Yōkai (妖怪) are supernatural creatures and phenomena from Japanese folklore, a term combining 妖 (yō–bewitching) and 怪 (kai–mystery).

The word encompasses a wide range of entities, including monsters, demons, spirits, ghosts, gods, transformed beings, and various urban legends.

Due to its broad scope, yōkai is challenging to translate into English and is best understood in its native context, similar to terms like samurai or sushi.

The boundaries of what constitutes a yōkai are ambiguous.

In Japan, the term has evolved over time and overlaps with other supernatural terms like bakemono, obake, and oni.

Yōkai can include both malevolent and benevolent spirits, and the definition often depends on cultural context and interpretation.

Japanese folklore integrates various traditions, starting from ancient folk religions and influenced by Shintō, Buddhism, and other Asian mythologies.

Early records of yōkai appear in 8th-century texts, and artistic depictions began with painted scrolls. The Edo period (1603-1868) saw a flourishing of yōkai stories, with folklorists like Toriyama Sekien creating detailed encyclopedias of supernatural beings, which enriched Japanese culture across art, theater, and literature.

The Meiji Restoration saw a decline in yōkai interest as Japan modernized. However, post-World War II, manga artist Shigeru Mizuki revitalized interest in yōkai with his series GeGeGe no Kitaro.

Today, yōkai have a significant presence in Japanese culture, appearing in manga, anime, video games, and even on currency.

Read more about different types of Yokai Here

Korean supernatural mythology, rooted in seolhwa (설화, meaning "tales"), is categorized into three main types: shinhwa (신화, "myth"), jeonseol (전설, "legend"), and mindam (민담, "folklore"). Stories of ghosts and creatures primarily fall under shinhwa and mindam, with "shin" encompassing spirits, ghosts, and monsters.

Gwishin

Dokkaebi

Dokkaebi (도깨비) are mischievous goblin-like creatures known for their pranks and playful nature. They often have horns and distorted faces and are known to steal from the greedy while rewarding the deserving.

Gumiho

The gumiho (구미호), or nine-tailed fox, originates from Chinese mythology and has been part of Korean folklore since the Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C. to 668 A.D.). A gumiho is a fox that has lived for a thousand years, gaining the ability to shape-shift into a beautiful woman. Gumiho are notorious for seducing men and consuming their hearts. They are widely recognized in Korean media, with characters like Ahri from "League of Legends" gaining international fame.

These supernatural beings, from the sorrowful gwishin to the playful dokkaebi and the seductive gumiho, reflect the rich and diverse tapestry of Korean mythology and its influence on contemporary culture.

African folklore is rich with diverse stories about spirits and demons, reflecting a deep connection between the natural and supernatural realms. These beings can take various forms and inhabit natural elements like rocks, trees, and animals.

Ancestral Spirits

Ghosts and Possession

African folklore often includes beliefs about ghosts possessing both living beings and inanimate objects. The Yoruba people, for instance, believe that owl ghosts can inhabit and harm individuals, leading them to place owl statues in their homes as a protective measure. The San people of Namibia and Botswana think ancestral ghosts reside in sacred caves, which are visited to communicate with the dead.

Djinn

One of the most famous supernatural beings in African folklore is the Djinn. Djinns are magical entities that can be either benevolent or malevolent. They are thought to inhabit objects like lamps or bottles and can grant wishes to those who find them. Djinns are known for their shape-shifting abilities and their capacity to bring either fortune or misfortune.

Role of Spirits and Demons

Spirits and demons are integral to African beliefs about life and death. Many African cultures see death not as an end but as a continuation of existence in another realm. Ancestral spirits are revered, often consulted, and believed to influence the living. Djinns and other spirits are also thought to have powerful effects, bringing either good or bad luck depending on how they are treated.

Belief in Ghosts

Demons and ghosts are often viewed as malevolent beings that can cause illness or misfortune. Rituals and offerings are commonly performed to appease these spirits and avoid their wrath.

Overall, African folklore underscores the belief that the natural world is intertwined with unseen forces that can impact the lives of the living. The respect and reverence for ancestral spirits and other supernatural entities highlight the integral role these beliefs play in African cultural practices and worldview.

Supernatural beings are central to Native American folklore, reflecting deep connections between the natural and spiritual worlds. These beings include spirits, ghosts, demons, monsters, and other mythical creatures, each playing a significant role in shaping Native American beliefs, art, and spiritual practices.

