Yōkai Shinkō

Abstract

Yōkai Shinkō or belief in yōkai is an important part of the spiritual culture and folklore of Japanese society. Yōkai are supernatural creatures that have various forms, ranging from frightening to humorous, and often appear in legends, folklore, and cultural practices such as festivals and visual arts. This study aims to examine how belief in yōkai has developed over time and how it plays a role in the social, religious, and entertainment lives of Japanese society. The method used is a library study of academic literature, classical texts, and popular media that contain representations of yōkai. The results of the study show that Yōkai Shinkō not only reflects traditional spiritual beliefs, but also functions as a medium for understanding values, fears, and socio-cultural changes that occur in Japan. Japanese society considers yōkai to be frightening creatures, protectors, and frightening vengeful spirits, so it is necessary to carry out cleansing and spiritual rituals in a place where yōkai is suspected to have been affected.