MYTHICAL BEASTS----IV
Asian
31. Jorōgumo: beware if you are taking a walk in rural regions
of
Japan and you see a beautiful woman playing a lute - she
could be a Jorōgumo. Once you have been enticed into a
shack by her beauty and by the soothing song, she will turn
into a spider, bind you in silk and devour you entirely. In
some stories, the woman even carries a bundle that initially
appears to be a baby, but on closer inspection is actually
a spider egg from which hundreds of spider children will
burst before feeding on your succulent flesh.
could be a Jorōgumo. Once you have been enticed into a
shack by her beauty and by the soothing song, she will turn
into a spider, bind you in silk and devour you entirely. In
some stories, the woman even carries a bundle that initially
appears to be a baby, but on closer inspection is actually
a spider egg from which hundreds of spider children will
burst before feeding on your succulent flesh.
32. Kitsune: commonly spoken of in Japanese folklore, Kitsune
are
essentially foxes that can take human form. Divided
into two types - zenko (benevolent spirits) and yako (those
that are mischievous and malicious), all Kitsune are said to
be highly intelligent and possess magical powers. The older
and more powerful a Kitsune becomes, the more tails it
grows - up to a maximum of nine, at which point its fur
becomes white or gold and it gains the ability to see or hear
anything that is happening anywhere in the entire world.
Before transforming into a human, the Kitsune must place a
reed or broad leaf on its head, and even after transformation
the spirit may not be able to shed its tail - spotting this
should a Kitsune get drunk or careless is a common way to
discern its true nature.
into two types - zenko (benevolent spirits) and yako (those
that are mischievous and malicious), all Kitsune are said to
be highly intelligent and possess magical powers. The older
and more powerful a Kitsune becomes, the more tails it
grows - up to a maximum of nine, at which point its fur
becomes white or gold and it gains the ability to see or hear
anything that is happening anywhere in the entire world.
Before transforming into a human, the Kitsune must place a
reed or broad leaf on its head, and even after transformation
the spirit may not be able to shed its tail - spotting this
should a Kitsune get drunk or careless is a common way to
discern its true nature.
33. Longma: in Chinese mythology, the Longma was a winged
horse
covered with Dragon scales. The word itself means Dragon (long) horse (ma). If a Longma was seen, most people believed it was an omen that a great and wise
ruler would soon come to power.
34. Ahool: in the deepest rainforests
of Java lives a giant bat
with
a wingspan of over three metres. Covered in grey fur and with large claws on its forearms, some even believe
this creature - the Ahool - to resemble
a pterosaur.
35. Uchchaihshravas: snow white in colour, Uchchaihshravas
us
a seven-headed horse in Hindu mythology that possesses
the ability of flight. Although some tales tell of this king of
horses being a vehicle of Indra (the god-king of heaven),
others state that it is in fact the horse of Bali, king of demons.
the ability of flight. Although some tales tell of this king of
horses being a vehicle of Indra (the god-king of heaven),
others state that it is in fact the horse of Bali, king of demons.
36. Baku: possessing an elephant’s trunk, an ox’s tail, a tiger’s
paws
and the eyes of a rhinoceros, the Baku devours dreams
and thus prevents one from having nightmares. In more
recent years, naturalists have noted the similarity between
the description of the Baku and real-world animal the tapir.
and thus prevents one from having nightmares. In more
recent years, naturalists have noted the similarity between
the description of the Baku and real-world animal the tapir.
37. Jiangshi: a truly terrifying creature, the Jiangshi is a stiff
human
corpse dressed in the official garments of the Qing
dynasty. Always with its arms outstretched, this zombie
moves by hopping, seeking out living creatures at night and
devouring their life-force. During the day, the Jiangshi rests
in either a coffin or in a dark, dank cave. Some Jiangshi look
almost like you or I (as they are the corpse of the recently
deceased), whereas others (who have been decomposing for
some time) have rotting flesh hanging off their yellowing
bones.
dynasty. Always with its arms outstretched, this zombie
moves by hopping, seeking out living creatures at night and
devouring their life-force. During the day, the Jiangshi rests
in either a coffin or in a dark, dank cave. Some Jiangshi look
almost like you or I (as they are the corpse of the recently
deceased), whereas others (who have been decomposing for
some time) have rotting flesh hanging off their yellowing
bones.
38. Yamata no Orochi: with eights heads and eight tails, the
Japanese
Dragon Yamata no Orochi was slain by Susanoo,
the storm god of Shinto legend; the beast had lived in the
Hii river in Izumo Province, and every year had demanded
(and received) the sacrifice of a daughter of two earthly
deities.
the storm god of Shinto legend; the beast had lived in the
Hii river in Izumo Province, and every year had demanded
(and received) the sacrifice of a daughter of two earthly
deities.
39. Rokurokubi: initially, these
Japanese phantoms look no
different
to humans - until either their necks stretch to
ridiculous lengths, or their heads in fact detach entirely
from their bodies and float around! Usually female in
form, these spirits are often said to be malevolent, attacking
humans at night. Some studies from the Edo period
(roughly the 17th and 18th centuries in Japan) suggested that
some Rokurokubi were not in fact Yōkai (a word meaning
phantom or spirit) but were humans who suffered from a
physical condition that caused their necks to stretch whilst
they slept.
ridiculous lengths, or their heads in fact detach entirely
from their bodies and float around! Usually female in
form, these spirits are often said to be malevolent, attacking
humans at night. Some studies from the Edo period
(roughly the 17th and 18th centuries in Japan) suggested that
some Rokurokubi were not in fact Yōkai (a word meaning
phantom or spirit) but were humans who suffered from a
physical condition that caused their necks to stretch whilst
they slept.
40. Ox-Head and Horse-Face: the
first two people that dead
souls
meet when arriving in the Chinese underworld
(where they are tortured prior to being reincarnated) are
Ox-Head and Horse-Face. These guardians of the realm are
exactly as their names would suggest - one has the head of
an ox on the body of a man, whereas the other has the face
of a horse. On very rare occasions, souls are said to have
escaped from the underworld, but they are spotted by the
far-seeing eyes of Yama and the two guardians are sent to
retrieve (and punish) the escapees.
(where they are tortured prior to being reincarnated) are
Ox-Head and Horse-Face. These guardians of the realm are
exactly as their names would suggest - one has the head of
an ox on the body of a man, whereas the other has the face
of a horse. On very rare occasions, souls are said to have
escaped from the underworld, but they are spotted by the
far-seeing eyes of Yama and the two guardians are sent to
retrieve (and punish) the escapees.
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