Jinmenju - 人面樹 - [Yokai Bonsai]

Jinmenju - 人面樹  -[Yokai Bonsai] - aka “Ninmenju”

• About this Yokai: Jinmenju are strange trees which grow in southern mountain canyons, it bears fruit shaped like a child’s face they cannot speak: but, if you smile the whole tree will smile back & if you laugh, then the fruit will laugh and the whole tree will shake. Don't laugh too much or else all the fruit will fall off... Apparently the fruit tastes sweet and sour and the pits of the fruit have a face as well. (which bears the question, why would you ever eat one?!?)

History: The legend of Jinmenju migrated to japan from old stories in China – which likely derived from older stories of trees with human-fruit from India and Persia’s “Waq-waq tree.” – it seems that they derived from each other. – Its fun to see how yokai can be multicultural!!! - Jinmenjus technical earliest named Japanese illusrated appearance was in: "Wakan sansai zue” – a 1712 illustrated encyclopedia about strange nature and plants a similar illustration it appears in even earlier chinese encyclopedias dating back to 1609. – later it was illustrated byToriyama sekien in 1781 and it was solidified as a yokai.

[as it appears in toriyamas work. 1781]

[as it appears in wakan sanzai zue 1712]

[a waq was tree it appeaed in a Ming-era "Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Three Realms (Sancai tuhui, 三才圖會, 1609]

•Popculture appearances: This yokai is thought to have inspired the Pokémon “exeggutor"

[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!]