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Showing posts with the label Mysterious creatures

Amikiri

Amikiri are small, crustacean-like, shrimp- or lobster-like yokai. They are described as a combination of several species: snake, bird, lobster. They have long, red, multi-segmented bodies, bird-like beaks, and two arms similar to the claws of a crayfish or a scorpion. It uses its claws to cut fisherman nets and mosquito nets. This habit and their behavior leads people to regard them as a pest. They can fly through the air like a fish swimming in water, and are quite shy, rarely appearing before humans. A story from Yamagata Prefecture tells of a fisherman who one day discovered that his fishing net had been cut so small that it was worthless. He suspected it was caused by an amikiri. The next day, he paid special attention to hiding his nets at his home, where they couldn't be found by any wandering yokai. However, that night, amikiri sneaked into his room while he was sleeping and cut the mosquito net on his bed. The man woke up with a painful and itchy mosquito bite all over his

Amazake-babaa

Amazake-babaa is a yōkai in the folklore of Miyagi and Aomori Prefectures. This youkai often appears on winter evenings in remote villages in the form of an old, emaciated woman. She goes from house to house, knocking on doors and in a childish voice she ask them for some amazake, a sweet, low-alcohol sake, and if anyone answered they fall ill. It is said that to keep her away, a cedar branch is placed in the doorway. She is also known as the goddess of smallpox during the period when smallpox raged in Japan. Mothers will make offerings to amazake-baba to prevent their children from getting sick. A variation of amazake babā from Yamanashi province is called amazake banbā. She goes from house to house trying to sell sake and amazake. The consequences of answering her are the same as for amazake babā, but the way of keeping her there is a little different. If you hang a sign on the front door that says “we don't like sake or amazake,” she will leave you alone and go to the next house

Amanojaku

Amanojaku or Amanjaku ("heavenly evil spirit") is a demon-like creature in Japanese folklore. They can be considered evil gods (kami), minor demons (oni) or youkai (youkai). They are often described as a type of small oni. They have the ability to see through a person's heart, "a very perverted demon" and from there can detect and blow up a person's darkest desires, inciting that person to commit bad deeds. Those who become victims will then begin to commit serious evil deeds. Therefore, wherever Amanojaku goes, it will cause a heavy evil spirit to haunt that place. In addition, they are described as a creature of extremely contrary nature. If they are asked to do something, they will do the opposite of what is asked. In Japanese Buddhism, Amanojaku is depicted as representing evil, but has been defeated by righteousness. The most common image is of the Four Heavenly Kings standing on the squashing Amanojaku demons. The mythology of Amanojaku is quite myster

Amabie

Amabie is said to be a mythical Japanese mermaid that depicts a variety of ape-like, daruma-doll-like, or bird-like, or fish-like appearances. However, it is most commonly depicted with a mouth like a bird's beak, has three or four legs, or a tail fin, has an ape-like voice, and is said to have emerged from the sea. Some descriptions suggest that they can even glow (at night). Amabie appeared to prophesy a bountiful harvest or a plague. Its images, carvings are said to have the ability to protect people against illness or death Another illustration also attributed to Amabie from the hand-replicated pamphlet depicts an ape-like creature with three legs, the legs seeming to project straight from the head (no neck or torso in the middle) . The body and face are covered with short hair, except it is bald. The eyes and ears are human-like, with a drooping or protruding mouth. This creature appeared in 1844 and predicted the doom for 70% of Japan's population that year, which could b

Akashita

Akashita is a yokai with an extremely large body, but it is hidden in a giant black cloud that only reveals its face and hands. The face of the monster is described as hairy, monstrous with a wide, ear-to-ear mouth that is always open with a large, long, bright red tongue extending out of the mouth. And the hands are large and hairy with long, sharp claws and look as big as meteors in the sky. Its origin can be identified as Akaguchi appearing in older Edo period yōkai scrolls such as Bakemono no e. This youkai is called Akaguchi and Akashita.The name Akashita may be related to the shakuzetsujin ("red tongue god") guarding Jupiter's west gate. It may also be related to shakuzetsunichi, an unlucky day in Onmyouji. Although some sources say that Akaguchi is simply a harbinger of bad luck, bad luck, and evil, other sources suggest Akaguchi as a protective deity. Akashita usually occurs during the summer months, when rain and water requirements are highest to ensure a success

