Resources · Creatures, spirits & other beings
Folklore Dictionary
Meet the beings of folklore: explore their names, descriptions and associated traditions, from familiar creatures to less familiar inhabitants of the otherworld.
1,598 reference entries · Browse A–Z or explore by place
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Creature coverage
Zoom or move the map, then choose “Filter to this area” to list creatures with a tradition location in that view. You can combine this with a character family or a search term.
Creatures associated with a tradition
16 creatures at 5 tradition locations · 0 without tradition coordinates
Markers use tradition coordinates linked through source names, recorded aliases, language groups or reviewed associations. Language-group links show cultural context, rather than verified creature occurrences in every tradition. Creatures sharing a location are grouped; select a marker to see their names. Counts cover all matching entries across every results page.
Use the location filter or the list below to browse associated places.
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16 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| NamahageSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Ritual disciplinary demon from the Oga Peninsula | 5 |
| NamazuGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Giant catfish whose thrashing causing earthquakes | 5 |
| Nando-babaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Old woman who hides under the floor in abandoned storerooms | 5 |
| NekomataAnimals (suggested)Spirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Split-tailed magical cat | 5 |
| NekomusumeAnimals (suggested) | Japanese | Cat in the form of a girl | 5 |
| NikusuiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Monster which appears as a young woman and sucks all of the flesh off of its victim's body | 5 |
| NingyoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Monkey-fish hybrid | 5 |
| NobusumaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Supernatural wall, also a monstrous flying squirrel | 5 |
| Noppera-bōSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Faceless ghost | 5 |
| NozuchiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Small sea serpent | 5 |
| NueGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Monkey-raccoon dog-tiger-snake hybrid | 5 |
| NukekubiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Disembodied, flying head that attacks people | 5 |
| NuppeppoGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Animated chunk of dead flesh | 5 |
| NurarihyonSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Head-sized ball-like creature that floats in the sea and teases sailors | 5 |
| Nure-onnaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Female monster who appears on the beach | 5 |
| NurikabeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Spirit that manifests as an impassable, invisible wall | 5 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261029.1 (29 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
0009-0006-1672-4451
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