怨霊 - Onryō: A mythological spirit in Japanese folklore

怨霊(Onryō) are a type of mythological spirit or ghost who return to the living world in order to see vengence. 怨霊(Onryō) do not always perform what is known as 'justified revenge' There are several tales which involve abusive husbands, however the husbands are rarely the target of revenge. For example, A neglected wife is left to die, she becomes an 怨霊(Onryō) and torments a village until she becomes banished, her revenge is never targeted at her husband and he remains unharmed. Another is of a heartbroken woman. She curses her beautiful kimono before dying. After her death, anyone who wears the kimono dies. The most famous 怨霊(Onryō) is probably Oiwa from 東海道四谷怪談(Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan), her husband remains unharmed. Although he is the main target of her revenge, she may not harm him physically, but she gives he psychological hell.


The majority of 怨霊(Onryō) are woman, however male 怨霊(Onryō) can also be found in Kabuki(classical Japanese dance-drama). Those who become 怨霊(Onryō) are powerless in the physical world, until after death when they become strong.


Traditionally 怨霊(Onryō) had no particular appearance, it was due to the rising popularity of Kabuki that the 怨霊(Onryō) costume was developed, during the Edo period. The 怨霊(Onryō) costume consists of 3 elements. 'Aiguma' make-up, which is white and indigo. Unkept long black hair, and a white burial kimono. Their origin is thought to have been in the 8th Century, 怨霊(Onryō) were based on the idea that powerful enraged soulds of the dead coul influence on the land of the living. Regardless of the life you lived, all spirits go to Yomi(An equivilent to hell) when they die. While it was impossible for the dead to come back to the world of living, a folklore tale tells of the godess Izanami who died and was able to cast a curse from Yomi, on the living world. Similarly 怨霊(Onryō) refers to human souls transformed by extreme emotions to cause such harm.