Akaname

Akaname is a yōkai in Japanese folklore. Their name means "filth licker", they are said to lick the filth that accumulates in bathtubs and bathrooms. They are described as having a cropped head, an extremely long and sticky tongue. They are small, goblin-like youkai that although in general they look much smaller due to their hunching posture. Akanames have long, greasy hair on their heads, sometimes covering their entire faces. Their bodies are naked, their skin is greasy like their hair. Akaname comes in a variety of colors and varieties, from a dark, mottled green reminiscent of mold, to the pinkish pink of the lining. They have both one and two eyes, and may have one to five fingers and toes, all of which have long claws. Akanames live only in the dirtiest houses and public baths or in dilapidated buildings. they will sneak into places at night when people are sleeping using its long tongue to lick the dirt and grime that clings to the shower and tub. All akanames have an

Abura-Sumashi

Abura sumashi is a type of ghost, a rare yokai originating from Kumamoto. It has a squat-like appearance with a large ugly head that looks like a potato or a rock, and the limbs of an adult but shorter than normal. However, they are very agile and can instantly run away in front of others. Abura sumashi always wears a woven straw raincoat. It is extremely rare to appear in front of humans and is only found deep in the mountains or along the passes in southern Japan where wild tea trees grow. Little is known about the lifestyle and habits of this reclusive yokai. The most famous Abura sumashi lives in the Kusazumigoe Pass in Kumamoto, it makes passersby startle when it suddenly appears in front of them or sometimes answers them unexpectedly with a mysterious voice and instantly disappears - gone without a trace. Although its origin is a mystery, it is generally believed that Abura sumashi is the ghost of oil thieves who fled into the woods. Oil is a very difficult and expensive commodit

Abura-akago

The abura-akago is a type of Japanese yōkai that appears illustrated in Toriyama Sekien's Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki during the mid-Edo period. They often appear at night in populated areas as mysterious fireballs and hover in the sky. When all night fell, everyone fell into a deep sleep and the light from the lamps emanated from their houses. Abura-akago will break into houses with those lights. When entering a house, they immediately change shape into small children. In this child form, they lick the oil from oil lamps and paper lanterns, known as andon. After that, they turned back into fireballs and flew away to other houses. Like many other oil-related yōkai, abura akago are said to originate from oil thieves. While the particular circumstances of these oil thieves are lost to time, died and—instead of passing on to the next life—turned into yōkai as a penalty for their sins. Some related notes: In Hacchō, Ōtsu of Ōmi ("Afumi") Province, there exists a flame resembling

Xuong Cuong (tree demon)

Xuong Cuong devil, also known as the tree demon, is a monster in the legend from ancient times of the Vietnamese people. This is one of the most powerful monsters still handed down in the history and mysteries of the South. Legend has it that Xuong Cuong is the incarnation of an ancient tree that has lived for thousands of years. The giant tree, more than a thousand feet high, luxuriant branches and leaves, covering an area of ​​several thousand feet. Cranes often fly there to nest, so the land is also known as Bach Hac land (today is Tam Giang - Bach Hac). That sacred tree was once revered as a god in the land, no one dared to desecrate and approach. Over the years, for some unknown reason, the tree lost all its leaves, withered away, turned into a fierce and evil demon, and left the forest it once lived in. Xuong Cuong has a bizarre appearance, often changes form, unpredictable transformation, is very brave, and loves to eat people and has been the fear of the ancient Vietnamese for

Ngu Tinh (Fish demon)

Ngu Tinh is a big fish that has lived countless generations to become a demon. This demon has lived in the East Sea, also known as Ngu Tinh Xa. The body is more than 50 feet long, the legs are like centipede feet, the tail is as big as a sail. It is extremely good at metamorphosis, extremely magical that no one can grasp. When Ngu Tinh moved to anywhere, the rain and wind rumbled. It is a cannibal monster, can eat up to 3-5 people at a time, so the people are scared. Ngu Tinh is not just a fish that turns into a demon but can be many different species of fish because of its long life. These fishes are all big, have the power to make wind, rain, and wave. There are children like red-tailed crocodiles, pink scales like to eat people. Another type is a fish with a human face, likes to swallow children alive, weighing up to several thousand bells. Ngu Tinh has lived in a cave at the foot of a mountain that rises out of the sea, the cave is deep down to the seabed. Ngu Tinh was cunning, thi

