室町時代

Muromachi

1336 - 1573

Overview

A period of cultural fusion between samurai and court nobility, but ended in the chaotic Sengoku (Warring States) period.

Significance

Development of Noh theater, tea ceremony, and ink painting.

Yokai Context

Noh theater began adapting yokai stories (like Hannya masks) into high art. The chaos of the Onin War fueled legends of demons born from human suffering.

Key Events

1400

Zeami Perfects Noh Theater

Zeami Motokiyo codifies Noh dramatic principles under Ashikaga patronage.

ConnectionMany Noh plays feature supernatural beings - the Hannya mask represents a woman transformed by jealousy into a demon.

1467

Onin War Devastation

Civil war destroys much of Kyoto and destabilizes central authority.

ConnectionThe chaos was seen as a sign of moral decay, with demons and spirits running rampant in the ruined capital.

Yokai from Muromachi Period

☠☠☠

Itsumade

以津真天

Itsumade is an eerie bird monster that appears during times of plague, war, or famine. It flies over the Imperial Palace or mass graves crying out 'Itsumade? Itsumade?' which means 'Until when?'—asking how long the suffering and neglect will continue.

tag-chimeratag-omentag-flying

Kansai