Name Meaning
Overview
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Tenjōname (天井嘗) means "ceiling licker," referencing the spirit’s disturbing habit of licking the ceilings of homes.
- Tenjō (天井) = ceiling
- Name (嘗) = to lick
Origin
- Originates from Edo-period ghost stories and illustrations.
- Linked with haunted or abandoned houses.
- Thought to punish homeowners for neglect or lack of cleanliness.
Appearance
- Tall and thin, with an impossibly long tongue that can reach high places.
- Ghostly or gaunt humanoid form.
- Eyes may gleam in the dark like a cat's.
Behavior & Myths
- Appears in dusty, neglected homes.
- Licks ceilings, leaving streaks, grime, and slime as evidence of its presence.
- Sometimes just a prankster spirit; other times a sign of a curse or infestation.
Symbolism
- Represents neglect, poor maintenance, or superstition about house spirits.
- Serves as a warning to keep one’s home in order.
- Symbol of decay and spiritual corruption within the household.
