Tengu taxi – Tenguguruma – 大天狗, 朧車 – “kamikakushi” – [Yokai]

Description

Tengu-guruma  – “Tengu-Taxi”  – 大天狗, 朧車

•About this Yokai: 
A mysterious ox kart driven by a gigantic “Dai Tengu” 👺 – in historic literature & in museums it’s is often labeled as an “oboroguruma” – but i’d say that it’s pretty distinct from that particular yokai. – it appears frequently in old hyakki yagyo scrolls, sadly it does not have a description, and nobody seems to knows for certain what it was supposed to be…

My theory: is that perhaps its an illustration of “kamikakushi” JP:神隠し (“mysterious kidnappings” or to be “Spirited Away” or “hidden by Kami” – Tengu where often blamed for such kidnappings after all!! And the surrounding yokai seem to play off various stories told by those who where kidnapped. (one that comes to mind is the story of torakichi) – Then again, the lady yokai in the back does appear to be a female demon. so it could just as easily be an illustration of “lady aoi” just going for a ride (linking it back to oboroguruma) – A friend once told me a rumour that it could also be the “true leader” of the parade…

see also: Tengu, Hannya, Oboroguruma

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) – Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons – Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather-resistant 6″ Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!