Cultural Overview

Types of Supernatural Beings

Mythology and Legends

Supernatural beings are integral to Native American myths and legends. Examples include:

Classification of Supernatural Beings

Explanation of Supernatural Status

Supernatural beings are considered powerful due to their control over natural elements, roles in the afterlife, or special wisdom. Their abilities to influence the world and guide souls underscore their significance in Native American spirituality.

Regional Variations

Different regions of North America have distinct supernatural beings: Northeast: Wendigo (a shape-shifting demon) and Skinwalker (a shape-shifter). Southeast: Churel (vengeful spirits) and Haints (haunting apparitions). Great Plains: Totems (sacred spirit animals) and Thunderbird (storm creator).

Supernatural beings have long been a central part of Native American folklore, representing various aspects of nature and human life. They continue to influence contemporary cultural practices and are integral to understanding Native American spirituality and traditions.

India's folklore is teeming with a diverse array of mythical creatures, each unique to various regions and stories across the country. Here’s a brief look at seven intriguing mythical beings from Indian mythology:

These mythical beings reflect the richness of Indian folklore, blending spiritual, supernatural, and imaginative elements into their diverse stories and representations.

Jinn are made from "Smokeless Fire" a concept distinct from the creation of humans who are formed from clay. According to Islamic teachings, jinn predate humans and inhabit a parallel realm that coexists with our world, though it is typically invisible to us.

Characteristics and Abilities

Jinn possess a range of extraordinary abilities. Unlike humans, they have the power to change shape, become invisible, and influence human thoughts and actions. The jinn share some similarities with humans, such as having free will and moral agency, they also have unique characteristics that set them apart.

Types of Jinn

Cultural and Religious Impact

Jinn play a significant role in Islamic culture and religious practices. They are mentioned in various religious texts, including the Quran, and feature prominently in folklore and traditional stories.

Encounters and Exorcisms

Ruqyah, or exorcism are used to expel malevolent jinn and protect individuals from their harmful effects. Various protective measures and prayers are recommended to safeguard against these entities.

The concept of jinn is unique to Islamic tradition, parallels can be found in other religions and mythologies, such as demons in Christianity and spirits in pre-Islamic Arabian beliefs.

Throughout history, both science and religion have delved into the concept of unseen realities and extra dimensions. Humans, limited to perceiving a three-dimensional world, have long speculated about additional dimensions and the entities that might exist within them.

In science, theories like string theory propose the existence of more than three spatial dimensions. This idea suggests that hidden dimensions, perhaps too small to observe, influence the physical world. String theory posits that tiny, vibrating strings at the subatomic level shape everything we know, with these unseen dimensions playing a crucial role in how energy and matter behave.

Nevertheless, I refer to them as "Jinns and Demons." Jinns and demons are often depicted as malevolent shapeshifters with lifespans far longer than those of humans. Created from "smokeless fire," these energy-based entities inhabit a parallel world, allowing them to transcend the physical limitations of our own. This unique composition not only grants them the ability to change forms but also enables them to teleport across vast distances with ease, further emphasizing their mysterious and powerful nature.

They also do have the capacity to learn about the human world, adapting to the language and customs of the regions they inhabit. Their invisibility might stem from their subtle energy presence, which differs significantly from that of humans.

Some Jinns/demons feed on human energy, which I refer to as "vampiric" behavior. These entities can be responsible for various mental & physical illnesses, making it crucial to protect oneself from their influence. While there are practitioners who summon them, something I strongly oppose, it's important to acknowledge that, despite their nature, these beings still possess the right to individuality. Not all of these entities are malevolent. In fact, despite their different nature, they share many similarities with us.

Like humans, these entities form communities, have names and languages, and possess gender. Religious texts suggest that they are capable of reproduction and some may even fall in love with humans, potentially leading to possession. Alternatively, harboring feelings of hatred or revenge can provoke conflict. For instance, intruding into their space may incite their anger. Various practices and rituals are available to address and expel malevolent entities, aiming to protect and restore balance. These entities can manifest in dreams, particularly in sexual dreams. They may also induce sleep paralysis.

These entities are drawn to specific locations on Earth: desolate and shadowy places, as well as those that are unclean. They have a taste for certain foods, such as dung and bones. To stay safe, avoid traveling alone at night in isolated areas, and always cover your food and utensils.