Kyōkotsu

Kyōkotsu (狂骨 – Crazy bones) is a type of yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi by Toriyama Sekien.

The creature is a skeleton in a well, though it is portrayed as quite ghost like.

The depiction of a skeletal looking bamboo pole against withered tall grass can evoke the proverb:

yūrei no shōtai mitari karebana
What I though to be a ghost was simply dried grass.¹

External Links

• • View the book online here: Konjaku Hyakki Shūi Online.

Footnotes

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

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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Minobi

Minobi (蓑火 – Raincoat Fire) is a type of yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi, also known as mino-mushi.

This was a phenomenon in folklore which stated mino raincoats would at times spark during the rain. The only way to stop this was to remove the mino, but also trying to brush them away would also cause the raincoat to ignite.

Sekien in his musings says this fire could be from ying and yang, or merely from the shins of poor peasants, whilst also mentioning the island of Tamino.¹

External Links

• View the book online here: Konjaku Hyakki Shūi Online.

Footnotes

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

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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Chōchin bi

Chōchin bi (提灯火 – Lantern Fire) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien.

This creature is a type of atmospheric light in the form of a fire which can be seen to appear on the footpaths between different rice fields. These fires are said to be carried by the ‘Lord of Night.’ An idiom for this Lord of Night is ‘yoru no tono,’ and refers to foxes.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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Hear about Proverbs on Bonus Episode 6 and 14 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

Proverbs

In Japanese proverbs are known as 諺 (kotowaza). And in old, ancient Japan this word was also used to words conveyed by kami through oracles. Only later did it become used for folk wisdom.

By the Edo Period we can find proverbs published in collections such as the Kefukigusa from 1645 which only added to their popularity.⁵

お

• • 老いたるを父とせよ – Oitaru wo, chichi to se-yo – ‘That which is old should be treated with the respect due a father.’³
  • Okubyōgami ga tsuku – ‘Possessed by the kami of Cowardice.’²

な

• • nanae-yae – ‘Seven times, eight times.’ Something that has many layers.²

ね

• • 猫に小判 – Neko ni koban – ‘Gold coins to a cat.’⁵
  • 猫の手も借りたい – Neko no te mo karitai – ‘I even want to borrow a cat’s hand.’⁴

た

• • 立てば芍薬 座れば牡丹 歩く姿は百合の花 – Tateba shakuyaku, suwareba botan, aruku sugata wa yuri no hana – ‘She stands like a Chinese peony, sits like a Japanese peony, and walks like a lily.²
  • 蓼食う虫も好き好き – Tade kuu mushi mo sukisuki – ‘Every man to his taste.’⁶

ち

• • 塵も積もれば山となる – Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru – ‘Dust accumulated makes a mountain.’⁵
  • 魑魅魍魎 – Chimi-mōryō ‘Encompassing Term for – All supernatural creatures found in the mountains and rivers’.²

て

• • 天狗になる – Tengu ni naru – ‘To show off, to be confident.’¹
  • tenjō wo miseru – ‘To show someone the ceiling.’²
    

と

• • 豆腐の角に頭をぶつけて死ね – Tofu no kado ni atama wo butsukete shinjimae! – ‘Go hit your head on the corner of a block of Tofu and die!’¹

さ

• • 猿も木から落ちる – Saru mo ki kara ochiru – ‘Even monkeys fall out of trees.’⁵

し

• • 舌は禍いの根 – Shita wa wazawai no ne – ‘The tongue is the root of all disaster.²

す

• • 脛から火を取る – Sune kara hi wo toru – ‘Making fire from your shins.’ (You are so poor you don’t even have twigs to rub together to make fire.)²

ひ

• • Himamushi – Wasting Time.²

か

• • 可愛い子には旅をさせよ – Kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo – ‘If you love your children, send them on a journey.⁵

き

• • 聞いて極楽見て地獄 – Kiite gokuraku mite jigoku – ‘Sounds like paradise, but hell when you see it.’⁵

く

• • 口は禍の門  – Kuchi wa wazawai no mon – ‘The mouth is the gate of all disaster.’²

Idioms

ゆ

• • yūrei no shōtai mitari karebana – ‘What I though to be a ghost was simply dried grass.’²

よ

• • yoru no tono – ‘Lord of Night.’ (Usually a term for foxes)²

Unsure Japanese

• • ‘Even the mountain gods tremble at a woman’s makeup in December.’ (Used alongside the Oshiroibaba)²

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2008) “Yokai Attack: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide” Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd.
2. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: over Publications, Inc.
3. Porter, W.N. (1981) ”The Tosa Diary by Ki no Tsurayuki”. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
4. Puni Puni Japan. Link: Neko no te mo karitai
5. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
6. Wilson, W. S. (2016) “Afoot in Japan: A Nineteenth Century Guide to Walking the Back Roads” Shambhala Publications Inc.

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Tengu

The Tengu (天狗) are a type of Yōkai depicted as a type of Raven in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. They have deep associations with the Shugendō Religion, seen as guardians of Mountains and some legends state that martial artists such as Miyamoto no Yoshitsune learned their tricks from these creatures¹ Due to their association with Shugendō they are seen as minor kami.²

Origins

The first mentioning of them is believed to be in the Nihon Shoki from the 8th century. Some scholars say they find their origin in the Hindu kami Garuda, who arrived in Japan when Buddhism arrived.²

Types

They live in the mountains and are stated to be born from enormous eggs deep in the mountains. Traditionally there are two forms, a bird-like ‘Raven’ form known as the Karasu-Tengu (烏天狗); and a humanoid ‘Longnose’ kind known as the Hanadake-Tengu (鼻高天狗). The Karasu Tengu has a bird like or dog like face with a beak. When clothed, they are said to look like a Buddhist monk. Some other traditions say they also have claws and could shapeshift.²

However, The Tale of the Heike describes them as:

men but not men; bird, but not bird; dog, but not dog; they possess the head of a canine, a pair of wings, and are capable of both flight and walking.¹

The Hanadake-Tengu have enormous noses, large feathered wings, bright red skin and often walk barefoot or can be seen wearing single toothed-geta clogs. They are also very large and muscular.²

Powers

When it comes to the powers, the Karasu-Tengu are said to be strong, and capable of possession and to cloud peoples minds. They were well known to play tricks on people, taking young disciples to far away locations and attempting to tempt holy men and believers away from their faith.

For the Hanadake-Tengu they have the powers of telepathy and teleportation. Also capable of shapeshifting they are extremely skilled at martial arts and can make strong wings with leaf like fans.

They have also been blamed for the spreading of plagues and natural disasters.

One story relating to 1806, set in a village in Gifu Prefecture says that a Tengu kidnapped 15yr old who was later returned 3 years later, and upon his return had become proficient in the use of the tanegashima (flint lock rifle).

Another tale talks of how they aschew random violence, enjoying to play tricks to teach people a lesson. This tale from 1812 says a naked man fell from sky in Asakusa, with his last memory being of hiking on a Kyoto mountainside known as a Tengu home.²

Home, Heirarchy and Clans

These creatures are said to live in the moutains and will defend their territory like crazy and have their own foot soldiers. The most powerful Tengu are dubbed O-Tengu and the Hanadake-Tengu rank higher than the Karasu-Tengu. The Edo Period book known as the Tengu Kyo details the 48 Mountains they Tengu live in. The Tarobo Clan live on Mt. Atago, the Sojono Clan on Mt. Kurama and the Daranibo Clan on Mt. Fuji. This book estimates that their population as a whole is around 125,500. ²

Proverbs

• Tengu ni naru – ‘to show off,’ ‘to act confidently.’²

External Links

• View the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō online here: Gazu Hyakki Yagyō Online.

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
2. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2008) “Yokai Attack: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide” Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd.

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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