The Oni in Japanese mythology

If you are used to watching anime, you have already seen some type of Oni. They really exist, but within Japanese mythology. And as one might expect, these creatures are feared for doing harm to humans.

Now we will see more details about how this character from Japanese mythology originated, its characteristics, and how it is still portrayed today.

What does Oni mean? What are they?

The term Oni (鬼) can be translated as ogre or demon or any creature considered evil that preys on humans. The Oni is generally characterized by having a terrifying appearance.

It is believed that these beings are “flawed gods,” as they are the opposite of what a god should do. They are known for carrying only bad things like tragedy and evil.

The Onis are depicted in various forms; however, the most common features are: immense stature, pointed nails, and the color red, which is always present in some way.

There are theories regarding the origin of the Oni. The first is that when a human is a bad person throughout their life, upon dying, they become an Oni and have the function of torturing those who were not bad (who were not bad enough to be Onis) to be tortured in hell.

The other and more common hypothesis is that when a person is very evil, they transform into an Oni while still alive, thus tormenting the lives of humans and even feeding on them.

It is also said that there are only two Onis, the red ogre (Aka – Oni) and the blue one (Ao-Oni), who are servants of the great demon king named Enma Dai Oh, who is from Buddhism.

The Oni with the arrival of Buddhism

Buddhism was important for the formation of Japanese culture and even influenced these monsters. When Buddhism was introduced to Japan, the Oni began to take on a very characteristic physical form similar to the demons of Hindu mythology, such as Kirtimukha and Yama, the god of the dead.

So after these references, the Oni began to have the characteristics we see today, more resembling an ogre. It is a huge humanoid being that, although it has human characteristics, its face can resemble some animal like a monkey, bird, among others. The horn is also a characteristic of these creatures; sometimes it has only a protrusion, and at other times, gigantic horns.

The clothing is a loincloth made from animal skin. The loincloth is also a reference to Buddhism. They also possess the Kanabō (金棒), resembling a baseball bat, commonly made of wood or metal, with several sharp points.

Difference between Oni and Yōkai

Yōkai (妖怪) or youkai is a supernatural creature that is part of Japanese folklore and ends up having the Oni as a subdivision. The difference is that Yōkai is more related to humans with animal characteristics and other non-human forms.

However, both can refer to the direct term “ogre” or “demon.” But in fact, Yōkai is an expression that can be used to refer to any creature with supernatural traits; there is no one hundred percent exact translation.

There are cases where Yōkai can even be nice. And within the idea of Yōkai, there are other creatures that fit as subdivisions, such as shape-shifting beings (Bakemono), objects with some spirit (Tsukumogami), and gods (kami).

And when Yōkai and humans have affectionate relationships, they produce Han’yō (半妖), which are generally humans with powers.

An anime that portrays Yōkai well is Midnight Occult Civil Servants (真 夜 中 の オ カ ル ト 公務員). In this anime, Arata Miyako seemingly gets a job as a public servant, which actually leads him to the Department of Night Relations, where the protagonist must resolve issues related to the occult and supernatural beings.

The Oni today

And look how curious, there is a festivity where the Onis are the attraction! They are represented in Japanese festivities such as setsubun (節分), a Japanese festival marking the beginning of spring.

In this event, some participants wear masks to symbolize the Onis, as there is a belief that by doing so, they will be protecting themselves from evil.

The Oni is also present in Japanese literature, art, and theater. They are also portrayed in anime.

In Japanese drawings, these creatures are seen in various forms, sexes, and ages. And they are always there to be defeated by great heroes. There are anime that show a lot about these humanoid creatures.

Oni in Anime

Kimetsu no Yaiba has practically its entire plot based on Oni, as these beings feed on humans and also transform when merely injured. The protagonist Tanjiro has his entire family killed by an Oni, and his sister was transformed into one, and he aims to find a way to reverse the calamity.

In Naruto, the oni is associated with Juubi (十尾) or Ten Tails; this monster is a reincarnation of a tree that existed during the time of Kaguya Ootsutsuki.

In Dragon Ball Z, there are two identical Onis that only change color; one is red and the other is blue. Like many Onis, they spend a lot of time in hell, which is why they even wear a shirt with the word Hell (inferno, in English), but they are not that evil; in fact, they can even be comical in the anime. The reference may be to Naita Aka Oni, the Red Ogre That Cried.

There are many Onis in anime, but when it comes to translation, it will not always be the original term; it will usually be ogre, monster, creature, or demon.

But regardless of being Oni or Yōkai, it is better for these monsters to remain only in mythology and fiction, right?! After all, they make stories more exciting, but I believe no one wants to come face to face with one!