Kudan - 件 - [Yokai]

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Kudan 件 

Human faced calves who shortly after being born, deliver an incredibly accurate (but typically incredibly bleak) prediction of the near-future & they immediately die after telling its prophecy; it was said that A kudan foretold the end of WWII. - Despite this; Pictures and talismans of the kudan are still seen as good luck charms due to their association with blunt honesty & the truth. Some Kudan would even tell people that wearing a talisman of themselves would help ward and protect against their prophecy!

One last Eerie tidbit; Taxidermists in the late Edo period would also create mummified calves with human-like-faces as a sort of "good luck teddy bear" - you can still find them in museums to this day! [googling this is not for the faint of heart] - Kudan have allegedly appeared since 1705, but 1836 is the earliest written folkloric material on them proper. (See last slide)

see also: kutabe, ushionna, hakutaku, cow head, gozu, Ushioni.

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!