In distant locations , far from the oculus of foreign tourists , Shinto temple across Japan claim to put up the ancient , mummified remains of everything from ogre to mermaid . These artifacts are commonly believed to be detailed piece of faux - taxidermy created for amusement intent at Edo Period carnivals calledMisemonos . The takings of these carnivals often benefited local shrine , and the mummies were either presented alongside or later associated with myth that present local beliefs and practice session . Now , hundreds of years later , they stand out as some of the most strange pieces of ethnic history in the world . Here are some example of mythological dry up creatures — and where they can be find .
1. OGRES (ONI)
Ogres , oroni , are one of the most common figures in Shinto folklore . While most of them hold up in the netherworld , a few of these brightly colored fauna end up wandering the Earth doing all kinds of horrific affair like eating multitude . One ogre may have bitten off more than he could chew when he visited the townspeople of Naruto — at least that ’s what we can guess base on the remains atKikotsuji Temple . at bottom is a golden shrine that holds a few quarter round - sized ogremolarsand a bulb-shaped horn .
The remains of a second monster can be found in the Ithiel Town of Usa , near theJyuppouzan Daijyoin templecomplex . A lot of 108 stairs moderate to an entire mummify body , complete with horns and three - fingered hands . No one knows for sure how old the specimen is , but for many generations , it was in the possession of a stately household — until the patriarch descend ill in 1925 . Believing himself to be anathemise by the ogre heirloom , he give the mummy over to the local temple , after which he reportedly made a thoroughgoing recovery .
2. USHI-ONI
Ushi - Oniis a term that ’s come to embrace any supernatural creature with the head of an ox ; the most vernacular portrayal feature giant , bipedal flying squirrels . If you ’ve never had the chance to see one , look no further thanNegoro - ji , a temple near the Ithiel Town of Iwade . Not only is there a statue of a googly - eyed , trip the light fantastic toe ushi - Office of Naval Intelligence outside — the inside houses the horns of one that , accord to legend , was slain 400 years ago by a far-famed Sagittarius , Yamada Kurando Takakiyois .
The stiff of another ushi - Office of Naval Intelligence are housed in the city of Kurume ’s IshishikakizanKannonji temple . This one was beat out by a non-Christian priest named Konko Fujinori Konnon using only the power of prayer . According to the tabernacle , the creature ’s substructure , now mummified , has been in their possession for the nigh 1000 years since its disembodiment .
3. MERMAIDS
Almost everyone is familiar with the Disney cartoonThe Little Mermaid , where Ariel gives up her life in the ocean to become human . But in the Japanese mermaid tale ofhappyaku bikuni , thing turn out a bit differently , with the mermaid move over up her life to become … dinner party .
The mummified stay of a mermaid that manage to avoid the dinner party home plate can be notice in a little temple outsideHashimoto . The creature — which is aver to have been caught a thousand eld ago in a local river and brought to the synagogue — is not probable to get a kiss from a Disney prince : Its grotesque boldness is captured in the middle of a terrifying scream .
A 2d mermaid mummy can be set up in theHachinohe City Museum . It has the unique distinction of having not one , but two screaming face on a single head . The museum also claim to possess the remains of another supernatural creature , thetengu .
4. TENGU
Thetenguvaries in appearance but is most splendidly some combination of a human and a crow . The creatures have a nasty reputation — they’re known for carrying people off into the sky , after which they ’ll exit them at the top of mountains or drop them to their doomsday . The Wakayama PrefecturalMuseum of History and Folklorehas an total mummify tengu , its shrunken soundbox prop up by a wooden crutch .
The long - peck skull of another , larger tengu can be found in the city of Ibaraki atSōji - ji tabernacle . Even more telling may be the mummy on display next to the skull — the distort body of a storm spirit , theRaiju .
5. RAIJU
Raijuare said to be the embodiment of a violent storm : They happen upon the worldly concern , tear through tree , and set orbit on fire when they ’re angered . Though description of their show vary quite a bit in Shinto folklore , all of the mummified deterrent example seem to be feline . In the town of Nagoka , the treasury ofSaishō - ji templedisplays the dried up stubble of a raiju stretched out among other ancient souvenir . Another raiju , very standardized in appearance , is nestled in an flowery wooden boxful inIwate - ji Templein the townspeople of Hanamaki .
6. KUDAN
Thekudanis a creature that has the eubstance of a moo-cow and the side of a human . These creatures ( which in all likelihood originate from real calves carry with inherited defects ) live only a few weeks — and , according to legend , they ’re able to foretell the future . While there are manyhistoricalaccounts of mummified kudan , the only stay example is in the individual accumulation ofChan Kihon Kihara , a ego - key out “ mystery gatherer ” who lend it to museum from clock time to time .
7. DRAGONS
Like their Chinese counterpart , Nipponese dragons are wingless , flying ophidian with four taloned feet . TheZuiryūzan Hōun - ji synagogue , located outside the town of Chichibu , claims to have strike a flying dragon ’s bottom jaw on its grounds several centuries ago .
In Osaka , the mummified continue of an intact Draco can be found atRuilong Temple . Legend has it that the tartar was purchased by a Japanese general , Akizawa , from a Chinese sodbuster who witnessed the creature dying , bashed it with a stick , stuffed it in a sack and smuggled it to Japan . This temple also has a mummified mermaid as well as one of the most pop Japanese supernatural tool , thekappa .
8. KAPPA
Kappa — which are oftentimes depict as bipedal turtles from Shinto folklore that get behind people into rivers and lake — are often blamed for drownings . To stay in their good seemliness , people leave offer of the creature ’s favorite nutrient : cucumbers . One pop place to leave an offering isSogenji , a kappa - theme temple in the Kappabashi - dori neighborhood of Tokyo . Inside the synagogue is a large collection of kappa memorabilia , from ancient scrolls to souvenir coffee mug — and , inside a wooden box , one kappa ’s mummified hand .
Original illustration by Zardulu
A more complete set of kappa remains is on show in the town of Imari atMatsuuraichi Shuzo Sake Brewery . A carpenter claimed to have find the mummy while doingrenovationson the building in the sixties . The proprietor , recognizing the mummy ’s cultural meaning , call on it into a tourer attraction and adopted it as a symbol of his party . sunniness !
