Oni

An Oni is a kind of yōkai, demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore.

They are believed to live in caves or deep in the mountains.

These creatures are known for their superhuman strength and have been associated with powers like thunder and lightning, along with their evil nature manifesting in their propensity for murder and cannibalism.

Oni are typically portrayed as hulking figures with one or more horns growing out of their heads, massive teeth, and occasionally a third eye in the center of the forehead.

They are typically depicted with red, blue, black, or yellow colored skin, wearing loincloths of tiger pelt, and carrying iron kanabō clubs.

These creatures also have three to six digits on each hand and foot tipped with claw-like nails.

Oni are able to change their looks to fool their victims into trusting them.

They can be male or female, but have been predominantly male throughout history.

Female oni are sometimes referred to by the name Yamauba.

When in disguise, oni are capable of appearing as a man or woman, regardless of their gender.

As monstrous as oni are, they have been linked to bringing good fortune and wealth.

During the Heian period (794–1185), oni were often depicted in Japanese literature, such as setsuwa, as terrifying monsters that ate people.

A prominent depiction of oni is that they eat people in one mouthful, which is called "onihitokuchi".

In Nihon Ryōiki, The Tales of Ise and Konjaku Monogatarishū, for example, a woman is shown being eaten in one mouthful by a oni.

There is the theory that the reason why stories of onihitokuchi were common is that wars, disasters, and famines where people lose their lives or go missing were interpreted as oni from another world appearing in the present world who take away humans.

It was not until the legend of Shuten-dōji was created that the oni began to be depicted in paintings, and the 14th century Ōeyama ekotoba is the oldest surviving emakimono (picture scroll) depicting Shuten-dōji.

Shuten-dōji has been regarded as the most famous and strongest oni in Japan.

The legend of Shuten-dōji has been described since the 14th century in various arts, traditional performing arts and literature such as emakimono, jōruri, noh, kabuki, bunraku, and ukiyo-e.

An oni is a kind of yōkai, a supernatural creature in Japanese folklore.

They are often depicted as large, muscular, and horned beings with sharp teeth and claws.

Oni usually have red, blue, black, or yellow skin, and wear tiger skins or iron clubs as weapons.

They are said to live in caves or mountains, and are feared for their evil and violent nature.

These creatures can also shapeshift into human forms to deceive or lure their victims.

Oni are still popular in modern Japanese media, such as manga, anime, video games, and movies.

They are often portrayed as either villains or anti-heroes, sometimes with a humorous or sympathetic twist.

An oni is a kind of demon, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore.

They are believed to live in caves or deep in the mountains.

Oni are known for their superhuman strength and evil nature, but they can also be converted to Buddhism.

They have horns, teeth, and sometimes a third eye.

These demons are usually red, blue, black, or yellow in color.

Oni can change their looks to fool their victims.

In Japanese folklore, an oni is a type of yōkai, or supernatural ogre/demon.

Traditionally, oni are not human; they are beings that live in the mountains or caves and are known for their evil nature, often associated with powers like thunder and lightning.

However, there are tales where humans transform into oni.

This transformation is usually the result of extreme wickedness or sinfulness.

In some stories, a human's soul becomes so corrupt that it changes into an oni while the person is still alive, leading them to terrorize others.

Another belief is that after death, a sinful human may be transformed into an oni and suffer in hell.

The concept of a human becoming an oni is more metaphorical than literal.

It reflects the idea that our actions and choices can lead us down a path where we become unrecognizable, monstrous versions of ourselves.

In this sense, "becoming an oni" serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of living a life of malevolence or cruelty.

So, while the literal transformation of a human into an oni is a subject of myth and folklore, the underlying message is about the human capacity for good and evil, and the consequences that come with our moral decisions.

It's a powerful symbol in Japanese culture, representing the struggle between our better natures and our baser instincts.