In Japanese folklore, Hitodama ("human souls") are floating fireballs that glow amber, pale blue, or ruddy in the moonlight. There are even a few that can be seen during the day.They also have a tail, but it can be short or long. They hover at not very high altitudes.
They are said to be "the souls of the dead that have separated from their bodies," which is where their name comes from.
They are often confused with onibi and kitsunebi, but since hitodama are considered "appearances of souls leaving the body and flying through the air", a different kind must be mentioned here.
In terms of their shape and nature, there are features common throughout Japan, but there are also some regional differences.
In Okinawa Prefecture, hitodama are known as tamagai, and in the Nakjin region they are said to appear before a child is born, in some other regions they are said to be mysterious flames that cause people to die.
In Kawakani, Inba Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture (now Yachimata), hitodama were called tamases, and were said to be spirits that exit the body 2 or 3 days after a person dies. They go to temples or to people who have a deep relationship with them. They are said to make wonderful sounds, but these sounds can only be heard by those who have a deep relationship with the soul.
📚 Explore more of the Mystical Creatures series here: Dive into the Enchanted Realms of Mythology
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