Name Meaning
Overview
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Tesso (鉄鼠) means "iron rat." The creature is the transformed spirit of a disgruntled monk.
- Tetsu (鉄) = iron
- Nezumi (鼠) = rat
Origin
- Originates from the Heian period legend of monk Raigō of Mii-dera temple.
- Raigō died after a political betrayal and became a vengeful spirit.
- His spirit turned into a swarm of rats to plague his enemies and destroy rival temples.
Appearance
- Appears as a massive black swarm of rats or a rat-like ghost with the face of a monk.
- Sometimes depicted with fiery or glowing eyes.
- Associated with decay, ruin, and temple desecration.
Behavior & Myths
- Tesso ravaged rival temples and ate sacred texts and statues.
- His wrath was only calmed through rituals and offerings.
- Considered a powerful onryō (vengeful spirit) in Buddhist folklore.
Symbolism
- Embodies revenge and spiritual corruption.
- Represents unresolved grudges and the power of wrathful spirits.
- Also a warning about political betrayal and religious conflict.
