𝕐𝕠𝕜𝕒𝕚: 𝔽𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚c ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕁𝕒𝕡𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕖 𝔽𝕠𝕝𝕜𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕖 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟙

Even an Oni at Eighteen, Even Bancha at First Brewing – Oni Mo Juuhachi, Bancha mo Debana（鬼も十八、番茶も出花）

Every culture has it's own monsters. İn Japan the creatures and strange phenomena of folklore have been known historically by a variety of terms, including Mononoke, Bakemono and Obake, but most commonly today they are called Yōkai, derived from the kanji 妖 (bewitching) and 怪 (suspicious, mystery), represent a diverse range of Japanese folklore creatures and phenomena, including monsters, spirits, and paranormal activity.

They often haunt specific locations and are active at dawn and dusk.

Yōkai encompass a broader range of unexplainable phenomena than the English terms "monster" or "spirit," including creatures like Kappa and Tengu, with behaviors ranging from mischievous to protective.

Historically, yōkai were associated with local belief systems and folk narratives across Japan.

Yōkai in Japanese folklore blur the line between evil and divine, reflecting an animistic worldview where spirits can inhabit objects and natural features.

Tsukumogami, like old household items, exemplify this by coming to life with animating spirits.

Creatures like the kappa exhibit both playful and deadly behavior, being worshipped as protective deities and even transforming into mountain spirits in some traditions.

MONO-NO-KE 物の怪 (Changed Beings)

In Japan, Yōkai is now used as the general term for mysterious phenomena and creatures, but historically, different terms were used.

In the Heian period (794-1185), spooky and unexplainable phenomena were called Mono-no-ke, found in works like Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji."

"Mono" refers to "thing" or "matter," while "Ke" implies something mysterious or troubling.

Scholars debate whether mono referred to concrete things or ghostly entities, but mono-no-ke conveyed a sense of spookiness and mystery, indicating danger and uncertainty lurking nearby.

BAKEMONO 化物 AND OBAKE お化け

During the Edo period (1600-1868), "Bakemono" referred to transforming or anomalous creatures, a term still used today in casual and academic contexts.

"Obake," a related word, remains popular, especially among children, similar to the English term "monster," used for evil beings or large objects.

YOKAI 妖怪

In recent years, "Yōkai" has become the preferred term, derived from two Chinese characters (妖 and 怪) meaning strangeness or mystery.

Its usage dates back to eighth-century Japan, mentioned in the Shoku Nihongi during a purification ceremony following a strange occurrence.

While rare in classical and medieval periods, its frequency increased during the mid-Edo period, sometimes equated with "Bakemono."

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), notably in the work of Inoue Enryō, "Yōkai" began to be used as a technical term for unexplainable phenomena.

Folklorist Yanagita Kunio further popularized it in the twentieth century, and manga artist Mizuki Shigeru solidified its usage.

Today, "yōkai" is commonly found in both academic and popular writing, encompassing various supernatural entities and phenomena.

YOKAI AND KAMI 神

Yōkai are associated with the concept of Kami, often translated as "God" or "Deity," but it's important to note that kami in Japan are not all-powerful like gods in monotheistic religions.

Instead, they inhabit various natural elements and phenomena, from mountains and waterfalls to small objects like stones or creeks. Essentially, kami are abundant spirits found throughout the natural world.

In early Japan, the distinction between kami and yōkai is blurred. Kami can be powerful but not necessarily morally good, sometimes being short-tempered or violent.

Similarly, Buddhism includes figures that are both frightening and benevolent. Spirits could be angry (aratama) or gentle (nigitama), with rough spirits often seen as oni, akin to yōkai.

Yōkai might be degraded kami, reflecting an animistic worldview where everything has a spirit, and entities can shift between being seen as troublesome yōkai or helpful kami based on their actions.

MONSTERS AND KAIJU 怪獣

The term "yōkai" suggests supernatural warnings and includes a wide range of beings from intimidating to mischievous. "Kaijū," often translated as "monster" and sharing a kanji with "yōkai," refers to gigantic creatures like Godzilla and Mothra seen in movies, not local folklore.

Unlike yōkai rooted in folk traditions, kaijū come from commercial sources. Thus, despite Godzilla's global fame, it is not considered a yōkai in Japan.

During the Heian period, fears of yōkai as terrifying monsters were influenced by daily superstitions and societal anxieties, including the belief in Mappo, the end of mankind.

The onmyōji, who practiced divination, fueled these fears with rumors of demon summoning.

Notable yōkai stories involved Oni, Tengu, Kitsune, and Tanuki, reflecting their pervasive role in Japanese life and culture as manifestations of people's fears.

YŪREI 幽靈

Yūrei, translated as "ghost," prompts questions about how they differ from yōkai.

Yanagita Kunio, writing in 1936, outlined distinctions: yōkai typically appeared in specific locations, while yūrei could pursue anywhere.

Yōkai targeted ordinary people indiscriminately, whereas yūrei focused on specific individuals.

Yōkai appeared throughout the day but preferred twilight or dawn, while yūrei emerged during the darkest hours of the night.