Priests who attain special powers through religious discipline, but use these powers for their own ends were thought to enter in the next life the transmigratory realm of tengudou 天狗道. Early Japanese popular tales such as those in the KONJAKU MONOGATARI 今昔物語 (early 12c) portray tengu as enemies of Buddhism, setting fires at temples or tricking priests. Because of its long nose, tengu are associated with the Shinto deity Sarudahiko (Sarutahiko) 猿田彦 who takes on the visage of a monkey, and tengu masks play a prominent role in some religious festivals. This type of tengu often carries a feather fan in one hand. Tengu are of two physical types: karasu tengu 烏天狗 identified by a bird's head and beak and konoha tengu 木の葉天狗 distinguished by a human physique but with wings and a long nose (also called yamabushi tengu). Furthermore, tengu are seen as transformations (Jp : keshin 化身) of Shinto deities, yama no kami 山の神, mountain guardians often associated with tall trees. The Japanese demons derive the name from the Chinese mountain god Tiangou 天狗, but also are related to the winged Buddhist deity Garuda (Jp. A bird-like goblin frequently encountered in Japanese folk-beliefs, literature and their pictorial depictions. Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System The man subsequently moved into a cave and never killed another animal.” It told him how lucky he was, for had he killed the boar, the tengu would have killed him. On his way home he heard a voice call to him from the top of a tree. The hunter thought he should kill the boar, but changed his mind because he did not want to be a link in such a chain, and cause his own death by the next predator to come along. Suddenly a boar appeared and began to devour the snake. Another possible interpretation of the above image relates to the following Zen story: “One day a hunter was in the mountains when he happened to see a snake killing a bird. In a well-known legend, Yoshitsune lived among the tengu in his youth and received training in the arts of war from Sōjōbō himself. Sōjōbō is closely linked to famed warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune 源義経 (1159-1189), one of Japan's most revered samurai. In paintings and woodblock prints, the boar often appears as the steed of the tengu or of their king, Sōjōbō 僧正坊. Photo from Faith and Syncretism: Saichō and Treasures of Tendai. Late Edo Period Painting by Kaihō Yūtoku, Sairin-ji Temple 西林寺, Kyoto. Lanterns on Festival Float, Dontsuku Festival, Inatori CityĬrow Tengu Riding Boar (Karasu Tengu 烏天狗騎猪)Ĭolor on Silk, Hanging Scroll, H = 43.8 cm, W = 54.9 cm As late as 1860, the Edo Government was posting official notices to the Tengu, asking the goblins to temporarily vacate a certain mountain during a scheduled visit by the Shogun (see Japan and China, by Captain Brinkley). Tengu lore can be found not just in Buddhist circles, but also among Shinto, Budo, and Ninpo groups. Hadland Davis), the Tengu are said to emanate from the primordial Japanese god Susano-o. In Myths and Legends of Japan (1913 by F. These goblins thereafter appear in Japan’s ancient documents (e.g., from around 720 AD), and are closely associated with Mount Kurama in Japan (near Kibune), the abode of the legendary white-haired Sōjōbō (Sojobo) 僧正坊, King of Tengu. Tengu mythology was probably introduced to Japan in the 6th or 7th century AD, in conjunction with the arrival of Buddhism from Korea and China. The tail of the falling body resembled that of a dog, hence the name and its initial association with destructive powers. One plausible theory is that the Chinese Tien Kou derived its name from a destructive meteor that hit China sometime in the 6th century BC. The literal meaning of Tengu is "Heaven 天” and “Dog 狗." In Chinese mythology, there is a related creature named Tien Kou (Tiangou 天狗), or "celestial hound." The name is misleading, however, as the crow-like Tengu looks nothing like a dog. They dislike braggarts, and those who corrupt the Dharma (Buddhist Law). In bygone days, they also inflicted their punishments on vain and arrogant samurai warriors. The patron of martial arts, the bird-like Tengu is a skilled warrior and mischief maker, especially prone to playing tricks on arrogant and vainglorious Buddhist priests, and to punishing those who willfully misuse knowledge and authority to gain fame or position. Their supernatural powers include shape-shifting into human or animal forms, the ability to speak to humans without moving their mouth, the magic of moving instantly from place to place without using their wings, and the sorcery to appear uninvited in the dreams of the living. Tengu 天狗 are mountain and forest goblins with both Shinto and Buddhist attributes. Karasu Tengu 烏天狗 (Crow Tengu, a minor Tengu)Īt Hanzōbō 半僧坊, a hilltop shrine in Kamakura Yamabushi Tengu 山仏師天狗 (Mountain Monk Tengu)Īlso called Konoha Tengu 木の葉天狗 (Tree Foliage Tengu)
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