Thuong Luong (Jiaolong/ Fake Dragon)

Thuong Luong or Giao Long, known as a sea monster, is a monster that exists in legends, known by folklore as Thuong Luong. There are many descriptions of the appearance of this creature such as: Its skin is grainy (thick scales), its mouth is full of swords; It looks like a snake with four legs, a small neck... The body is big enough to hug, can swallow people. It lays eggs the size of a basket or two, It resembles a snake with a dragon-like head and all four limbs, a crest, and sometimes wings. This sea monster is somewhat like a dragon but it's not really a dragon and it's not a dragon But most commonly, Thuong Luong is described as very large, with horns like a dragon, a body like a snake, and tremendous strength, even to the level of supernatural, and can transform into human form and live like a human. It live in large and deep waters, ready to attack any fisherman or boat that enters its territorial waters. This monster is rumored to be a ferocious monster with unparallel

Yuè zhuó

Yuè zhuó symbolizes the virtue of indomitable perseverance, is considered by the people as a divine beast (an auspicious animal). Yuè zhuó is one of the five species of phoenix in ancient Chinese folklore. The whole body yuè zhuó is black or purple. It has the same appearance as the Black Swan, with large red eyes appearing in pairs of males and females. According to legend, Yuè zhuó is a faithful creature, if one of the two dies, the other will cry for three days and three nights. Finally, the body and mind cooled down, the blood dried up, and then it died with the other. Therefore, Yuè zhuó symbolizes the indomitable virtue of perseverance, is considered by the people as a divine beast (an auspicious animal).

Kuzuryu (Nine Headed Dragon)

Kuzuryū (nine-headed dragon), or Kuzuryūshin (nine-headed dragon god) is a deity who appears in the folklore and legends of various regions of Japan, including, such as Hakone (Kanagawa), Prefecture Nagano and Fukui Prefecture. Kuzuryū is said to be a water god. Legend has it that: During the Nara period, a huge Nine-Headed Dragon appeared and settled at Lake Ashi in Hakone. The dragon asked to be sacrificed or else it would slaughter everyone in this area. With no other choice, the people were forced to follow the dragon's request to appease it. They use a white feathered arrow and shoot into the sky. And the house where the arrow landed was the house where a girl had to become a scapegoat. A priest named Mankan couldn't stand the dragon's cruelty. He did a curse, and bound it to the Upside-down Cedar (a deep underwater rock mass). After binding underwater, the dragon seems to have changed. Mankan saw it and so he built a temple for the dragon. The dragon was worshiped and

Bakunawa (Dragon)

In Philippine mythology, Bakunawa is a giant sea dragon (or giant python) that can fly with wings. This mystical creature is described as having extraordinary strength and has up to 7 heads. Bakunawa's mouth is the size of a lake. It is depicted living in the deep sea at a time when the world had 7 moons. The Bakunawa dragon was fascinated by the moon's light so it always tried to swallow each moon. Accordingly, the dragon Bakunawa rose to the surface of the sea and jumped up to swallow the moon in its stomach. Every time the Bakunawa dragon swallows a moon, a lunar eclipse occurs. This the dragon flew up until it swallowed all 7 moons. The sky turned dark. The people became frightened. They prayed to the god Bathala who ordered them to bring all the pots and pans out and knock them to make noise. Bakunawa startled and released the last moon. Then the god Bathala appeared, sending Bakunawa out into space. Though Bakunawa tried to return home by way of the last moon's light,

Phoenix

The phoenix (Latin: phoenīx; Greek: φοῖνῐξ phoînix) is a divine and sacred form of the firebird in several Western myths such as Greek, Egyptian and other related myths. or affected. It is said that the phoenix can live up to 500 or 1,400 years (depending on the source), it is a bird with beautiful yellow and red plumage. When it was about to die, the phoenix built it a nest out of cinnamon sticks and then set itself on fire; Both the nest and the bird burned so fiercely that only a handful of ashes remained, from which a new phoenix was born. The new phoenix lived as long as the old phoenix. However, in some legends this is not the case. The new phoenix marinated the old phoenix's ashes in an egg made of myrrh and brought it to the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis ("city of the sun" in Greek). The Phoenix is ​​also said to respawn after being injured, so it is virtually immortal and cannot be defeated; The phoenix rising from the ashes is an impressive image in Wester

