Japan tattoo is an ancient oriental style that has deep roots and a rich history. Since ancient times, Japanese tattoo artists have been held in high esteem not only in their homeland, but throughout the world. Influential people and even monarchs wore drawings by Japanese masters. Traditionally, tattoos from the Land of the Rising Sun depict dragons, fish, tigers, demon masks, flowers and ornaments.

The Japanese are considered a people who preserve their traditions. In the old days, each element of the picture carried a certain meaning. Any detail of the tattoo had to be done in accordance with the canon. Today, in times of globalization, when people mention Japanese tattoos, they no longer mean the old classical school of ancient masters, but also new trends. Many artists around the world have studied the art of Japanese tattooing and transformed the old style, adapted it to modern times, and introduced new creative elements into it.

History of Japanese Tattoo

Traditionally, Japanese tattoos were applied with a special bamboo tebori stick. The application process took many hours. Japanese tattoos in most cases are voluminous, these are large tattoo sleeves or a tattoo suit that covers most of the body. The process of training a tattoo artist in Japan was long and difficult. The master first of all had to learn patience, so he was allowed to work only after several years.

Interesting Facts

In Japanese tradition, tattooing is closely associated with the mafia. Modern authorities still have a negative attitude towards tattoos. People with tattoos often fall out of favor with the authorities and can be kicked out of a swimming pool or any other public place. That's why the Japanese don't get tattoos in visible places and don't show them off in public.

Japanese Tattoos - Main Stories

Tattoo Japan Carp- one of the most popular stories. The carp symbol became popular due to the legend of Makatsuge, a fish who, through his perseverance, reached the Dragon Gate and turned into a dragon fish. In the legend, this fish was a carp. Carps (or as they are called in their homeland - Koi) symbolize perseverance, the ability to swim against the tide. Traditionally, a carp tattoo is considered masculine and embodies masculine energy.

Turtle Tattooamong eastern peoples it symbolizes wisdom and the ability to predict the future.

Dragon Tattoo- a symbol of the sun, good luck and longevity. The Japanese depicted dragons with three toes. According to legend, the dragon is considered a sacred guardian spirit and is revered by people.

Tiger Tattoo- a symbol of courage, strength, bravery and nobility. The Japanese believe that tigers have the ability to ward off evil spirits.

Snake Tattoo- protection from misfortunes and failures, snakes have superpowers that help people avoid troubles. The image of a snake coiled around a hammer brings good luck, wealth and prosperity.

Chania mask tattoo- This is an image of an ancient spirit into which a jealous girl turned. This image, according to one version, symbolizes the embodiment of wisdom, and according to another, it reminds people of how destructive it is to succumb to negative feelings.

Japan Tattoos for Men - Japanese Style Tattoos for Men

Men choose the Japanese tattoo style more often than women. The first reason is the volume of the drawing. Japanese tattoos are almost always very large and bright, making it easier for a man to decide to take such a bold step. Tattoo - suit or sleeves in Japanese style this is a sign of reverence for Eastern culture, their ancient traditions and symbolism. Japanese Carp tattoo is considered a traditional men's tattoo.

Women's Tattoos Japan - Japanese Style Tattoos for Girls

Girls do not often decide to get a Japanese-style tattoo, but there are also brave lovers of bright symbolic oriental style. Tattoos with chrysanthemums, peonies and can often be found among women. Girls cannot always decide on sleeves or large drawing on the back, but even a small tattoo stylized as a traditional Japanese tattoo adds a special style and flavor to the girl’s image.

Shown is an antique Japanese print of Chojun. This engraving served as a model for the creation of many tattoos depicting this literary hero.

Zhang Shun, known in Japan as Rorihakuto Chojun (張順) - character Chinese novel"Suikoden", one of the 108 heroes, an excellent swimmer and pearl diver. Often, like Kintaro, he is shown fighting a huge carp. Unlike Kintaro, Chojun is a young man armed with a dagger, which he often holds in his teeth. The tattoo signifies a strong spirit and excellent possession of cold steel.

Kyumonryu Shishin

Japanese tattoo and ancient engravings of the hero of the Suikoden novel Kyumonryu Shishin

Kyumonryu Shishin. One of the most popular heroes described in the novel 108 Heroes of Suikoden, he is an excellent master of the pole. Kyumonryu Shishin's body was decorated with the image of nine dragons fighting among themselves. Portrayed as half-naked young man of a fierce appearance, with fluttering voluminous hair. There are many engravings from the Edo period with his images, from which many tattoos are made. Symbolizes fearlessness, resourcefulness and excellent mastery of improvised weapons.

Roshi Ensei

The engraving shows Ensei dealing with a robber using a log.

Roshi Ensei. He also appears in the novel River Backwaters (Suikoden) under the name Yan Qing. It is known about this martial artist that he cunningly made his way into the service of the famous martial arts master Lu, who refused to accept students. For three years, he spied on Lu's training, adopting a style known as the "sacred fist" from him. However, he was unable to keep his cunning secret when he dealt with a gang of robbers using the methods of Master Lu. When he found out about this, he not only did not drive away the cunning servant, but, on the contrary, made him his official student.

Kwatsuemura Gonsosity

In the engraving, Kwatsuemura covers himself with a tiger skin from a barrage of arrows

Kwatsuemura Gonsosity, one of the 108 heroes of Suikoden. A deft warrior who caught arrows on the fly.

Kayoso Rotisin

Tattoos depicting Kayoso Rotisin

Rotisin. Another of the 108 heroes of the novel “Suikoden”, which was a translation into Japanese of the Chinese novel “Shui Huzhuan” (“River Pools”). Kayoso Rotisin (in the Chinese version - Lu Zhi - shen) is noble robber of enormous stature, who became a monk. His tattoo depicts cherry blossoms flying in the wind.
In one episode, he fights with Kyumonryu Shishin on poles.

Hitentaisei Rikon

Tattoo and engraving of Hitentaisei Rikon

Hitentaisei Rikon. One of the 108 heroes of Suikoden, in the Chinese version - Li Gun. Engraving by Kiniyoshi and irezumi based on it. All the heroes of this work, immortalized in a series of magnificent engravings by Japanese artists, are embodied in tattoos.

