Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Anshōtei
Category: Bird
The Myth
Anshōtei is a bird-headed disease demon associated with the Kishuku constellation in the system of Shukuyōdō, a form of esoteric Buddhist astrology. It is depicted with the head and feet of a bird, a ring-like object held in its hands, and an arrow embedded in its forehead, like many other disease demons.
On the day governed by the Kishuku constellation, Anshōtei is said to appear in people’s dreams disguised as a beautiful woman, seeking to uncover their innermost thoughts. Those it afflicts are struck with a wasting disease of the lungs, such as tuberculosis, which is believed to bring death within three years.
To avert its curse, anyone who dreams of Anshōtei on a Kishuku day should make offerings of incense, paper money, and tea. These offerings are said to appease the demon and drive it away before the illness takes hold.
Sources
TYZ. (2020, August 8). 暗鐘亭 (Anshōtei). In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1077741574.html