Basan - 波山 - [Yokai]

•About this Yokai•

Basan - 波山

An oversized fire breathing rooster said to lurk in the mountains of Ehime prefecture (specifically the Islands of Shikoku.) it lives in bamboo groves and although it breathes fire, it does not burn hot (its a cold flame like a will-o-wisp.) its primary diet is charcoal & campfire ashes which it will occasionally wander into towns for. - When the Basan flaps their wings, an eerie rustling (“basa basa”) sound can be heard. Supposedly, if a human hears the sound and looks outside, the bird will suddenly vanish. 

•Early appearances and History • 

It’s from the Ehon Hyakumonogatari: (vol.3) a collection of ghost stories published in 1841. - Supposedly, this yokai was supposed to scare kids from wandering into the woods, It’s primary scare tactic seems to be in the sound it makes when it shakes its wings, but when you look it’s gone. — This yokai is also known as “Inuhōō” meaning ‘Dog Pheonix’ - simply put, its a Pheonix that’s about the size of a dog. - in modern illustrations: I’ve seen some people draw it at normal chicken size, to exaggerate it to be approximately the size of a dragon!

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! -

My families been raising some duccle chickens since covid began so, i’ve been wanting to draw them for a while so I used my family’s millie de fluer hens as reference, so if this feels suspiciously ‘realistic’ than 99% of my other designs, well, thats why!! (I thought it might be funny in contrast to the others.)