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{{For|the subregion in Eritrea|Karura | {{Short description|Japanese mythological creature}} | ||
{{For|the subregion in Eritrea|Karura subregion}} | |||
[[File:Karura of Kofukuji.jpg|thumb|A statue depicting a wingless Karura from [[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], 8th century.]] | [[File:Karura of Kofukuji.jpg|thumb|A statue depicting a wingless Karura from [[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], 8th century.]] | ||
[[File:観音と迦楼羅 Avalokitasvara and Garuda.jpg|thumb|An illustration from an 1866 Japanese book. Karura, who is an incarnation of [[Guanyin|Bodhisattva Kannon]] in this scene, gives a sermon to folks.]] | |||
The {{nihongo|'''Karura'''|迦楼羅}} is a divine creature with a human torso and birdlike head<ref name=shincho>{{cite book|author=Shinchosha|script-title=ja:新潮世界美術事典|trans-title=Shincho Encyclopedia of World Art|year=1985|publisher=Shinchosha|isbn=4-10-730206-7}}</ref> in [[Japanese mythology]]. | The {{nihongo|'''Karura'''|迦楼羅}} is a divine creature with a human torso and birdlike head<ref name=shincho>{{cite book|author=Shinchosha|script-title=ja:新潮世界美術事典|trans-title=Shincho Encyclopedia of World Art|year=1985|publisher=Shinchosha|isbn=4-10-730206-7}}</ref> in [[Japanese mythology]]. | ||
The name is a [[transliteration]]<ref name=shincho/> of [[garuda]],<ref name=shincho/> a race of enormously gigantic birds in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan |first=Saroj Kumar |last=Chaudhuri |page=151}}</ref> | The name is a [[transliteration]]<ref name=shincho/> of [[garuda]],<ref name=shincho/> a race of enormously gigantic birds in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan |first=Saroj Kumar |last=Chaudhuri |page=151}}</ref> The Japanese Buddhist version is based upon Hindu Mythology. The same creature may go by the name of {{Nihongo3|lit. "gold-winged bird"|金翅鳥|konjichō|Skr. ''{{lang|sa|suparṇa}}''}}.<ref name=shincho/> | ||
The karura is said to be enormous,<ref name=kojien>{{cite book|last=Shinmura|first=Izuru|script-title=ja:広辞苑|trans-title=Kōjien|year=1976|publisher=Iwanami}}. Japanese dictionary, 2nd revised edition</ref> fire-breathing,<ref name=kojien/> and to feed on dragons/serpents,<ref name=kojien/> just as Garuda is the bane of [[Nāga]]s. Only a dragon who possesses a [[Buddhist]] talisman, or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching, can escape unharmed from the Karura.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} Shumisen or [[Mount Meru]] is said to be its habitat.<ref name=kojien/> | The karura is said to be enormous,<ref name=kojien>{{cite book|last=Shinmura|first=Izuru|script-title=ja:広辞苑|trans-title=Kōjien|year=1976|publisher=Iwanami}}. Japanese dictionary, 2nd revised edition</ref> fire-breathing,<ref name=kojien/> and to feed on dragons/serpents,<ref name=kojien/> just as Garuda is the bane of [[Nāga]]s. Only a dragon who possesses a [[Buddhist]] talisman, or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching, can escape unharmed from the Karura.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} Shumisen or [[Mount Meru]] is said to be its habitat.<ref name=kojien/> | ||
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But more conventionally, the Karura is depicted as a winged being with human torso and avian head, as in the Vajra Hall ({{Nihongo|''Kongō buin''|金剛部院}}) section of the [[Womb Realm]] mandala ({{Nihongo|''Taizōkai mandara''|胎蔵界曼荼羅}}) and other [[iconographic]] books and scrolls.<ref name=shincho/> | But more conventionally, the Karura is depicted as a winged being with human torso and avian head, as in the Vajra Hall ({{Nihongo|''Kongō buin''|金剛部院}}) section of the [[Womb Realm]] mandala ({{Nihongo|''Taizōkai mandara''|胎蔵界曼荼羅}}) and other [[iconographic]] books and scrolls.<ref name=shincho/> | ||
==In fine art== | ==In fine art== | ||
[[File:Karura (gigaku mask).jpg|thumb|left| | [[File:Karura (gigaku mask).jpg|thumb|left|Karura gikau mask (source: ''Shuko Jisshu'', Todaiji Hachimangu (1895))]] | ||
The karura (garuda) mask is one of the stock character masks worn by performers of the ancient Japanese courtly dance art of [[gigaku]].<ref name=shincho/><ref name=kojien/> | The karura (garuda) mask is one of the stock character masks worn by performers of the ancient Japanese courtly dance art of [[gigaku]].<ref name=shincho/><ref name=kojien/> | ||
