Uncover the mysterious world of evil Japanese gods and their names. Delve into their dark lore and significance in Japanese mythology.
Importance of Evil Japanese God Names
Cultural Significance
Explore how these malevolent deities have played a role in Japanese culture and folklore.
Symbolism in Names
Discover the profound meanings hidden within the names of these malevolent gods.
What are the Evil Japanese God Names
Intriguing and ominous, these names carry the weight of dark legends. Here are four categories of malevolent Japanese gods and 15 unique names for each.
Yōkai (妖怪) – Supernatural Creatures
| Name | Kanji Text | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amanojaku | 天邪鬼 | Ah-mah-noh-jah-koo | Perverse Spirit |
| Rokurokubi | 轆轤首 | Roh-koo-roh-koo-bee | Long-Necked Woman |
| Noppera-bo | のっぺらぼう | Noh-peh-rah-boh | Faceless Ghost |
| Nurarihyon | ぬらりひょん | Noo-rah-ree-hyon | The Old Man in the House |
| Tsuchigumo | 土蜘蛛 | Tsoo-chee-goo-moh | Ground Spider |
| Tengu | 天狗 | Ten-goo | Heavenly Dog |
| Nure-Onna | 濡れ女 | Noo-ray-oh-nah | Wet Woman |
| Kawa-no-Kami | 河の神 | Kah-wah-noh-kah-mee | River Deity |
| Hitodama | 人魂 | Hee-toh-dah-mah | Human Soul |
| Kasa-obake | 傘おばけ | Kah-sah-oh-bah-keh | Umbrella Ghost |
| Funayurei | 船幽霊 | Foo-nah-yoo-ray | Ship Ghost |
| Ningyo | 人魚 | Neen-gyoh | Mermaid |
| Nuppeppo | ぬっぺっぽう | Noo-peh-poh-poh | Bloated Corpse |
| Shirime | 尻目 | Shee-ree-meh | Butt-Eye |
| Kubinashi | 首無し | Koo-bee-nah-shee | Headless |
Oni (鬼) – Demons
| Name | Kanji Text | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuten-doji | 酒呑童子 | Shoo-ten-doh-jee | Drunken Boy |
| Ibaraki-doji | 茨木童子 | Ee-bah-rah-kee-doh-jee | Thorny Boy |
| Aka-Manto | 赤マント | Ah-kah-mahn-toh | Red Cape |
| Karasu-Tengu | 烏天狗 | Kah-rah-soo-ten-goo | Crow Goblin |
| Umibozu | 海坊主 | Oo-mee-boh-zoo | Sea Monk |
| Amanozako | 天逆毎 | Ah-mah-noh-zah-koh | Heavenly Fierce Woman |
| Gozu | 牛頭 | Goh-zoo | Ox-Head |
| Mezu | 馬頭 | Meh-zoo | Horse-Face |
| Nurarihyon | ぬらりひょん | Noo-rah-ree-hyon | The Old Man in the House |
| Namahage | 生剥 | Nah-mah-hah-geh | Demon Visiting Homes |
| Akashita | 赤舌 | Ah-kah-shee-tah | Red Tongue |
| Shirai | 白衣 | Shee-rah-ee | White Robe |
| Abura-sumashi | あぶらすまし | Ah-boo-rah-soo-mah-shee | Oil Presser |
| Dokkaebi | 도깨비 | Doh-kah-eh-bee | Goblin (Korean Origin) |
| Hannya | 般若 | Hahn-nyah | Wisdom (Used in Noh Theater) |
Jikininki (食人鬼) – Corpse-Eating Spirits
| Name | Kanji Text | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nekomata | 猫又 | Neh-koh-mah-tah | Forked Cat |
| Gashadokuro | がしゃどくろ | Gah-shah-doh-koo-roh | Giant Skeleton |
| Ittan-momen | 一反もめん | Ee-tahn-moh-men | One-Roll-of-Cotton |
| Amanojaku | 天邪鬼 | Ah-mah-noh-jah-koo | Perverse Spirit |
| Shiryō | 死霊 | Shee-ryoh | Departed Spirit |
| Kubinashi | 首無し | Koo-bee-nah-shee | Headless |
| Noppera-bo | のっぺらぼう | Noh-peh-rah-boh | Faceless Ghost |
| Gaki | 餓鬼 | Gah-kee | Hungry Ghost |
| Mokumokuren | 目目連 | Moh-koo-moh-koo-ren | Pairs of Eyes |
| Enra-enra | 煙羅煙羅 | En-rah-en-rah | Two Fires |
| Ippon-datara | 一本踏 | Ee-pon-dah-tah-rah | One-Legged Monster |
| Jibakurei | 地縛霊 | Jee-bah-koo-ray | Earthbound Spirit |
| Zashiki-warashi | 座敷童子 | Zah-shee-kee-wah-rah-shee | Room-Child |
| Satori | 覚 | Sah-toh-ree | Enlightenment |
| Nozuchi | 野槌 | Noh-zoo-chee | Field Hammer |
Ubume (産女) – Ghostly Mothers
| Name | Kanji Text | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kasa-obake | 傘おばけ | Kah-sah-oh-bah-keh | Umbrella Ghost |
| Funayurei | 船幽霊 | Foo-nah-yoo-ray | Ship Ghost |
| Nure-Onna | 濡れ女 | Noo-ray-oh-nah | Wet Woman |
| Ame-onna | 雨女 | Ah-meh-oh-nah | Rain Woman |
| Yama-uba | 山姥 | Yah-mah-oo-bah | Mountain Hag |
| Oiwa | お岩 | Oh-ee-wah | Ghost of Oiwa |
| Otsuyu | お露 | Oh-tsoo-yoo | Dew Ghost |
| Yuki-onna | 雪女 | Yoo-kee-oh-nah | Snow Woman |
| Okiku | お菊 | Oh-kee-koo | Ghost of Okiku |
| Oiwa | お岩 | Oh-ee-wah | Ghost of Oiwa |
| Oiwa | お岩 | Oh-ee-wah | Ghost of Oiwa |
| Oiwa | お岩 | Oh-ee-wah | Ghost of Oiwa |
| Oiwa | お岩 | Oh-ee-wah | Ghost of Oiwa |
| Oiwa | お岩 | Oh-ee-wah | Ghost of Oiwa |
Please note that some names are repeated due to limitations in unique names available for certain categories. If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask.
The Significance of Choosing Evil Japanese God Names
The selection of these malevolent deity names goes beyond mere labels. Explore their significance:
How a name can shape a person’s identity and personality:
Just as names hold power, the names of these deities carry a sense of foreboding and invoke specific feelings.
The psychological and cultural factors that come into play when naming:
Dive into the psychological impact these names can have on individuals and their roles in Japanese culture and folklore.
Frequently Asked Questions
These names still play a role in various cultural practices, folklore, and even modern media.
Some do, as they often represent dualistic elements in Japanese mythology.
Yes, some rituals involve invoking these deities for protection or other purposes.
It’s rare, but some individuals may have names inspired by these deities.
Conclusion
The world of evil Japanese god names is a captivating journey into the darker corners of Japanese mythology. These names bear witness to the intricate tapestry of cultural beliefs and traditions. As we conclude our exploration, it’s clear that these names are more than words; they are windows into a realm of mystery and symbolism.