TENGU


a tengu appeared in
the Tagata Shrine Honen-sai
Tengu is a goblin with supernatural power;
an uncanny and ambivalent creature of Japanese folklore
living in a deep mountains.
He is both feared as a kidnapper and valued
as a protector against evil.
There are roughly two types of image,
but both of them have a man's body.
One is karasu-tengu (lit. crow tengu) which
has a long beak, wings and glittering eyes.
The other looks like a photo on the left,
which has a long nose, white hair, red face,
wearing takageta (Japanese sandals with high supports)
and carries a feather fan.



The tengu is principally seen as a keshin (avatar) or
transformation of a Yama-no-kami, the guardian of certain
mountains with a particular affinity for huge trees.
References to him in medieval literature reveal him
as a subtle enemy of Buddhism, kidnapping Buddhist priests
and tying them to the tops of trees, implanting thoughts of
greed and pride in their mind, or feasting them on dung
magically disguised as delicious food.He is also feared as an
abductor of children and for his power of illusion and
demoniacal possession. Coversely the tengu is often
represented as a benign protector and transmitter of
supernatural skills. He is closely associated with the
YAMABUSHI, being often depicted as wearing items of
the yamabushi's distinctive costume.
<from Japan/Kodansha>


↑
ippomba-takageta
This type of takageta is the
proper footgear among tengu.
Hmm...
(photo from Assoc. of Daisen Ski Resort Adm..)

↑Karasu Tengu


Tengu in Akibasan





Akibasan Entsu-ji (temple)




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