An onikuma (鬼熊, literally "demon bear") is a mythological Japanese yōkai originating in the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture. It is a bear-like creature that has been known to walk upright. They sneak into villages at night to carry off livestock for food. It was described in the Ehon Hyaku Monogatari, a collection of supernatural tales published in 1841.[1]
When a bear has lived for many years, it becomes an onikuma. With enough strength to be able to move boulders as large as two meters in diameter, it is said to be able to kill a small animal simply by pushing it. It comes down from the mountains to steal horses and cattle, which it brings back to the mountain to eat.[2]
Some large stones in the Kiso Valley are called "Onikuma stones." Given their size and placement, they are attributed to onikuma. Local tradition states that onikuma throw these stones, larger than ten people together could move, at humans from the mountains above.[3]
The method to kill an onikuma was to hollow out a large tree into a tube like a well lining and use it to block up the mouth of the nest of vines, then plunge poles through the hollow trunk into the nest. When the disoriented onikuma made its way to the opening, it would be attacked with spears and guns. It is said that in the Kyōhō era, when several onikuma were killed, each skin when spread out covered an area of six tatami mats (about 10 square meters) or more.[4]
Additionally, in Hokkaido, bears that attacked humans were feared as onikuma.
In popular cultureedit
Televisionedit
An Onikuma appeared in the Monster High episode "The Monstering". While its ability to throw rocks remains intact, the Onikuma can be subdued by tickling it.
Filmedit
Onikuma (2016) is a hybrid live action/stop motion animation short film directed by Alessia Cecchet that premiered at the 34th Torino Film Festival, Italy in November 2016.[5]
Referencesedit
^Davisson, Zack (28 May 2013). "Oniukuma - Demon Bear". 百物語怪談会 Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
^Nagata, Mikako, ed. (25 December 2015). Zukaidaijiten Nihon no Yōkai 図解大事典 日本の妖怪 (in Japanese) (1st ed.). SHINSEI Publishing Co., Ltd. p. 43.
^Coslett, Matthew (29 October 2018). "Demoinc travel destinations for Halloween in Japan". Japan Today. GPlusMedia Inc. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
^Meyer, Matthew. "Onikuma". Yokai.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
^ONIKUMA, Torino Film Festival. Retrieved on 13 August 2017.
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onikuma, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 2019, le. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Onikuma news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message An onikuma 鬼熊 literally demon bear is a mythological Japanese yōkai originating in the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture It is a bear like creature that has been known to walk upright They sneak into villages at night to carry off livestock for food It was described in the Ehon Hyaku Monogatari a collection of supernatural tales published in 1841 1 A depiction of an onikuma by Shunsensai Takehara in the Ehon Hyaku Monogatari Contents 1 Description 2 In popular culture 2 1 Television 2 2 Film 3 ReferencesDescription editWhen a bear has lived for many years it becomes an onikuma With enough strength to be able to move boulders as large as two meters in diameter it is said to be able to kill a small animal simply by pushing it It comes down from the mountains to steal horses and cattle which it brings back to the mountain to eat 2 Some large stones in the Kiso Valley are called Onikuma stones Given their size and placement they are attributed to onikuma Local tradition states that onikuma throw these stones larger than ten people together could move at humans from the mountains above 3 The method to kill an onikuma was to hollow out a large tree into a tube like a well lining and use it to block up the mouth of the nest of vines then plunge poles through the hollow trunk into the nest When the disoriented onikuma made its way to the opening it would be attacked with spears and guns It is said that in the Kyōhō era when several onikuma were killed each skin when spread out covered an area of six tatami mats about 10 square meters or more 4 Additionally in Hokkaido bears that attacked humans were feared as onikuma In popular culture editTelevision edit An Onikuma appeared in the Monster High episode The Monstering While its ability to throw rocks remains intact the Onikuma can be subdued by tickling it Film edit Onikuma 2016 is a hybrid live action stop motion animation short film directed by Alessia Cecchet that premiered at the 34th Torino Film Festival Italy in November 2016 5 References edit Davisson Zack 28 May 2013 Oniukuma Demon Bear 百物語怪談会 Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai Retrieved 15 April 2020 Nagata Mikako ed 25 December 2015 Zukaidaijiten Nihon no Yōkai 図解大事典 日本の妖怪 in Japanese 1st ed SHINSEI Publishing Co Ltd p 43 Coslett Matthew 29 October 2018 Demoinc travel destinations for Halloween in Japan Japan Today GPlusMedia Inc Retrieved 15 April 2020 Meyer Matthew Onikuma Yokai com Retrieved 15 April 2020 ONIKUMA Torino Film Festival Retrieved on 13 August 2017 nbsp This article about a legendary creature is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article relating to Japanese mythology is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Onikuma amp oldid 1122067041, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
