Yurei – Japanese Ghosts

What is a Yūrei?

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Yūrei, also known as obake, shiryō, or bōrei, are supernatural entities in Japanese folklore that are often associated with the concept of ghosts. Japanese folklore is rich with stories of yūrei that both terrify and captivate people of all ages.

These vengeful specters from the afterlife represent the dark souls and spirits of individuals who suffered violent deaths, tragic fates, or unresolved torments during their time on Earth. Unable to find peace, they find themselves eternally trapped in limbo. As part of the yokai family, which encompasses various demons in Japanese folklore, yūrei have remained popular subjects in Japanese literature and art since the Edo period.

The term “yūrei” consists of two kanji characters: 幽 (yū), meaning “faint” or “dim,” and 霊 (rei), meaning “soul” or “spirit.” These spirits can be found in various locations such as graveyards, houses, or near the place where they died. According to Japanese beliefs, when a person passes away, their spirit or soul, known as reikon (霊魂), leaves the body and enters a state of purgatory. During this time, the spirit waits for the appropriate funeral rites and post-funeral rituals to be performed, allowing it to join its ancestors. If these rituals are carried out correctly, the reikon becomes a protector of the living family and is believed to return annually during the Obon Festival in August to receive gratitude.

However, if a person dies suddenly, violently, without proper rites, or while harboring intense emotions like revenge, love, jealousy, hatred, or sorrow, their spirit may transform into a yūrei. This transformation enables the spirit to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual realms. Even fleeting thoughts or emotions can disrupt the peaceful transition to the afterlife. Once a dying person has a thought, their yūrei will return to fulfill the unfinished action before moving on to the cycle of reincarnation.

The yūrei remains on Earth until it can be laid to rest. This can be achieved by completing the unfinished rituals or resolving the emotional conflict that binds the spirit to the physical plane. Failure to fulfill these requirements or unresolved conflicts can lead to the persistence of the haunting.

The power and intensity of a yūrei’s presence often correlate with the social status of the individual in life. Those of lower social rank who died violently or were mistreated during their lifetime may return as more powerful yūrei. Examples of this can be seen in stories like “Yotsuya Kaidan” or “Banchō Sarayashiki,” featuring characters like Oiwa or Okiku, respectively. Yūrei are the subjects of numerous terrifying tales in Japan, captivating both young and old. These vengeful specters from the afterlife bring fear to the living. The term “yū” refers to darkness, while “rei” represents the soul or spirit.

In Japanese legends and myths, yūrei often embody the spirits of those who suffered violent deaths, tragic fates, or unresolved torments during their lives. Unable to find peace, they become trapped in a perpetual state of limbo. These supernatural beings are classified as yokai, a category that includes various demons in Japanese folklore. Yūrei have been widely featured in Japanese literature and art since the Edo period, capturing the fascination of people.

Each haunting by a yūrei is unique, reflecting the individual circumstances of its origin. The yūrei retains the appearance and clothing it had at the time of death or burial, often dressed in white burial kimonos or the attire of fallen warriors. Sometimes, they bear visible wounds corresponding to the cause of their death. Their long, disheveled hair often obscures their face, adding to their eerie presence. The yūrei’s hands hang lifelessly from their wrists, while their feet are often absent, causing them to appear as floating apparitions. These features originated in Edo period ukiyo-e prints and were later adopted in kabuki theater, where long kimonos or suspension techniques were used to depict the lack of legs and feet. Yūrei are commonly depicted accompanied by floating flames or hitodama, which appear as ghostly lights in shades of blue, green, or purple. These ethereal flames are considered integral parts of the yūrei rather than separate entities.

Yūrei is the collective term for all Japanese ghosts, encompasses various types that are distinguished by different aspects of their characteristics. It is important to note that a specific ghost may be described using multiple terms, depending on the emphasis placed on certain attributes.  There are various types of yūrei, and their appearance often depends on the circumstances of their death.

In Japanese folklore, yūrei are often associated with different spirits as Ubume, Onryō, Goryō, Funayūrei and Zashiki-warashi who are child ghosts known for their mischievous nature, playing pranks on the living and bringing good fortune to the households they inhabit.

Ubume: This type of ghost represents a mother who died during childbirth or left young children behind. The ubume returns to care for her children and often brings them treats.

Onryō: Referring to a spirit that harbors grudges or hatred, the onryō is feared for its ability to bring calamity through possession.

Goryō: The term “goryō” denotes the spirit of a noble or accomplished individual who transforms into an onryō after experiencing defeat in a political power struggle or dying prematurely from an epidemic. It is a subcategory of onryō.

Funayūrei: These are the spirits of individuals who died at sea. They are sometimes portrayed as fish-like humanoids with scales, and some even resemble mermaids or mermen.

