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{{Short description|Fire spirit in Japanese folklore}}
{{Short description|Fire spirit in Japanese folklore}}
{{Jmyth infobox}}
{{Jmyth infobox}}
An '''akuma''' (悪魔) is an evil spirit in [[Japanese folklore]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ashkenazi|first=Michael|title=Handbook of Japanese Mythology |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gqs-y9R2AekC&lpg=PA311&pg=PA311 |date=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=1-57607-467-6|location=Santa Barbara, CA |page=311}}</ref><ref name=Bane>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VSu6CwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA19&vq=akuma&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q&f=false |last=Bane|first=Theresa|date=2016|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|isbn=978-1-4766-6355-5|location=Jefferson, NC|pages=19}}</ref> sometimes described in English-language sources as a [[devil]] or [[demon]].<ref name=Bane/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Brinkley |first=Frank |url=http://archive.org/details/cu31924082117288/page/22 |title=An Unabridged Japanese-English Dictionary |date=1896 |publisher=Sanseidō |page=22}}</ref> An alternative name for the akuma is ''ma'' (ま).<ref name=Jones>{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Alison |url=http://archive.org/details/laroussedictiona0000jone_m7w1/page/12 |url-access=registration |title=Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore |date=1995 |publisher=Larousse |page=12 |isbn=0-7523-00-43-1}}</ref> ''Akuma'' is the name assigned to [[Satan]] in [[Japanese Christianity]], and the [[Mara (demon)|Mara]] in [[Japanese Buddhism]].
An '''akuma''' (悪魔) is an evil spirit in [[Japanese folklore]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ashkenazi|first=Michael|title=Handbook of Japanese Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqs-y9R2AekC&pg=PA311 |date=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=1-57607-467-6|location=Santa Barbara, CA |page=311}}</ref><ref name=Bane>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VSu6CwAAQBAJ&q=akuma&pg=PA19 |last=Bane|first=Theresa|date=2016|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|isbn=978-1-4766-6355-5|location=Jefferson, NC|pages=19}}</ref> sometimes described in English-language sources as a [[devil]] or [[demon]].<ref name=Bane/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Brinkley |first=Frank |url=http://archive.org/details/cu31924082117288/page/22 |title=An Unabridged Japanese-English Dictionary |date=1896 |publisher=Sanseidō |page=22}}</ref> An alternative name for the akuma is ''ma'' (ま).<ref name=Jones>{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Alison |url=http://archive.org/details/laroussedictiona0000jone_m7w1/page/12 |url-access=registration |title=Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore |date=1995 |publisher=Larousse |page=12 |isbn=0-7523-00-43-1}}</ref> ''Akuma'' is the name assigned to [[Satan]] in [[Japanese Christianity]], and the [[Mara (demon)|Mara]] in [[Japanese Buddhism]].


==Mythology==
==Mythology==
The earliest uses of the word ''akuma'' are mainly found in Buddhist texts, but it also appears in literary works, especially those written during the [[Heian period]] (794–1185&nbsp;AD).<ref name=Link>{{Cite book|last=Link|first=Luther|title=Devil: A Mask Without a Face|date=1995|publisher=Reaktion Books|isbn=0-948462-67-1|location=London|pages=188}}</ref> Later, following the introduction of [[Christianity in Japan|Christianity]] to Japan, ''akuma'' became the customary way of translating the English word ''[[Satan]]''.<ref name=Link/>
The earliest uses of the word ''akuma'' are mainly found in Buddhist texts, but it also appears in literary works, especially those written during the [[Heian period]] (794–1185&nbsp;AD).<ref name=Link>{{Cite book|last=Link|first=Luther|title=Devil: A Mask Without a Face|date=1995|publisher=Reaktion Books|isbn=0-948462-67-1|location=London|pages=188}}</ref> Later, following the introduction of [[Christianity in Japan|Christianity]] to Japan, ''akuma'' became the customary way of translating the English word ''[[Satan]]''.<ref name=Link/>


An akuma is typically depicted as an entity with a fiery head and flaming eyes, and carrying a sword. It is said to be to be a harbinger of misfortune to those who see it.<ref name=Jones/>
An akuma is typically depicted as an entity with a fiery head and flaming eyes, and carrying a sword. It is said to be to be a harbinger of misfortune to those who see it.<ref name=Jones/>


Traditionally, the Japanese describe mental illness as a direct result of the presence of akuma.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A Nurse's Guide to Women's Mental Health|last=RN|first=Michele R. Davidson, PhD, CNM, CFN |url=https://archive.org/details/nursesguidetowom0000davi/page/34 |url-access=registration |date=2012|publisher=Springer Publishing Company, LLC|isbn=978-0-8261-7113-9|location=New York|page=34}}</ref>
There have been attestations of people traditionally associating mental illness with the presence of akuma.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A Nurse's Guide to Women's Mental Health |author=Michele R. Davidson |url=https://archive.org/details/nursesguidetowom0000davi/page/34 |url-access=registration |date=2012|publisher=Springer Publishing Company, LLC|isbn=978-0-8261-7113-9|location=New York|page=34}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Japanese folklore long}}
{{Japanese folklore long}}


[[Category:Asian demons]]
[[Category:Buddhist folklore]]
[[Category:Demons in Buddhism]]
[[Category:Demons in Buddhism]]
[[Category:Japanese folklore]]
[[Category:Japanese demons]]
[[Category:Japanese legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Satan]]

Revision as of 02:58, 14 May 2024

Part of a series on
Japanese mythology and folklore
Mythic texts
Divinities
Legendary creatures and urban legends
Mythical and sacred locations
Sacred objects
Shintō and Buddhism

An akuma (悪魔) is an evil spirit in Japanese folklore,[1][2] sometimes described in English-language sources as a devil or demon.[2][3] An alternative name for the akuma is ma (ま).[4] Akuma is the name assigned to Satan in Japanese Christianity, and the Mara in Japanese Buddhism.

Mythology

The earliest uses of the word akuma are mainly found in Buddhist texts, but it also appears in literary works, especially those written during the Heian period (794–1185 AD).[5] Later, following the introduction of Christianity to Japan, akuma became the customary way of translating the English word Satan.[5]

An akuma is typically depicted as an entity with a fiery head and flaming eyes, and carrying a sword. It is said to be to be a harbinger of misfortune to those who see it.[4]

There have been attestations of people traditionally associating mental illness with the presence of akuma.[6]

References

  1. ^ Ashkenazi, Michael (2003). Handbook of Japanese Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 311. ISBN 1-57607-467-6.
  2. ^ a b Bane, Theresa (2016). Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-4766-6355-5.
  3. ^ Brinkley, Frank (1896). An Unabridged Japanese-English Dictionary. Sanseidō. p. 22.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Alison (1995). Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore. Larousse. p. 12. ISBN 0-7523-00-43-1.
  5. ^ Michele R. Davidson (2012). A Nurse's Guide to Women's Mental Health. New York: Springer Publishing Company, LLC. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-8261-7113-9.
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