Symbols
Masks, charms, and motifs from Japanese folklore. Each page says what the object means, where that meaning comes from, and which yokai stand behind it.
Masks
Masks
Oni mask鬼面
An oni mask is the face of a Japanese demon, the one chased out with beans at Setsubun. Why it has horns, what the colors mean, and how it differs from a hannya.
Masks
Kitsune mask狐面
A kitsune mask is the face of the fox, said to be the messenger of Inari. Where it is worn, what the fox stands for, and what the colors do not tell you.
Masks
Hannya mask般若
A hannya mask is a Noh mask of a woman turned into a demon, most often by jealousy. What the horns, the three colors, and the name tell you, and how it differs from an oni mask.
Charms
Charms
Omamori御守
An omamori is a small protective charm from a Japanese shrine or temple. Which one to choose for each wish, how to carry it, and how to give it back after a year.
Charms
Maneki neko招き猫
A maneki neko is a lucky cat that beckons customers and money. What the left and right paw mean, where the color charts disagree, and why one temple's cats hold no coin.
Charms
Daruma達磨
A daruma is a round red doll for making a wish. Which eye to paint first, when to paint the second, what the colors mean, and what to do with it after a year.