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{{Short description|Term for a being from Japanese folklore}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
{{distinct|Shinigami}}
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[[File:Fudo-Rieki-Engi 01.jpg|right|thumb|240px|[[Abe no Seimei]] and his {{transl|ja|shikigami}} (bottom right) before an assembly of god-like demon spirits]]
[[File:Fudo-Rieki-Engi 01.jpg|right|thumb|240px|[[Abe no Seimei]] and his {{transl|ja|shikigami}} (bottom right) before an assembly of god-like demon spirits]]


{{nihongo||式神|'''Shikigami'''}} (also read as {{nihongo||式の神|Shiki-no-kami}}) is the term for a being from [[Japan]]ese [[folklore]]. It is thought to be some sort of {{transl|ja|[[kami]]}}, represented by a small [[ghost]].<ref name="Inoue">{{cite book|last1=Inoue|first1=Nobutaka|title=An Encyclopedia of Shinto|date=2002|publisher=Kokugakuin University|location=Tokyo|isbn=978-4905853084|pages=84–90}}</ref> The belief of ''shikigami'' originates from ''[[Onmyōdō]]''. According to the tradition of ''Onmyōdō'', ''shikigami'' is a symbol of ''[[onmyoji]]''{{'}}s power because ''onmyoji'' can freely use ''shikigami'' with magical powers. It has been associated with "curses" since the 1000s of the [[Heian period]], and was often depicted as a bird or a child in [[Japanese literature]] and ''[[Emakimono]]''.<ref name='hokkaido'>{{Cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218111057/http://s-ir.sap.hokkyodai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/123456789/9590/1/sap-kokugo-22-01.pdf|title=陰陽道の式神の成立と変遷 文学作品の呪詛にも触れつつ|pages=1|author=Wakako Nakajima|publisher=[[Hokkaido University of Education]]|accessdate=6 February 2021}}</ref>
{{nihongo||式神|'''Shikigami'''}} (also read as {{nihongo||式の神|Shiki-no-kami}}) is the term for a being from [[Japan]]ese [[folklore]]. According to the [[Shinto]] scholar [[Inoue Nobutaka]], it is thought to be some sort of {{transl|ja|[[kami]]}}, represented by a small [[ghost]].<ref name="Inoue">{{cite book|last1=Inoue|first1=Nobutaka|title=An Encyclopedia of Shinto|date=2002|publisher=Kokugakuin University|location=Tokyo|isbn=978-4905853084|pages=84–90}}</ref> The belief of ''shikigami'' originates from ''[[Onmyōdō]]''. According to the tradition of ''Onmyōdō'', ''shikigami'' is a symbol of ''[[onmyōji]]''{{'}}s power because ''onmyōji'' can freely use ''shikigami'' with magical powers. It has been associated with "curses" since the 1000s of the [[Heian period]], and was often depicted as a bird or a child in [[Japanese literature]] and ''[[Emakimono]]''.<ref name='hokkaido'>{{Cite web |url=http://s-ir.sap.hokkyodai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/123456789/9590/1/sap-kokugo-22-01.pdf|title=陰陽道の式神の成立と変遷 文学作品の呪詛にも触れつつ|pages=1|author=Wakako Nakajima|publisher=[[Hokkaido University of Education]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218111057/http://s-ir.sap.hokkyodai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/123456789/9590/1/sap-kokugo-22-01.pdf|accessdate=6 February 2021|archive-date=2020-12-18}}</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
''Shikigami'' are conjured beings, made alive through a complex conjuring ceremony. Their power is connected to the spiritual force of their master, where if the invoker is well introduced and has much experience, their ''shiki'' can possess animals and even people and manipulate them, but if the invoker is careless, their ''shikigami'' may get out of control in time, gaining its own will and consciousness and can even raid its own master and kill them in revenge. Usually ''shikigami'' are conjured to exercise risky orders for their masters, such as spying, stealing and enemy tracking. ''Shikigami'' are said to be invisible most of the time, but they can be made visible by binding them into small, folded and artfully cut paper manikins. There are also ''shikigami'' that can show themselves as animals.<ref name="Inoue"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Avant|first1=G. Rodney|title=A Mythological Reference|date=2005|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, Indiana|isbn=978-1418492786|page=356}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Drazen|first1=Patrick|title=A Gathering of Spirits: Japan's Ghost Story Tradition: from Folklore and Kabuki to Anime and Manga|date=2011|publisher=Iuniverse|location=Bloomington, Indiana|isbn=978-1462029426|page=224}}</ref>
''Shikigami'' are conjured beings, made alive through a complex conjuring ceremony. Their power is connected to the spiritual force of their master, where if the invoker is well introduced and has much experience, their ''shiki'' can possess animals and even people and manipulate them, but if the invoker is careless, their ''shikigami'' may get out of control in time, gaining its own will and consciousness and can even raid its own master and kill them in revenge. Usually ''shikigami'' are conjured to exercise risky orders for their masters, such as spying, stealing and enemy tracking. ''Shikigami'' are said to be invisible most of the time, but they can be made visible by binding them into small, folded and artfully cut paper manikins. There are also ''shikigami'' that can show themselves as animals.<ref name="Inoue"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Avant|first1=G. Rodney|title=A Mythological Reference|date=2005|publisher=AuthorHouse|location=Bloomington, Indiana|isbn=978-1418492786|page=356}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Drazen|first1=Patrick|title=A Gathering of Spirits: Japan's Ghost Story Tradition: from Folklore and Kabuki to Anime and Manga|date=2011|publisher=Iuniverse|location=Bloomington, Indiana|isbn=978-1462029426|page=224}}</ref>


In the Izanagi-ryu ({{lang-ja|いざなぎ流}}) [[folk religion]], the most elite onmyōji could also conjure an exceptionally powerful type of ''shikigami'' called a ''shikiōji'' ({{lang-ja|式王子}}) to ward off disasters or demons that cause sickness. Regular mystics could not attempt to summon it without risking losing control of it due to its [[oni]]-like nature.
In the ''Izanagi-ryū'' ({{langx|ja|いざなぎ流}}) [[folk religion]], the most elite ''onmyōji'' could also conjure an exceptionally powerful type of ''shikigami'' called a ''shikiōji'' ({{langx|ja|式王子}}) to ward off disasters or demons that cause sickness. Regular mystics could not attempt to summon it without risking losing control of it due to its [[oni]]-like nature.


