Tsukumogami: Animism, Buddhism, & Haunting Spirits in Japanese Folklore (Yōkai, Mythical Creatures)

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Published: Jun 16th, 2024

We interact with objects in our surroundings every day; but it's not every day that you see an umbrella sprouting legs, instruments playing themselves, or theatrical masks transform into many-faced monsters. These are examples of tsukumogami, Japanese mythical creatures that are objects come alive. In some sources they are friendly, in others they march in the infamous Night Parade of 100 Demons, and in one text they even serve as vehicle for a Buddhist teaching of enlightenment. Join as we explore the roles of tsukumogami from Classical Japan through the modern day. Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.” Support the channel by subscribing, liking, and commenting to join the conversation! Support the channel financially through your generous Patreon donation: patreon.com/mythosandlogos This channel is a collection of thoughts of one person on the important stories that we humans have shared with each other. I believe that, in respectfully approaching storytelling traditions, we can find timeless wisdom and beauty that apply to modern life. I do my best to find and share that wisdom. I encourage you to share your thoughts and stories as well. The stories presented here have all been freely shared by their original tellers. I encourage you to study each story directly and consult traditional sources whenever possible.

Ambiment - The Ambient by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.