10 Asian Cryptids and Demons That Have Scared the Locals
Asia as a whole is often seen as a mystical, exotic place in the West. Those of us who don't happen to live there, and ignore the fact that the majority of the world does, see it as a continent defined by beautiful holiday destinations, beautiful nature, fascinating history and many strange myths and legends.
Asia is actually a huge area that literally billions of people call home and live their lives as people do in any other place. That said, there is some truth to the mysticism.
From tales of horrific demons to elusive creatures that some locals still claim to be real, there are many scary creatures that Asian people have been talking about for centuries. In fact, they have also warned their children and perhaps even some tourists vacationing in the area.
Regardless of whether you think all the warnings are realistic or not, listening to serious, helpful locals while traveling is never a bad idea, and fascinating mythology is never a bad thing to learn about either.
Related: Top ten ghosts and cryptids based on witches
10 Rakshasas
India is a vast country with a rich, vastly far-reaching history, a unique culture and some of the most fascinating spiritual beliefs in the world. As such, it's probably no surprise that they would also have their fair share of threatening creatures.
A rakshasa, or rakshasi if we are talking about a female individual, is said to be a huge, human-like creature, powerful, quite ugly and full of bloodlust. They are sometimes called 'man-eaters', referring to their nasty habit of eating people in the stories and legends in which they appear.
However, Rakshasas are not simple monsters. Their ability to shapeshift means that many people believe they can disguise themselves as humans, concealing their trademark beastly appearance, the ability to fly and perform magic, and their gruesome true nature. It's easy to imagine how someone might wonder historically. Was that terrible, cold-blooded murder really committed by a human being?
Yet, despite their less than kind description, some legends describe some rakshasas as being more capable of good than evil. A nice idea, but one that only makes them a little less creepy.[1]
9 Phi Am
A kind of ghost that is real in a way. Phi Am is more than just scriptures and passed down ghost stories, at least at its core.
Originating from Thai folklore, Phi Am is said to be a type of ghost that sits on a person's chest while he sleeps, scaring him and preventing him from moving. In some extreme cases they could even cause suffocation and death.
This may sound familiar to some readers, as Phi Am is actually an ancient spiritual explanation for the very real phenomenon of sleep paralysis. A frightening thing that does indeed happen, but is not dangerous and, as far as we know, not caused by a ghost.
Interestingly, Thai folklore says that Phi Am haunts men more often than women, causing some men to put on women's clothing and makeup before going to bed, apparently in an attempt to avoid the ghost.[2]
8 Kawahime
Kawahime, Japanese for 'river princess', is said to be a beautiful woman found near bridges, watermills and bodies of water, especially riverbanks.
Not that scary at first glance, but the deception and element of surprise are precisely the terrifying elements of many of humanity's scariest myths. A seemingly normal encounter that could end in someone's death.
It is said that Kawahime seduces men, causing them to fall in love with her beautiful body and follow her into the water, only to lose their life force and consume them. Interestingly, a few sources also describe Kawahime as having some characteristics of Kappa, a creepy, fishy, reptilian uncanny valley effect that clashes only slightly with their beauty.
In certain areas, especially in the past, young men have been told to stare at the ground and quickly walk away if they encounter strange, lonely women in such places. Many scholars today believe that the myth stems from fear of outsiders in small villages.[3]
7 Jinn
A central part of Islamic culture and areas, a category that happens to include many parts of Asia, are the jinn. Jinn are believed to be like humans in many important ways, and some are even thought to be helpful. Yet interactions between humans and jinn are nevertheless discouraged by most who believe in them.
Often they act as a being or force similar to devils and demons in other cultures, and are said to live in a kind of shadow world, a mirror of our own world, living in both versions at the same time. It is believed that Jinn can change shape, become invisible and appear humanoid, yet distinctly frightening. Much of the fear factor again comes from their believed ability to blend in with people.
They are so widespread that even today in some people they are believed to cause many diseases, mental illness and self-harming behavior. Even some Western medical texts advise taking them seriously as an important cultural belief.
According to cultural beliefs, jinn inhabit dark, lonely places such as caves and graveyards and are capable of possessing people, even causing seizures and speech in a language that no one else can understand. Another example perhaps of linking a fearful demon to the very real things that scare and haunt some of us, like epilepsy.[4]
6 Tsuchinoko
A reportedly foolish appearance doesn't stop this Japanese cryptid from being the subject of some terrifying urban legends. A snake-like creature with a very fat body and a thin tail and a penchant for alcohol and small creatures – at first glance the tsuchinoko doesn't seem like much of a problem at all.
