I am bringing this from my blog to the public forum. This is a bit of a project that i am still working on. Take everything here with lightness. The reason i am bringing this to all of you? This forum is filled with many different people - everyone will have a diferent perspective on yokai. Also it seems some yokai are "leaving the forest" - many people are openly becoming keepers to these spirits that fall under the term yokai - and so i feel it is best to bring this into the open so it is out there for those who feel a call from them.
I deeply love the yokai - most here know that. I hope to bring and understanding if i can for at least most (not all yokai wish for human companionship). I hope to allow people to see into the forest and see these spirits. Most are beautiful, tricksters, oddly shaped, terrifying, young looking, old looking, look human-like, dont even look human, love humans, hate humans, or all the above and more!

With that lets begin.

I shall post Kitsune information~

im going to answer this in the sense of yokai and a keeper who loves his kitsune:

okay here is a page for starter on history and folklore:
http://www.obakemono.com/obake/kitsune/
and the CH encyclopedia:
http://encyclopedia.creepyhollows.com/a ... tsune.html

Kitsune are foxes that have aged over many a years, they are very wise, crafty, and look towards meeting people who welcome them. They are shapeshifting yokai (who represent the fox) and change into human form (usualy with fox like qualities and apendages intact in some areas -such as fox ears, eyes, tail and claws, and sometimes patches of fur on the arms, back, chest and legs)
Some come bearing wisdom and have been within society (when alive and as spirits) for ages! they go within the towns and bring about newfound knowledge, and usually end up being teachers and students to people who are on their learning way. Some though are warriors (as some yokai are as well) and have been the samurai apprentice, and the samurai of the past - they were the ones who taught those skilled with a katana and showed them how to use it properly and in use as a respectful warrior.
Some were tricksters of the night - they whent out and stole from those who were greedy and spread about those items and wealth with random poeple - they would surely be hunted for this, but this was entertaining! To see one who feels that their life is well off with riches and have them falling over their goods that they lost created great impact.
Some were lovers, and would come to sleep with those that found love with them. They would walk at night under the moon with their human companion and show them love and well being for what they had found in the human. Some bore children (the living ones) and would try to live a happy life without getting caught and found that they were a fox. But normally as any family a dog was introduced in the family house - and the dog would chase away the kitsune as the dog was territorial.
Kitsune would do favours for those willing to share in knowledge or do good deeds for the ktisune (such as saving the kitsune from a hunter or a kitsune that may have been trapped) or in some cases someone who stole their fox-fire/fox ball from them and the kitsune would have to oblige and do as asked in turn for it back.
Kitsune can be wonderful defenders with their magick and knowledge at hand, and some kitsune gaurd shrines and temples as well - when doing so they are known to be mostly in fox form and quite fierce.
Kitsune should love other spirits - but they will want your attention- they love human attention and may get bored if you dont give them even a little attention in a day (every spirit is different though- this is a general statement).

* as with all info i post here take it in lightness and let it be a start to understanding

Oni information - as even though Oni is singular for a yokai title, Oni in turn can mean many different Yokai as also a standing title
This is actually kind of important to understand as if someone were to say they have a kitsune, then they have a kitsune. BUT if that kitsune has a deeper facet of meing monsterous and weilds a lot more power in its energy level (sort of rogue acting) then you could give it the title of Oni (but it may not be the ogre/Oni yokai).
anyways basic info on Oni i can get:
here is a starter to what oni are: http://www.obakemono.com/obake/oni/
Oni are Oni = ogre, but also Oni can = a yokai that has reached a monstrous state. Oni itself can also mean overkill/ monster. This is because Oni themselves are a terrifying yokai that also have an over use of a weapon (can be a club*usually has spikes and such on it, or an axe, or sometimes a sword *such as a katana). Yokai are also supposed to be watchers/guards over the "demon gate"/ "underworld gate" (this was the gate in which all evil and bad luck came from). Oni themselves though (as many yokai) can be quite tricky whether to say are helpful or something to stay away from....
some Oni have been known to be helpful in the case they protect certain areas....but claiming those areas as their own.....or in some times were also noted as guards/protection escorts....
Really though in the general sense you can compare an Oni to an ogre...but theres slight differences in the matter, but some motives are the same (and some not...). But also in some cases Oni can be Kitsune, Tengu, Bake-neko etc. because by folklore means, they are "monsters" in a plot line.
...hope this helps...its a little confusing because its based by Japanese folklore means...which just sort of round about in some cases.....

a rise on the crows fills the air....birds take to the sky and the forests are all but filled with the sound of birds wings touching the branches....
Crows are sitting on the edges of the forest....they know the sight of the Tengu will come!


http://www.obakemono.com/obake/konohate ... engu/heres a website if you find your tengu to be confusing!
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/t ... popup.html
this holds a little more history than the other website i give out
they come with love as they know about us humans, they come with the samurai swords and the samurai way as they were those samurai of the highest skill, and they come bearing mischief in their eyes for they are a yokai!!

As the base of folklore of tengu is that they can follow the lead of a lover as a kitsune would - for some say a tengu and kitsune are the same being but in different forms and take on the different powers in order to take a stand within the yokai. So really dont be too weirded out how you may feel about your tengu - there are still many tales of yokai unfolding and many yokai still have tales that need finishing- as even a spirit (even some that involve having a human to be graced by them in many ways).

Really Tengu are the yokai of the mountain forests. They were the ones feared and turned to in times when those were takn by the forest and never seen again. Let it be known that as yokai they were helpful and did their part – but also s pranksters they indeed do acts that may not have benefited everyone. They come in the form of avian – humanoid. The avian ones are more bird goblin like as they hold a human form but more so have all appendages of a bird (bird eyes, beak, feathers all over etc.) while the humanoid ones usually appear as that of a fallen from grace/aptitude monk/priest. They come in full monk garb and have wings. They hold the fans of the winds and with that they would either wreak havoc in what people did on the mountains (mountain winds will blow) and sometimes use this to help the towns and villages – but these winds came with extreme force.
Really it is thought that maybe a tengu was the samurai who knew all ways to weild a katana with skill, and pride as a samurai should – that is why sometimes we see a tengu with monks garb but with also katana raised or in line because they would use this as a weapon in a skilled samurai way (even without taking the guise as a samurai).
Tengu are known to be great in dealing with information – they love knowledge of the realms and the spiritual planes – for that was what they succeded in either ridding of or helping with. Prepare for riddle galore with these fellows by your side, and whats that? he is being snarky to you...well what do you expect? a Tengu will always know better than you!

^take this with lightness as delving into tengu lore is a little tricky…theres exact pages that you can find on tengu BUT its always not for certain as some things switch back and forth from tale to tale.

Ao-andon!
For this, i shall post information found on sites, but also sadly theres not much information given exactly about Ao-andon themselves - most people seem to not stick around to actualy give notice to the Ao-andons presence it seems.
It is understandable as really the Ao-andon itself is a terrifying presence that shows himself when people are scared out of their own minds.

A starter site of course:
http://www.obakemono.com/obake/aoandon/

Also i am going to post the hundred candles plot as really this in itself is hard to understand what exactly the purpose of this is to be for (some state to summon a spirit, others state to attract many spirits with every passing story, and also that it may be used in opening a portal to negative energy)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyakumonogatari_Kaidankai

From my own personal experience i can only say this: The Ao-andon himself needs time, he does not just come out even during a scary advantage - he knows when he is needed in effect, but do not expect him to always be there, for he is not needed all the time.
A "field" has to be set for him, as really he needs to have energy to use at his disposal in order for him to have meaning to be there - he needs to be able to have a true rise out of people in order for him to see a need to be there.

Does that mean he is an unsocial spirit? To me no - but i do see him as wraith like...he doesnt say much, but he can speak for what he needs to speak other than that though he doesnt pay much attention - scary story time is HIS time, if he could he would gather all people in line to just tell scary stories....
>.>......thats not gonna happen.....

^ again take this with lightness as this was mostly my own personal information on the matter of Ao-andon....i really do intend to get to know him better, but the timing right now wont do the meaning of understanding him justice, so that shall come later....now is just the time to enjoy scary stories

Yay educational materials!

Kit, do you have any additional information on pipe fox? ~.~ They sound just absolutely adorable.

brokenxidentity wrote: Kit, do you have any additional information on pipe fox? ~.~ They sound just absolutely adorable.

i think i have information posted somewhere - ill go looking for it, pipe foxes arent normaly stashed with yokai by term but for this ill make an exception ^.^

for now i have other info to post after this!

Huzzah! Thank you!

okay i couldnt find if i had posted it but ill go by it right now -
Pipe Fox

http://shop.creepyhollows.com/product.p ... t=0&page=1

Store lisitng to check on CH info on Pipe Fox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuda-gitsune
And an extra article as a start-off point

Pipe fox are just that - a thin fox, sometimes observed to be lengthy as a snake but with legs and tail as any fox. This fox is kept by shamans in japan because of the magick that they hold. The pipe fox is kept dormant within a pipe, bamboo shute or even the stalk of a walking stick. They sleep within this and it keeps them secure. When released the fox should be see in a lengthy form and look close to a one tailed fox. This form hides their magick well but adds convenience depending on how it carries this form and can hide in the shamans garments and/or lay on their shoulders.
When this fox awakens its form it transforms into a very feirce fox with many tails (if that is so desired - it is also known that it keeps just the one tail but the tail becomes frizzy with energy). The fox can be defensive and a eirce attacker in this form. Fire may stream from the foxes mouth, or lightning bolts may be released from its tail tip. They are very wise and help in magick.
These little foxes can become quite attached if they see a human they so wish to protect with their powers. You may feel it always on your neck in this case in its lengthy form.

Ao-Sagi-Bi:
http://www.obakemono.com/obake/aosagibi/

This heron shows within blue flame - or either is a form of the blue flame. This is a bird of supernatural power and can show with glowing red, blue, or green eyes. This bird is often mistaken as a will-o-the-wisp on the waters or near creeks -but is not. This could possibly be a bird of extreme magick, as it is consumed in paranormal energy and the flame and light that comes from Ao-Sagi-Bi could show that this energy could be quite dark - but can still be put to good use.
Nobody really understands this yokai - nobody i think really wants to understand this...
as the magick that this bird can bring may not be something to tamper with...
Normally though this yokai is seen from afar.
^take this information with lightness and a grain of salt
as not many have gotten close to this yokai it would seem...

Okami (Wolf)

http://www.obakemono.com/obake/okami/

Just as with any animal - in yokai folklore a wolf is a shapeshifting spirit - one that has great mystical powers and can either be good or tricky (in my house no one is bad - always tricky!)
As with any animal - Okami lived in the deep forests - most in the mountain range and taveled the lands with ease. Let it be known that Okami - the wolves will be respectful if touched on with respect - they hardly deceive in sight and sound - they show their form and they carry pride just as any other wolf. Okami were known as protectors - and more so were seen as a messenger or stalker from Kami. Okami kept things in perspective and they were known to be guides in the forest. Positive relationships can come about with Okami - but also note that just because this beast is known to be calm in most situations, it holds great power - just like any other yokai.