Tengu – 天狗

Tengus are cunning mountain dwellers. Their origins can be traced back to ancient China where they were referred to as “Heavenly Dogs”. They protect the mountain where they live and are even considered to be the mountain’s kami (Shinto god). They despise vain and narcissistic people. In the mountain you will be trialed: If you are a good person, the Tengus will reward you. But if you’re disrespectful, you will be punished!

Tengus are known for their great skills in martial arts. They train intensively in the mountain, like Shaolin monks. In combat, they are as good or even better than any men. Only a rare few Japanese warriors have had the chance of training with them. Some stories say that after years of training, master Tengus can achieve teleportation and telepathy.

Tengus also enjoys playing tricks on wanderers lost in the forest. They can fly and transform at will. They are little rascals; their straw coat can make them invisible. They make themselves visible only to those they judge worthy of their presence. During my third trip to Japan, I had the chance to climb Takao-San, which is known as the Tengu mountain. Unfortunately, I did not encounter a Tengu. 😉

There are 2 types of Tengus: the Karasu Tengus and the Yamabushi Tengus.

• The Karasu Tengu are the crow-faced Tengus. They are the most aggressive Tengus and are master swordsmen. Descendants of the God of Storms (Susanoo), they can destroy everything in their path.

• The Yamabushi Tengu are the long-nose and red-skin Tengus. They are more docile and have more human like features. They are much stronger and wiser than the Karasu Tengus. They like to show how great they are by using their slyness to get out of conflict. One Japanese expression actually reflect this: « Tengu ni naru » which means to become a Tengu, refers to someone who is showing off.

The Dai Tengu is the chief of all Tengus. He resembles a Yamabushi Tengu but is even more humanesque in appearance. He is the wise sage on top of the mountain. He is the strongest and smartest of all the Tengus.

Tengu story

Kobu-tori Jiisan (瘤取り爺さん)

An old man had a lump on his face. One day while walking through the mountains, he meets a group of festive Tengus. He decided to join them and dances with them. The Tengus where so impressed with his dancing that they asked for him to come back the following night. To make sure he came, they give him a gift and they also magically removed his lump. They decided to keep the lump, thinking that he would return the following night to take it back. His evil neighbor, who also had a lump, hear the amazing tale and decides to go see the Tengus the following night. But the neighbor, not only doesn’t dance well, he tries to steel the Tengu’s gift. Disgusted by him, the Tengus give him a gift to remember: the lump of his neighbor. Now he has 2 lumps instead of one.