Supernatural creatures drawn from Western sources often turn out to seem more like youkai in Japanese works. The closest true Western equivalent is probably that of the ancient Roman genii or spirits. As noted before, they are closer to The Fair Folk, spanning the entire moral range between good, mischievous, neutral, and actually evil. Although the original Greek word " daemon" from which "demon" is derived was similarly neutral. note A better Japanese word for "demon" would be " akuma"-this refers to the Devil and Abrahamic demons generally, as well as Buddhist demons. "Youkai" (literally "strange apparition") are often called " demons" in Western translations, but that word's connotation of purely evil entities make it an inadequate description. Shinto is an animist religion, and youkai are often associated with natural features such as forests and mountains. Some are mischievous, others avoid humans entirely. They have a lot in common with The Fair Folk-some youkai are good, others are evil, and many have their own alien set of values. Youkai/Yokai/Yōkai (also known as "Yaoguai" in Chinese pinyin, from which the Japanese term originates, literally meaning "bewitching spectres") are a grand collection of various supernatural creatures and phenomena that pop up in Shinto religion. Michael Foster, The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |