Tengu

Tengu (/ˈtɛŋɡuː/ TENG-goo; Japanese: 天狗, pronounced [teŋɡɯ], lit. 'Heavenly Dog') are a type of legendary creature found in Shinto belief. They are considered a type of yōkai (supernatural beings) or Shinto kami (gods or spirits).^[1] The Tengu were originally thought to take the forms of birds of prey and a monkey deity, and they were traditionally depicted with human, monkey, and avian characteristics. Sarutahiko Ōkami is considered to be the original model of Konoha-Tengu (a supernatural creature with a red face and long nose), which today is widely considered the Tengu's defining characteristic in the popular imagination. He is the Shinto monkey deity who is said to shed light on Heaven and Earth. Some experts theorize that Sarutahiko was a sun god worshiped in the Ise region prior to the popularization of Amaterasu.

Buddhism long held that the Tengu were disruptive demons and harbingers of war. Their image gradually softened, however, into one of protective, if still dangerous, spirits of the mountains and forests. Tengu are associated with the ascetic practice of Shugendō, and they are usually depicted in the garb of its followers, the yamabushi.^[2]

^ Bellingham, David; Whittaker, Clio; Grant, John (1992). Myths and Legends. Secaucus, New Jersey: Wellfleet Press. p. 199. ISBN 1-55521-812-1. OCLC 27192394.
^
- Ashkenazi, Michael (2011). Handbook of Japanese mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-84972-856-0. OCLC 755870995.
- Picken, Stuart D. B (2011). Historical dictionary of Shinto. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7172-4. OCLC 860389341.
- Roberts, Jeremy (2010). Japanese mythology A to Z. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60413-435-3. OCLC 1057125888.
- Köpping, Klaus-Peter; Leistle, Bernhard; Rudolph, Michael (2006). Ritual and identity: performative practices as effective transformations of social reality?. Münster; London: Lit; Global [distributor]. ISBN 978-3-8258-8042-2. OCLC 1063323536.
- Turnbull, Stephen (2015). Japan's sexual gods: shrines, roles and rituals of procreation and protection. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-28891-1. OCLC 1089406931.
- Ashkenazi, Michael (2011). Handbook of Japanese mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-84972-856-0. OCLC 755870995.

[1] Bellingham, David; Whittaker, Clio; Grant, John (1992). Myths and Legends. Secaucus, New Jersey: Wellfleet Press. p. 199. ISBN 1-55521-812-1. OCLC 27192394.

[2] 
Ashkenazi, Michael (2011). Handbook of Japanese mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-84972-856-0. OCLC 755870995.

Picken, Stuart D. B (2011). Historical dictionary of Shinto. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7172-4. OCLC 860389341.

Roberts, Jeremy (2010). Japanese mythology A to Z. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60413-435-3. OCLC 1057125888.

Köpping, Klaus-Peter; Leistle, Bernhard; Rudolph, Michael (2006). Ritual and identity: performative practices as effective transformations of social reality?. Münster; London: Lit; Global [distributor]. ISBN 978-3-8258-8042-2. OCLC 1063323536.

Turnbull, Stephen (2015). Japan's sexual gods: shrines, roles and rituals of procreation and protection. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-28891-1. OCLC 1089406931.

Ashkenazi, Michael (2011). Handbook of Japanese mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-84972-856-0. OCLC 755870995.

[3] Ashkenazi, Michael (2011). Handbook of Japanese mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-84972-856-0. OCLC 755870995.

[4] Picken, Stuart D. B (2011). Historical dictionary of Shinto. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7172-4. OCLC 860389341.

[5] Roberts, Jeremy (2010). Japanese mythology A to Z. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60413-435-3. OCLC 1057125888.

[6] Köpping, Klaus-Peter; Leistle, Bernhard; Rudolph, Michael (2006). Ritual and identity: performative practices as effective transformations of social reality?. Münster; London: Lit; Global [distributor]. ISBN 978-3-8258-8042-2. OCLC 1063323536.

[7] Turnbull, Stephen (2015). Japan's sexual gods: shrines, roles and rituals of procreation and protection. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-28891-1. OCLC 1089406931.

[8] Ashkenazi, Michael (2011). Handbook of Japanese mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-84972-856-0. OCLC 755870995.

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