Yōsei

Spiritlike creature from Japanese folklore

Not to be confused with Yaojing.

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The house spirits Zashiki warashi, are described as being the size of a five or six-year-old child and prone to playing harmless pranks and occasionally causing mischief.

Yōsei (Japanese: 妖精, lit. "bewitching spirit") is a Japanese word that is generally synonymous with the English term fairy (フェアリー). Today, this word usually refers to spirits from Western legends, but occasionally it may also denote a creature from native Japanese folklore. For example, according to an old folk belief from Iwate Prefecture, it was once feared that the yōsei could resurrect the dead. It is also mentioned that the people of Mt. Hōrai are small fairies that have no knowledge of great evil and so their hearts never grow old. The Ainu also tell of a race of small people known as the Koro-pok-guru in their folklore. Another fairy-like being from Japan is the Kijimuna, tree sprites told in the Ryukyuan religion of Okinawa.

## See also

[edit]

* Kobold – Sprite stemming from Germanic mythology
* Yaoguai – Creature from Chinese mythology
* Yōkai – Supernatural beings from Japanese folklore

## References

[edit]

* "Definition: Yōsei". Daijirin Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
* "Yōsei". Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database. Retrieved 2007-07-20.

* v
* t
* e

Japanese folklore

Folktales|

* Awa Tanuki Gassen
* Bunbuku Chagama
* Hachikazuki
* Hakuzōsu
* Hanasaka Jiisan
* Hyakki Yagyō
* Issun-bōshi
* Kachi-kachi Yama
* Kasa Jizō
* Kintarō
* Kobutori Jiisan
* Kurozuka
* Momotarō
* Nezumi no Sumō
* Oto-hime
* Saru Kani Gassen
* Shita-kiri Suzume
* Taketori Monogatari
* Tamamo-no-Mae
* Tawara Tōda
* Tsuru no Ongaeshi
* Urashima Tarō
* Uriko-hime
* Yamata no Orochi
* Yotsuya Kaidan

Texts|

* Konjaku Monogatarishū
* Otogi-zōshi
* Uji Shūi Monogatari

Legendary Creatures
in Japanese Folklore|

* Abura-akago
* Abura-sumashi
* Aka Manto
* Akaname
* Akashita
* Akateko
* Akuma
* Amabie
* Aoandon
* Amanojaku
* Amanozako
* Amazake-babaa
* Amefurikozō
* Ameonna
* Amikiri
* Aobōzu
* Aonyōbō
* Aosaginohi
* Ashinagatenaga
* Ayakashi
* Azukiarai
* Bake-kujira
* Baku
* Basan
* Binbōgami
* Chimimōryō
* Daidarabotchi
* Dodomeki
* Dorotabō [ja]
* Dragon
* Enenra
* Funayūrei
* Furaribi
* Fūri
* Futakuchi-onna
* Gagoze
* Gashadokuro
* Goryō
* Hanako-san
* Harionago
* Hashihime
* Hibagon
* Hiderigami
* Hinezumi [ja]
* Hito-gitsune
* Hitotsume-kozō
* Hitotsume-nyūdō
* Hone-onna
* Hyōsube
* Ikiryō
* Ikuchi
* Inugami
* Ishinagenjo
* Isonade
* Janjanbi
* Jinmenju
* Jorōgumo
* Jubokko
* Kaibyō
* Bakeneko
* Nekomata
* Kamaitachi
* Kamikiri
* Kappa
* Kasa-obake
* Kasha
* Kawauso
* Keukegen
* Kijimuna
* Kinoko
* Kirin
* Kitsune
* Hakuzōsu
* Kitsunebi
* Kodama
* Komainu
* Konaki-jiji
* Korpokkur
* Koromodako
* Kotobuki
* Kuchisake-onna
* Kuda-gitsune
* Kudan
* Kumiho
* Kuzunoha
* Kyubi
* Mazoku
* Mikaribaba
* Mikoshi-nyūdō
* Miage-nyūdō
* Misaki
* Mizuchi
* Mokumokuren
* Momiji
* Mononoke
* Mōryō
* Mujina
* Namahage
* Namazu
* Ningyo
* Noderabō
* Noppera-bō
* Nue
* Nuppeppō
* Nurarihyon
* Nure-onna
* Nurikabe
* Nyūdō-bōzu
* Obake
* Oboroguruma
* Oiwa
* Okiku
* Okubi
* Ōmukade
* Oni
* Ibaraki-dōji
* Kijo/Onibaba
* Kidōmaru
* Rashōmon no oni
* Shuten-dōji
* Onibi
* Onihitokuchi
* Onikuma
* Onryō
* Ōnyūdō
* Ootakemaru
* Osakabehime
* Osaki
* Otoroshi
* Ouni
* Raijū
* Rokurokubi
* Samebito
* Sankai
* Satori
* Sazae-oni
* Shachihoko
* Shidaidaka
* Shikigami
* Shikome
* Shinigami
* Shiranui
* Shirime
* Shiryō
* Shōjō
* Shōkera
* Shussebora [ja]
* Sōjōbō
* Sunekosuri
* Takaonna
* Tanuki
* Tanuki-bayashi
* Danzaburou-danuki
* Inugami Gyōbu
* Shibaemon-tanuki
* Yashima no Hage-tanuki
* Ten
* Tengu
* Tennin
* Tenome
* Tesso
* Tōfu-kozō
* Tsuchigumo
* Tsuchinoko
* Tsukumogami
* Abumi-guchi
* Bakezōri
* Biwa-bokuboku
* Boroboroton
* Chōchin'obake
* Ittan-momen
* Kasa-obake
* Koto-furunushi
* Menreiki
* Ungaikyō
* Tsurara-onna
* Tsurubebi
* Tsurube-otoshi
* Ubagabi
* Ubume
* Umibōzu
* Umi zatō
* Ushi-oni
* Uwan
* Waira
* Wanyūdō
* Yako
* Yamabiko
* Yamajijii
* Yama-uba
* Yamawaro
* Yanari
* Yobuko
* Yōkai
* Yōsei
* Yosuzume
* Yuki-onna
* Yume no seirei
* Yūrei
* Zashiki-warashi

