Secrets of Kyoto / Oni: Dreaded Bringers of Plagues, Disasters; Demons that Captured People’s Imaginations

Since ancient times, people in Kyoto have feared oni (demons), invisible beings that bring plagues and disasters. The “Wamyo Ruijusho,” a dictionary compiled in the mid-Heian period (794-late 12th century), explains that the word “oni” is derived from the ancient word “on,” which means “hidden thing...