The Spirits and Demons of Japanese Mythology
The Spirits and Demons of Japanese Mythology
By: Michael Kidd
ANTH 452
Melanie Nichol
Abstract
Japanese mythology contains a multitude of stories that tell tales of spirits and demons. These types of creatures serve as incredibly influential aspects of Japanese society and culture even to this day. The representation in popular media such as film, anime, and manga to how they impact the day-to-day lives of Japan's citizens keeps these creatures relevant within modern Japan despite the stories originating from centuries past. While many of these stories and creatures have been adapted and transformed to suit the culture of Japan seen in the modern day, their roots planted within Japanese society centuries ago remain firm.
Overview of Three Popular Japanese Spirits and Demons Classifications:
Oni
Oni, translated into English as "giant people" are malevolent demons within Japanese myth. They were created to represent the fear the Japanese people felt towards hazardous and frightening natural events such as earthquakes, thunder, and lightning. While Oni are technically a subset of Yokai, they themselves stand out due to their strong representation of demons in Japanese mythology and are considered the most negative depictions of Yokai. (Reider 2010, 2-3)
Yokai
Yokai, translated into English as "monster/hobgoblin", are spirits that are not worshipped by the Japanese as Kami are. These are often depicted as ghosts, spirits, or monsters of various kinds. Yokai were originally used by the Japanese to explain strange and at the time unexplainable phenomena. They are often mischievous to downright evil. Early examples of Yokai include animated objects. Naturally, as with almost all Japanese myths, Yokai are rooted in nature. (Davis)
Kami
Kami, translated into English as "above/superior" are the gods and goddesses of Japan that generally represent all aspects of nature such as animals, plant life, oceans, mountains, etc. They often are considered to reside in various shrines dedicated to them across Japan. While Yokai may occasionally take human form to deceive humans, Kami frequently represent themselves within human bodies. They are the greatest representations of the Japanese people's reverence for nature and its beauty. (Katanuma)
Why These Stories and Creatures have Altered Over Time:
Myths and legends revolving around creatures such as the Oni will naturally spread and be altered over time to adapt to the Modern era. Japan, while still a nation with great respect for its traditionalist roots, is evolving. As such tales of Oni and Yokai will evolve with it. Martha Sims mentions "Because of the fluid nature of the field and because it is built from so many influences, folklore continues to evolve and change." (Sims 2011, 29) With the development of tools such as the internet and the popularization of widespread entertainment such as film and manga, these tales become far broader than their original purpose. Creatives and citizens from across Japan and the globe utilize ideas from these myths, often changing aspects of their stories, thus creating several variations and depictions of them. Although, this does not explain how exactly they have been changed or stayed the same.
Relevance to Japan in the Present Day
Oni, Yokai, and Kami have all been changed or altered in some way to accommodate for or to modern-day Japanese society and culture. The original beliefs of these myths remain in Japan, though additional meanings and representations have caused these myths to expand and adapt in a tremendously interesting way.
How these Creatures Express Japanese Beliefs in the Modern Day
Folklore across the world represents the cultural beliefs of the group and period it originates from. "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez" is a prime example of this, representing the spirit of freedom, adventure, and romance those on the Mexican border desired during the Mexican Revolution. (Parades 1986) Japanese myths and creatures are no different, though the beliefs relating to them have altered over time since their conception. Oni for example can often be seen depicted as the victims within stories in the modern day rather than the aggressors. They have been utilized to represent class struggles, discrimination, and victims of abuse and trauma. Rather than promoting a homogenous and village-based culture, Oni can now be seen representing those within Japan who feel segregated. While the original ideas of the Oni being a malicious entity remain, interpretations due to the passage of time and the internet represent a different set of Japanese beliefs than they did at their conception. (Reider 2010, 121-122)
Relevance in Modern Culture
Tales and myths such as Oni, Yokai, and Kami affect the Japanese population's society and mindset in multiple ways. One such example depicted in the image to the left is Setsubun. This is one of many festivals centered around creatures and spirits such as Oni and Kami. It involves tossing beans to expel demons from households and is still present and popular within Japanese society. In the modern day, an individual will dress up as an Oni and have beans thrown on him. Rather than banish supposed evil spirits, this is now used as a method to drive away bad luck for the year. The case of Setsubun is similar to many other ancient Japanese beliefs. They are still widely celebrated, though the thinking and methodology of these traditions have adapted to fit modern Japanese culture.
Relevance in Popular Culture
Yokai are perhaps the greatest example as to how these myths have remained relevant within popular culture. Films such as "Ring" and "The Grudge" remain relevant to this day. While they may remain essentially as scary tales to tell around the campfire, modernization has still affected these stories within Japan. Adam Johnson mentions how Yokai have changed as they now reflect "the concerns and fears of the consequences of having an interconnected world with an increasing dependency on technology." (Johnson 2015, 59) Instead of these creatures being utilized to invoke fear over concepts of nature and ancient life, they now reflect modern fears relating to the internet, global war, viral outbreaks, corrupt governments, and far more examples.