Hannya

Hannya

Hannya (般若) is a is a is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien.

However, the word has multiple meanings.

It is a mask used in the Noh play Aoi no Ue, and is used to depict a jealous woman. Or a woman turned into an Oni.

This story, coming from The Tale of Genji does not contain this creature in the original story. Instead the soul of Lady Rokujō’s leaves her body every night to stalk Lady Aoi, and this is given the name of a ikiryō (Living ghost) instead. Toriyana Sekien changed this to the Hannya in his decpition.¹

External Links

• View the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki online here: Konjaku Online.

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

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