Mythology

Kawaguma

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Kawakuma
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Kawaguma, meaning “river bear,” is an aquatic yōkai said to inhabit the deep rivers of northern Japan, particularly the Omono River in Akita Prefecture and the Shinano River in Niigata Prefecture. Covered in black hair and rarely seen by humans, it spends most of its life hidden beneath the water.

Little is known about the Kawaguma’s habits because it remains at the bottom of deep rivers. It is sometimes curious enough to approach boats, clinging to their sides or stealing objects and dragging them back to its underwater lair. It is also blamed for digging into riverbanks, causing them to collapse and bringing about floods.

One famous legend tells of a lord who was hunting from a boat on the Omono River when a black, hairy hand suddenly reached up from the depths and snatched away his rifle. A skilled diver later recovered the weapon from the deepest part of the river, and it thereafter became known as the “Kawaguma gun,” remaining a treasured possession of the Satake clan.

Another tale recounts how a ferryman had just tied up his boat for the night when he heard a splash behind him. Looking back, he saw a pair of black, hairy hands gripping the side of the boat. Startled, he struck at them with a large knife. The following morning, a severed hand was found inside the boat. It resembled the paw of a cat but was covered in black fur, and everyone who saw it declared that it belonged to a Kawaguma.

Sources

Foster, M. D. (n.d.). Kawaguma. In Yokai.com: The Illustrated Database of Japanese Folklore. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://yokai.com/kawaguma/.

Sasnalkáhi

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Tradition / Region: Navajo Mythology, American Mythology
Alternative names: The Bear that Pursues
Category: Bear

The Myth

Sasnalkáhi, “The Bear that Pursues,” was a monstrous bear counted among the Anaye, a race of dangerous beings born from unnatural unions. His fathers were said to be a smooth stone and a leg sinew. He lived in a cross-shaped cave within Tse’bahástsit, the “Rock that Frightens,” and once he began hunting, no prey could escape him.

The hero Nayenezgani set out to destroy Sasnalkáhi, carrying yucca fruit in his left hand and hard oak twigs in his right. These sacred medicinal plants protected him from the monster’s supernatural power as he approached the bear’s cave.

Nayenezgani searched each of the cave’s entrances. When he reached the northern opening, Sasnalkáhi withdrew his head and attempted to escape through the southern entrance. Anticipating the monster’s movements, Nayenezgani waited there. As soon as the great bear emerged, the hero struck and severed its head.

After defeating the beast, Nayenezgani declared that although Sasnalkáhi had brought only suffering during its life, it would now become a blessing to the people. He cut the head into three pieces and cast them in different directions. One became tsási (Yucca baccata) in the east, another became tsásitsoz (Yucca angustifolia) in the west, and the third became nóta (mescal) in the south. The creature’s nipples transformed into pinyon nuts, while pieces of fat taken from around its tail became the first bear and the first porcupine. Nayenezgani kept the left forepaw, the gall, and the windpipe as trophies of his victory.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2020, June 8). Sasnalkáhi. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2020/06/08/sasnalkahi/

Bjarndýrakóngur

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Tradition / Region: Icelandic Mythology
Alternative names: King of the Bears
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Bjarndýrakóngur, meaning “King of the Bears,” is the legendary ruler of all polar bears in Icelandic folklore. It is said to be born from the union of a female polar bear and either a walrus or a bull. Distinguished by its red cheeks and a single horn upon its forehead, the creature carries this horn as a symbol of its royal authority. The horn ends in a sharp point capped with a shining platinum sphere that radiates light, allowing the king to find its way even through complete darkness.

The King of the Bears is renowned not only for its immense strength but also for its wisdom and justice. It understands human speech and commands absolute loyalty from every other polar bear. Although capable of killing with its horn, it does so only in self-defense or to punish bears that have broken its laws.

One famous legend tells of a Whitsun church service during the eighteenth century, when a procession of twelve or thirteen polar bears emerged from the remote parts of Iceland. At their head walked the majestic Bjarndýrakóngur. The local clergyman and congregation greeted the royal beast with bows, and the king respectfully returned the gesture before continuing its journey across southern Iceland.

During the procession, the last bear in the line killed and ate a sheep at Borgamór. The Bjarndýrakóngur immediately turned upon the offender and pierced it with its horn as punishment for its crime. After restoring order, the royal procession continued until it reached Grenivík, where the bears disappeared into the sea.

