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Among the many mythical creatures and spirits in Japanese folklore, the kappa is one of the most well-known. This creature, which resembles a reptile and is said to reside in the rivers of Japan, has been a part of Japanese folklore since around the 17th century—possibly even earlier. Depending on which stories you read, the kappa can either be a frightening monster or a mischievous yet well-mannered creature. Read on to learn all about the kappa’s origin, appearance, disposition, and popular stories that it features in.
Things You Should Know
- The kappa is a mythical creature from Japanese folklore that primarily resides in rivers. In many myths, it has a scaly, green body, a turtle shell on its back, and a beak for a mouth.
- Kappa are depicted as dangerous monsters in some myths and are said to lure people and livestock into the river to feast on their livers.
- Other myths depict the kappa as mischievous yet harmless creatures. Some people also view the kappa as water deities rather than monsters.
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References
- ↑ https://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/yokai-fantastic-creatures-of-japanese-folklore
- ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178994
- ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178994
- ↑ https://bakemono.lib.byu.edu/yokai/kappa/
- ↑ https://yokai.moifa.org/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/mjOWPD7hJhw?si=6fg3mYH1-BVWU_HR&t=123
- ↑ https://yokai.moifa.org/
- ↑ https://yokai.moifa.org/
- ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178994
- ↑ https://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/yokai-fantastic-creatures-of-japanese-folklore
- ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178994
- ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178994
- ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178994
- ↑ https://web.pdx.edu/~tdehart/Madam%20Mythos/Countries/Jap/Profiles/Kappa/kappa.html
- ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178994
- ↑ https://bakemono.lib.byu.edu/yokai/kappa/
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