Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Mezuki, Horse Head Demon
Category: Horse, Demon
The Myth
Mezu is one of the demon generals who guard the gates of hell in Japanese Buddhism. He appears as a powerful oni with the head of a horse and serves Great King Enma, the ruler of the underworld.
Together with his counterpart Gozu, who has the head of an ox, Mezu is among the first beings encountered by souls entering Jigoku. The two demons are immensely strong, possessing the power to move mountains, and rank among Enma’s chief servants. They oversee the punishment and torture of the wicked within hell.
If a soul attempts to escape from the underworld, Mezu and Gozu are dispatched to pursue and capture the fugitive, returning it to its rightful punishment.
Although Mezu and Gozu are the best-known of Enma’s servants, they are not the only animal-headed demons in hell. Other guardians with the heads of deer, tigers, lions, and boars also serve among the higher ranks, operating the torture chambers of Jigoku and supervising the torment of countless souls.
According to Buddhist tradition, Mezu and the other animal-headed demons ultimately trace their origins to Indian mythology, from which they spread to Japan through China along with Buddhism.
Sources
Foster, M. D. (n.d.). Mezu. In Yokai.com: The Illustrated Database of Japanese Folklore. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://yokai.com/mezu/