Folklorists|

* Kunio Yanagita
* Keigo Seki
* Lafcadio Hearn
* Shigeru Mizuki
* Inoue Enryō

* v
* t
* e

Fairies in folklore

Classifications of fairies

Related articles|

* Celtic sacred trees
* Changeling
* Elfshot
* Fairy godmother
* Fairy-lock
* Fairy painting
* Fairy riding
* Fairy tale
* List
* Familiar
* Genius loci
* Household deity
* Hungry grass
* Nature spirit
* Tutelary deity
* Water spirit

Abodes and structures|

* Fairy fort
* Fairyland
* Fairy path
* Fairy ring

Attested fairies

A–E|

* Adhene
* Aibell
* Alp Luachra
* Anjana
* Aos Sí (Aes Sídhe)
* Arkan Sonney
* Asrai
* Baobhan sith
* Banshee
* Barghest
* Bean nighe
* Billy Blind
* Biróg
* Bloody Bones
* Bluecap
* Blue men of the Minch
* Bodach
* Boggart
* Bogle
* Boobrie
* Brag
* Brownie
* Brown Man of the Muirs
* Bucca
* Buggane
* Bugbear
* Bugul Noz
* Caoineag
* Cat sìth
* Cù Sìth
* Ceffyl Dŵr
* Clíodhna
* Clurichaun
* Coblynau
* Colt pixie
* Cyhyraeth
* Drude
* Duende
* Duergar
* Dullahan
* Dunnie
* Each-uisge
* Elf
* Alp
* Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar
* Elegast
* Erlking
* Huldufólk
* Queen of Elphame
* Svartálfar

F–L|

* Fachan
* Fairy Queen
* Fear dearg
* Fear gorta
* Fenodyree
* Finfolk
* Finvarra
* Fuath
* Gancanagh
* Ghillie Dhu
* Glaistig
* Glashtyn
* Groac'h
* Grindylow
* Gwragedd Annwn
* Gwyllion
* Gwyn ap Nudd
* Habetrot
* Hag
* Haltija
* The Hedley Kow
* Heinzelmännchen
* Hinzelmann
* Hob
* Hobbididance
* Hobgoblin
* Hödekin
* Iannic-ann-ôd
* Jack-o'-lantern
* Jack o' the bowl
* Jenny Greenteeth
* Joan the Wad
* Joint-eater
* Kelpie
* Kilmoulis
* Knocker
* Knucker
* Kobold
* Klabautermann
* Korrigan
* Lady of the Lake
* Lazy Laurence
* Leanan sídhe
* Leprechaun
* Lubber fiend
* Lutin
* Ly Erg

