Japanese Lower School Mythology

Japanese Mythology - Lower School

Contents!

1. Kami Pantheon (Gods) by Charlie Chandler (4P)
2. Shinigami (Death Spirits) by Louis Perowne (5S)
3. Youkai (Creatures) by Eliot Kwok (4P)
4. Youkai (Fact File) by Augie Kadagathur (4P)
5. Youkai Kami (Karasu Tengu) by Mingze Gao (3H)

Kami Pantheon

The Japanese gods are known as "kami" and are both a part of Japanese mythology as well as worshiped to this day at shrines and temples throughout Japan. Since the pantheon of Japanese gods and goddesses come from a mixture of religions and beliefs (namely Shinto and Buddhism), shines are where you go to say thanks and temples are where you go to ask for help.

By Charlie Chandler (4P)

"I thought that drawing a temple would be fitting as the Gods are the basis of Japanese mythology and drawing is relaxing and the Gods would want us to be calm"

Shinigami

By Louis Perowne (5S)

Shinigami are death spirits. In Japanese Mythology, there is not one God of death but many reaper type creatures. They come for you when your candle (of life) has burned to its end. No one really knows what they look like but there are many interpretations of their likeness.

"I realised that Shinigami would be so hard to draw with us not knowing what they look like and I wanted to challenge myself to try and work out what they might be"

Youkai

By Eliot Kwok (4P)

Nothing gives you quite as much insight into Japan’s traditional culture as learning about its mythical creatures. These unique supernatural beings, or ようかい(youkai) as they are called in Japanese, are mischievous creatures that can either be purely evil or help you out in times of need, for a price of course. Compared to Western mythology, Japanese mythical creatures tend to have much more creative designs, from amalgamations of different animals to flying heads and inanimate objects coming to life.

"This is a Japanese Creature of my own creation, as Youkai are so creative, I really wanted to take this oppertunity to fuse my love of mythology and drawing"

Youkai Fact File

By Augie Kadagathur (4P)

Tanuki : they were sneaky thieving creatuers who were really cute Youkia : evil creutures who killed people Kitsune : foxes who were messengers of the god Inari Akugyo : an evil sea monster who killed people and sunk ships Amabie : a Japanese mermaid Abozu : a blue monk who kidnapper children Baku : A strange tapir that ate dreams and nightmares Basan : a fire breathing chicken Furi : an evil monkey

"I really love Japanese Creatures and couldn't choose between them for a project so I thought I'd make a project where I get to explore and explain them all!"

Youkai Kami

By Mingze Gao (3H)

The Karasu Tengu are both Kami and Youkai, they are giant bird like guardian spirits that slay serpants and dragons!

"I loved the idea that the Karasu was a warrior. I have always loved the Samarai but was so happy to explore further into mythology and find the God and Creature that trained the Samarai!"

Thank you for exploring Japanese Mythology with the Lower School!