Mythology!

Hime Oni

by

Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Princess Demon
Category: Demon

The Myth

Hime Oni is the daughter of a demon who appears in the Kyōgen play Kubihiki (“Neck Pulling”). She is a young female demon who has never eaten a human before.

While Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo was passing through Inamino in Harima, a terrifying demon suddenly appeared and attacked him, intending to devour him. However, the demon decided that Tametomo would make a suitable first human meal for his daughter. He called his daughter and ordered her to eat him.

The demon princess approached Tametomo, but instead of attacking him, she was struck by his fan. Frightened by the blow, she cried out that it hurt and ran away. Her father became angry when he heard that Tametomo had struck his daughter and confronted him again.

Tametomo explained that he had only accidentally hit her while using his fan. He then proposed that he and the demon princess settle the matter with a contest. If she defeated him, he would allow himself to be eaten, but if he won, she would spare his life.

The first contest was arm wrestling. The princess reluctantly returned and, urged on by her father, accepted the challenge. However, she was far too weak to compete with Tametomo and was defeated almost immediately. She cried out in pain and ran away again, causing her father to become furious with Tametomo.

Tametomo then proposed a shin-pushing contest. Once again, the demon princess was easily defeated and burst into tears, while her father angrily confronted Tametomo.

Finally, Tametomo suggested a neck-pulling contest. In this game, a rope is placed around each person’s neck and the two opponents pull against each other. The princess agreed, and the contest began.

Her father acted as referee, but he became increasingly worried as Tametomo gained the advantage. He stopped the contest and declared that the difference in strength was too great. He then ordered his other demons to help his daughter.

The contest resumed with a large group of demons standing behind the princess. The father took the lead, and all of the demons pulled together on the rope.

Suddenly, Tametomo removed the rope from his own neck. The demons, still pulling with all their strength, were thrown backward by their own momentum and fell scattered across the ground. Tametomo used the confusion to escape, finally getting away from the demons.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “姫鬼 [ひめおに] (Hime Oni).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). May 5, 2018. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1070781396.html

Akanyūdō

by

Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Aoandon, Blue Lantern
Category: Demon

The Myth

Akanyūdō is a red yōkai wearing a white cloth. It has the appearance of a Buddhist monk or priest, with its body and face covered in a vivid red color.

The creature is depicted in the Hyakki Yagyō Emaki, a Japanese scroll of supernatural creatures. Akanyūdō is shown in the same posture as another yōkai that is identified as Ganjōji (元興寺) in other works. No further legend or behavior is given for Akanyūdō in the source.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “赤入道 [あかにゅうどう] (Akanyūdō).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). August 1, 2015. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1035781303.html

Kowabakarachiki

by

Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Kowabakarachiki
Category: Demon

The Myth

Kowabakarachiki is a strange monster depicted stomping on a man. Its barking cry is described as “akirence,” while the man being stepped on cries out, “Oya wo ya, whatever.”

The creature appears in the Hyakki Yakō Monogatari, where it is listed as “Bamba Kowabakarachiki.” It does not appear in the Chinese texts associated with Heian and Han traditions, and the source describes it as a later local creation.

Kowabakarachiki was created as a wordplay based on the Yuri language, or Kaku language. Its name is said to play on a phrase meaning roughly “Koha — this is, well, stupid.” The strange cry of the monster and the words shouted by the man are constructed in the same playful manner.

The creature is therefore a yokai built around deliberately strange, foreign-sounding speech, turning unfamiliar language into a source of humor and supernatural absurdity.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “コワバカラチキ (Kowabakarachiki).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). October 19, 2013. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654442.html

Zheztyrnak

by

Tradition: Kazakh mythology
Alternative Names: Zheztyrnak, Jeztyrnak, Jez Tumshuk, Chulbus, Shulbus, Mu-shubun
Category: Demon

The Myth

Zheztyrnak is an evil demonic creature that usually appears as a beautiful young woman, although she can sometimes take the form of a terrible old woman. Beneath her attractive appearance she hides monstrous copper claws. Her ten fingers end in sharp, razor-like copper claws, while blue-tinted blades grow along her palms, each sharp enough to cut through stone. She usually hides these claws beneath long sleeves.

