物(もの)の怪(け)

もののけ
noun
evil spirit, supernatural being
literaryreligionculture
1. evil spirit, vengeful ghost, supernatural being
A malevolent spirit or supernatural entity believed to possess or afflict people, causing illness or misfortune. A concept rooted in classical Japanese literature and folklore.
物(もの)の怪(け)に取(と)り憑(つ)かれる。
To be possessed by an evil spirit.
昔(むかし)の人(ひと)は病気(びょうき)を物(もの)の怪(け)のせいだと考(かんが)えた。
People in the past attributed illness to evil spirits.
この森(もり)には物(もの)の怪(け)が棲(す)んでいるという言(い)い伝(つた)えがある。
There is a legend that supernatural beings dwell in this forest.

Writing

Written as 物(もの)の怪(け). The 怪(け) means "strange/mysterious thing."

Cultural note

A key concept in classical Japanese literature, especially in 源氏物語(げんじものがたり) (The Tale of Genji), where 物(もの)の怪(け) possesses and torments characters. In the Heian period, illness and psychological distress were often attributed to 物(もの)の怪(け).

Modern usage

Widely known today through Studio Ghibli's film 「もののけ姫(ひめ)」 (Princess Mononoke, 1997). In modern usage, the word evokes an atmospheric, folkloric sense of the supernatural.

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.2.9 0:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
10500/10644_mononoke