some possess part animal and part human features (e.g. Kappa (河童) and Tengu (天狗)). Yōkai generally have a sort of spiritual or supernatural power, and so encounters with human beings tend to be dangerous. Yōkai also have different motives and agendas from human beings, which are often completely incomprehensible. Some modern stories tell of yōkai breeding with human beings to produce hanyō (半妖, or "half-yōkai"). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (458x640, 102 KB) The ghost of Oiwa manifesting herself as a lantern obake. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (458x640, 102 KB) The ghost of Oiwa manifesting herself as a lantern obake. ... Yotsuya Kaidan (四つ谷怪談) is a Japanese ghost story. ... Generally, an apparition is act or instance of appearing. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... St. ... Obake, also called obakemono, are the traditional ghosts, goblins and monsters from Japanese folklore; the term includes youkai (goblins and monsters) and yuurei (vengeful spirits of the dead). ... Japanese mythology is an extremely complex religion and system of beliefs. ... Oni statue Oni (鬼) are fabulous creatures from Japanese folklore, similar to Western demons or ogres. ... It has been suggested that Kitsune-Tsuki be merged into this article or section. ... Yuki-onna (雪女, snow woman) is a spirit or type of spirit found in Japanese folklore. ... A drawing of a kappa which was reported to have been caught in a net on Mito East beach in 1801. ... Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Elephant catching a flying tengu Tengu (天狗) are minor kami or yokai found in Japanese folklore. ... Human beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. ... A Hanyō (Japanese: 半妖) in Japanese folklore is the product of a union between a yōkai and a human. ...

Some yōkai simply avoid human beings; they generally inhabit secluded areas far from human dwellings. Other yōkai, however, choose to live near human settlements out of some strange attraction to mankind; perhaps they are drawn by the warmth of human houses, or the oil that humans keep to feed their fires. Yōkai are traditionally associated with fire, the direction northeast, and the season of summer, when the spirit world is closest to the world of humans. Yokai and obake are often depicted in guises as much humorous as terrifying.

Manga artist Shigeru Mizuki popularized many types of yōkai in his works since the 1960's (e.g. one-eyed yōkai superhero Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro). Lafcadio Hearn's collection of Japanese ghost stories entitled Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things includes stories of yūrei and yōkai such as Yuki-onna. Shigeru Mizuki (水木しげる b. ... Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro is a horror anime. ... Lafcadio Hearn, aka Koizumi Yakumo. ... Kwaidan (怪談, Kaidan, 1965) is a film directed by Japanese director Masaki Kobayashi and is based on one of Lafcadio Hearns collections of Japanese folk tales, Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things (1903). ... YÅ«rei (幽霊) are Japanese ghosts. ... Yuki-onna (雪女, snow woman) is a spirit or type of spirit found in Japanese folklore. ...

Types of yōkai

There are a wide variety of yōkai in Japanese mythology. In general, yōkai is a broad term, and can be used to encompass virtually all monsters and supernatural beings, even including creatures from Western mythology on occasion (e.g., the German backbear is often included in Japanese mythology to the point that some mistakenly believe it originates from said myths). The term Western world or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ...

"Ghostly zoology"

In Japan, there can be found a good number of animals that are thought to have magic of their own. Most of these are henge (変化), shapeshifters, which often imitate humans, mostly women. Some of the better known animal yokai include the following: Shapeshifting, transformation or transmogrification refers to a change in the form or shape of a person. ...

• Tanuki (狸)
• Kitsune, foxes
• Boars
• Hebi, snakes (蛇)
• Mujina (狢)
• Cats (called bakeneko when they gain supernatural power)
• Ookami (狼, Japanese wolves, now extinct)

Tanuki (たぬき or 狸) is often mistakenly translated as raccoon or badger, but is in fact a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), a distinct canid species native to Japan. ... It has been suggested that Kitsune-Tsuki be merged into this article or section. ... A Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) A fox is a member of any of 27 species of small omnivorous canids. ... Binomial name Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig. ... Families Acrochordidae Aniliidae Anomalepididae Anomochilidae Atractaspididae Boidae Bolyeriidae Colubridae Cylindrophiidae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Leptotyphlopidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Typhlopidae Uropeltidae Viperidae Xenopeltidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... The mujina, in a scene from the anime Inu Yasha. ... CATS The Musical is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber (ALW) in 1981 based on Old Possums Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. ... ookami means the wolf in japan. ...

Oni

One of the most well-known aspects of Japanese folklore is the oni, which is a sort of mountain-dwelling ogre, usually depicted with red, blue, brown or black skin, two horns on its head, a wide mouth filled with fangs, and wearing nothing but a tigerskin loincloth. It often carries an iron club or a giant sword. Oni are mostly depicted as evil, but can occasionally be the embodiment of an ambivalent natural force. They are, like many obake, associated with the direction northeast. Oni statue Oni (鬼) are fabulous creatures from Japanese folklore, similar to Western demons or ogres. ... Obake, also called obakemono, are the traditional ghosts, goblins and monsters from Japanese folklore; the term includes youkai (goblins and monsters) and yuurei (vengeful spirits of the dead). ...

Tsukumogami

Tsukumogami (付喪神, hundred year old objects) are an entire class of yōkai and obake, comprising ordinary household items that have come to life on the anniversary of their one-hundredth birthday. This virtually unlimited classification includes Bakezouri (化け草履, straw sandals), Karakasa (唐傘, old umbrellas), Kameosa (瓶長, old sake jars), and Morinjin-okama (tea kettles). Tsukumogami (Lit. ... A Karakasa toy. ...

