Youkai Magnets
Description: Karajishi, Protector of the Buddhist Law. Karajishi means “Chinese Lion Dog” in Japanese, a magical being with supernatural powers and the power to drive off evil spirits. You will often find a pair of these Lion Dogs standing guard outside the gates of a Japanese Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple, to prevent evil from entering. The Shishi-mai (Guardian Lion Dance) is a traditional dance in Japan in which performers wear a lion costume and mimic a lion's movements to music. The dance is usually performed as part of New Year's celebrations as well as other traditional, cultural and religious festivals. Shishimai dance serves the purpose to ward off evil and bring good fortune. Original design by Blacklinesw9
Description: Anger, Jealousy, Resentment: A Hannya tattoo indicates that the wearer is unforgiving. Hannya originate from the Sanskrit term for wisdom—specifically Prajñāpāramitā, the highest form of Buddhist wisdom which leads to enlightenment. The juxtaposition of the highest form of wisdom and creatures who represent direct opposition to that wisdom comes from the use of the hannya mask in noh. In the play Aoi no Ue, a shugenja (an ascetic mystic) exorcises the spirit of the hannya Lady Rokujō from Lady Aoi. As it is driven away, the evil spirit cries out, “Oh, how horrible! The voice of wisdom is like a demon!” Since then, demon masks and wisdom have been associated with each other.
Description: The kyuubi no kitsune ('the nine-tailed fox') is a powerful youkai (Japanese word for spiritual and otherwise supernatural creatures in folklore) commonly seen in Japan, China, and Korea. A normal fox is said to be able to turn into one, by gaining a tail each century of living and spiritual training. Records of the nine-tailed fox can be seen first in China. It is a benevolent, if not outright divine creature, and anyone who can encounter one and live to tell the tale is destined to become a lord or even the emperor. In Korea these creatures wish to become human, often by stealing the life force of human males by transforming into a woman and seducing them.
Description: Leader of the Tenryou Commission's forces. A charismatic woman who acts as swiftly as a storm wind and always honors her word. She bears the title of "Devotee of the Divine" and has sworn her allegiance to the Raiden Shogun. The eternity that the Shogun pursues is the cause that she is willing to fight for.
