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| The ONI |
| This is the name of a group of demons in the Shinto and Buddhist beliefs of Japan. There are two types of Oni: those that come from hell and those that inhabit the earth. The former, known as Gaki, take a some-what human shape, but their huge-bellied bodies are red or green and have the head of either a horse or an ox with three eyes, and grotesque horns and talons. They are tortured incessantly by raging hunger and thirst. These demons pounce upon the souls of the wicked who are about to die and convey them to the torments of hell. The latter are earth demons that can shape shift to assume the form of a relative or friend of the human they wish to torment. Some of these are said to be the distorted souls of women who have died of excessive grief. These demons are responsible for bringing misfortune and spreading diseases, especially the plague. The Oni may be driven out at the Shinto Oni-yarahi ceremony, and some may lose their malicious character by being converted to Buddhism. |
| From the book |
| Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins an Encyclopedia |
| by Carol Rose |
| References |
| 33 Cotterell, A. A Dictionary of World Mythology London: Windward, 1979 |
| 56 Gordon, Stuart. The Encyclopaedia of Myths & Legends. London: Headline, 1993 |
| 102 New Larousse Encyclopaedia of Mythology. London: Book Club Associates, 1973 |
| 119 Senior, Michael. The Illustrated Who's Who in
Mythology. Edited by G. Paminder, London: MacDonald Illustrated, 1985 |
| Last Update February 04, 1987 |
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