The Bakemono Zukushi scrolls look like they could be the monsters in an old-fashion comic book series and more importantly, they come from sometime in the 18th-19th century, a time referred to as the Edo Period.
The pictures were published by the International Research Center for Japanese Studies – Yokai Database and they make for quite the cool viewing.
Here’s a look at each of the scroll drawings:
Oyajirome (親白眼) our first creature is quite creepy with their cyclops eye and one-fingered hand. I’m not sure how he’s throw anything at his prey, but he could give one hell of a wet willy.
Daichiuchi (大地打) may carry a wallet but he/she could just as easily poke your eye out with their beak. I can see how this creature would freak someone from the 1800′s out, but the dress bottom leaves me with nothing but a smile on my face.
Dōmo-kōmo (どうもこうも) doesn’t carry a weapon, but you just know that a two headed creature with a really long tongue and green skin is up to no good.
Sara-hebi (さら蛇) has the head of a woman, which is fine, but snakes slither so shouldn’t there be scratches all over her face? Okay semantics, in any case the picture is creepy because of the lack of any other human characteristics.
Mi-no-kedachi (身の毛立) – Look at that body hair, it stands on end and he has a hunch back. Creepy! LOL
Nobusuma (のぶすま) – This one actually is a bit creepy with spiky teeth, sharp claws and spike hair, plus that weird flat body that can’t really be define with any type of shape.
Uma-shika (馬鹿) is a horned creature with hooves and a cyclops eye. It’s creepy, but how effective can a hoofed one eye-ed creature really be at killing. Plus, poking him in his protruding eye should render him useless.
Hajikkaki (はぢっかき) looks like a bit fat ghost. An obese ghost? Are we sure he wasn’t predicting people of the 21st century?
Odoroshi (おどろし) the red faced monster with black teeth, perhaps spiky teeth would have been a better fit, but in any case the blackness of them is disgusting.
Yume-no-seirei (“dream ghost” – 夢の精霊) – Perhaps being the “dream ghost” makes him a foe to beware. However his frail body, saddened face and use of a cane doesn’t really strike fear in my mind.
Yamamba (山姥) beware the mountain hag, she’s hideous, has clawed toes and lives in seclusion. It’s creepy but she looks deep in thought.
Rokurokubi (ろくろくび), is a long-neck woman that’s creepy more because of her floating body and you can see her pictured here with Inugami (犬神) the dog spirit.
Boukon (亡魂), is a lost soul with pale blue skin that roams the world with a distended stomach.
Ushi-oni (牛鬼) is a creepy looking spider that lives in the sea, which makes it even more creepy.
Yamawaro (山童) is a one-eyed mountain dwelling creature who otherwise has human life features. He makes me want to watch an episode of Futurama.
Buraribi (ぶらり火) is a large ghost looking bird that’s followed by flames. He or She does look happy though, perhaps because they are wreaking havoc on the unsuspecting?
Uwan (うわん) – The abandoned buildings monster. Avoid old buildings and you’re safe from this weird creature.
Akashita (“red tongue” – 赤舌) hides in dark clouds before they attack. Then again if there are no other clouds around it’s a horrible hiding spot.
Yuki-onna (“snow woman” – 雪女) She was defined as a “beautiful woman” during her times. Woman were apparently really ugly in the 1800′s and 1900′s.
Nekomata (猫また) is the cat demon and she is playing the shamisen in this portrait. The other creature is kitsune, known as the fox spirit.
Kami-kiri (“hair cutter” – 髪切) is known to sneak up on their prey and cut off their hair. Wait isn’t that what Johnny Knoxville and his Jackass crew do? I knew something was more wrong with those guys than meets the eye.
So there you have it the Bakemono Zukushi creature scrolls. Okay maybe they don’t creep us out as much today, but I can see how hundreds of years ago people without TVs, Movies and many books to read could be scared silly by these drawings.
What do you think about the Bakemono Zukushi collection? Leave your thoughts.