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Article: Transformation of the oni: from the frightening and diabolical to the cute and sexy.(Japan)
- Article from:
- Asian Folklore Studies
- Article date:
- October 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Asian Folklore Studies. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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IN POPULAR THOUGHT, the oni immediately conjures up images of a hideous supernatural creature emerging from hell,,s abyss to terrify wicked mortals. According to Anesaki, Japanese oni belong to a purely Buddhist mythology" (ANESAKI and FERGUSON 1928, 283), but the oni is not exclusive to the Buddhist cosmic universe. According to Komatsu Kazuhiko, oni was the term used in Onmyodo [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] (the way of yin and yang) to describe any evil spirits that harm humans. In early Onmyodo doctrine, the word "oni" referred specifically to invisible evil spirits that caused human infirmity (KOMATSU 1999, 3).
In Japan's ancient past, Origuchi Shinobu ...