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
Within the realm of the manga and anime series ''[[Jujutsu Kaisen]]'', shikigami play a pivotal role in the arsenal of jujutsu sorcerers, notably [[Megumi Fushiguro]]. The supernatural entities are conjured through the manipulation of cursed energy, typically facilitated by talismans and summoning magic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yehia |first=Ahmed |date=2024-02-06 |title=Jujutsu Kaisen: What are Shikigami? |url=https://gamerant.com/jujutsu-kaisen-what-are-shikigami/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}</ref>
* The Video Game series ''[[Touhou Project]]'' have two characters based on Shikigami, Ran Yakumo and Chen.
* In the manga series ''[[Inuyasha]]'' and its anime adaptation, the dark priestess Tsubaki commands a Shikigami.
* In the manga series ''[[Monogatari (series)|Monotogari]]'' and its anime adaption, the Onmyoji Yozuru Kagenui commands a Shikigami called Yotsugi Ononoki.
* In the manga series ''[[Shaman King]]'' and its anime adaption, the Asakura clan have a specialty over summoning Shikigami spirits as Shaman. Asakura Yohmei can summon shikigami in the form of forest spirits and has mastery over them. Asakura Hao captured two Shikigami spirits (Zenki and Goki) and has mastery over them. Yoh Asakura can also summon and command Shikigami forest spirits but is not proficient.
* In the manga series ''[[Jujutsu Kaisen]]'' and its anime adaption, Fushiguro Megumi commands various Shikigami in the forms of animals.


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[Familiar spirit]]
* [[Dogū]]
* [[Familiar]]
* [[wiktionary:形代|Katashiro]]
⚫
* [[Hoko (doll)|Hoko doll]]
* [[Haniwa]]
* [[Haniwa]]
* [[Zuijin]]
* [[Hōko (doll)]]
* [[Kokeshi]]
* [[Kokeshi]]
⚫
* [[Paper doll]]
* [[Pelesit]]
* [[Pelesit]]
* [[Poppet]]
* [[Poppet]]
* [[Spirit animal (disambiguation)]]
* [[Totem]]
* [[Totem]]
* [[Ushabti]]
* [[Ushabti]]
* [[Voodoo doll]]
* [[Voodoo doll]]
* [[Zuijin]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

{{Japanese folklore long}}


[[Category:Japanese folklore]]
[[Category:Japanese folklore]]

Latest revision as of 11:36, 28 October 2024

Not to be confused with Shinigami.
Abe no Seimei and his shikigami (bottom right) before an assembly of god-like demon spirits

Shikigami (式神) (also read as Shiki-no-kami (式の神)) is the term for a being from Japanese folklore. According to the Shinto scholar Inoue Nobutaka, it is thought to be some sort of kami, represented by a small ghost.[1] The belief of shikigami originates from Onmyōdō. According to the tradition of Onmyōdō, shikigami is a symbol of onmyōji's power because onmyōji can freely use shikigami with magical powers. It has been associated with "curses" since the 1000s of the Heian period, and was often depicted as a bird or a child in Japanese literature and Emakimono.[2]

Description

[edit]

Shikigami are conjured beings, made alive through a complex conjuring ceremony. Their power is connected to the spiritual force of their master, where if the invoker is well introduced and has much experience, their shiki can possess animals and even people and manipulate them, but if the invoker is careless, their shikigami may get out of control in time, gaining its own will and consciousness and can even raid its own master and kill them in revenge. Usually shikigami are conjured to exercise risky orders for their masters, such as spying, stealing and enemy tracking. Shikigami are said to be invisible most of the time, but they can be made visible by binding them into small, folded and artfully cut paper manikins. There are also shikigami that can show themselves as animals.[1][3][4]

In the Izanagi-ryū (Japanese: いざなぎ流) folk religion, the most elite onmyōji could also conjure an exceptionally powerful type of shikigami called a shikiōji (Japanese: 式王子) to ward off disasters or demons that cause sickness. Regular mystics could not attempt to summon it without risking losing control of it due to its oni-like nature.

[edit]

Within the realm of the manga and anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, shikigami play a pivotal role in the arsenal of jujutsu sorcerers, notably Megumi Fushiguro. The supernatural entities are conjured through the manipulation of cursed energy, typically facilitated by talismans and summoning magic.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Inoue, Nobutaka (2002). An Encyclopedia of Shinto. Tokyo: Kokugakuin University. pp. 84–90. ISBN 978-4905853084.
  2. ^ Wakako Nakajima. "陰陽道の式神の成立と変遷 文学作品の呪詛にも触れつつ" (PDF). Hokkaido University of Education. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-12-18. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  3. ^ Avant, G. Rodney (2005). A Mythological Reference. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. p. 356. ISBN 978-1418492786.
  4. ^ Drazen, Patrick (2011). A Gathering of Spirits: Japan's Ghost Story Tradition: from Folklore and Kabuki to Anime and Manga. Bloomington, Indiana: Iuniverse. p. 224. ISBN 978-1462029426.
  5. ^ Yehia, Ahmed (2024-02-06). "Jujutsu Kaisen: What are Shikigami?". Game Rant. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
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