Izuna (飯綱) also goes by the name of kuda-kitsune (管狐). It can be said the two are the same, yet have some small more distinctive qualities and legends about them that make them a little different. The Izuna is a small youkai, with soft fur and a tail like the end of a broom. It's born with all …
Category: Myths & Legends
Let’s have a Night Parade!
The Hyakki Yako (百鬼夜行), or the Night Parade of One Hundred Monsters, is one of the more well-known Japanese folklore tales, frequently a subject of old paintings like this one: Hyakki Yako is a name given when all kinds of youkai gather together in a group to walk the streets. Of course, anyone who happens …
Let’s talk Tengu’s
The Tengu is a fascinating creature, neither black nor white, it seems to permanently reside in the area of grey (pun not intended). Back in ancient times when the unknown was a subject of fear rather than a new series on the Discovery Channel, people in Japan believed that forests were a spiritual area, the place where …
Yuki no Onna
Here's another favorite among the folklore of Japan, the Snow Maiden - Yuki no Onna. The Snow Maiden is purported as a young, beautiful woman, with long, black hair and pale skin that was cold to the touch. Most likely to be seen in a snowstorm or a snowy landscape wearing a white kimono. The origin of the …
More from fox spirits
Random tidbits: Although portrayed as a trickster, the fox spirit is also considered a messenger and faithful servant of Inari, the god of rice and fertility. The ones who serve Inari are depicted to be white in color - a good omen. Inari shrines even features numerous guardian kitsune statues. It’s said that when the sun is shining when …
Kitsune
When it comes to Japanese folklore, one of the more familiar characters is the kitsune (狐), the fox demon. Kitsune are capable of possessing humans, but they are most well-known for being shapeshifters. Foxes are known to be tricksters, fooling humans, stealing food, all kinds of petty crime. One aspect they are most well-known for is taking …
Tsuki and Mochi
Most of my research is a miss-mash of Internet sources, books and my own rough supposition. Although the great thing about fiction is how much you can make up by your own imagination, I do try to gather as much facts as I can, especially when dealing with myths. As mentioned before, Inugami are …
Inugami and Shikigami
Onmyouji and Shikigami go hand-in-hand, and not just because they're both hard to pronounce. Although Onmyouji by and large, practiced a form of divination arts, many believed that the truly powerful ones were capable of controlling spirits and demons. Shikigami (she-ki-ga-mi) 式神, are such spirits that Onmyouji could have do their bidding. Depending on how good the practitioner was, shikigami could …
Onmyouji
When I first started writing this book, I ran into a snag of what exactly was an Onmyouji (pronounced on-myo-gee) 陰陽師. There's a lot of beliefs and religion mixed into the concept, but basically, an Onmyouji is a practitioner of magic and divination. During the Heian era, they were government officials meant to protect the Emperor and citizens …
MJ Lin 