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
75 creatures at 94 tradition locations · 59 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.
Browse associated places without the map
- Albania (2)
- Albanians, Balkarians (2)
- Anatolia Turks (1)
- Ancient Egypt, Egyptian (1)
- Ancient Greece (6)
- Astrakhan Tatars, Karagash Nogai (1)
- Azeris (Azerbaijanis) (1)
- Bashkirs (1)
- Batak (Toba, Dairi) (1)
- Bosnia Muslims (8)
- Bosnians (8)
- Brazil (1)
- Bulgarians, Balkarians (8)
- Byelarusians, Belarusians (8)
- Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal) (1)
- Central Yakuts (Sakha) (1)
- Cherokee (1)
- China (5)
- Choctaw, Chicasaw (1)
- Chulym Turks (1)
- Chuvash (1)
- Crimean Tatars, Karaims (1)
- Croatians, Croats; Italians of Dalmatia (if the motif is absent among other Italians) (8)
- Czech, Czechs (8)
- Danes, Danish (1)
- Dolgans (1)
- Early Russian written sources (8)
- Eastern Ukrainians (8)
- Egypt (1)
- England (3)
- England, British, Bretons (3)
- Faroe Islands (2)
- Finland (1)
- Finns (1)
- Gagauz (1)
- Germans: North (Low- and Central German dialects): Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pommern, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony, incl East Frisia and Oldenburg), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Thüringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Brandenburg, Rügen (2)
- Greece (6)
- Greeks (modern), Balkarians (6)
- Greeks of Cyprus (6)
- Hittite, Hurrit (2)
- Icelanders (2)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (2)
- Japan (31)
- Japan (31)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (31)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (31)
- Karachays, Balkar (1)
- Kara Kalpak (1)
- Kashubians (8)
- Kazakh (1)
- Kazan (Middle Volga) Tatars (1)
- Khakas (1)
- Khwarezm Uzbek; Turkic written tradition from Kök Orda (1)
- Kirghiz (1)
- Kumyk, Terekemen (1)
- Macedonians, Balkarians (8)
- Nogai (1)
- Northeastern Yakuts (Sakha): Yana, Indigirka and Kolyma Basins (1)
- Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians (1)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (31)
- Northern Ukrainians (8)
- Northwestern Yakuts (Sakha): Yessey, Anabar, Olenyok and Lower Lena Basins (1)
- Norwegians (1)
- People's Republic of China (5)
- Persians (2)
- Philippines (3)
- Philippines (3)
- Poland (1)
- Poles (9)
- Romania (3)
- Russian Pomors ("seasiders"): Lower Pechora (8)
- Russian Pomors ('seasiders'): Terski Coast (Murmansk province) (8)
- Russian Pomors (“seasiders): Arkhangelsk province without its southern part (Shengur district and Konosha dstrict), Karelia White Sea coast (8)
- Russians: Central part of ethnic territory as in A.D. 1500 (Tver, Yaroslavl, Moscow, Kostroma, Vladimir, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga, Smolensk provinces; in case of absence in other areas also Russians in Vyatka, Perm, Kazan provinces) (8)
- Russians: Novgorod and Pskov provinces (8)
- Russians: Olonets province/SE Karelia, Shengur district of Arkhangelsk province (8)
- Russians: Southern part of ethnic territory as in A.D. 1500 (Belgorod, Voronezh, Tambov, Penza, Lipetsk, Orel, Kursk, Bryansk provinces; in case of absence in other areas also Russians in Samara, Simbirsk and Saratov provinces) (8)
- Russians: Vologda province (incl. Belozersk, Kirillov and Cherepovets districts of form. Novgorod Province) (8)
- Rusyns, Hutsuls (8)
- Salars (1)
- Scandinavia (1)
- Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia) (1)
- Scotland, Scots, Picts, Scotti, Scottish (3)
- Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians (8)
- Shor (1)
- Siberian Tatars (1)
- Slovakians, Slovaks (8)
- Slovenians, Slovenes (8)
- Sorbians (Luzhitsa Serbs) (8)
- Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians (1)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (31)
- Stavropol Turkmen (recent migrants from Mangyshlak Peninsular) (1)
- Swedes (1)
- Terek Cossacks (8)
- Tofa (Karagas) (1)
- Trinidad and Tobago (1)
- Turkmen (1)
- Tuvinians of Monglian Altai (1)
- Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans (1)
- Uyghur (1)
- Uzbek (1)
- Venezuela (1)
- Venezuela (1)
- Western Ukrainians (8)
- Western Yakuts (Sakha): Olekma and Vilyuy Basins (1)
- Yugur (Sarïg Yogïr, Yellow Uyghur) (1)
Browse the dictionary
134 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShadeThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Worldwide | Spiritual imprint | — |
| Shadow PeopleThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | American | Malevolent ghost | — |
| ShahbazGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Persian | Giant eagle or hawk | 1 |
| ShaitanSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Islam | Islamic version of the Devil (Satan) from the Bible | — |
| Shang-YangGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Rain bird | 1 |
| Shapeshifter | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| ShedimSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Jewish | Chicken-legged demon | — |
| SheduSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Akkadian and Sumerian | Protective spirit who takes the form of a winged bull or human-headed lion | 1 |
| ShellycoatSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | English, Scottish and German, as schellenrocc | Water spirit | 4 |
| ShenGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Shapeshifing sea monster | 1 |
| ShenlongDivine and sacred beings (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Weather dragon | 1 |
| ShibatenSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Water spirit from Shikoku | 5 |
| Shiki-ōjiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Child-sized servant spirit | 5 |
| ShikigamiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Servant spirit | 5 |
| ShikomeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Underworld hag | 5 |
| ShinigamiDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Japanese | "Death god" | 5 |
| Shiro-bōzuSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | White, faceless spirit | 5 |
| ShirouneriPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Animated mosquito netting or dust cloth | 5 |
| ShiryōThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | Spirit of a dead person | 5 |
| ShisaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Lion-dog hybrid | 5 |
| ShishiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Chinese | Protective animal | 1 |
| ShōjōSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Red-haired sea-sprites who love alcohol | 5 |
| ShōkeraSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Creature that peers in through skylights | 5 |
| ShtrigaHumans (suggested) | Albanian | Vampire witch that feeds on children | 1 |
| Shug MonkeyGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | English | Dog/monkey | 2 |
| Shui GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Drowned ghost | 1 |
| ShunobanSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Red-faced ghoul | 5 |
| Shuten-dōjiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Ruler of the Oni | 5 |
| Si-Te-CahGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Paiute | Red-haired giants | — |
| SídheSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Not specified | (Irish and Scottish) – Ancestral or nature spirit | — |
| SigbinGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Philippine | Goat-like vampire | 1 |
| SihuanabaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| SileniSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Bald, fat, thick-lipped, and flat-nosed followers of Dionysus | 3 |
| SimarglDivine and sacred beings (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Slavic | Winged dog | 27 |
| SimurghGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Persian | Dog-lion-peacock hybrid | 1 |
| SingaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Batak | Feline animal | 1 |
| Sint HoloSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Choctaw | Serpentine rain spirit | 1 |
| SirenGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Human-bird hybrid | 3 |
| SirinGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Slavic | Demonic human-headed bird | 27 |
| SirrushGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Akkadian | Dragon with aquiline hind legs and feline forelegs | — |
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