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==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
The ''[[Pokémon]]'' evolutionary line of [[Magby]], [[List of generation I Pokémon#Magmar|Magmar]], and [[Magmortar]] | The ''[[Pokémon]]'' evolutionary line of [[Magby]], [[List of generation I Pokémon#Magmar|Magmar]], and [[Magmortar]] may have been based on the karura. | ||
In the anime ''[[Blue Exorcist]]'' Karura is a powerful fire demon that can be seen in service of the Myōō Dharani. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Kazue |first=Kato |title=Blue Exorcist Vol. 7 |publisher=VIZ Media LLC |year=2012 |isbn=978-1421542621 |language=Japanese}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{reflist}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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[[Category:Avian humanoids]] | [[Category:Avian humanoids]] | ||
[[Category:Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism]] | [[Category:Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism]] | ||
[[Category:Mythological and legendary Japanese birds]] | |||
[[Category:Japanese Buddhist deities]] | |||
{{Japan-myth-stub}} | {{Japan-myth-stub}} | ||
Latest revision as of 15:21, 2 November 2025
The Karura (迦楼羅) is a divine creature with a human torso and birdlike head[1] in Japanese mythology.
The name is a transliteration[1] of garuda,[1] a race of enormously gigantic birds in Hinduism.[2] The Japanese Buddhist version is based upon Hindu Mythology. The same creature may go by the name of Template:Nihongo3.[1]
The karura is said to be enormous,[3] fire-breathing,[3] and to feed on dragons/serpents,[3] just as Garuda is the bane of Nāgas. Only a dragon who possesses a Buddhist talisman, or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching, can escape unharmed from the Karura.[citation needed] Shumisen or Mount Meru is said to be its habitat.[3]
Karura is one of the proselytized and converted creatures recruited to form a guardian unit called the Hachibushū (八部衆, "Devas of the Eight Classes").[4][5]
One famous example is the Karura statue at Kōfuku-ji, Nara, amongst the eight deva statues presented at the Buddhābhiṣeka dated to the year Tenpyō 6 or 734, pictured top right).[4] This karura is depicted as wearing Tang Chinese-style armor, and thus is seen wingless.
But more conventionally, the Karura is depicted as a winged being with human torso and avian head, as in the Vajra Hall (Kongō buin (金剛部院)) section of the Womb Realm mandala (Taizōkai mandara (胎蔵界曼荼羅)) and other iconographic books and scrolls.[1]
In fine art[edit | edit source]
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The karura (garuda) mask is one of the stock character masks worn by performers of the ancient Japanese courtly dance art of gigaku.[1][3]
The flaming nimbus or halo is known by the name "karura flame"[1] and typically seen adorning behind the statue of the Fudō-myōō (不動明王)).
The karura is also said to be the prototype of the depictions of the tengu[3] or karasutengu.[1]
In popular culture[edit | edit source]
The Pokémon evolutionary line of Magby, Magmar, and Magmortar may have been based on the karura.
In the anime Blue Exorcist Karura is a powerful fire demon that can be seen in service of the Myōō Dharani. [6]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Shinchosha (1985). 新潮世界美術事典 [Shincho Encyclopedia of World Art]. Shinchosha. ISBN 4-10-730206-7.
- ↑ Chaudhuri, Saroj Kumar. Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan. p. 151.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Shinmura, Izuru (1976). 広辞苑 [Kōjien]. Iwanami.. Japanese dictionary, 2nd revised edition
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Murano, Takao (1997). 興福寺国宝展 [Kōfukuji kokuhō ten] (exhibit catalog). Tetsurô Kôno (trans.). Art Research Foundation. Item #3-2, p.vii (English caption); 32-33 (photo); p.189 (text by Kaneko Tomoaki(金子智明).
- ↑ The multilexic Shinchosha 1985 dictionary does not give an English or any other language equivalent for this entry.
- ↑ Kazue, Kato (2012). Blue Exorcist Vol. 7 (in Japanese). VIZ Media LLC. ISBN 978-1421542621.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)