Zheztyrnak has tremendous supernatural power and possesses a loud, piercing voice. Her scream is deadly to birds and small animals. She is a frightening forest woman, especially dangerous to anyone who encounters her alone.

Zheztyrnak is sometimes compared to a vampire. She can hypnotize a person with her cold, unblinking gaze. Once her victim falls asleep, she attacks with her claws and sucks out all of their blood.

She is also fiercely vindictive. If a Zheztyrnak is killed, her husband seeks revenge for her death, and after his death, the victim may be pursued by their orphaned children.

One Kazakh tale tells of a hunter who encountered Zheztyrnak late in the evening. A young woman appeared at his hunting fire, and the hunter invited her to share his meal. He noticed that she constantly covered her nose with her sleeve, even while eating, and realized that she was no ordinary woman but a Zheztyrnak.

After she left, the hunter placed a log beside the fire and covered it with his clothes. He then climbed into a tree with his gun and waited. During the night, Zheztyrnak returned and threw herself onto the disguised log, believing the hunter was sleeping there. From his hiding place, the hunter fired and killed the demon with a well-aimed shot.

Sources

“Жезтырнак (Zheztyrnak).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/zheztyrnak

Meker

by

Tradition: Kazakh mythology
Alternative Names: Meker, Meker-katyn
Category: Demon

The Myth

Meker is an evil demon from lower Kazakh mythology that usually takes the form of a woman. However, the Meker can also transform into the form of a dog, cat, or kid goat.

Mekers are among the evil spirits of Kazakh mythology and are sometimes used as another name for the Albasty. In modern Kazakh speech, “meker-katyn” is used as an insult for an evil, constantly quarrelling woman.

No further legends about the Meker are given in the source.

Sources

“Мекер (Meker).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Meker

Myrlyava

by

Tradition: Sorbian Mythology, German Mythology
Alternative Names: Marawa, Myrlata, Myrlawa, Marava, Myrljata
Category: Demon

The Myth

Myrlyava is an evil demoness from Upper Sorbian folklore who appears as a repulsive, ugly, and perpetually dirty woman.

She was rarely seen, and nobody knew where she came from, where she lived, or what she fed on. Her mysterious nature made her a frightening figure in local folklore.

In Müllrose, in northern Upper Lusatia, people had a saying about a woman who had been working for a long time and was constantly busy with her work. They would say:

“She must be an old Myrlyava.”

The name was therefore used to describe a woman who was regarded as particularly unpleasant or unattractive.

Sources

“Мырлява (Myrlawa).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Myrlyava

Martu

by

Tradition: Kazakh mythology
Alternative Names: Martu
Category: Demon

The Myth

Martu is an evil demon from lower Kazakh mythology who takes the form of a woman.

Little is known about her appearance or nature beyond her female form and her identity as an evil demon. The name Martu is also used as an insult in Kazakh speech, but no further legends about the creature are given in the source.

Sources

“Марту (Martu).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Martu

Kulyashi

by

Tradition: Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Kulyashi, Kuleshata, Kuleshi
Category: Demon

The Myth

Kulyashi are small water demons from the folklore of the Vologda region of Russia. They live in the water and are said to emerge during Epiphany.

People were afraid of accidentally scooping up a Kulyash when drawing water, and a saying recorded in Vladimir Dal’s dictionary warned that the Kulyashi came out of the water at Epiphany. Because of them, people were careful when going onto or drawing from the water during this time.

In the Russian North, these little water beings were also known as Kuleshi or Kuleshata. They appeared during Svyatki, the Christmas festive period, where they caused trouble and mischief for people. When the festive season came to an end, the creatures disappeared again.

Kulyashi were therefore imagined as small, troublesome supernatural beings that appeared for a short period, disturbed people, and then vanished. They were regarded as a kind of water-dwelling counterpart to the better-known Shulikuny.

Sources

“Куляши (Kulyashi).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Kulyashi

Imp

by

Tradition: English Mythology
Alternative Names: Impe
Category: Demon

The Myth

Imps are small supernatural beings, usually described as lively, troublesome, and mischievous. They are often portrayed as lesser beings, sometimes resembling fairies and sometimes described as small demons or attendants of the Devil.

Imps are known for playing tricks on people. Their mischief can be harmless, but they can also mislead travelers, cause trouble, or otherwise disturb people. They were sometimes believed to seek friendship with humans, using jokes and pranks to gain their attention, although their behavior could just as easily drive people away.

