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'''Youkai''' ({{lang|ja|妖怪}}) is a term mostly associated with Japanese folk creatures and [[ghost]]s.  The term can also apply broadly to anything that is a supernatural being or legend, from any culture. Because there are thousands of stories of magical beings around the world, the different types of youkai are endless. Alternatively, it is a common Japanese belief that after a certain amount of time, ordinary objects and animals gain life and personality, becoming a kind of youkai as well. In some cases even a normal human can become a youkai under the right conditions.
'''Youkai''' ({{lang|ja|妖怪}}) is a term mostly associated with Japanese folk creatures and [[ghost]]s.  The term can also apply broadly to anything that is a supernatural being or legend, from any culture. Because there are thousands of stories of magical beings around the world, the different types of youkai are endless. Alternatively, it is a common Japanese belief that after a certain amount of time, ordinary objects and animals gain life and personality, becoming a kind of youkai as well. In some cases even a normal human can become a youkai under the right conditions.


==Touhou==
==Youkai inTouhou==
[[Fairy|Fairies]], [[vampire]]s, [[tengu]], and [[nekomata]] are some of the many youkai that can be found in [[Gensokyo]]. Youkai such as [[satori]], [[tsuchigumo]], and many of the [[oni]] are found in [[Former Hell]].
[[Fairy|Fairies]], [[vampire]]s, [[tengu]], and [[nekomata]] are some of the many youkai that can be found in [[Gensokyo]]. Youkai such as [[satori]], [[tsuchigumo]], and many of the [[oni]] are found in [[Former Hell]].


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It seems that youkai, like [[fairy|fairies]], may not be able to die permanently; [[Hieda no Akyuu]], [[Reimu Hakurei]] and others regularly discuss 'extermination' of youkai as if it were only a temporary measure. While this may be merely a quirk of language, it seems like Gensokyo's humans would rather do away with many youkai completely, were they able.
It seems that youkai, like [[fairy|fairies]], may not be able to die permanently; [[Hieda no Akyuu]], [[Reimu Hakurei]] and others regularly discuss 'extermination' of youkai as if it were only a temporary measure. While this may be merely a quirk of language, it seems like Gensokyo's humans would rather do away with many youkai completely, were they able.


Supposedly, according to [[Kaguya Houraisan|Kaguya]], the [[Lunarian]]s are the originators of magic and youkai on earth, creating youkai in order to regulate the earth's 'filth'.<ref>[[Imperishable Night/Translation/Scarlet_Team%27s_Scenario_2|Imperishable Night: Scarlet Team's Scenario]]. "The moon gave many powers to beings of the earth. Many of them, such as magic, were originally the moon's power." "We of the moon turned some on the Earth to monsters, to regulate their filthiness..." Although "monster" uses different Japanese characters than what's used for "youkai", Kaguya's latter statement appears to be referring to youkai, as she then comments about how the humans sealed them away (Gensokyo's creation and/or the myriad of other ways that humanity sealed or lost the fear of the youkai) and youkai have been reduced to "useless creatures that assault humans in predefined patterns." (spell cards).</ref> However, [[Yukari Yakumo]] has an alternate origin of youkai, saying in narrative to herself that it was the moon's dim light which gave birth to the youkai in a manner of speaking, by causing humanity to fear and create legends about them.<ref>[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate/Fifth_Chapter|Cage in Lunatic Runagate: Fifth Chapter.]] "Under the dim light of the moon, all sorts of things blanket the Earth in shadows, such as grasses, trees, mountains, rocks and buildings. With light as weak as moonlight, it is impossible to eliminate these shadows. And they are the birthplace of humanity's fears, sometimes creating legends of youkai. In a manner of speaking, the moon gave birth to all youkai."</ref> The two explanations are not entirely mutually exclusive, and may be a result of differing outlooks or parts on the matter. For example, the Lunarians may have purposefully dimmed the moon's light to make humanity's fears create the youkai.
Supposedly, according to [[Kaguya Houraisan|Kaguya]], the [[Lunarian]]s are the originators of magic and youkai on earth, creating youkai in order to regulate the earth's 'filth'.<ref>[[Imperishable Night/Story/Scarlet Team's Scenario 2|''Imperishable Night'': Scarlet Team's Scenario]]. "The moon gave many powers to beings of the earth. Many of them, such as magic, were originally the moon's power." "We of the moon turned some on the Earth to monsters, to regulate their filthiness..." Although "monster" uses different Japanese characters than what's used for "youkai", Kaguya's latter statement appears to be referring to youkai, as she then comments about how the humans sealed them away (Gensokyo's creation and/or the myriad of other ways that humanity sealed or lost the fear of the youkai) and youkai have been reduced to "useless creatures that assault humans in predefined patterns." (spell cards).</ref> However, [[Yukari Yakumo]] has an alternate origin of youkai, saying in narrative to herself that it was the moon's dim light which gave birth to the youkai in a manner of speaking, by causing humanity to fear and create legends about them.<ref>[[Cage in Lunatic Runagate/Fifth Chapter|''Cage in Lunatic Runagate'': Fifth Chapter.]] "Under the dim light of the [[moon]], all sorts of things blanket the Earth in shadows, such as grasses, trees, mountains, rocks and buildings. With light as weak as moonlight, it is impossible to eliminate these shadows. And they are the birthplace of humanity's fears, sometimes creating legends of youkai. In a manner of speaking, the moon gave birth to all youkai."</ref> The two explanations are not entirely mutually exclusive, and may be a result of differing outlooks or parts on the matter. For example, the [[Lunarian]]s may have purposefully dimmed the [[moon]]'s light to make humanity's fears create the youkai.