Human transformations

There are a large number of yōkai which were originally ordinary human beings, transformed into something horrific and grotesque usually by some sort of extreme emotional state. The futakuchi-onna (二口女, "two mouthed woman"), for example, grows an extra mouth on the back of her head, which is unknowingly fed by strands of her hair acting as tentacles of sorts. This is caused by a woman's extreme anxiety over her figure, and is only one example of extreme emotions causing supernatural changes in human beings. Other examples of human transformations or humanoid yōkai are the rokuro-kubi (ろくろ首, humans able to elongate their necks during the night), the ohaguro-bettari (a figure, usually female, that turns to reveal a face with only a blackened mouth), dorotabou (the risen corpse of a farmer, with eyeballs on its hands), among many others.

Miscellaneous

There are, of course, a countless number of yōkai that are too bizarre to fit into broad categories. These are usually some sort of perversion or transformation of creatures found in ordinary life, or are entirely new types of goblin-like creatures. Some examples are the abura-sumashi, an old, smug-faced and potato-headed goblin who drinks oil; the amikiri, a creautre that exists for no other purpose than to cut mosquito netting; and the ushioni, a cow demon that is sometimes depicted with the body of a giant spider. Abura-sumashi (油すまし) is a creature in Japanese mythology. ...

The Inuyasha Effect

In the English-speaking world, yōkai have risen to a degree of popularity due to the anime Inuyasha (and, to a lesser extent, the anime YuYu Hakusho), shown on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line of programming. However, this television show has led to just as much confusion about the true nature of yōkai. In the anime, yōkai (the word is translated as "demons" in Viz Media's English translations) are portrayed as either tragically romantic figures, yearning to be a part of human society, or as cunningly evil figures such as Naraku or Sesshomaru. In traditional Japan, however, yōkai, while something to be feared, are just as often portrayed to invoke the comical, the irrational, and the bizarre. Also a very minimal amount of "actual" yōkai are portrayed in these series, leading to a misunderstanding of what "real" yōkai really look like. A few exceptions include kitsune, monkeys, one kappa, an otoroshi, and what probably is an inugami. As a result, a large portion of non-Japanese viewers have the impression that youkai are either vicious and evil, or friendly and helpful. Shigeru Mizuki, one of the world's leading experts on yōkai, has said that there is no such thing as a truly evil yōkai (although there are a few that are described as such in traditional lore). Yōkai are usually antisocial and almost always have a negative reaction when they encounter humans, however this is more often out of a sense of comical mischief than truly malicious hatred, though there are exceptions, such as the ushioni (牛鬼, a giant, ocean dwelling cow-headed spider that attacks humans that wander on its beaches). Definitions of the Anglosphere vary: one definition (depicted, all in blue) includes two node countries – the United Kingdom and the United States – and five outliers: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa. ... Anime (アニメ) is a style of cartoon animation originating in Japan. ... Inuyasha (Japanese: 犬夜叉) is a shōnen manga and anime series created by Rumiko Takahashi. ... YuYu Hakusho (幽★遊★白書 YÅ«YÅ« Hakusho, literally The Playful Ghost White Paper, meaning Ghost Files / Poltergeist Report) is a manga and anime series by Yoshihiro Togashi. ... Cartoon Network is a cable television channel created by Turner Broadcasting and dedicated to showing animated programming. ... The Adult Swim logo. ... The demon Satan In folklore, mythology, and religion, a demon is a supernatural being that is generally described as an evil spirit, but is also depicted to be good in some instances. ... This article deals with the American media company. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Translation is an activity comprising the interpretation of the meaning of a text in one language — the source text — and the production, in another language, of a new, equivalent text — the target text, or translation. ... Naraku (奈落, underworld) is the major villain in the manga and anime series Inuyasha, although not always a major focus in every episode. ... Sesshomaru (殺生丸 Sesshōmaru) is a character in the anime and manga series InuYasha. ... A drawing of a kappa which was reported to have been caught in a net on Mito East beach in 1801. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

Yōkai in popular culture

Aside from appearances in anime and manga, yōkai have appeared in a number of other media as well. Amongst these are: Anime (アニメ) is a style of cartoon animation originating in Japan. ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons; outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ...

• The Yokai Daisenso movie series of the 1960s and 70s, as well as the 2005 remake
• The Harry Potter series, in which kappa and other creatures play minor roles
• The Tom Robbins novel Villa Incognito features a tanuki as the central character
• The yuki-onna features in a number of songs and has a fanlisting on the internet.

Yokai Daisenso (妖怪大戦争) is a 2005 Japanese horror-fantasy film directed by Takashi Miike and produced by Kadokawa Pictures. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series. ... Thomas Eugene Robbins (born July 22, 1936 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina) is an American author. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

See also

• Yaoguai
• Yuurei
• Obake
• Shigeru Mizuki
• Yuurei zaka
• Kijimunaa and other legednary beings of the Ryukyu Islands

Yaoguai (妖怪 pinyin yao1 guai0) or yaomo (妖魔 yao1 mo2) or yaojing (妖精 yao1 jing0) is a Chinese term that generally means demon. Yaoguai are mostly malevolent animal spirits that have acquired magical powers through the practice of Taoism. ... Yūrei (幽霊) are Japanese ghosts. ... Obake, also called obakemono, are the traditional ghosts, goblins and monsters from Japanese folklore; the term includes youkai (goblins and monsters) and yuurei (vengeful spirits of the dead). ... Shigeru Mizuki (水木しげる b. ... Top of YÅ«rei zaka Bottom of YÅ«rei zaka YÅ«rei zaka (幽霊坂) is a slope located in Mita 4-chome, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan. ... Ryukyuan religion is the indigenous belief system of the Uchinanchu people of Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands. ...

External links

• Youkai and Kaidan (PDF file)
• The Obakemono Project