Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Dog, Yokai, Winged beast
The Myth
The Hainu is a legendary winged dog spoken of in the traditions of Chikugo in Kyūshū.
It is described as a powerful and fearsome creature, shaped like a dog but with wings that allow it to move swiftly through the air. Strong and fast, it could be as dangerous to humans as a wolf. Yet some tales say that, when tamed, a hainu could also be loyal and affectionate toward its master.
Stories of the creature are tied to events in the late sixteenth century, when the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi led his armies into Kyūshū.
One version of the legend tells of a terrifying winged dog that appeared in the region long before Hideyoshi’s arrival. The beast attacked travelers, slaughtered livestock, and spread fear throughout the countryside. When Hideyoshi’s forces passed through the area, the creature blocked their way. After a fierce struggle, the army finally killed it. Hideyoshi, impressed by the animal’s strength and cunning, ordered that it be buried with honor, and a mound was raised where it fell.
Another version tells a very different story. In this telling, the winged dog was not an enemy but Hideyoshi’s own companion. The animal followed him faithfully, flying above his troops as they marched. When they passed through Chikugo, however, the hainu fell ill and died. Hideyoshi was deeply grieved by the loss, and his retainers built a burial mound for the creature so that it would be remembered.
In later years, the place where the dog was said to be buried became known as Hainuzuka, the mound of the winged dog. A temple nearby preserved the memory of the legend, and monuments were raised in honor of the strange creature.
Thus the Hainu was remembered in two ways — as a terrifying beast and as a beloved companion — a winged dog whose story remained tied to the land where it was said to rest.
Gallery
Sources
Foster, M. D. (n.d.). Hainu. In yokai.com, from https://yokai.com/hainu/
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive