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JAPANESE ANIME MYTHOLOGY TIME
Youko Kurama comes from the foxes of Japanese mythology, and in fact, the word "youko" means "spirit fox". The most important fact in regards to Kurama is his age - it is said that when foxes reach 1,000 years old, they grow 9 tails and turn either silver or white. Foxes (kitsune), in general, were an animal to steer clear of entirely. People believed that foxes could possess humans, especially women, who in turn seduced unknowing men to their demise. Young children can be plagued by the nightmares that foxes bring. However, foxes were also the kind and trusted messengers (known as myoubu) of the rice god, Inari.
Kurama & Hiei are not quite from myth, but are names of sacred mountains in Japan, both near Kyoto. The kanji differs from the characters' names, though. Kurama-yama is revered for its scenic splendor, especially in spring and autumn, when either the sakura is blossoming, or the leaves have changed color. The mountain is also known for its mythological goblin called "Kurama Tengu". Both mountains, but especially Hiei-Yama, are places of sacred rituals, and play a huge role in the natural reiki healing.
Tengu are mischevious creatures in Japanese myth that are half-man, half-bird, hatched from eggs. All of them are skilled swordsmen, and live in tengu communities with one tengu as their leader. Two types of tengu include the Kurama Tengu and Karasu Tengu. One of the Kurama Tengu was responsible for training the great swordsman, Ushiwakamaru. The Karasu Tengu, meanwhile, are known for their shapeshifiting abilities and magical prowess.
Inu Yasha fans may be familiar with the word "yasha", which translates to "female demon" in Japanese. But the word is actually rooted in both Buddhism and Hinduism, also called a "yaksha". The yaksha are warriors and guardian spirits of nature and Buddhist teachings. In an Indian myth, Enma also once assumed the form of a yaksha to speak to his son. All the yaksha are powerful beings, and some are harmless, while others are evil. It should also be known that the Jaki (that tiny demon Yuusuke caught when he came back to life?) are classified as a type of yasha in Japanese myth.
Yomi is the name for the underworld in mythology. It comes from "yomitsukuni", which means "the land of roots". This land would be the equivalent of the Makai in the show, where demons live amongst each other, not necessarily to torture humans or exist in Hell. It was thought that there were entrances to this place around the seashores of Japan.
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