Considered by some as a type of 'yōkai' or Japanese ghost or by others as a real, undiscovered animal, this creature experienced a surge in popularity after many people claimed to have spotted something similar throughout Japan. The idea of a fat, big, undiscovered creature that looks like a snake might be scary enough for some, but it doesn't quite stop there.
The tsuchinoko is believed to have viper-like fangs and an incredibly powerful, deadly venom, and it is believed to have a loud call that people claim to hear. Whether it's a real creature, an existing species of snake that has been exaggerated, or a creature created purely from myth, it's certain that some people swear by its existence and lethality of it.[5]
5 Mongolian Deathworm
The name alone places the Mongolian Death Worm as something you would read about in a fantasy novel. However, many locals and tourists claim that it is a real and terrifying creature, and that it poses a huge threat to people who come into contact with it.
A huge worm just over a meter long, dark red in color, and equipped with a poison that attacks and kills everything it touches as if it were a powerful acid. According to some, it even has the ability to electrocute its victims from afar. Overall, it definitely doesn't sound like an encounter anyone would want.
Except for those who tried to find it during one of the many expeditions apparently embarked on for that very purpose. Most zoologists believe that this creature is nothing more than an exaggerated report of real sightings of snakes and worms. Rumors of sightings and warnings about the danger of the death worm continue to circulate through Mongolia.[6]
4 Krasue
A floating head sounds like it would be quite frightening to see. But the krasue, a type of spirit or demon native to Southeast Asian cultures, doesn't quite stop there.
The head of a woman with intestines dangling beneath it as it floats, krasue is said to fly around at night looking for humans to consume. Some believe it is the result of the death of a sinful, evil woman, or others, a witch's failed magical experiment. It is a prevailing legend in much of Southeast Asia.
Often shared as a ghost story in the area, many locals still believe in it. They continue to warn people not to wander around rural areas at night, hiding any cuts on their bodies so that the blood does not smell. It gets worse.
Those who believe in the krasue also believe that the only way to kill it is to destroy its body, which you can only attempt after finding it. Since it is said to hide at night, it may be best to heed the advice not to walk around alone at night; At least some people certainly think so.[7]
3 Kumakotok
The Kumakotok is an entity, or rather, a group of entities that many in the Philippines say they believe in. A trio of humanoid creatures in cloaks, one of which resembles a young woman, accompanied by two old men, they knock on your door. night, wandering towns and villages.
Knocks come in threes, and it's not something you could avoid, but it's something you should ignore. It is believed that they announce the impending death of a friend or relative. If you hear the knocking, someone will die soon. An omen… or a warning?
The sound of three knocks has become understandably terrifying to hear in the area at night, as if nowhere unnerving enough. Whether they bring the death of someone close to you or not, if you hear the noise, don't open the door.[8]
2 Jorogumo
Spiders are enough to scare many, even without a demon attached to them or the status of an unknown, mysterious cryptid, deadlier than virtually any animal we know. The jorōgumo, one of Japan's most famous spirits, unfortunately surpasses an ordinary spin.
The jorōgumo is believed to be a golden orb weaver spider, a true species found in Japan. It is believed that individuals of the species who live to incredible ages are eventually empowered by magic and grow frighteningly large and intelligent, trading their insect prey for humans.
This ghost reappears as a young, beautiful woman, hiding eight terrifying, spindly legs, and is said to capture, poison and consume young men by luring them inside. He is said to be so effective at it that legends say they pile up hundreds of skeletons in their caves, which once belonged to handsome, young men.[9]
1 Manananggal
Another creature from the Philippines, the manananggal, is most similar to a vampire, a creature that many of us in the West have legends and stories about, except taken much further to the extreme.
Again, it is disguised as a beautiful woman, fitting with the general trend of people being afraid of the thought of being deceived and harmed by something that so seduces them. The manananggal turns into a horrible monster at night. Its favorite prey is apparently pregnant women, which eat their organs, blood and even the fetus they are carrying.
The manananggal is feared as a danger to children, as a creature that feeds on unsuspecting victims who sleep peacefully, and as a vampiric demon that humans have developed many spiritual practices to dispel. But even recently, people claim to have seen these creatures all over the Philippines. When someone dies suddenly in the night, perhaps even violently, some can't help but point to the terrifying manananggal.[10]