Month: July 2019

Oni, Yokai

Shuten-doji Carrying an Sake Gourd

Northwest of Kyoto, there is a mountain called Mount Ōe (大江山) that holds an oni lair. An ancient lair that was owned by the notorious oni king called Shuten-dōji. Without a doubt, he is one of the three most feared yokai of ancient Kansai region, including Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻前) and Ōtakemaru (大嶽丸). Shuten-dōji is the original oyabun that terrorized the people of Kyoto with his dreaded gang of oni.

As it was written in the narrative Ōeyama Ekotoba (大江山絵詞), Shuten-dōji continually raided the northern region of Kyoto. Incessantly, the oni king and his gang looted and plundered the province in a drunken fury. Moreover, Shuten-dōji kidnapped young women and forced them to serve as his private maidservants. Those who refused were eaten and their blood were drunk with sake.

Over the years, Shuten-dōji‘s notoriety attracted hundreds of oni from across Japan. Moreover, his top lieutenants were fearfully called the “Four Divine Kings”. Their names were Hoshikuma-dōji, Kuma-dōji, Torakuma-dōji, and Kane-dōji. Furthermore, Shuten-dōji has a favourite underling, Ibaraki-dōji. who was menacing in his own right. Because of the immense power and influence of Shuten-dōji, he threatens the reigning Emperor of Japan.

Ibukiyama Version

Alternatively, in the Mt. Ibuki (伊吹山) legend, Shuten-dōji was born to the great serpent Yamata no Orochi (八岐大蛇). Although he went through monk training at Mt. Hiei, Shuten-dōji continued to drink heavily. Consequently, he got intoxicated during a religious festival. Moreover, he played a prank on his fellow acolytes by wearing an oni mask to frighten them. Consequently, at the end of the night, the mask has melded to Shuten-dōji‘s face.

Because he was unable to remove the oni mask, Shuten-dōji fled to forests of Mt. Ibuki. Initially regretful, he turned wicked. As such, he began his life as a true oni. Shuten-dōji terrorized the people of Kyoto and formed a gang of oni. Afterwards, he built his fortress high up in the mountains. Interestingly, in this Ibukiyama version, Shuten-dōji‘s honji (本地), “true nature”, was identified to be Dairokuten no Maō (第六天の魔王) the evil king of the Sixth Heaven, the archenemy of Buddha.

Downfall of the Oni King

Finally, Emperor Ichijō commanded his mightiest samurai to subdue the oni king Shuten-dōji. Immediately, the supernatural warriors travelled to Mt. Ibuki disguised as yamabushi priests. After discovering the hideout, they requested an audience with Shuten-dōji. As such, the oni king had a grand reception for his guests. Covertly, the disguised warriors offered Shuten-dōji with an enchanted sake. Eventually, after countless drinks later, the notorious oni fell asleep. At this moment, the inhuman samurai, Minamoto no Raikō, chopped off Shuten-dōji‘s head with Dōjigiri (童子切), the legendary sword.

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Yokai Details

  • name: shuten-doji (sho-ten-doe-jee)
  • kanji:  酒呑童子 ( しゅてんどうじ )
  • alternative spelling: 酒顛童子, 酒天童子, 朱点童子
  • meaning: sake drinking child
  • abilities:
    1. supernatural strength — massive power cut a person in half
    2. inhuman stamina — fight non-stop for days without tiring
    3. muscle armour — use incredible dense muscle as protection
    4. oni transformation — transform into a 50ft tall oni with a head of 5 horns and 15 eyes
Tengu, Yokai

Kotengu

Tengu is an iconic creature in Japanese culture and religion. These yokai come in various shape and form. Some are daemonic creatures that wreck havoc and destroy villages. Some are powerful guardians of the great mountains and vast forests. The yokai of the day is kotengu a lesser type of tengu . These avian creatures are the ultimate hoarder of forgotten and magical artifacts.

Unlike the other tengu cousins, kotengu resemble more like a large bird than humanoid. They have a beak instead of mouth and nose and crow talons instead of feet. Even though kotengu are wild-like yokai, they are often seen in yamabushi attire. These mountain ascetic hermits, probably, presented the monk clothes to the yokai themselves.

Hoarders of the Forest

Kotengu fly around the forest mountains looking for abandoned shiny objects. These avian yokai are voracious hoarders, always looking for shiny items. They will snatch it from the living or the dead. As such, yokai folklorists believe that they have have large stashes of valuable and forgotten artifacts in their roosts. These covetous kotengu will never trade their loot with anyone.

Nonetheless, there are many stories of smart men who have successfully tricked the kotengu into trading magical artifacts for useless trinkets. Conversely, there are much more accounts of failures. Kotengu‘s punishments include hog-tying the deceiver up the highest tree in the forest. A position where all can hear his scream but none are able to help him. Another known account tells kotengu forcing the cheaters to eat their own excrement until they go insane.

Endangered Species

However, the number of kotengu sightings have decreased dramatically over the decades. Nobody really know why that is so. Some folklorists, speculate that the kotengu migrated deeper into the forests because of global warming. Some believe that the kotengu has been hunted down by the more divine tengu that protects the mountains. Nonetheless, stay safe when travelling in the mountainous forests. Avoid any suspicious avian monks. Unless, of course, you want the artifact that monk is holding on to.

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Yokai Details

  • name: kotengu (koh-ten-goo)
  • kanji: 小天狗 ( こてんぐ )
  • meaning: lesser tengu
  • abilities:
    1. flight — use wings to fly in high speed
    2. keen sense — able to sense valuable objects within range
Tsukumogami, Yokai

When you visit a Japanese Buddhist temple, you will notice the large circular bell found at front eaves. After your prayers, you ring the open-lipped bell which are colloquially known as waniguchi. But unbeknownst to many, that sacred instrument can evolve into a yokai of the same name. A crocodilian-like creature that feeds on the prayers of the devout.

Waniguchi is one of the rarest yokai and there are very little information about this tsukumogami. Why? Because prayer instruments are very rarely abandoned. In fact, they are always devoutly and respectfully removed. Nonetheless, in centuries past, temples and shrines were abandoned due to war and plagues. Consequently, the dilapidated bell falls to the ground and rusts away. Eventually, it transforms into a waniguchi and scuttles around the deserted temple compound.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that waniguchi, as a prayer bell, has listened to all the prayers of the devout. As such, it desperately yearns to hear these devout prayers. As a tsukumogami, waniguchi feeds on these emotional pleas for sustenance.

Conclusion

Interestingly, most Edo-period illustrations depicts waniguchi as a four-legged creature with blue-green scaly skins. The yokai retains the prayer bell as a head with a crocodilian smile. But truth be told, nobody really knows. So if you hear a prayer bell ring after your prayers at home, try to sneak a peek and see if the Edo illustrators are right.

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Yokai Details

  • name: waniguchi (wah-nee-goo-chee)
  • kanji: 鰐口 ( わにぐち )
  • meaning: literally crocodile mouth
  • abilities:
    1. sonic wave — generate powerful pressured sound attack
    2. sonar detection — use sound to identify the wicked hearted