Heikegani - 平家蟹 - [Yokai]

Heikegani - 平家蟹  - [Yokai | Yurei] 

• About this Yokai:  Heikegani are a real species of crab that are native to the shores of shimonoseki and the western part of Japan (though they do appear elsewhere in the world too.) known for having a bumpy carapace & back muscles that resemble the stern face of an angry samurai. They're said to be the reincarnated souls of the samurai who perished during the great battle of Dan-no-ura.

•History: Legend has it that these crabs hold the reincarnated souls of the Heike samurai who perished during the battle of Dan-no-ura: a major clash for power in 1185 AD, during the Genpei War between the Imperial Taira (Heike) & the Minamoto (Genji) samurai fleets.

When things began to look dire for the Taira: the then 6-year-old emperor Antoku was drowned, along with his advisor & grandmother in the Shimonoseki straits! (at the time it was a better option than being captured alive & tortured by their enemies.) most members of the taira fleet soon followed the young emperor in despair; throwing themselves from their ships & becoming crab food. - Antoku would later come to be worshipped as a water deity "mizu-no-kami" and now to this day some say that these crabs are still wandering the ocean floor, in search of their heirlooms and the lost sacred treasures...

Today Heikegani crabs are still a very popular subject of tattoos & art because of the legend and historic context behind them! 

[as they appear in Kyoka Hyakkumonogatari]

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) - Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons - Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather-resistant 4" Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!