See also Is There Sushi Without Fish In Japan?Īs we mentioned above, when Buddhism was prevalent in Japan the folk tales of Oni were more likely influenced and the depictions of Hindu and Buddhist demons were similar to those of Oni.įor instance, the Yakshas were a popular class of demons in Hindu mythology and they’re also a common category of demons in Buddhism as well. It’s also said that there are only two types of Oni such as the red Oni which is called “Aka Oni” and the blue Oni “Ao Oni” and they’re known to be slaves of a demon king called Emma Dai. The color of Oni can also alter from red to blue, black, or yellow. Modern depictions of Oni indicate that Oni might also have the face of a bird or a monkey without horns or sometimes with a small hump. It’s also mentioned in Japanese folklore that Oni possesses a dangerous weapon which is a kanabo club made out of iron which aids Oni to attack its prey and rip them apart. Nobody ever knows how as humans we came up with such a terrifying appearance for a demon but we can all agree that it makes the demon look much more spine-chilling than they sound.Īnd just like we described, Oni in Japanese folklore also has a similar appearance to stereotypical demons and Oni wears a loincloth that’s either made of animal fur or skin, especially tiger or leopard fur. Stereotypically, demons are depicted to have a muscular and massive appearance, with curly medium hair, pointy teeth, large horns, and red skin. The appearance of Oni is a widely talked about topic and we might also say that it holds some controversies. Early manuscripts of Japanese mythology narrate Oni to possess a different set of characteristics compared to the depictions we’ve seen and heard in recent times.ĭespite the alteration in Oni’s physical appearance, one can still say that Oni is definitely a demon with a frightening face and physique that can instill fear in our hearts instantaneously. The physical attributes of Oni can vary from narration to narration and also with time. Oni by nature are known to carry bad omens like tragedy and bad luck and even seeing an Oni in your dream is interpreted to be a bad sign. If you’ve read stories regarding Oni in Japanese mythology you’ll know that they’re portrayed as fierce creatures with an appalling appearance that have demonic instincts such as cannibalism and preying on humans. Oni is a significant character in Japanese mythology as they’re prevalent all across Japanese literature, art, history, drama, and even in modern depictions like anime and manga. The Japanese word Oni is written in kanji characters as 鬼 and it can be translated to the English language as ogre or troll. ![]() Yokai is the Japanese term for demons and they can also mean shapeshifters, ogres, evil entities, ghosts, etc. According to Japanese mythology, Oni is a type of Japanese Yokai that have a daunting appearance and a barbaric nature.
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