M–Z|

* Mare
* Margot the fairy
* Meg Mullach
* Melusine
* Merrow
* Mooinjer veggey
* Morgen
* Morvarc'h
* Moss people
* Nain Rouge
* Nelly Longarms
* Nicnevin/Gyre-Carling
* Nisse
* Nixie
* Nuckelavee
* Nuggle
* Oberon
* Peg Powler
* Pillywiggin
* Pixie
* Púca/Pwca
* Puck
* Rå
* Bergsrå
* Hulder
* Radande
* Sjörå
* Skogsrå
* Redcap
* Sebile
* Selkie
* Seonaidh
* Shellycoat
* Sleih beggey
* Sluagh
* Spriggan
* Sprite/Water sprite
* Sylph
* Tomte
* Tooth fairy
* Trow
* Tylwyth Teg
* Undine
* Water bull
* Water horse
* Wicked fairy
* Wight
* Will-o'-the-wisp
* Wirry-cow
* Xana
* Yallery Brown
* Yan-gant-y-tan

Fairy-like beings worldwide

Worldwide|

* Bogeyman
* Incubus/Succubus
* Little people
* Merfolk
* Mermaid
* Merman

Africa|

* Abatwa
* Asanbosam
* Aziza
* Bultungin
* Eloko
* Jengu
* Kishi
* Mami Wata
* Obayifo
* Rompo
* Simbi
* Tikoloshe
* Yumboes

Americas|

* Alux
* Anchimayen
* Caipora
* Canotila
* Chaneque
* Christmas elf
* Curupira
* Encantado
* Fearsome critters
* Grey alien
* Hopkinsville Goblins
* Ishigaq
* Jogah
* Little green men
* Muki
* Nimerigar
* Nordic alien
* Nûñnë'hï
* Pombero
* Pukwudgie
* Saci
* Trauco
* Yunwi Tsunsdi

Asia|

* Diwata
* Dokkaebi
* Fallen angel
* Fox spirit
* Hồ ly tinh
* Huli jing
* Huxian
* Inari Ōkami
* Kitsune
* Kumiho
* Hyang
* Irshi
* Jinn
* Kijimuna
* Korpokkur
* Mazzikin
* Mogwai
* Mrenh kongveal
* Orang bunian
* Peri
* Preta
* Hungry ghost
* Tennin
* Yaksha/Yakshini
* Yōkai
* Yōsei

Oceania|

* Bunyip
* Manaia
* Menehune
* Mimis
* Muldjewangk
* Nawao
* Patupaiarehe
* Taniwha
* Tipua
* Wandjina
* Yara-ma-yha-who

Europe|

| Eastern|

* Bannik
* Căpcăun
* Domovoy
* Iele
* Karzełek
* Kikimora
* Leshy
* Lidérc
* Likho
* Ovinnik
* Polevik
* Psotnik
* Rusalka
* Sânziană
* Spiriduș
* Ursitory
* Vadleany
* Vâlvă
* Vântoase
* Vodyanoy
* Zână

|

Northern|

* Aitvaras
* Ajatar
* Badb
* Black dog
* Gabija
* Gremlin
* Haltija
* Headless Horseman
* Hiisi
* Jack Frost
* Jimmy Squarefoot
* Lauma
* Menninkäinen
* Morgan Le Fay
* Pictish Beast
* Troll
* Tuatha Dé Danann

Southern|

* Basajaun
* Centaur
* Cercopes
* Circe
* Dionysus
* Doñas de fuera
* Farfadet
* Faun
* Hecate
* Hippocampus
* Kallikantzaros
* Kobalos
* Lamina
* Mairu
* Mouro
* Enchanted Moura
* Nymph
* List
* Pan
* Satyr
* Silenus
* Siren
* Squasc
* Thiasus
* Trenti
* Vila

Western|

* Dames blanches
* Dusios
* Dwarf
* Alberich
* King Goldemar
* Imp
* Lorelei
* Perchta
* Vittra
* Witte Wieven/Weiße Frauen

Cross-regional|

* Christmas gift-bringer
* Santa Claus
* Companions of
* Elemental
* Fates
* Goblin
* Gnome
* Salamander
* Sandman
* Wild man

See also
Category
List of beings referred to as fairies

Authority control databases: National |

* Japan

|

This article relating to Japanese mythology is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template