Yaoguai
Encyclopedia
Yaoguai or yaomo (妖魔 yāomó, literally, "demon") or yaojing (妖精 yāojīng, literally, "sprite" or "seductive") is a Chinese term that generally means "demon
". Yaoguai are mostly malevolent animal spirits or fallen celestial beings that have acquired magical powers through the practice of Taoism. The evil ones are usually referred to as guài (literally, "freak") or mó (literally, "demon") in Chinese. Their greatest goal is achieving immortality and thus deification.
In Journey to the West
, the demons seek this mostly by the abduction and consumption of a holy man (in this case, Xuanzang
).
Not all yaojing are actually demons; some others are of quite unusual origins. In the case of Bai Gu Jing
, she was a skeleton that became such a demon.
Many yaojing are fox spirits, or according to the Journey to the West
, pets of the deities.
There are also yaoguai kings (mówáng) that command a number of lesser demon minions.
In Chinese folklore, the Chinese hell (Di Yu
) is a place that is populated by various demonic spawns. Most of these demons are influenced by the Indian rakshasa
or yaksha
and therefore bear some similarity with the Japanese oni.
In Japanese, yaoguai are known as yōkai
(actually, the term is a loanword from Chinese; the native Japanese equivalent, sometimes written with the same kanji
, is mononoke).
Famous yaoguai in Chinese mythology:
Note: Sun Wukong
uses this term often to insult his (demonic) adversaries.
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
". Yaoguai are mostly malevolent animal spirits or fallen celestial beings that have acquired magical powers through the practice of Taoism. The evil ones are usually referred to as guài (literally, "freak") or mó (literally, "demon") in Chinese. Their greatest goal is achieving immortality and thus deification.
In Journey to the West
Journey to the West
Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...
, the demons seek this mostly by the abduction and consumption of a holy man (in this case, Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
).
Not all yaojing are actually demons; some others are of quite unusual origins. In the case of Bai Gu Jing
Bai Gu Jing
Bai Gu Jing is a yaoguai from Journey to the West.-Plot:The four travelers have entered another dangerous region. Sun Wukong leaves to scout around the area, but puts Sanzang and the other two disciples inside a magic circle...
, she was a skeleton that became such a demon.
Many yaojing are fox spirits, or according to the Journey to the West
Journey to the West
Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...
, pets of the deities.
There are also yaoguai kings (mówáng) that command a number of lesser demon minions.
In Chinese folklore, the Chinese hell (Di Yu
Di Yu
Diyu is the realm of the dead or "hell" in Chinese mythology. It is loosely based on a combination of the Buddhist concept of Naraka, traditional Chinese beliefs about the afterlife and a variety of popular expansions and re-interpretations of these two traditions.Diyu is typically depicted as an...
) is a place that is populated by various demonic spawns. Most of these demons are influenced by the Indian rakshasa
Rakshasa
A Rakshasa or alternatively rakshas, is a race of mythological humanoid beings or unrighteous spirit in Hindu and Buddhist religion...
or yaksha
Yaksha
Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology. The feminine form of the word is ' or Yakshini .In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist mythology,...
and therefore bear some similarity with the Japanese oni.
In Japanese, yaoguai are known as yōkai
Yōkai
are a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
(actually, the term is a loanword from Chinese; the native Japanese equivalent, sometimes written with the same kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
, is mononoke).
Famous yaoguai in Chinese mythology:
- Bai Gu JingBai Gu JingBai Gu Jing is a yaoguai from Journey to the West.-Plot:The four travelers have entered another dangerous region. Sun Wukong leaves to scout around the area, but puts Sanzang and the other two disciples inside a magic circle...
- literally, "white bone spirit" - Niu Mo Wang - literally, "bull demon king"
- Pipa JingPipa JingPipa Jing , a yaojing changed from jade pipa, is a fictional character featured within the famed ancient Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi.Pipa Jing is one of three renowned female specters under the legendary Nu Wa...
and Jiutou Zhiji JingJiutou Zhiji JingJiutou Zhiji Jing is a yaojing changed from a pheasant with nine heads. She is a character featured within the famed ancient Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods....
- in Fengshen YanyiFengshen YanyiFengshen Bang, also known as Fengshen Yanyi in Chinese, and translated as The Investiture of the Gods or The Creation of the Gods, is one of the major vernacular Chinese epic novels written during the Ming Dynasty...
Note: Sun Wukong
Sun Wukong
Sun Wukong , also known as the Monkey King is a main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West . In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices...
uses this term often to insult his (demonic) adversaries.
Yaoguai in popular culture
- The 2008 video game Fallout 3Fallout 3Fallout 3 is an action role-playing game released by Bethesda Game Studios, and the third major installment in the Fallout series. The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia in October 2008, and in Japan in December 2008 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
features mutated bears identified as Yao Guai. These creatures roam the game's setting, a post-nuclear Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia (the Capital Wasteland.) They attack both the player and various non-player characters. One of the in-game radio stations broadcasts an occasional public service announcement, reminding listeners "don't feed the Yao Guai".
- The Taiwanese Black Metal band ChthonicChthonic (band)Chthonic is a Taiwanese metal band, formed in 1995 in Taipei. The group incorporates influences from traditional Taiwanese music including the classical Asian instrument erhu...
has a drummer which wears a metal mask of a black demon mouth.
See also
- DemonDemoncall - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
- Di YuDi YuDiyu is the realm of the dead or "hell" in Chinese mythology. It is loosely based on a combination of the Buddhist concept of Naraka, traditional Chinese beliefs about the afterlife and a variety of popular expansions and re-interpretations of these two traditions.Diyu is typically depicted as an...
- Huli jing
- Journey to the WestJourney to the WestJourney to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...
- RakshasaRakshasaA Rakshasa or alternatively rakshas, is a race of mythological humanoid beings or unrighteous spirit in Hindu and Buddhist religion...
- WekufeWekufeThe Wekufe or Huecuve is an important type of harmful spirit or demon in Mapuche mythology.-Legend:...
- YōkaiYōkaiare a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
- YōseiYoseiis a Japanese word that is generally synonymous with the English term . Today this word usually refers to spirits from Western legends, but occasionally it may also denote a creature from native Japanese folklore. For example, according to an old folk belief from Iwate Prefecture, it was once...