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
10 creatures at 8 tradition locations · 14 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
- Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal) (1)
- Finland (1)
- Finns (1)
- Japan (7)
- Japan (7)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (7)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (7)
- Lithuania (1)
- Lithuanians (1)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (7)
- Romania (1)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (7)
Browse the dictionary
24 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| UbumeThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | Ghosts of women who died in childbirth | 5 |
| Uchek Langmeidong | Meitei mythology | Semi human, semi hornbill creature | 1 |
| UkkoDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Finnish | Finnish sky deity | 1 |
| Uma-no-ashiAnimals (suggested) | Japanese | Horse's leg which dangles from a tree and kicks passersby | 5 |
| Umi-nyōbōGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Female sea monster who steals fish | 5 |
| UmibōzuThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | Ghost of drowned priest | 5 |
| Unclean force | Not specified | Slavic mythological force | — |
| UndeadThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Worldwide | Dead that behave as if alive | — |
| Underwater pantherSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Native American | Feline water spirit | — |
| Undine | Alchemy | Water elemental | — |
| Ungaikyō | Japanese | Animated mirror | 5 |
| UnhcegilaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Lakota | Dragon | — |
| UnicornAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiaries | Horse-like creature with the legs of an antelope, the tail of a lion and a single magical healing horn. | — |
| UnktehiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Lakota | Serpentine rain spirit | — |
| UnktehilaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Lakota | Reptilian water monster | — |
| UpinisSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Lithuanian | River spirit | 1 |
| Upiór | Not specified | A description has not yet been recorded. | — |
| Ur | Mandaean | King of the World of Darkness, often portrayed as a dragon or snake | — |
| UrayuliGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Native American | Hairy giant | — |
| UriașGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Romanian | Giant | — |
| UrmahlulluSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Mesopotamian | Lion-human hybrid guardian spirit | — |
| Ushi-oniGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Bull-headed monster | 5 |
| UtukkuSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Akkadian | ″Underworld messenger spirit″ | — |
| UwanSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Spirit that shouts to surprise people | 5 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261028.1 (28 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
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