Demon Lore

Oni, ubiquitous supernatural figures in Japanese literature, lore, art, and religion, usually appear as demons or ogres. Characteristically threatening, monstrous creatures with ugly features and fearful habits, including cannibalism, they also can be harbingers of prosperity, beautiful and sexual, and especially in modern contexts, even cute and lovable. There has been much ambiguity in their character and identity over their long history. Usually male, their female manifestations convey distinctivly gendered social and cultural meanings. Oni appear frequently in various arts and media, from Noh theater and picture scrolls to modern fiction and political propaganda, They remain common figures in popular Japanese anime, manga, and film and are becoming embedded in American and international popular culture through such media. Noriko Reiderýs book is the first in English devoted to oni. Reider fully examines their cultural history, multifaceted roles, and complex significance as "others" to the Japanese.

Gin Crawford has enough problems dealing with her empath abilities. Finding out she's the world's newest demon-slayer is the last thing she needs. Unfortunately, when she slips on a mysterious bracelet she is given no other choice. On the plus side, her new gig comes with Tall, Dark and Handsome, a mage who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Thrust into a power-play between good and evil, Gin must choose a side before she becomes the next victim in the ongoing battle.

In Japanese culture, oni are ubiquitous supernatural creatures who play important roles in literature, lore, and folk belief. Characteristically ambiguous, they have been great and small, mischievous and dangerous, and ugly and beautiful over their long history. Here, author Noriko Reider presents seven oni stories from medieval Japan in full and translated for an English-speaking audience. Reider, concordant with many scholars of Japanese cultural studies, argues that to study oni is to study humanity. These tales are from an era in which many new oni stories appeared for the purpose of both entertainment and moral/religious edification and for which oni were particularly important, as they were perceived to be living entities. They reflect not only the worldview of medieval Japan but also themes that inform twenty-first-century Japanese pop and vernacular culture, including literature, manga, film, and anime. With each translation, Reider includes an introductory essay exploring the historical and cultural importance of the characters and oni manifestations within this period. Offering new insights into and interpretations of not only the stories therein but also the entire genre of Japanese ghost stories, Seven Demon Stories is a valuable companion to Reider’s 2010 volume Japanese Demon Lore. It will be of significant value to folklore scholars as well as students of Japanese culture.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Demonology and Devil Lore is a work on demonology which analyzes how different cultures and religions have interpreted demons and devil along history. The author's survey of myths, folktales, superstitions and rituals across cultures is very methodical. Each topic is thoroughly researched and it is explained how a certain theme is viewed in demonic myths throughout the world. The book is a kind of a treatise on the historical development of the idea of Evil.

INDEX Part I. Demonolatry. Chapter I. Dualism. Chapter II. The Genesis of Demons. Chapter III. Degradation. Chapter IV. The Abgott. Chapter V. Classification. Part II. The Demon. Chapter I. Hunger. Chapter II. Heat. Chapter III. Cold. Chapter IV. Elements. Chapter V. Animals. Chapter VI. Enemies. Chapter VII. Barrenness. Chapter VIII. Obstacles. Chapter IX. Illusion. Chapter X. Darkness. Chapter XI. Disease. Chapter XII. Death. Part III. The Dragon. Chapter I. Decline of Demons. Chapter II. Generalisation of Demons. Chapter III. The Serpent. Chapter IV. The Worm. Chapter V. Apophis. Chapter VI. The Serpent in India. Chapter VII. The Basilisk. Chapter VIII. The Dragon’s Eye. Chapter IX. The Combat. Chapter X. The Dragon-slayer. Chapter XI. The Dragon’s Breath. Chapter XII. Fate. Part IV. The Devil. Chapter I. Diabolism. Chapter II. The Second Best. Chapter III. Ahriman: The Divine Devil. Chapter IV. Viswámitra: The Theocratic Devil. Chapter V. Elohim and Jehovah. Chapter VI. The Consuming Fire. Chapter VII. Paradise and the Serpent. Chapter VIII. Eve. Chapter IX. Lilith. Chapter X. War in Heaven. Chapter XI. War on Earth. Chapter XII. Strife. Chapter XIII. Barbaric Aristocracy. Chapter XIV. Job and the Divider. Chapter XV. Satan. Chapter XVI. Religious Despotism. Chapter XVII. The Prince of this World. Chapter XVIII. Trial of the Great. Chapter XIX. The Man of Sin. Chapter XX. The Holy Ghost. Chapter XXI. Antichrist. Chapter XXII. The Pride of Life. Chapter XXIII. The Curse on Knowledge. Chapter XXIV. Witchcraft. Chapter XXV. Faust and Mephistopheles. Chapter XXVI. The Wild Huntsman. Chapter XXVII. Le Bon Diable. Chapter XXVIII. Animalism. Chapter XXIX. Thoughts and Interpretations.