The Myth

The Tōjukei is a legendary bird described in Chinese and Japanese tradition. It is said to resemble a pheasant or turkey and bears two green horns upon its head. During the clear days of spring and summer, the fleshy wattles hanging from its throat spread open, giving the impression that the bird is spitting out long ribbons, from which it takes its name.

Another tradition explains the name differently. It says that when the Tōjukei breathes toward the sun, its breath shines in five brilliant colors like a rainbow, resembling a brightly colored ribbon. Because of its unusual appearance and marvelous qualities, the bird became a popular subject in Japanese paintings and temple decorations.

Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Pheasant Maiden; Kiji-musume
Category: Bird

The Myth

The Kiji Musume (“Pheasant Maiden”) is a yokai from the village of Tsuchibuchi in Iwate Prefecture. An elderly couple who longed for a child prayed every night to the local deity, asking for a child no matter what form it might take. After the wife dreamed of a flowering vine blooming in her robe, she gave birth to a beautiful daughter named Kosan, who grew into a lovely young woman and eventually married.

Soon after her marriage, Kosan began secretly leaving her bed each night, always returning with hands and feet as cold as ice. Suspicious, her husband followed her to the village cemetery, where he saw her digging up a fresh grave. Too terrified to watch further, he fled home without confronting her.

The following night, the husband and Kosan’s mother secretly watched together. They saw Kosan break open a coffin and devour the corpse inside with the appearance of a fearsome demon. Shocked, her mother cried out to her. Realizing her secret had been discovered, Kosan declared that the bond between them had come to an end. Blue flames burst from her body, and she transformed into a pheasant, flying away toward the mountains and never returning.

Sources

TYZ. (2016, May 21). 雉子娘 (Kiji Musume). In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1057632664.html