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Many themes in Japanese mythology share striking similarities with other world mythology. Let’s start with Izanami and Izanagi. The idea of the world being formless and chaotic is quite common, and Izanagi and Izanami’s creation of the world is similar to the story of Adam and Eve, in the sense that a male and female pair was necessary for ...
- Origins of Japanese Mythology. Japanese mythology is a rich combination of Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, as well as ancient legends and folklore. The mythology of Japan is rooted in the country’s history, culture, and geography.
- Major Deities. Amaterasu. Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun and the most important deity in the Shinto religion. She is considered the ancestor of the Japanese imperial family.
- Famous Creatures. Japanese mythology is known for its vast collection of interesting and unique creatures, each with its own story and characteristics. Here are some of the most famous creatures in Japanese mythology
- Iconic Heroes and Figures. Momotaro. Momotaro is a popular hero in Japanese folklore. He is known as the Peach Boy, and his story is one of the most well-known tales in Japan.
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- Nure-Onna
- Okiku
- Kuchisake-Onna
- Jorogumo
- Yuki-Onna
- Hone-Onna
Nure-onna,or “Wet woman” in English, is a type of yokai that resembles a snake-like reptile with a woman’s head. Their name is based on the imagery that their hair is always wet. They are said to live in places such as rivers, oceans, and lakes. Mainly, they are found in Kyushu, Niigata, and Fukushima regions. Nure-onna often disguises themselves a...
Okiku is a yurei belonging to one of the Nihon San Dai Kaidan—Japan’s Big Three Ghost Stories. She was a dishwashing servant girl who lived and worked in Himeji Castle. Okiku was very beautiful and caught the eye of a samurai called Aoyama. Aoyama tried hard to seduce Okiku, but she ignored all his advances. Due to Okiku ignoring all of Aoyama’s ad...
Kuchisake-onnais a vengeful female mythological creature of Japan whose name refers to her mutilated face – her mouth slit from ear to ear. It is unknown who did this, but most legends attribute it to her husband or a medical procedure. She will generally approach potential victims with her mouth covered, asking if they think she is beautiful. Depe...
Jorogumois a type of Japanese yokai that is also an obake. They are a type of spider that can shapeshift into a beautiful woman when they want to eat humans. When jorogumo are in their female form, their shadow still takes the shape of a spider. They typically live in forests, empty caves, or houses. Their favorite prey is young, handsome men who a...
Yuki-onna,or “Snow Women,” is a pale young woman that inhabits snowy regions, particularly in northern Japan. They are beautiful, with smooth, snow-white skin and long black hair. According to legend, even a mere touch from the yuki-onna is enough to chill you to your core. When they walk, they leave no snow tracks; some legends even say they float...
Hone-onna or “Bone woman” are female yokai seeking their former lover. They depict themselves as young, attractive women who wear a yukata or kimono. One hone-onna is depicted in the Botan Dōrō (The Peony Lantern). In the story, after her death, the hone-onna named Otsuya famously holds a red peony lantern while pursuing her former lover. They do n...
Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the Japanese people. Most of the surviving Japanese myths are recorded in the Kojiki (compiled 712; “Records of Ancient Matters”) and the Nihon.
Dec 12, 2022 · The Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki are two important sources of Japanese mythology as it is understood today. The Kojiki, or “Record of Ancient Matters,” is the oldest surviving record of Japan’s myths, legends, and history. The Shintōshū, on the other hand, provides a Buddhist perspective on the origins of Japanese deities.
Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the Japanese archipelago. Shinto traditions are the cornerstones of Japanese mythology. [1] The history of thousands of years of contact with Chinese and various Indian myths (such as Buddhist and Hindu mythology) are also key ...
Shinto shrines. Buddhist temples. v. t. e. An akuma (悪魔) is an evil spirit in Japanese folklore, [1] [2] sometimes described in English-language sources as a devil or demon. [2] [3] An alternative name for the akuma is ma (ま). [4] Akuma is the name assigned to Satan in Japanese Christianity, and the Mara in Japanese Buddhism .
