Onryō
Japanese vengeful spirits who died with such powerful grudges that they return to torment the living. They cause natural disasters, kill those who wronged them, and inspire the most terrifying horror films ever made.
Onryō are the vengeful ghosts of Japanese tradition.
The Legend
According to Japanese folklore, onryō are the spirits of those who were deeply wronged in life. They died with such powerful grudges that they cannot find peace, returning from death to exact terrible vengeance. These spirits are considered extremely dangerous, capable of causing harm far beyond normal ghostly activity.
Who Becomes Onryō
Those who typically become onryō include betrayed women, murder victims, people who died in states of intense passion or emotion, the wrongly accused, and anyone who suffered profound injustice that remained unresolved at the time of their death.
Appearance
Onryō are described with distinctive features including long black hair hanging loose, white burial kimonos, no visible feet as they float above the ground, pale deathly skin, and sometimes visible blood or wounds from their deaths.
Their Power
These vengeful spirits possess terrifying abilities. They can kill through the sheer power of their grudge, cause natural disasters like earthquakes and storms, curse entire bloodlines for generations, possess living people, and spread death to those connected with their grievances.
Famous Onryō
Historical examples include Oiwa from the tale Yotsuya Kaidan and Okiku from Bancho Sarayashiki. These spirits inspired modern horror films like The Ring and The Grudge, and countless traditional ghost stories. The fear of onryō remains very real in Japanese culture today.
Protection
To appease an onryō, people may build shrines in their honor, perform elaborate rituals, attempt to right the wrong that was done to them, or offer prayers and material offerings. However, some onryō are so consumed with rage that nothing can satisfy their need for vengeance.
Cultural Impact
Onryō have had massive influence on the J-horror genre, traditional kabuki theater, Japanese literature, video games, and global horror cinema. The image of the vengeful female ghost with long black hair has become iconic worldwide.