Akabeko is a legendary red cow from Japan's Aizu region, celebrated for its cultural significance and protective symbolism. Legend holds that it was present at the construction of the Enzō-ji temple in the 9th century and later became immortalized by being turned to stone. Its iconic image has inspired traditional toys believed to ward off illnesses, making it a cherished emblem of the Tōhoku region.

Akabeko

Akkorokamui is a gigantic octopus-like sea monster from Ainu folklore. It is said to reach lengths of up to 120 metres and lurk in the deep waters of Uchiura Bay in Hokkaido. Its name, meaning 'tentacle-holding kamuy', underscores its formidable and mysterious nature.

Akkorokamui

Amabie is a legendary Japanese mermaid-like creature with a distinctive bird beak-like mouth and three legs or tail-fins. It emerges from the sea to prophesy either an abundant harvest or an impending epidemic. Its image has been reproduced on woodblock prints and pamphlets as a talisman to ward off illness.

Amabie

The Amemasu is a legendary giant aquatic creature from Ainu folklore, resembling a whale or fish. Inhabiting freshwater lakes in northern Japan, it is notorious for capsizing boats and triggering earthquakes. This formidable being embodies the raw, unpredictable power of nature.

Amemasu

Apsaras are celestial female spirits renowned for their breathtaking beauty and enchanting dance. They reside in the palaces of the gods in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, captivating all with their ethereal performances. Their ability to change shape and seduce even the most ascetic of sages highlights their mystical allure.

Apsara

Arikura-no-baba is a folkloric figure from Gifu Prefecture, Japan, known for her supernatural interventions during natural disasters. She is depicted as an old woman with the power to control natural elements through prayer and magic. Her benevolent acts, such as stopping a mountain eruption and cooling onsen water, have cemented her status as a protective spirit in local folklore.

Arikura-no-baba

Bai Ze is a divine creature from ancient Chinese legends, renowned for its unique, hybrid appearance that combines features of a dragon and a tiger. It is famed for creating the Bai Ze Diagram, an extensive record of ghosts and spirits. Revered in folklore, Bai Ze is believed to expel ghosts and protect households from evil influences.

Bai Ze

Baku are Japanese supernatural beings renowned for devouring nightmares. They were created from the spare pieces left over after the gods finished creating all other animals. This enduring legend has made them a fixture in traditional art and modern media alike.

Baku (mythology)

Basan is a fowl-like mythical bird from Japanese folklore, known for its mysterious and fiery appearance. It is prominently featured in classic works such as Ehon Hyaku Monogatari and Gazu Hyakki Yagyō. Its elusive nature and cultural significance make it a fascinating subject of Japanese myth.

Basan (legendary bird)

Benzaiten is an East Asian goddess of eloquence, arts, and learning, revered in both Buddhist and Shinto traditions. Originating from the Hindu deity Saraswati, she plays a central role in Japanese culture. Associated with wealth, fortune, and protection, she embodies a multifaceted divine presence.

Benzaiten

Bhaisajyaguru, also known as the Medicine Buddha, is a central figure in Mahayana Buddhism revered for his healing powers. Depicted in a canonical Buddha form with blue or deep green skin and holding a gallipot, he embodies compassion and enlightened wisdom. His teachings offer a path to cure both physical and spiritual suffering.

Bhaisajyaguru

The Bukit Timah Monkey Man is a legendary, hominid-like cryptid said to inhabit the forested Bukit Timah region of Singapore. It is characterised by its greyish appearance and bipedal gait. It is also reputed to be immortal, contributing to its mysterious status in local folklore.

Bukit Timah Monkey Man

Cikap-kamuy is the Ainu kamuy of owls and the land, responsible for overseeing the behaviour of both humans and kamuy. He is revered as a deity who bestows material success and prosperity. His divine oversight interlinks the natural world with human society in Ainu mythology.

Cikap-kamuy

Dakini are powerful female deities in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. They embody enlightened energy and have been portrayed as both fearsome demonesses and benevolent guides. Their representations vary from early cannibalistic forms to sophisticated embodiments of spiritual transformation.

Dakini

Ekādāśamukha is a bodhisattva manifestation of Avalokiteśvara in Mahayana Buddhism, revered for offering salvation to beings, particularly those in the asura realm. Known as 'Eleven-Faced', the deity symbolizes divine compassion and spiritual insight. He is also recognised as Avalokiteśvara of the Universally Shining Great Light, linking him to luminous symbolism.

Ekādaśamukha

Fengli is a legendary mythified flying mammal from Chinese folklore, often described as a wind-associated leopard cat. It is noted for its ability to fly and its distinctive feline features, including sharp claws and wings. Recorded in ancient texts like the Taiping Yulan and Bencao gangmu, Fengli also appears in Japanese sources as fūri.

Fengli

Fengxi is a boar-like monster from Chinese mythology known for having two heads. It is closely associated with rain, earning it the title of an ancient rain deity. Dwelling in Morus forests, Fengxi embodies the mysterious interplay between nature and divinity.

Fengxi (mythology)

Futakuchi-onna is a Japanese yōkai known as the 'two-mouthed woman', cursed with an extra, fully functional mouth on the back of her head. This hidden mouth—with its own set of lips, teeth, and tongue—remains concealed beneath her hair until its sudden reveal. Her story underscores themes of hidden vice and the duality of appearance versus inner nature in Japanese folklore.

Futakuchi-onna

Gashadokuro is a colossal skeletal apparition from Japanese mythology that roams desolate battlefields under the cover of darkness. Its rattling bones and imposing form instil terror in those who encounter it. Born from the remains of those who suffered violent deaths, it embodies the lingering wrath of the dead.

Gashadokuro

Gohō dōji is a guardian spirit from Japanese Buddhist folklore, depicted as a young boy armed with a large sword and noose. He flies through the air by riding a Wheel of Dharma. His role is to defend and safeguard the followers of the dharma.

Other Japanese Folklore Creatures