Zashiki-warashi: Described as mischievous ghosts of children, zashiki-warashi enjoy playing pranks on the living. They are commonly mentioned in the local folklore of Iwate Prefecture and are believed to bring good fortune to the houses they inhabit.

Floating spirits (浮遊霊, Fuyūrei): Fuyūrei are spirits that wander aimlessly without a specific purpose. In ancient times, it was believed that diseases afflicting the Emperor of Japan were caused by these spirits floating in the air. Additionally, fuyūrei can refer to ghosts in which only the physical body has perished, and only the soul lingers in the air. Yūrei are frequently depicted accompanied by floating flames or will-o’-the-wisps known as hitodama in Japanese. These ghostly flames, often in eerie colors such as blue, green, or purple, are integral parts of the yūrei rather than independent spirits.

Earth-bound spirits (地縛霊, Jibakurei): Similar to fuyūrei but less common, jibakurei are spirits bound to a specific place or situation rather than seeking a specific purpose. Famous examples include the story of Okiku at the well of Himeji Castle and the hauntings depicted in the film Ju-On: The Grudge.

Presently, the appearance of yūrei is relatively consistent, immediately indicating the ghostly nature of the entity and confirming its cultural authenticity.

White clothing: Yūrei are commonly depicted wearing white garments, symbolizing the white burial kimono used in funeral rituals during the Edo period. In Shinto, white is associated with ritual purity, traditionally reserved for priests and the deceased.

The kimono worn by yūrei can be either a katabira, a plain and unlined white kimono, or a kyokatabira, a white katabira inscribed with Buddhist sutras. Some yūrei are also shown with a tenkan (天冠), also known as a hitaikakushi (額隠), a small white triangular piece of cloth typically worn on the forehead

Black hair: Yūrei are often depicted with long, disheveled black hair. Some mistakenly believe this to be influenced by the use of wigs in kabuki theater, but it is actually rooted in the traditional practice of Japanese women growing their hair long and pinning it up, only letting it down for funerals and burials.

Hands and feet: Yūrei are described as having lifeless hands that dangle from their wrists, held outstretched with the elbows close to the body. They typically lack legs and feet, appearing to float in the air. These characteristics originated in ukiyo-e prints during the Edo period and were subsequently adopted in kabuki performances. In kabuki, the absence of legs and feet is often portrayed through the use of an elongated kimono or by lifting the actor into the air using ropes and pulleys.

They may be bound to the location of their death or burial or seek revenge against their killers or loved ones. They remain trapped in the physical realm until their purpose is fulfilled, which may involve bringing their killers to justice, finding their lost remains, or conveying a message to a loved one. Some yūrei refuse to accept their own deaths and continue to haunt their living families, bringing misfortune and unhappiness to future generations

Yūrei exhibit diverse characteristics depending on the circumstances of their deaths. They retain the physical features and clothing they had at the time of their demise or burial, typically dressed in white burial kimonos or the uniforms of fallen warriors. Occasionally, they bear bloody wounds corresponding to the cause of their death. Their hair is typically long and disheveled, often obscuring their faces and enhancing their eerie appearance. Their hands hang limply from their wrists, and they appear translucent and faintly visible, often giving the impression of being footless.

Yūrei possess the capability to invoke powerful curses, but they are not simply wandering entities. They haunt specific places or individuals, often seeking resolution.  The most effective way to release a yūrei is to help it fulfill its purpose. Once the intense emotion binding this spirit to the earth realm is resolved, the yūrei is satisfied and can move on. 

Understanding the yūrei’s desires and the purpose of their revenge is crucial, for example is in those cases where funeral ceremonies were incomplete, soothing the spirit can be achieved by performing the necessary funeral rites or ensuring an honorable burial  Unfortunately this is sometimes achieved through acts of revenge against the yūrei’s killer, the consummation of a lover from intense feelings of love or longing, or even the gross discovery and proper burial of the body remains.

Similar to many other creatures in Japanese folklore, malicious yūrei can be repelled by ofuda, which are sacred Shinto writings containing the name of a kami (a deity). Placing the ofuda on the yūrei’s forehead is generally required to banish the spirit. They can also be placed at the entryways of houses to prevent the yūrei from entering. If unfortunate enough to be haunted by a yūrei, protective talismans can ward off evil spirits. However, the only way to permanently eradicate the haunting is by providing the yūrei with eternal rest..

If the vengeful spirit persists even after all attempts, the assistance of a Buddhist monk may be required for exorcism. Buddhist priests and ascetics were occasionally employed to perform services for individuals whose unusual or unfortunate deaths could potentially transform them into vengeful ghosts. Sometimes, these spirits were deified to appease their restless souls.

Overall, yūrei are enduring figures in Japanese folklore, captivating the imagination through their tales of vengeance, tragedy, and unresolved emotions.