11/18/2023 0 Comments Types of spirits in japanese lore![]() ![]() Indeed, in her book Japanese Demon Lore, Reider describes four distinct cultures and traditions where oni stories stem from: Japanese, Chinese, Buddhist and onmyōdō, a traditional Japanese blend of cosmology, occultism and natural sciences based on the Chinese theories of “yin and yang.” Given their amorphous, ever-changing nature, it’s perhaps no surprise that onis have no single, unifying origin story. “Before, an oni could identify as male, female or ‘it.’ An artificial object could even be an oni.” The Origins of Oni “When an oni is female, they are called kijo, which means ‘oni woman,’” adds Reider. (In some traditions and depictions, for example, they can bring prosperity to other humans.) And while their visual imagery is usually masculine - loincloth and all - there are plenty of female oni, some of whom are enchantresses born out of feelings of jealousy, vengeance and shame. Still, looking at oni in a different context shows that they aren’t always monstrous ogres with a taste for flesh. “That is the folkloric way that they’re often depicted in pictures.” “When we think about visualizations of oni, horns, skin color that’s red, green, black or blue with conspicuous canine teeth and masculine body types - with tiger-skin loincloths,” says Reider. (Credit: Public Domain/Columbia University) This detail of a Japanese print by famed artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) shows two oni - one with one eye and one with three eyes. ![]()
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