Shintunagon Tomomori

Engraving and sketch of a tattoo showing how Shintunagon Tomomori-no is going to commit suicide by tying a heavy anchor to his feet

Shintunagon (Taira-no) Tomomori. An active participant in the Gempei War (the internecine war of the Taira and Minamoto clans), a commander who won a number of victories. The engraving and tattoo sketch show the episode when he is about to commit suicide after the devastating Battle of Dannoura, where the troops of the Taira clan were completely defeated. Tying a heavy anchor to his feet, he threw himself into the raging sea.

Spirits of the dead samurai

Among the irezumi plots there are images of the spirits of dead samurai - Akugenta and Taira no Tomomori

Japanese tattoo. Avenging Spirit Taira no Tomomori

Taira no Tomomori became an avenging spirit after he, wounded by arrows, committed suicide by tying himself to an anchor and throwing himself into the sea. He can be identified by the horns on his headband and the arrows embedded in his armor.

Japanese tattoo Demon Spirit Minamoto no Yoshihara

Minamoto no Yoshihara (also known as Akugenta Yoshihara), who was the older brother of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (commander of the Minamoto clan), the winner of Tomomori at the Battle of Dan No Ura. Yoshihara himself died 20–30 years earlier, during the Heiji Rebellion against the emperor and the Taira clan, being captured and executed. They say that the body of the executed person turned into a demon or into the incarnation of the thunder god Raijin, who struck the executioner with lightning. After this, he destroyed Kyoto with a hurricane.

Kabuki theater character fishmonger Dancity

Japanese print and tattoo showing the scene where Duncity washes off blood and dirt with water from a well

The character of the Kabuki theater play is the fishmonger Dancity. The famous episode is shown where he washes off the blood and dirt from himself with water from the well, after killing, in a fit of rage, his vile father-in-law Giheiji, who provoked him. Despite the murder, he was acquitted because he stood up for the honor of his wife, who had been taken from him by his evil father-in-law.

Kabuki theater character Tokubei

Engraving by Utagawa Kuniyoshi of the magician Tokubei and a sketch of a tattoo

Tokubei. The prototype of the magician Tokubei, a popular character in many plays of the Kabuki theater, was a real man, who lived in the 17th century - merchant Tenjiku Tokubei. He made a successful voyage to India, visiting many other countries, and returned to his homeland a rich man. Here he wrote a book about his travels - “Report on a Voyage to India.” However, in kabuki performances he appears as a great magician who has learned overseas magic, including “toad magic.” At his call, huge fire-breathing toads appear, on which he can fly and kill enemies. According to the plot, this magician is going to seize power in Japan, but after failure he commits suicide. A print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi shows him sitting on a huge toad.

Valiant warrior Minamoto no Raiko

Engraving by Utagawa Kuniyoshi of the samurai Raiko and the monster Shutendoji and Irezumi of the samurai Raiko and the monster Shutendoji

Raiko. According to legend, the valiant warrior Minamoto no Raiko, also known as Yorimitsu (948–1021), commanding four samurai, managed to defeat the terrible monster Shutendoji (“The Drunkard”), who kidnapped and ate the girls of Kyoto. Utagawa Kuniyoshi's print and tattoo show the moment when the monster's severed head latches onto Raiko's helmet.

Japanese tattoos Snake fighters

Snake fighters. A certain part of the tattoos shows heroes of Japanese legends and Kabuki theater productions who fight with a huge snake. The Japanese have a belief that jealous and rejected women can turn into snakes, and they especially annoy monks. Many engravings are devoted to the theme of snake fighting, on the basis of which tattoos are often created. Tattoos depicting Kayoso Rotisin, who in one of his exploits killed a huge snake, are popular. Another heroic snake fighter was Saginoike Heikurō, shown in tattoos tearing apart the jaws of a snake. You can also point out Chusenko Teitokuson, who defeated the monster, but died from its poison, Egara no Heita (aka Wada no Heida Tanenaga), as well as Jiraiya and his sister Tsunade, who defeated the werewolf snake Orochimaru.

Sketch of Irezumi - Kayoso Rochishin (Lu Zhishen) - Suikoden character

Saginoike Heikurō in an engraving and sketch

Chusenko Teitokuson on Kuniyoshi's print and irezumi

Hikeshi

Japanese tattoo. A depiction of Hikeshi, a valiant firefighter from the Edo period, who is shown holding his unit's standard.

Hikeshi. This was the name given to city fire brigades, usually created in each quarter from samurai and townspeople, during the Edo period (1600–1868). Japanese cities often burned because houses were built of wood and paper, so the shoguns began to create similar squads to prevent and extinguish fires. Many firefighters got tattoos because they often had to be naked, which was reprehensible. A full-body tattoo served as a hypothetical substitute for clothing. Each of the 48 fire brigades of the Edo period had distinctive standards placed at the scene of fire fighting. The image of a hikeshi in a tattoo symbolizes a strong and brave person who consciously takes mortal risks in the name of fulfilling his duty.

Kiyohime

Japanese tattoo of Kiyohime

Kiyohime (Japanese for “pure princess”) or simply Kiyo is a character from a Japanese legend and kabuki theater performances based on it. A young widow (according to other sources, the daughter of a village elder) falls in love with a wandering monk, but he rejects her love (in other versions, he promises to return to her, but deceives). In anger, the woman turns into a huge fire-breathing snake and rushes in pursuit of the monk, and overtakes him in the Dojoji temple. The monastery brethren hides the unfortunate monk inside a huge bell, but the monstrous Kiyohime finds him there and kills him, turning the bell into a red-hot furnace with fiery poison. After this, she commits suicide, and the souls of the monk and the rejected woman become husband and wife. However, the monk’s soul, not wanting to remain on earth in the form of an evil ghost, asks to pray for himself and his killer, and after a religious ceremony they go to heaven (albeit in different places). The symbolism of the tattoo is simple - you cannot reject a woman’s love and deceive her in order to avoid a similar fate. For women, this tattoo symbolizes the ability to achieve goals at any cost.

