Ōnyūdō


Ōnyūdō is a yōkai, or supernatural monster, told about in parts of Japan.

Summary

Their name has the meaning of "big monk," but depending on area, there are various legends where their actual appearance is that of an unclear shadow, simply a giant rather than a monk, among others. The ones that look like a monk are also called ōbōzu. In size, there are those that are about two meters tall, slightly larger than that of a human, to giants that about the size of a mountain.
There are many legends where ōnyūdō menace people and many legends where those who see one become ill. There are also stories where they are foxes or tanuki in disguise, or something that a stone pagoda shapeshifts into, but many of them are of unknown true identity.

Legends by area

Ōnyūdō that inflict harm to people

;Example from Hokkaido
;Example from Tokyo

Ōnyūdō that help people

In Azashiro, Takawagawara village, Myōzai District, Awa Province, by leaving rice in the water wheel of the creek, an ōnyūdō with a height two jō and eight shaku would appear, and is said to hull the rice for that person. However, by looking at how the ōnyūdō is hulling it, one would get menaced by it.

Ōnyūdō that animals turn into

;Example from Iwate Prefecture
;Example from the Miyagi Prefecture

Other ōnyūdō

;Example from Toyama Prefecture
;Example from Ehime Prefecture
;Example from Shiga Prefecture
;Example from Hyōgo Prefecture
;Example from Kumamoto Prefecture

Ōnyūdō in festivals

;"Ōnyūdō" of Yokkaichi