Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings
by Andreas Marks
ISBN 9784805317150, 4805317159
Hardcover with dust jacket | 240 pages
10 in H | 7.5 in W
Japan's vast pantheon of supernatural creatures includes demons (yokai), monsters, ogres (oni), ghosts (yurei) and magicians—mythical beings from folklore and popular culture which continue to thrill readers of traditional stories and manga today.
This richly illustrated book by Andreas Marks, the leading authority on Japanese woodblock prints, presents authentic illustrations and descriptions of 100 different creatures, including:
Bakeneko: Monster cats in human form who lick lamp oil and prey on humans born in the year of the Rat
Han'nya: Female demons with sharp and pointed horns, metallic eyes and a smirking smile
Hihi: Large ape-like monsters who live in the mountains and have superhuman strength, enabling them to kidnap and kill humans
Mikoshi-nyudo: Yokai with an enormously extended necks who appear only at night
And many more!
The striking visual examples in this book are drawn from the rich canon of early Japanese prints, books, and paintings—sourced from leading museums, libraries and private collections worldwide. They show the "original" forms and appearances of the creatures which form the basis for all subsequent depictions.