Princess Tachibana

Japanese tattoo of Princess Tachibana

Tachibana - hime (Princess Tachibana) - the heroine of ancient Japanese legends, the wife of the legendary Prince Yamato - Takeru. She voluntarily threw herself into the raging sea, sacrificing herself to Watatsumi - but kami - the sea god in the form of a dragon, who wanted to destroy the ship on which her husband was sailing. The tattoos depict her as a girl fighting a huge dragon. A symbol of self-sacrifice for the sake of a loved one, and all-conquering love.

Images of women in traditional Japanese style

Images of beautiful women in the traditional Japanese style - oiran (courtesans) and geishas, ​​heroines of novels and engravings by old masters, are widely represented in irezumi. Most often, they are purely decorative in nature, without carrying any additional semantic load - just admiring beauty, grace and youth. But among the images, several specific characters can be distinguished.

Tattoo depicting the courtesan Jigokudayu

Oiran (courtesan) Jigokudayu. Jigokudayu is a famous courtesan from the Muromachi period. She was the daughter of a noble samurai, who was captured by her enemies and sold to a brothel. The Zen Buddhist monk Ikkyu guided her to the path of truth and allowed her to free herself from the fate that befell her. She took the name Jigokudayu, which means “Hellish Courtesan”), believing that the misfortune that befell her was a karmic punishment for her unrighteous life in previous incarnations. She is often depicted surrounded by the skeletons and spirits of other courtesans and damned people, and her kimono features scenes of hellish torment and demons, and she is also accompanied by cherry blossoms. All these are symbols of the illusory nature and transience of life in the Buddhist understanding. Realizing all this, Jigokuraya achieved enlightenment and wisdom, becoming the protector of all those who have stumbled in this life.

Tattoo depicting Princess Tsunade

Tsunade-hime (“hime” means princess) is the heroine of the Japanese “The Tale of the Valiant Jiraiya,” on the basis of which a play was written for the Kabuki theater. There she acts as a sorceress who owns the magic of snails, whom the main character, Jiraiya, marries. This image became known and popular after the creation of the manga and anime "Naruto", where Tsunade and Jiraiya were developed into ninjas taking revenge on their enemies. In the tattoos, Tsunade is depicted as a woman in traditional Japanese attire, armed with a naginata - a terrible blade weapon in the form of a curved sword on a very long handle.

Princess Tamatori

Japanese Tattoo and Sketches of Princess Tamatori

Princess Tamatori (Tamatori-hime) or Ama. According to legend, a gift from the Chinese emperor, a magical pearl that he sent to his in-laws from the Fujiwara clan, was stolen by the king of the sea dragons during a storm. Fujiwara no Fuhito decided to return this treasure to the family. During his search, he met a beautiful diver named Ama (also called Princess Tamatori in other versions of the legend) and married her. Ama wanted to help her husband return the pearl, and stole it from the king of dragons. Fleeing from persecution by sea monsters, she cut her chest (according to other versions, her stomach), where she hid the jewel. The gushing blood sheltered her from her pursuers, but upon reaching the shore, Ama died from her wound. In this way, she was able to prove her devotion to the clan and her husband, from whom she gave birth to a son who continued the glorious Fujiwara family. In honor of her Japanese pearl divers, they began to call her ama.
Over time, the legend acquired details of a very piquant nature. So, for example, versions appeared where Ama, in order to get into the dragon’s palace, had to surrender to the octopuses that guarded him. In Japanese art, with further transformations of the legend, many erotic images of girls - divers - entering into a love affair with octopuses appeared.

About scenes from performances of the Kabuki and Noh theaters

Japanese tattoo showing the actor as a hanya.

Many tattoos are inspired by the traditional Japanese theaters of Kabuki and Noh, and irezumi reproduce magnificent engravings showing scenes from plays or actors portraying certain characters.
In the past, the female roles in these plays were played by men, due to a government ban, but after World War II, this ban was lifted, and actresses were also able to participate in period plays. In tattoos, although they are made from ancient engravings and posters, and show men in the role of women, one should still see beautiful girls with the attributes of their role.

Vintage poster showing an actor as a hanya and a sketch of a tattoo showing an actor or actress as a fox-werewolf kitsune.

Dragon tattoo has gained popularity all over the world. Each culture gives its own interpretation to the legendary winged creature. But in almost all interpretations there are similar features: dragons embody power, strength, longevity and wisdom. Dragon tattoos have been relevant for centuries.

The Celts chose the dragon as a symbol of struggle, and among the Chinese and Japanese the dragon was considered a divine being who was worshiped and built temples.

The dragon tattoo became especially popular in last years, after the release of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and the film of the same name, based on the plot of the books. The main character is Lisbeth Salander, a complex and ambiguous hero, but undoubtedly she is the embodiment of a strong personality. The dragon in the book is used precisely as a symbol of the heroine’s inner strength. After the release of the books and the movie, many girls were inspired to get a dragon tattoo.

Meaning of Dragon Tattoo

The symbolism of the dragon is always associated with the manifestation of divine power, wisdom, and power, which can create and destroy. Dragons in legends often act as guardians of ancient treasures; in modern interpretation, this can be considered a metaphor. Guardian dragon secret knowledge, not treasures and gold, but knowledge, skills, mastery that help people develop and be in harmony with the world.

Dragons often appear as monsters, fire-breathing creatures that attack people. Only the bravest and bravest warrior is able to defeat the dragon. In legends, warriors who defeated dragons gained eternal glory.

One of the most famous and popular legends about the dragon says that you need to be able to defeat the dragon within yourself. For many people, the test of fame and fortune becomes a serious and sometimes overwhelming burden. Therefore, a dragon tattoo in this case can mean victory over one’s own weaknesses and shortcomings.

Men's Dragon Tattoos - Dragon Tattoos for Men

Men very often choose dragon tattoos as their subject. The symbolism of strength, resilience, wisdom and invincible power is close to the male nature. Strong personalities strive even in their tattoos to give themselves even more motivation for excellence. The dragon is strong, but there are warriors who have defeated the dragon. People who choose a dragon tattoo with this very message tell themselves that you should never lose the person inside you, do not fall under the deceptive influence of limitless power, be strong, but remain realistic.