==Characters under this Bestiary==
==Characters under this Bestiary==
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{{Template:Navbox Bestiary}}
{{Navbox Bestiary}}


[[Category:Bestiary]]
[[Category:Bestiary]]

Revision as of 00:35, 14 December 2011

Youkai (妖怪) is a term mostly associated with Japanese folk creatures and ghosts. The term can also apply broadly to anything that is a supernatural being or legend, from any culture. Because there are thousands of stories of magical beings around the world, the different types of youkai are endless. Alternatively, it is a common Japanese belief that after a certain amount of time, ordinary objects and animals gain life and personality, becoming a kind of youkai as well. In some cases even a normal human can become a youkai under the right conditions.

Youkai inTouhou

Fairies, vampires, tengu, and nekomata are some of the many youkai that can be found in Gensokyo. Youkai such as satori, tsuchigumo, and many of the oni are found in Former Hell.

Gensokyo youkai tend to live within the wilderness, far away from human settlements. Normal youkai seem to behave like wild animals, attacking humans within their territory on sight. Exceptional youkai are less common, but they often enjoy speaking to humans, and are much stronger than an ordinary Gensokyo human, one on one. These youkai are almost always humanoid in appearance, and can be quite unpredictable; friendly one moment, hostile the next.

Many, though not all, youkai are known to eat humans on occasion, if not on a regular basis. Many youkai are also stronger and live longer than an average human, with lifespans often reaching into hundreds of years (or possibly more in some cases). One common trait often seen among youkai is a weakness to various faith based and spiritual attacks, charms, wards, etc. In Gensokyo it's therefore natural for the resident shrine maiden to become involved whenever there's trouble being caused by a youkai.

However, despite the danger certain youkai present, humans and youkai can and do live together. Some, such as Tewi Inaba, are even helpful to humans. Deciding if a youkai is harmful to humans or not must be done on a case by case basis.

It seems that youkai, like fairies, may not be able to die permanently; Hieda no Akyuu, Reimu Hakurei and others regularly discuss 'extermination' of youkai as if it were only a temporary measure. While this may be merely a quirk of language, it seems like Gensokyo's humans would rather do away with many youkai completely, were they able.

Supposedly, according to Kaguya, the Lunarians are the originators of magic and youkai on earth, creating youkai in order to regulate the earth's 'filth'.[1] However, Yukari Yakumo has an alternate origin of youkai, saying in narrative to herself that it was the moon's dim light which gave birth to the youkai in a manner of speaking, by causing humanity to fear and create legends about them.[2] The two explanations are not entirely mutually exclusive, and may be a result of differing outlooks or parts on the matter. For example, the Lunarians may have purposefully dimmed the moon's light to make humanity's fears create the youkai.

Characters under this Bestiary

Majority of the characters in Touhou are youkai. Most belong to a specific group or is a youkai form of an animal; however there are few characters that are only known as a generic youkai such as the following.

Books and articles

See Also

  • Wikipedia entry for youkai
  • Obakemono, an online resource on various youkai and other creatures.

References

  1. Imperishable Night: Scarlet Team's Scenario. "The moon gave many powers to beings of the earth. Many of them, such as magic, were originally the moon's power." "We of the moon turned some on the Earth to monsters, to regulate their filthiness..." Although "monster" uses different Japanese characters than what's used for "youkai", Kaguya's latter statement appears to be referring to youkai, as she then comments about how the humans sealed them away (Gensokyo's creation and/or the myriad of other ways that humanity sealed or lost the fear of the youkai) and youkai have been reduced to "useless creatures that assault humans in predefined patterns." (spell cards).
  2. Cage in Lunatic Runagate: Fifth Chapter. "Under the dim light of the moon, all sorts of things blanket the Earth in shadows, such as grasses, trees, mountains, rocks and buildings. With light as weak as moonlight, it is impossible to eliminate these shadows. And they are the birthplace of humanity's fears, sometimes creating legends of youkai. In a manner of speaking, the moon gave birth to all youkai."