| Description |
Yōkai have long existed as the wicked and mischievous antithesis to the kami of Japan. Unlike the venerated kami found in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, these apparitions, depending on the place and time in Japanese history, were reviled, avoided, or made into caricatures for entertainment. Despite the contrast in the treatment of these two groups, there is little officially said to denote a difference between kami and yōkai. The common idea is that one is merely good, and the other is evil. Though the majority of yōkai are destructive to humanity, there are numerous records of these creatures amicably interacting with humans. Furthermore, some yōkai are highly sought after, and homes possessing such beings take great care to keep their resident spirit comfortable and happy so that they remain within the household. To further blur the lines between the two groups, there are yōkai that, over time, can mature into kami and even kami that degenerate to yōkai status. There is a fluid hierarchy amid these entities that few researchers in the field of yōkai studies tackle directly, choosing instead to leave the relationship vague. By examining specific yōkai and kami, it is possible to more clearly highlight the divergence between these spirit beings and thus recognize that yōkai are kami that have never received worship, were forgotten by humanity, or lost their venerated status due to their nature or appearance. |