According to tradition, the only creature willing to challenge the Bjarndýrakóngur is the Redcheek, an unusually fierce polar bear marked by a patch of reddish-pink fur on one cheek. Aggressive toward every creature it encounters, the Redcheek is nevertheless no match for the wise and powerful King of the Bears.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2020, November 13). Bjarndýrakóngur. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2020/11/13/bjarndyrakongur/

Loekenbeer

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Tradition / Region: Belgian Mythology
Alternative names: Lokkenbeer, Lokkeman
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Loekenbeer is a dangerous creature from Flemish folklore said to dwell in cesspits and wells. It is especially feared for luring children who wander too close to these places, dragging them into the water and drowning them.

The creature is also believed to hide in dark cellars, waiting unseen. Stories of the Loekenbeer served as a warning to children to stay away from deep wells, pits, and other hazardous places where the mysterious being was thought to lurk.

Sources

Abe van der Veen. (2014, July 8). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. Abe de Verteller. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Schuimert

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Tradition / Region: Dutch Mythology
Alternative names: –
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Schuimert is a fearsome creature from the folklore of Gelderland. It is described as a plague beast that appears to people in the form of either a wolf or a bear.

When taking the shape of a bear, the Schuimert is recognized by the foam covering its mouth. Its sudden appearance is regarded as an ominous encounter, and the creature is remembered as a dangerous being that brings fear and misfortune to those who cross its path.

Sources

Abe van der Veen. (2014, July 8). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. Abe de Verteller. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Ozark Howler

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Tradition / Region: American Mythology
Alternative names: –
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Ozark Howler is a legendary cryptid said to inhabit the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. It is commonly described as a large, bear-like creature with a dark, shaggy coat that roams the remote forests. Although many consider it a myth or a case of mistaken identity, local folklore and reported sightings have kept the legend alive.

Some traditions trace the creature’s origins to the late eighteenth century, when the American frontiersman Daniel Boone reportedly claimed to have killed a large, hairy beast in the region. This account is often cited as one of the earliest stories connected to the Ozark Howler.

Reports of the creature became more common during the twentieth century. Witnesses have described encountering a large, fast-moving animal resembling a bear, though no evidence has confirmed its existence. In one reported incident from 2014, a motorist in Benton County, Arkansas, nearly collided with a large gray animal described as being about the size of a bear, prompting wildlife officials to investigate.

In 2015, photographs claimed to show the Ozark Howler were submitted to a local Arkansas television station. After reviewing the images, state wildlife officials concluded that they were a hoax. Despite the lack of verified evidence, stories of the mysterious bear-like creature continue to be part of the folklore of the Ozark Mountains.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Ozark Howler. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozark_Howler

Onikuma

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Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Demon Bear
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Onikuma, meaning “demon bear,” is a fearsome yōkai said to originate in the mountain forests of Japan, particularly the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture. It is believed that when an ordinary bear lives for many years, it transforms into an Onikuma, growing far larger than any natural bear and gaining immense supernatural strength.

Unlike ordinary bears, an Onikuma is able to walk upright on two legs. It is powerful enough to move enormous boulders that even groups of men cannot shift, and it can crush small animals with a single blow. Although it lives deep within remote mountain forests and is active mainly at night, it occasionally descends into nearby villages in search of food.

When an Onikuma enters human settlements, it is known for carrying away livestock such as horses and cattle before disappearing back into the mountains. Because of its tremendous strength, encounters with the creature are rare but often deadly, leaving villagers with little choice but to organize dangerous hunts.

Traditional accounts describe a special method for killing an Onikuma. Hunters blocked the entrance to its den with a massive wooden frame covered in wisteria vines. They then forced branches and brush through the narrow openings until the beast’s shelter became completely filled. Eventually the trapped Onikuma burst through the entrance, where hunters waited to attack it with long spears and rifles.

According to legend, several Onikuma were slain during the Kyōhō era (1716–1736). Their hides were said to be so enormous that each one could cover an area of more than six tatami mats. Large boulders scattered throughout the Kiso Valley are also known as “Onikuma stones,” as local tradition claims they were hurled down the mountainsides by these mighty demon bears. In Hokkaido, bears that attacked humans were likewise feared and referred to as Onikuma.

Sources

Foster, M. D. (n.d.). Onikuma. In Yokai.com: The Illustrated Database of Japanese Folklore. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://yokai.com/onikuma/.

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Onikuma. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onikuma.

