Oni
Oni · The Japanese Demon — A Horned, Hulking Man-Eating Ogre
A huge, ferocious demon of Japanese lore. With red or blue skin, horns sprouting from its head, sharp tusks, a tiger-skin loincloth, and wielding an iron club (kanabo). Living in mountains or hell, it devours humans or punishes sinners. A signature monster of Japanese horror and legend, driven off by the bean-throwing custom of Setsubun.
Origin
Formed from the fusion of Buddhist hell-wardens and indigenous Japanese mountain-evil-spirit belief. After the Heian era the modern oni image with horns, tusks, and iron club settled, made widely known as the foe of the folktale Momotaro.
Features
- Red or blue skin, horns on the head, tusks
- Tiger-skin garb and an iron club (kanabo)
- Dwells in mountains and hell, monstrous strength
- Devours humans or punishes sinners
Stories
Appears as a threat of overwhelming strength, a hell-warden punishing sin, and a great evil a hero defeats. A staple of Japanese folktales dealing with strength and retribution, human sin and fear.
Weakness
Simple and proud, easily tricked by cunning. It shuns beans (the Setsubun custom), sardine heads, and the Buddhist dharma, and falls to a hero's wit and divine implements.
