1 / 1

Onryo

Onryo · The Japanese Vengeful Ghost — A Cursing Specter Returned in Grudge

A Japanese vengeful spirit that died bearing injustice and deep grudge, bringing calamity upon the living. Appearing in a white burial kimono with disheveled long black hair and a pale face, it spreads its curse not only to those who wronged it but even to the unrelated. A core form of Japanese horror, as in Ring and Ju-on.

Origin

Derived from the Heian-era goryo belief — that those who die in grudge cause calamity. Through vengeful-spirit lore such as Oiwa of kabuki and ghost tales, modern J-horror established the image of a specter whose curse is contagious.

Features

White burial kimono and disheveled long black hair
Pale face, grudge-laden eyes
Spreads calamity through curse and sorcery
A curse that spreads even to the unrelated

Stories

Appears as the incarnation of an unresolved grudge and the terror of a contagious curse. A symbolic being of Japanese-flavored horror narratives dealing with unjust death, vengeance, and the appeasement of grievance.

Weakness

Only when the source of the grudge is resolved or a respectful memorial and requiem rite is performed does it attain rest and vanish. It does not stop while the grudge remains unresolved.