Men's dragon tattoos generally occupy large areas on the body. Often the tattoo is located on the back, arm, chest, and a little less often you can find a dragon tattoo on the leg. These can be colorful bright tattoos in the Japanese style, and Celtic script, and tribal and black and white tattoos rations.

Women's Dragon Tattoos - Dragon Tattoos for Girls

In addition to the heroine of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” the popularity of tattoos with mythical winged creatures was added to the series “Game of Thrones,” based on the stories of the books “A Song of Ice and Fire” by J. R. R. Martin. The dragons of one of the main characters are Daenerys Targaryen, the embodiment of her omnipotence, her main assistants and weapons. Women all over the world see in this beautiful fairy tale an allegory of female power, which helps to believe in themselves.

Girls often place tattoos with dragons on their back or arm. For small dragon designs, it is suitable, but a larger dragon can curl gracefully on the hip. Both color and black and white tattoos are equally loved and popular among women.

Dragon Tattoo in Realistic Style

Tattoos with Dragons can depict dragons in the fantasy style that are familiar to everyone from films or computer games. Detailed, clear images of dragons have long been a favorite subject in the world of tattoos. The drawing may depict a dragon or individual parts of the image, such as the bright eyes of a dragon.

Dragon Tattoo in Tribal Style

Dragon tattoos are popular due to Celtic ornaments. The Celts revered dragons and considered them the embodiment of military might and power. Dragons were depicted on coats of arms, ornaments and amulets.

Dragon Tattoo in Japanese Style

Dragon Tattooin Japanese culture - a symbol of the sun, good luck and longevity. with three toes. According to legend, the dragon is considered a sacred guardian spirit and is revered by people.

Dragon Tattoo Sketches

Before choosing a design for a tattoo, decide on what part of the body you would like it to be placed. For example, an elongated design will look more harmonious on the hand, rather than a curled dragon on the hip. Remember, the drawing should become part of your image, emphasize the beauty of your body, and help you communicate with the world around you. A correctly selected and high-quality sketch will never bore you and will be not only a beautiful attribute, but also a favorite talisman.

Ask the first person you meet: “What Japanese monsters do you know?” Most of the time you will hear: “Godzilla, Pikachu and Tamagotchi.” This is still a good result, because Russian fairy-tale creatures, through the eyes of the average Japanese, are something between a matryoshka, Cheburashka and a drunken polar bear. But Russian and Japanese cultures can boast of such ancient menageries that some American Paul Bunyan never even dreamed of.
“World of Fantasy” has already taken a walk along the unknown paths of Slavic myths, studying the traces of unprecedented animals. Today we will travel to the opposite side of the planet and see what bizarre creatures live under the rays of the rising sun.

Spirited Away

You can't understand Japanese folklore without a bottle of sake. It was formed thanks to the centuries-old “cooperation” of Chinese Buddhism and national Shintoism - a unique process during which the principles of one religion were complemented by the commandments of another.

Such syncretism gave rise to an amazing interweaving of myths: Buddhist deities preached Shintoism, and primitive Shinto magic did not at all contradict the complex Buddhist picture of the world. To understand the uniqueness of this phenomenon, it is enough to imagine the idol of Perun in the altar of a modern Orthodox church.

The peculiarities of the national worldview, coupled with Buddhist mysticism and the remnants of primitive beliefs, made Japanese monsters completely different from their Western “colleagues.” Ghosts settled next to people and animals under the red sun - something like fairies in their classical European understanding, but unlike each other and successfully replacing all the chimeras invented by humanity.

Japanese ghosts are not restless souls of the dead or clots of protoplasm from parallel worlds. The concept of obake, derived from the verb bakeru - to transform, to transform, is most often applied to them. Obake may well be creatures of flesh and blood. The main thing about them is that these “ghosts” turn from one thing to another, changing symbols and meanings, and also disrupting the natural course of things.

Yokai and Samurai (artist Aotoshi Matsui).

Supernatural horror in Japanese culture is focused not on some otherworldly objects, but on the irrational modification of familiar forms. A skeleton in a white shroud, glowing eyes in the dark and an eerie howl in a cemetery will frighten a Japanese much less than a crumpled paper lantern or strange television interference. The basis for such fears is a simple (if not primitive) picture of the world. Similar “horror stories” about a black hand or a white sheet were once in great demand in the Ogonyok magazine.

From obake, an independent class of ghosts is sometimes distinguished - yokai (Japanese folklore terminology is very confusing and there is simply no single classification). Their main sign- extraordinary appearance(one eye, long neck, etc.). Yokai resemble Russian brownies or goblins. These creatures live in a certain area and do not seek to meet humans. Yokai can be either friendly or malicious. They are associated with fire and the northeast. In winter, encounters with evil spirits are rare.

In the vastness of Japan you can also find quite normal ghosts of yurei - souls deprived of peace. Shintoism teaches that after death the soul waits for the necessary rituals to be performed on the body, after which it safely departs for the next world. The deceased spirit can meet living relatives once a year - in July, during the Bon holiday.
But if a person dies a violent death, commits suicide, or if the rituals over his body are performed incorrectly, the soul turns into a yurei and gains the opportunity to penetrate the world of the living. Yurei can be found at the place of his death, but you should not strive for this, because the main occupation of the restless ghosts is revenge.

Most yurei are love-stricken women. Initially, the Japanese believed that their appearance was indistinguishable from their lifetime, but soon traditions began to change, and instead of a face, the ghostly lady could have a huge eye.

Today the appearance of yurei is standardized. They are dressed in a white funeral kimono. The hair is jet black, long (supposed to grow after death) and flowing over the face. The arms hang helplessly down, instead of legs there is emptiness (in the Kabuki theater actors are suspended on ropes), and otherworldly lights curl next to the ghost.

Sadako ("The Ring") Kayako ("Malice")

The most famous yurei in the West are Sadako (“Ring”) and Kayako (“Anger”).

