red devil 赤鬼 (fukui, japan)

Posted by timothy sullivan (Tokyo, Japan) on 17 February 2009 in Lifestyle & Culture.

The following is based on the "oni" entry in Wikipedia:
Oni were initially invisible forces empowering mountains, the wind, thunder and other natural forces, but became anthropomorphized to progressively take on their modern, ogre-like form.

The aka-oni (red devil) and the ao-oni (blue or green devil) are those who punish sinners in Jigoku (Hell).

Oni are often depicted carrying iron clubs, called kanabo (金棒). This image leads to the expression "oni with an iron club" (鬼に金棒), that is, to be invincible or undefeatable. It can also be used in the sense of "strong beyond strong", or having one's natural quality enhanced or supplemented by the use of some tool.

Red and/or blue oni can be found adjacent to the entrances of many temples in Japan; I used to always think of them as temple guardians--with their fierce, foreboding muscular bodies warning evildoers of certain pain if they should happen to do anything.

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