Ungaikyo - [Yokai | Tsukumogami.]

Ungaikyo - [Yokai | Tsukumogami.] - "雲外鏡 うんがいきょう" - "Mirror beyond the clouds." 

• About this Yokai: a Sacred Mirror, turned Tsukumogami; it was used for stargazing, spirit trapping and worship, after mirroring the divine (& demonic) for so long, they took up residence therein, letting the yokai-mirror move as it pleased.

• History: Ungaikyo as a yokai was earliest & most famously included in Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (百器徒然袋) by Toriyama Sekien, 1784. - In the passage, Sekien refers to the "Shomakyo" – a Legendary mirror (From Chinese Mythology) which can reveal the true nature of things (think of a bit like a "Lens of truth") - it's thought that Sekien was directly referencing the story of Daji. [The same evil Kitsune that wound up becoming Tama-no-mae. – During her dastardly escapades in China (Where she eliminated two dynasties.) she was eventually revealed to be a disguised Kitsune then fled to japan. - The Shomakyo was used in other stories across Chinese folklore as well.] – it seems that Sekien was imagining this mirror perhaps took from each spirit reflected and eventually became a yokai itself.

in modern folklore, its often said that Ungaikyo can reflect anything, including sights from distant mirrors, they’re also known to alter the reflections of people showing their true nature, are used for trapping evil spirits, its also said that the tsukumogami likes to suprise you with a demonic reflection of yourself (Also useful for telling if you're possessed.) -

in general Mirrors (& reflections) have always been seen as eerie, uncanny or magical, no matter which culture you visit: magical mirrors are wide spread across world folklore; mirror dimensions, 'mirror beings' or creatures that 'live inside of' or posess mirrors such as devils, fairy's, ghosts & other eerie reflections are commonly found in legends & folktales across all cultures, modern and old. Mirrors are also commonly used in seances and other fortune telling practices, they also appear as holy objects across several religions:

Ungaikyo most directly resembles a sacred mirror (a common example of a shinto goshintai.) which are commonly used at Shinto shrines as a vessel for worship. In the edo period at celebrations & festivals (Particularly for the Tanbanta star festival.) mirrors like these would be filled with water like a dish, and would be used for stargazing. (A likely reason as to why Sekien named it the "Mirror beyond the clouds.")

[an example of an antique mirror with a cloud & wave-like wooden base]

Art sticker by samkalensky (yo, that's me!) part of my night parade of 100 demons sticker collection! check my website and consider supporting for more!