In later folklore, imps became associated with witches and warlocks as familiar spirits. They were believed to serve their masters as companions, spies, or informants. Such familiars could take the form of animals such as black cats, lizards, or toads.

One of the best-known legends concerns the Lincoln Imp. According to a legend from Lincolnshire, the Devil came to Lincoln Cathedral accompanied by two imps. The imps began causing havoc inside the cathedral until an angel appeared and ordered them to stop.

One of the imps attempted to throw a stone at the angel. The angel commanded, “O impious imp, be ye turned to stone,” and the creature was immediately petrified. Its companion escaped, while the unfortunate imp remained as a stone figure inside the cathedral.

Sources

“Imp.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imp

Dodomeki

by

Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: 百々目鬼, どどめき
Category: Demon

The Myth

The Dodomeki is a cursed woman with exceptionally long arms covered in hundreds of tiny bird eyes. She was originally a human woman who developed a habit of stealing money. As a consequence of her wicked deeds, hundreds of small bird eyeballs eventually sprout from her arms, transforming her into a monster.

The creature’s appearance is built around a series of Japanese wordplays. Having “long arms” is an expression for someone who has a tendency to steal, so the Dodomeki possesses long arms both figuratively and literally. Copper coins, called dōsen, had holes in their centers and were colloquially called chōmoku, meaning “bird’s eye,” because of their appearance. Thus, a woman who stole copper coins became a monster whose arms were covered in bird eyes.

Money could also be called oashi, literally “feet,” because money comes and goes as though it had feet. The expression ashi ga tsuku means “to catch someone who has committed a crime.” By replacing ashi with chōmoku, which could also refer to money, the expression becomes a pun meaning “covered in bird eyes.” These wordplays were incorporated into Toriyama Sekien’s description of the yokai.

A much older legend tells of Fujiwara no Hidesato, a nobleman who had been granted the position of kokushi of Shimotsuke Province after defeating the rebel Taira no Masakado. While hunting in his newly acquired territory, Hidesato encountered an old man who warned him that an oni had appeared at the horse graveyard at Utsunomiya. Hidesato took his bow and arrows and went to investigate.

He waited at the horse graveyard until nightfall. During the hour of the ox, an enormous demon appeared and began ravenously devouring the carcasses of dead horses. It stood more than ten feet tall, possessed sharp, spiked hair, and had glowing eyes covering its entire body. Hidesato carefully aimed at the brightest eye and fired an arrow directly into it.

The arrow struck the demon, which roared in pain and fled into the woods. Eventually it collapsed at the foot of Mount Myōjin. Yet the wounded demon still possessed tremendous power. Flames erupted from its body, while its mouth split open and released poisonous fumes. The intense heat and toxic air overwhelmed Hidesato, forcing him to abandon the fight and return to his palace.

When Hidesato returned the following day, he found that a large area of ground had been blackened and burned. The demon itself, however, had disappeared.

Four hundred years later, during the Muromachi period, a village had developed on the northern slope of Mount Myōjin. Strange events began occurring there. The head priest of the local temple suffered mysterious injuries, while unexplained fires repeatedly broke out around the temple.

A new head priest, the virtuous Saint Chitoku, was summoned to discover the cause. Chitoku noticed that a young woman frequently visited the temple whenever he preached his sermons. He eventually realized that she was actually the wounded demon from Hidesato’s battle, disguised as a human woman.

After surviving the battle, the demon had retreated into nearby caves to recover. In human form, it repeatedly returned to the place where it had fallen at Mount Myōjin. There it gradually sucked back up the poisonous fumes it had released during the battle and collected the blood it had spilled. Because the village temple had been constructed directly over the old battlefield, the demon began causing fires and attacking the priest in an attempt to drive the people away.

One day, Saint Chitoku confronted the disguised demon. She revealed her true nature as a Dodomeki, but she did not attack him. While repeatedly visiting the temple, she had listened to Chitoku’s powerful sermons, and his teachings had deeply affected her.

The Dodomeki promised that she would never again commit evil. From that time onward, the area around Mount Myōjin became known as Dodomeki.

Sources

“Dodomeki.” Yokai.com: The Japanese Yokai Encyclopedia. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://yokai.com/dodomeki/