Onibi (Demon Fire)

Onibi (Demon Fire) is a type of atmospheric ghost light in Japanese legend. One of the types of youkai that is shaped like a fireball and is extremely dangerous. Onibi is a beautiful but deadly phenomenon. They look like small fireballs, usually blue or white (red and yellow onibi are less common), and occur in groups of twenty to thirty individuals. Onibi spheres can range in size from three to thirty centimeters and often hover at eye level. They appear in places surrounded by nature, grasslands, forests, watersides, graveyards — most often during the spring and summer months, and especially on rainy days. According to folklore, they are spirits born from the corpses of humans and animals. It is not known what causes the onibi to be born; sometimes they show up and sometimes they don't. Intense grudges and malice can also create onibi. They are considered identical to the will-o'-the-wisps of English folklore. Onibi doesn't generate much heat, but is dangerous in other re

Aosagibi (Glowing heron)

Many birds, as well as other ordinary creatures, can transform into yokai with strange powers when they live long enough. Aosagibi is one such creature. They are believed to be herons - especially the nocturnal black-crowned heron. Other wild herons and birds, such as ducks and pheasants, can also develop the ability to transform into Aosagibi, although it is generally thought to be caused by nocturnal herons. Aosagibi depicts a heron with burning eyes and its white feathers burning brightly with a supernatural light. From a distance, the bird looks like a fiery ball of fire. This bird has the ability to hypnotize people who encounter them to the point of getting lost in the forest without finding a way out, if they can't get out, they will die. With each breath, they begin to blow a layer of iridescent yellow powder from their beaks and disperse them into the wind. In autumn, their bodies begin to emit a bluish-white light at night. Their fragrant breath ignites into bright blue f

Basan (Big fire rooster)

The Basan is a rare bird found only on the island of Shikoku, in the mountains of Ehime. They are roughly the size of a turkey and shaped like a chicken. Basans are easily recognized by their bright red crest and brightly colored plumage that looks like tongues of fire. Their most notable feature is their breath flowing out of a dragon's fire-like mouth. However, the flame does not give off heat nor ignite combustible materials. Wood and embers make up their diet According to legend, anyone who heard Basan flap his wings and saw the appearance of this ghost chicken would disappear without a trace. Basan are completely nocturnal species and little is known about their behavior. They make their homes in remote bamboo groves, far from human habitation. During the day it hides in bamboo groves, but at night it emerges and wanders into remote villages at night in search of remains of bonfires or charcoal. When pleased or startled, the basan fish flaps its wings creating a distinctive ru

Omukade (Giant centipede)

Omukade is giant centipede youkai in Japanese mythology. Ōmukade is very cruel and ferocious. It is a threat to all living things where they appear. Its favorite food is people. It has a dark body, bright orange legs and head. The exoskeleton is so hard that it cannot be penetrated by a weapon. No one has clearly stated the size of an Omukade, but it is described as as big as a dragon, and in fact, the venom from its bites, even dragons are feared. What's more terrifying is, Omukade's venom is rarely enough to cause death but cause the victim to suffer a prolonged pain. It's very painful, but I can't die. That's why many people use this monster's venom for more torture purposes. Omukade usually lives in caves deep in the mountains, dark and damp places or anywhere that can accommodate its huge size. Omukade also transforms into a half-human and half-centipede form with the upper body of a maiden and the lower body a hideous centipede. It uses that form to lure m

Tatsu (Japanese dragon)

Tatsu, the Japanese dragon, is similar in appearance to the Chinese dragon. They have long, scaly bodies, zigzag tails, sharp teeth and claws, and often have horns, antlers, spines, and antennae. Some tatsu have multiple limbs or heads. Some of them disguise themselves as humans and are never seen in their natural form. Tatsu has a strong connection with water, such as rain, rivers, seas or oceans. They are considered water gods. They live in splendid palaces on the depths of the sea, or in other secluded places. They usually live far away from human-inhabited areas, but sometimes stay at home near Buddhist temples. Like Western dragons, they store large amounts of treasure and keep powerful magical artifacts in their homes. Many of them are great villains, tormenting humanity without words, while others are pure and kind, dedicating their wisdom and strength to those who seek it. Some tatsu even allow worthy heroes to visit them, and lend their magical items to noble warriors. Tatsu r