Ushi-Oni - Gyūki -[yokai]

Ushi-Oni (牛鬼) - aka: Gyūki -[yokai]

• About this Yokai: "Ushi-oni" (牛鬼) usually, refers to Demons with Bull-like Heads. - They are depicted quite differently from region to region, varying in both appearance, size & folklore. - Historically, There are actually quite a few different types of Ushi-oni, some even have festivals dedicated to them, and are said to instead drive away bad spirits. But, lets not conflate those with the man eating gyuki...

 Gyūki (ぎゅうき) is a menacing man eater that stalks the west coast. oceans of Iwate, Shimane Prefecture - it has the head of an ox and the body of a six-legged spider. Often popping out from beneath the waves, it's as brutal on land as it is in the ocean: Slaughtering fishermen & razing entire villages: spreading disease as it rampages. - If it sees you: it won't give up chase until its had its fill!! - Gyuki appears widely across Hyakki yagyo emaki picture scrolls and in bestiarys such as toriyama sekiens

Supposedly, Camellia flowers mark the border of where it appears, it will often team up with other yokai who share the same area, most commonly either a nure-onna or an iso-onna will appear and tire out the victim before the ushi-oni charges in for the kill.. being a cow-spider, i wonder if it can produce milk or spiderwebs???

[as it appears in Bakemono no e (化物之繪, c. 1700]

[as it appears in toriyama sekiens night parade of 100 demons]

See also: Nure onna, Furutsubaki no rei. Yokai Zine Part 1

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!