Jean de l’Ours

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Tradition / Region: French Mythology
Alternative names: John the Bear, John-of-the-Bear, Jean Bear
Category: Bear

The Myth

Jean de l’Ours, whose name means “John of the Bear,” is a legendary hero born from the union of a woman and a bear. Half human and half bear, he possessed extraordinary strength from childhood and was covered in thick body hair. While still young, he escaped the bear’s cave with his mother and later forged for himself a massive iron club that no ordinary man could lift.

Setting out on his adventures, Jean was joined by several companions renowned for their own great strength. During their travels they found an enchanted castle where each of his companions was defeated by a mysterious giant. Jean alone overcame the creature, forcing it to flee into a deep pit that led to the underworld.

Descending into the pit, Jean discovered an underground realm where three princesses were held captive. He defeated the monsters guarding them and rescued the princesses, who rewarded him with magical tokens. When his companions pulled the princesses back to the surface, they betrayed Jean by abandoning him in the underworld and claiming the rescue as their own.

After escaping the underworld through his own courage and endurance, Jean returned to the kingdom. By presenting the tokens given to him by the princesses, he proved that he was their true rescuer. The king rewarded him with the hand of the most beautiful princess in marriage, while the treacherous companions were punished for their betrayal.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Jean de l’Ours. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_de_l%27Ours

Bödvar Bjarki

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Tradition / Region: Norse Mythology, Danish Mythology
Alternative names: Bǫðvarr Bjarki, Biarco
Category: Bear

The Myth

Bödvar Bjarki, whose name means “Warlike Little-Bear,” is one of the greatest heroes of Norse legend. Renowned for his immense strength and courage, he was believed to possess the supernatural ability to assume the form of a bear in battle.

His story began with his father, Björn, who had been transformed into a bear by the magic of his stepmother, Hvit. Forced to live as a bear by day and a man by night, Björn was eventually hunted down and killed. Before his death he warned his wife, Bera, not to eat his flesh, but she was persuaded to take a single bite. She later gave birth to three extraordinary sons. Two were born with animal features, while the youngest, Bödvar Bjarki, appeared entirely human.

As he grew older, Bjarki avenged his father by killing Hvit. He later visited his brother Elgfróði, who strengthened him by giving him some of his own blood to drink, greatly increasing Bjarki’s already remarkable power.

Bjarki eventually entered the service of King Hrólfr Kraki of Denmark. Soon after arriving, he slew a fearsome monster that had terrorized the king’s hall. He then forced the timid servant Hott to drink the monster’s blood, filling him with courage and strength. By arranging the creature’s body to appear alive, Bjarki allowed Hott to strike the final blow before the court, earning him honor and the new name Hjalti.

Bjarki became King Hrólfr’s greatest champion, defeating rival berserkers and serving as one of the king’s closest advisers. During the final battle at Lejre, however, he remained seated in a deep trance while a gigantic bear devastated the enemy army. The bear was revealed to be Bjarki’s spirit fighting apart from his body. When Hjalti awakened him, the spirit bear vanished. Bjarki entered the battle in human form, but without the bear’s supernatural power he and King Hrólfr were ultimately overwhelmed and slain.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Bödvar Bjarki. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B6dvar_Bjarki

Otso

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Tradition / Region: Finnish Mythology
Alternative names: Karhu, Ohto, Kontio, Metsän kuningas, Mesikämmen
Category: Bear

The Myth

Otso is the sacred bear spirit of Finnish mythology and is regarded as the king of the forest and leader of all bears. Rather than being a single bear, Otso represents the collective spirit of every bear. The creature was deeply revered and feared by the ancient Finns and appears in the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic.

Different traditions tell different stories of Otso’s origin. One legend says that the weather god Ukko cast wool into the sea, from which Otso was born when it drifted ashore. Another tradition states that the great bear spirit descended from the constellation Ursa Major.

The oldest myths tell that Otso married the primordial mother of humankind, establishing a sacred bond between bears and people. Although Otso was said to have many wives and children, the stories also describe the great bear as devouring its own offspring.

When a bear was killed, the ancient Finns held a sacred ceremony known as the Peijaiset to honor its spirit. The bear was carefully skinned, its meat shared in a ritual feast, and a symbolic wedding was performed to return the bear to its mythical family. Afterwards, the bear’s skull was mounted high in a pine tree while prayers and chants were offered to Hongotar, the primordial mother of bears.

Finally, the bear’s bones were buried beneath the tree. The skull was treated as a sacred object and carefully preserved, for it was believed that by protecting it from decay, Otso’s spirit could return to the world, be reborn, and continue the eternal cycle of life.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Otso. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otso