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
231 creatures at 6 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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231 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| KashaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Cat-like demon which descends from the sky and carries away corpses | 5 |
| KashanboSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Kappa who climb into the mountains for the winter | 5 |
| Katawa-gurumaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Woman riding on a flaming wheel | 5 |
| Katsura-otokoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Handsome man from the Moon | 5 |
| Kawa-usoAnimals (suggested) | Japanese | Supernatural river otter | 5 |
| Kawa-zaruSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Smelly, cowardly water spirit | 5 |
| KekkaiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Amorphous afterbirth spirit | 5 |
| Kesaran-pasaranSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Mysterious, white, fluffy creature | 5 |
| KeukegenSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Disease spirit | 5 |
| KijoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | She-devil | 5 |
| Kin-uGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Bird | 5 |
| KirinGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Japanese Unicorn | 5 |
| KitsuneSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Fox spirit | 5 |
| Kitsune-TsukiHumans (suggested) | Japanese | Person possessed by a fox spirit | 5 |
| KiyohimeHumans (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Woman who transformed into a serpentine demon out of the rage of unrequited love | 5 |
| KodamaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Tree spirit | 5 |
| KokakuchōGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested)The dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | Ubume bird | 5 |
| KomainuGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Protective animal | 5 |
| Konaki-jijiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Infant that cries until it is picked up, then increases its weight and crushes its victim | 5 |
| Konoha-tenguSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Bird-like creature | 5 |
| Koto-furunushiPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Animated koto | 5 |
| KubikajiriSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Female corpse-chewing graveyard spirit | 5 |
| Kuchisake-onnaThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | Vengeful ghost of a woman mutilated by her husband | 5 |
| Kuda-gitsuneSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Miniature fox spirit | 5 |
| KudanGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Human-faced calf which predicts a calamity before dying | 5 |
| KurabokkoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Guardian spirit of a warehouse | 5 |
| Kurage-no-hinotamaAnimals (suggested) | Japanese | Jellyfish which floats through the air as a fireball | 5 |
| KyourinrinPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Animated scroll or paper | 5 |
| Kyūbi-no-kitsuneGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Nine-tailed fox | 5 |
| KyūketsukiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | Vampire king | 5 |
| Makura-gaeshiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese mythology | Pillow-moving spirit | 5 |
| MenreikiPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Spiritual creature formed from 66 gigaku masks | 5 |
| MizuchiGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | Water dragon | 5 |
| Morinji-no-okamaPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Japanese | Animated tea kettle | 5 |
| MujinaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Shapeshifting badger spirit | 5 |
| 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 |
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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.
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