Onmoraki (陰摩羅鬼)

Name Meaning

Overview

Onmoraki (陰摩羅鬼) is a ghostly bird-like yokai created from the souls of the recently dead, especially those not properly memorialized.

• On (陰) = shadow or hidden
• Moraki (摩羅鬼) = demon or malevolent spirit (phonetic rendering)

Origin

• Appears in Buddhist tales warning against neglecting funeral rites.
• Known to haunt temples and graveyards.
• Linked to improper death or forgotten souls.

Appearance

• Described as a black bird with glowing eyes and human-like face.
• Flies silently and flaps its wings without sound.
• Sometimes appears shrouded in mist or hovering near corpses.

Behavior & Myths

• Appears when funeral prayers are neglected or bodies lie unattended.
• Feeds on spiritual energy or frightens priests and monks.
• Vanishes when proper rites are performed.

Symbolism

• Embodies guilt, neglect, and spiritual unrest.
• A warning to uphold religious and ancestral duties.
• Represents transformation of forgotten spirits into vengeful entities.