Name Meaning
Wanyūdō (輪入道) means “wheel monk.” The name reflects its terrifying appearance—a flaming wheel bearing the tortured face of a monk or sinner.
- Wa (輪) = wheel
- Nyūdō (入道) = Buddhist monk
Origin
- First recorded in medieval Japanese scrolls and folklore.
- Believed to be the tormented soul of a cruel man, punished after death.
- Linked to Buddhist hell imagery and karmic retribution.
Appearance
- Appears as a burning oxcart wheel with a human face at its center.
- The wheel is wreathed in flames, and the face often screams in agony.
- Rolls along roads or in the sky at night.
Behavior & Myths
- Appears to travelers on lonely roads.
- Said to steal the souls of those who look at it directly.
- Often regarded as an omen of death or divine punishment.
Symbolism
- Symbol of karmic punishment and remorse.
- Warning against cruelty and evil deeds in life.
- Represents the suffering of tormented souls who wander the earth.