In the animal world

As far as common animals are concerned, Japanese fairy tales are very similar to European ones. “Don’t kill me, I’ll be useful to you,” the animals said in different corners planets. The universal commandment “thou shalt not kill” was especially relevant for Buddhism. As a reward for mercy towards animals, the main character received riches or magical abilities. Little frogs rushed to the aid of their saviors, orphaned ducks convinced the evil hunter to give up his craft - after all, it is unknown who he will be reborn into in his next life.

In the shade of sakura

Azuki-arai. In Asia, adzuki beans were always boiled with sugar and were a kind of candy.

Abumi-guchi: When a warrior died in battle, the stirrups from his horse were sometimes left on the battlefield. There they came to life, turning into a strange furry creature, forever searching for its missing owner.

Abura-akago: the souls of merchants who, during their lifetime, sold oil stolen from lamps at roadside shrines. They fly into the room like gouts of fire and turn into a baby who sucks all the oil out of the lamp, after which they fly away.

: a little old man or woman washing beans in mountain streams. Sings threatening songs (“Should I wash beans or eat someone?”), but is actually shy and harmless.

Aka-name: “licking dirt” appears in those baths that have not been cleaned for a long time. As its name suggests, it feeds on unsanitary conditions. Its appearance quickly instills in people the habit of cleaning up after themselves in washrooms. His relative - the long-legged tenyo-name - licks the dirty ceilings.

Aka-name. The tongue will take you to the bathroom.

Ama-no-zako: Born from the rage of the thunder god Susanoo. Ugly, has strong teeth that bite through steel. Can fly quickly over long distances.

Ama-no-zaku: An ancient demon of stubbornness and vice. Reads people's thoughts, makes them act in such a way that their plans are completed exactly the opposite. In one of the fairy tales, he ate a princess, put on her skin and tried to get married in this form, but was exposed and killed.

Ame-furi-kozo: spirit of rain. Appears in the form of a child covered with an old umbrella and carrying a paper lantern in his hands. Loves to splash in puddles. Harmless.

Ami-kiri: There are a lot of mosquitoes and ghosts in Japan in summer. One of them, looking like a cross between a bird, a snake and a lobster, loves to tear up mosquito nets, as well as fishing gear and drying clothes.

Ao-andon: In the Edo era, people would often gather in a room, light a large blue lantern with a hundred candles, and start telling each other scary stories. At the end of each of them, one candle was extinguished. After the hundredth story, the light went out completely and ao-andon appeared.

Ao-bozu: a short cyclops who lives in young wheat and drags children there.

Ao-niobo: An ogress who lives in the ruins of the imperial palace. During her lifetime she was a maid of honor. Distinguished by black teeth and shaved eyebrows.

Ao-sagi-bi: analogue of the Firebird: a heron with fiery eyes and white luminous feathers.

Asi-magari: A ghostly raccoon dog. At night, it wraps its tail around the legs of travelers. Her fur feels like raw cotton.

Ayakashi: a sea serpent about two kilometers long. Sometimes it floats over boats, forming an arch with its body. This can last for several days, during which the people in the boat are busy scooping out the mucus that oozes profusely from the monster.

Baku: Chinese chimera with the body of a bear, the trunk of an elephant, the eyes of a rhinoceros, the tail of a cow, the paws of a tiger and a spotted skin. Feeds on dreams. If you see a bad dream, you should call on the tank, and it will absorb it along with all the foreshadowed troubles.

Bake-zori: Old sandalwood that has not been well cared for. Runs around the house and sings stupid songs.

Bake-kujira: The skeleton of a whale, accompanied by strange fish and ominous birds. Invulnerable to harpoons.

Bake-neko: If a cat is fed in the same place for 13 years, it will turn into a bloodthirsty werewolf. Bake-neko can be so huge that it will not fit into the house, but instead will rummage around with its paws, looking for people like mice in a hole. Sometimes a werewolf takes on the appearance of a human.

There is a well-known story about how a cat disappeared in one house. At the same time, the behavior of the mother of the family began to change: she avoided people and ate, closing herself in the room. When the household decided to spy on her, they discovered a creepy humanoid monster. The owner of the house killed him, and a day later she again turned into the missing cat. Under the tatami on the floor, the mother's bones were found, gnawed clean.

Cats in Japan were associated with death. Therefore, people were very suspicious of cats of deceased owners. These animals could become kasa, stealing corpses, or two-tailed nekomata, playing with dead bodies like dolls. To avoid such a disaster, kittens need to have their tails docked (so that they do not fork), and the deceased's cat should be securely locked up.

The image of a cat was not always gloomy. Porcelain maneki-neko figurines bring success to store owners. During a thunderstorm, the cat led the rich man away from the tree that was about to be struck by lightning, after which he began to patronize the temple. One geisha's cat did not allow her owner into the restroom where the snake was hiding. Finally, cats often took the form of people and became the wives of single men or the children of childless couples.

Basan. It was found in the territory of modern Ehime Prefecture.

Basan: overgrown rooster. At night he walks the streets and makes a strange noise - something like “bass-bass”. People look out of their houses, but find no one. Can breathe fire, but is generally harmless.

Betobeto-san: when you walk down the street at night and hear footsteps behind you, but there is no one behind you, say: “Betobeto-san, please come in!” The ghost will leave and will no longer stomp behind your back.

Gyuki (yushi-oni): A bull-like chimera that lives in waterfalls and ponds. Attacks people by drinking their shadows. After this, the victims begin to get sick and soon die. Gyuki's steps are silent. Having identified a victim, he will pursue it to the ends of the Earth. There is only one way to get rid of the monster - by repeating the paradoxical phrase: “Leaves drown, stones float, cows neigh, horses moo.” Sometimes gyuki takes the form of a beautiful woman.

Jore-gumo: during the day she looks like a pretty girl, and at night she turns into a spider-like monster, laying webs on people.

Jubokko: Trees growing on battlefields soon become accustomed to human blood, becoming predators. They catch travelers with branches and suck them dry.

Doro-ta-bo: the ghost of a peasant who spent his entire life cultivating his piece of land. After the death of the owner, the lazy son abandoned the plot, and it was soon sold. The father's spirit regularly rises from the ground and demands that the field be returned to him.

