Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings

More about the book

This extensive collection explores the fascinating pantheon of Japanese supernatural beings, featuring demons (yōkai), spirits and apparitions (yūrei), figures from kabuki theater, sorcerers (yōjutsu-shi), devils (oni), and vengeful souls (onryō). These mythical entities from folklore and popular culture continue to captivate readers of traditional stories and manga. The book serves as an encyclopedic kaleidoscope of hundreds of such beings, complete with detailed descriptions and iconography. Each entity is illustrated with examples from original Japanese woodblock prints, books, and paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries, sourced from museums, libraries, and private collections worldwide. The illustrations depict the "original" traditional forms and appearances of these beings, which form the basis for all their later representations. Among the notable works included are two painted scrolls—The Collection of Ghosts and The Night Procession of One Hundred Demons—reproduced for the first time in this book.