When I was young, I was always taught to be reverent to priests and monks. But at the same time, I was told many stories about monk-like yokai who menaces the country side, preying on the good. Today we will discuss about, one such yokai who is well known for his blue-green skin.
In the past, travelling monks are commonly seen moving from one village to another providing various services. These include blessing rituals, purification ceremonies and healing aids. Aobozu is a perversion of these holy nomadic monks. A yokai who boasts about his priestly knowledge but, in reality, knows next to nothing.
Perverse Monks
The most obvious corruption of the wayfaring monks is the Aobozu‘s blue-green skin. Although many tales claim that it is obviously blue in colour, some stories dictate the yokai having a green hue. Which could indicate that there is the high possibility of multiple subspecies in different prefectures. The common feature across Japan is its one cyclopean eye. This is commonly seen in many drawings where the Aobozu is staring relentlessly, hypnotizing the audience.
Another common trait is his modus operandi. The Aobozu targets remote houses of old folks and approaches them after sunset, usually rainy nights, concealing his colour in the dark. The generous country folk will invite the yokai in and provide him shelter from the elements, and sometimes food for the night.
This cordial interaction is harmless, unless one ask the yokai for temple services in trade. Such requests could be disastrous as the Aobozu knows very little in the ways of the temple. If you are lucky, it would be a simple, but futile, prayer. If not, the Aobozu will provide bogus overzealous ritual that lasts through the night and may, accidentally, burn your house down with its incense burners.
Modern Times
These days, Aobozu is a rare yokai to encounter, especially in the city. The bright fluorescent lights not only exposes their obvious blue hue, but hurts its only eye. In recent years, I have not heard, or read, about any Aobozu tales. Even though they may be extinct, one can not help but wonder how the Aobozu comes about.
Some believe that when a man abandoned his priesthood and lived a carnal life, he is reborn as an Aobozu. Others presumed that it evolved from a yokai who tried to learn the ways of the priest but to lazy to practice. Nonetheless, to invite an Aobozu into your home, is to invite misfortune.
Yokai Details
- name: aobozu (ah-oh-boh-zoo)
- kanji: 青坊主 (あおぼうず)
- meaning: blue priest
- abilities:
- telepathic suggestion — able to instill thoughts and ideas into minds of others