Inu-gami: if you tie a hungry dog, place a bowl of food in front of it so that it cannot reach it, and when the animal reaches the highest point of frenzy, cut off its head, you will get an inugami - a cruel spirit that can be set on your enemies. Inu-gami is very dangerous and can attack its owner.

Inu-gami. In one legend, a dog's head was sawed off with a dull bamboo saw.

Ippon-datara: The spirit of a blacksmith with one leg and one eye.

Isonade: giant fish. It knocks sailors into the water with its tail and devours them.

Ittan-momen: At first glance, it appears to be a long piece of white material floating in the night sky. It may not come to a second glance, since this spirit likes to silently fall on a person, wrap itself around his neck and strangle him.

Itsumaden: When a person dies of hunger, he turns into a huge fire-breathing bird with a snake tail. This spirit haunts those who refused him food during life.

Kama-itachi: If you are caught in a storm and then find strange cuts on your body, this is the work of a kama-itachi, a storm ermine with long claws.

Kameosa: An old sake bottle that magically produces alcohol.

Kami-kiri: a spirit with claws that attacks people in bathrooms and cuts off their hair at the root. Sometimes in this way he tries to prevent the marriage of a person with an animal or spirit.

Kappa (kasambo): One of the most common Japanese perfumes. He has many faces, but always has a recess with water on his head, where all his magical power is hidden. People often trick the kappa by bowing and forcing him to make a return bow that spills water. Lives in water, loves cucumbers. It is recommended not to eat them before swimming, otherwise the kappa may smell the treat and drag you to the bottom. Naughty children are taught to bow under the pretext that it is protection from the mouth guard.

Kijimuna: good tree spirits. There is only one thing that can make them angry - an octopus.

Kirin: sacred dragon. It differs from the Chinese qi-lin only in that it has three toes instead of five on its paws.

Kitsune: a werefox, a popular character in romantic fairy tales. Often turns into a girl and starts families with people. Likes to steal and cheat. As foxes age, they grow additional tails (their number can reach up to nine). Kitsune magic does not affect Taoist monks.

You can identify a kitsune by its shadow - it always has the outline of a fox.

• The Japanese believe that best chance a cat has to become a werewolf. That is why she should not be allowed to dance, thus demonstrating magical power.
• The highest chances of meeting a ghost in Japan are between 2 and 3 am in the summer, when the border between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest.
• "Kitsune" means either "always red-haired" or "come to the bedroom." Foxes' favorite food is tofu. A person who has gotten rid of his obsession with the fox (penetrating under his fingernails or through his breasts) will have an aversion to tofu for the rest of his life.
• Rain falling in bright sunshine is called a “kitsune wedding” in Japan.

Ko-dama: spirit of an old tree. Likes to repeat human words. It is because of the ko-dam that the echo appears in the forest.

Ko-dama (anime "Princess Mononoke").

Konaki-diji: Small child crying in the forest. If someone picks him up, Konaki-diji begins to rapidly gain weight and crushes his savior.

Karakara-she: an ugly mockingbird that chases people and torments them with its laughter.

Lidar elbows: a giant of incredible size. His footprints became lakes. He often moved mountains from place to place.

Namahage- “Santa Claus is the opposite.” Every New Year he goes from house to house and asks if there are naughty children here. Little Japanese who believe in Namahage panic and hide, and their parents convince the demon that their children are good, after which they pour him one hundred grams of sake.

Ningyo: The Japanese mermaid is a hybrid of a monkey and a carp. The meat is very tasty. Having tasted it, you can extend your life for many hundreds of years. If a ningyo cries, it will turn into a human.

Noppera-bo (noperapon): A faceless spirit that frightens people.

Nuri-botoke: if you don’t take good care of your home Buddhist altar, then there will be a ghost in it that looks like a black Buddha with a fish tail and protruding eyes. Every time a careless believer wants to pray, he will be greeted by this monster.

They(emphasis on o): colorful demons - something like European trolls or ogres. Aggressive and angry. They fight with iron clubs. They are scared off by the smell of burnt sardines, but today in Japan it is customary to throw beans (which they hate for some reason), saying: “They go away, happiness comes!”).

Raiden's animal. Represents ball lightning. He likes to hide in people's belly buttons, which is why the superstitious Japanese sleep on their stomachs during thunderstorms.

Rokuro-kubi: ordinary women who, for some reason, underwent a partial ghostly transformation. At night, their necks begin to grow and their heads crawl around the house, doing all sorts of nasty things. Rokuro-kubi is unlucky in love - after all, men are very nervous about such night walks.

Sagari: A horse's head rattling tree branches. If you met her, you could get sick (probably with a stutter).

Sazae-oni: old snails that have turned into evil spirits. They can turn into beautiful women. There is a well-known story when pirates rescued a drowned beauty. She happily gave herself to each of them. It was soon discovered that the men's scrotums were missing. Sazae-oni proposed a deal: the pirates give her all their gold, and the snail returns their scrotums (the Japanese sometimes call this organ “golden balls,” so the exchange was equal).

Sirime: exhibitionist ghost. He catches up with people, takes off his pants and turns his back to them. An eye pokes out from there, after which spectators usually faint.

Soyo: cheerful alcoholic ghosts. Harmless.

Sune-kosuri: furry animals that throw themselves at the feet of rushing people and make them stumble.

Ta-naga: long-armed people of Japan, who entered into symbiosis with asi-naga(long-legged people). The first sat on the shoulders of the second and began to live together as a single organism. Nowadays you can no longer see these giants.

Tanuki: Were-badgers (or raccoon dogs) that bring happiness. The amount of happiness is directly proportional to the size of a badger's scrotum. Tanuki know how to inflate it to incredible sizes (sleep on it, shelter from the rain with it), or even turn this part of the body into a house. The only way to verify the authenticity of a badger's home is to drop a burning coal on the floor. True, after this act you will no longer see happiness.

Tengu: winged werewolves. Despite the comical nose, like Pinocchio, they are extremely powerful and dangerous. A long time ago they taught people martial arts. If a person suffering from amnesia emerges from the forest, it means that he has been kidnapped by a tengu.

