Name Meaning
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.