Futa-kushi-onna: An ever-hungry ghost of a woman with an extra mouth on the back of her head, a Japanese version of Tantalus. The second mouth spits curses and uses its hair as tentacles, stealing food from the woman. According to one legend, this curse was imposed on an evil stepmother who deprived her adopted children of food.

Haku-taku (bai-ze): a wise and kind creature with nine eyes and six horns. Speaks human speech. One day, Bai Ze was captured by the great Emperor Huang Di and, in exchange for freedom, told him all the ins and outs about his relatives (11,520 types of magical creatures). The emperor ordered the testimony to be recorded, but, unfortunately, this bestiary has not reached our time.

Hari-onago: an ogress with a powerful head of “living” hair, each of which ends in a sharp hook. Lives on roads. Having met a traveler, he laughs merrily. If someone laughs in response, Hari-onago uses his hair.

Hito-dama: particles of a person’s soul leaving his body shortly before death in the form of clots of flame. They fly away not far and fall to the ground, leaving a slimy trail.

Hitotsume-kozo: a ghost in the guise of a little ten-year-old boy - bald and one-eyed. Harmless, but playful. Loves to scare people. Sometimes it can cause illness. To ward off this spirit, you need to hang a basket near the door. Seeing many holes in it, the little Cyclops will mistake them for eyes and run away, ashamed that he only has one.

Hoko: spirit of camphor tree. Looks like a dog with a human face. Ancient chronicles claim that if you cut down a camphor tree, a hoko will emerge from its trunk, which can be roasted and eaten. Its meat is very tasty. Eating ghosts is a unique feature of Japanese mythology.

Yuki-ona: « The Snow Queen Japan is a pale lady who lives in the snow and freezes people with her icy breath. In erotic stories, Yuki-she freezes people with a kiss, or even through the most interesting place.

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The rules of “ghost etiquette” in Japan are simple: do not keep old things at home, otherwise they will acquire a soul of their own, do not travel on summer nights, do not accept anything from strangers you meet, do not laugh at them, do not be rude and always be careful when choosing a spouse - it is quite possible that she is not the woman of your dreams, but a cunning fox or an evil fury. Even if ghosts don’t exist, and you live in Russia, these simple rules can still save you from unnecessary trouble.

In this collection we have collected photos of forty Japanese mythical creatures with detailed descriptions of them. Popular mystical animals of Japan are also presented here, some of which no one has ever heard of here. We hope you will find it as interesting to learn about them as the editors who prepared this “abstract with photographs.”

Japan is an amazing country of contrasts, where the achievements of high technology coexist perfectly with centuries-old traditions, and magical gardens and temples with skyscrapers, the site of which will take your breath away just by looking at it. They say that a lifetime is not enough to experience Japan. Unpredictability of elements, geographical location and national character formed a kind of mythology with their own, sometimes so absurd, creatures, whose image and purpose are paradoxical for the understanding of Europeans. Let's take a look together at what monsters live in Japanese mythology!

1) Yuki-onna

Some legends claim that yuki-onna, associated with winter and unbearable cold, is the spirit of a girl who perished forever in the snow. Her name means "snow woman" in Japanese. Yuki-onna appears on snowy nights as a tall, stately maiden in a white kimono with long black hair. She can hardly be seen against the background of snow thanks to her inhumanly pale, almost transparent skin. Despite their ephemeral beauty, the eyes of the yuki-onna strike fear into mortals. She floats through the snow without leaving a trace, and can turn into a cloud of fog or a site of snow. According to some beliefs, she has no legs, and this is a feature of many Japanese ghosts.

The nature of yuki-onna varies from tale to tale. Sometimes she is simply content to see the victim die. More often than not, she brutally kills men for their blood and vital energy, sometimes she acts as a succubus. In many stories, the yuki-onna appears when travelers are lost in a snowstorm. After her breath, as icy as death itself, or a kiss, the travelers are left lying lifeless, numb corpses. Other legends give the yuki-onna an even more bloodthirsty and cruel character. She sometimes invades houses by blowing on the door with the force of a storm to kill all the inhabitants of the house in their sleep, but some legends say that she can only enter a house and harm people if she is invited inside as a guest.

2) Kappa

A type of merman, the embodiment of the deity of Water. Their external appearance is very specific - something between a frog and a turtle: frog skin, a beak instead of a nose, fingers and toes connected by swimming membranes, short hair on the head. The body exudes a fishy odor. The kappa has a saucer on the top of its head, which gives it supernatural strength. It must always be filled with water, otherwise the kappa will lose its power or even die. The two arms of the mouthguard are connected to each other at the shoulder blades; if you pull on one, the other will shrink or may even fall out.

About a third of all images are kappas that look like monkeys: the whole body is covered with hair, there are fangs in the mouth, the nose is almost invisible, there are thumb, on the legs - the heel bone. Unlike a regular mouthguard, instead of a saucer on the head there is a depression in the shape of an oval saucer; there may be no turtle shell. Kappa is a fan of sumo wrestling and loves cucumbers, fish and fruit. It is believed that if you catch a kappa, it will fulfill any wish. was considered in Japan to be a very dangerous creature, which made its living by luring by cunning or dragging by force people and animals into the water.

3) Jorogumo

A spider ghost that takes the form of a seductive woman. According to legends, yorogumo plays the lute in an abandoned hut in the forest to attract the attention of potential victims passing by. While a person listens to the enchanting music in fascination, the yorogumo wraps him in its web to provide food for itself and its offspring. According to some beliefs, after a spider has lived in the world for 400 years, it acquires magical powers. In many stories, yorogumo, in the form of a beauty, asks a samurai to marry her or, in order to inspire trust and sympathy, takes the form of a young woman with a child in her arms, which is actually a spider's nest. Ancient Japanese drawings and prints depict the yorogumo as half woman, half surrounded by her children.

4) Kitsune - a mystical cat from Japanese myths

The image of a were-fox, a fox-spirit, is quite widespread in Asia. But outside the Japanese islands, they almost always appear as sharply negative and unlikable characters. In China and Korea, the fox is usually only interested in human blood. In the Land of the Rising Sun, the image of a were-fox is much more multifaceted. Integral to Japanese folklore and literature, Japanese kitsune possess elf, vampire, and werewolf traits. They can act both as carriers of pure evil and as messengers of divine forces. Their patron is the goddess Inari, whose temples certainly contain statues of foxes. Some sources indicate that Inari is the highest kitsune. She is usually accompanied by two snow-white foxes with nine tails. The Japanese treat kitsune with respect and a mixture of apprehension and sympathy.

The question of the origin of kitsune is complex and poorly defined. Most sources agree that some people who did not lead the most righteous, secretive and obscure way of life become kitsune after death. Gradually, the kitsune grows and gains strength, reaching adulthood at the age of 50-100, at which time it acquires the ability to change shape. The level of power of a werefox depends on age and rank, which is determined by the number of tails and the color of the skin. As foxes age, they acquire new ranks - with three, five, seven and nine tails. Nine-tails are the elite kitsune, at least 1000 years old, and have silver, white or golden skin.

As werewolves, kitsune are able to change between human and animal forms. However, they are not tied to lunar phases and are capable of much deeper transformations than. According to some legends, kitsune are capable of changing gender and age when necessary, appearing either as a young girl or as a gray-haired old man. Like vampires, kitsune sometimes drink human blood and kill people, often, however, starting romantic relationships with them. Moreover, children from marriages between foxes and people inherit magical abilities and many talents.

5) Tanuki

Traditional Japanese werebeasts symbolizing happiness and prosperity, usually looking like raccoon dogs. The second most popular werewolf beast after the kitsune. Unlike kitsune, the image of tanuki is practically devoid of negative connotations. It is believed that tanuki are big sake lovers. Therefore, without his presence it is impossible to make good sake. For the same reason, tanuki figurines, sometimes quite large, are a decoration of many drinking establishments. They portray the tanuki as a fat, good-natured man with a noticeable paunch.

There is a belief that if you wrap a piece of gold in the skin of a tanuki and beat it, it will increase in size. Thanks to this, tanuki is revered not only as a patron of drinking establishments, but also as a patron of trade. Especially a large number of stories about tanuki can be found on the island of Shikoku, which is due to the absence of foxes on this island. Popular legend explains this by saying that in the past all foxes were driven off the island.

6) Bakeneko - a cat in Japanese mythology

Magic cat, the third most popular Japanese werewolf after kitsune and tanuki. There are several ways for a cat to become a bakeneko: reach a certain age, grow to a certain size, or have a long tail that subsequently forks. can become a bakeneko if it either lives more than thirteen years, or weighs 1 kan (3.75 kg), or has a long tail, which then forks.

Bakeneko can create ghostly fireballs, walk on its hind legs; she can eat her master and take his form. It was also believed that if such a cat jumped over a fresh corpse, it would revive it. Like the kitsune, the bakeneko primarily takes on a female form. However, most often bakeneko turns out to be a spirit dead woman, using cat magic to take revenge on her husband, through whose fault she died, or on another offender.

7) Nue

A chimera with the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the paws of a tiger and a snake instead of a tail. Nue can turn into a black cloud and fly. They bring bad luck and illness. One legend tells that the Emperor of Japan fell ill after a nue settled on the roof of his palace in 1153. After the samurai killed the nue, the emperor recovered.

8) Nure-onna

An amphibious monster with the head of a woman and the body of a snake. Although descriptions of her appearance vary slightly from story to story, she is described as being up to 300 m long, with snake-like eyes, long claws and fangs. She is usually seen on the shore combing her beautiful long hair. The exact nature of the nure-onna's behavior and intentions are unknown. According to some legends, it is a cruel monster that feeds on people and is so strong that its tail crushes trees.

She carries around a small, baby-shaped package that she uses to attract potential victims. If someone offers nure-onna their help to hold the child, she will willingly allow them to do this, but the bag becomes increasingly heavier and prevents the person from escaping. Nure-onna uses its long, forked tongue, like a snake's, to suck out all the blood from the human body. According to other stories, nure-onna simply seeks solitude and is unhappy when her peace is interrupted.

Possessed, whose name means “woman with two mouths”, one is normal, and the second is hidden on the back of the head under the hair. There the skull splits into pieces, forming the lips, teeth and tongue of a completely full second mouth. In legends, futakuchi-onna hides his supernatural nature until the last minute.

The origin of the second mouth is often related to how often and how much the future futakuchi-onna eats. In most stories, she is married to a miser and eats sparingly and rarely. To counteract this, a second mouth magically appears on the back of the head, which behaves hostilely towards its owner: it swears, threatens and demands food, if refused, causing her severe pain. The woman's hair begins to move like a pair of snakes, delivering food to the second mouth, which is so voracious that it consumes twice as much food as the woman eats through the first.

In some stories, an extra mouth is formed when a husband accidentally hits his stingy wife in the head with an ax while chopping wood, the site and this wound never heals, transforming over time into a mouth. According to another version, a stepmother becomes obsessed and starves her stepson or stepdaughter, while native child eats plenty. The spirit of a child who died of starvation inhabits the stepmother, or the stepdaughter suffering from hunger becomes a futakuchi-onna.

10) Rokurokubi

A werewolf demon with a snake neck. During the day, rokurokubi appear like normal humans, but at night they gain the ability to stretch their necks to enormous lengths, and can also change their faces to better frighten mortals. In their role in Japanese legends, rokurokubi are close to rogue characters who scare people, spy on them and play all sorts of cruel pranks, for which they sometimes pretend to be fools, drunk, blind, and so on.

Sometimes they are portrayed as very evil: they try to scare people to death or even attack people with the goal of killing and drinking their blood. According to Japanese legends, some rokurokubi often live inconspicuously in everyday life and may have human spouses. Some of them make desperate efforts not to turn into demons at night, some, on the contrary, like it, and some do not even know about their second nature. Some stories describe that rokurokubi are born as ordinary people, but turn into demons by changing their karma due to serious violation of any precepts or doctrines of Buddhism.