Kodama (spirit)

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For other uses, see Kodama.

Toriyama Sekien's illustration of a kodama appearing as an old man.

A kodama (木霊, 木魂, or 木魅, kodama^?) is a spirit from Japanese folklore, which is believed to live in certain trees (similar to the Hamadryad of Greek myth). Cutting down a tree which houses a kodama is thought to bring misfortune, and such trees are often marked with shimenawa rope.

The word can also refer to an echo.

[edit] Popular culture

A kodama as depicted in Princess Mononoke

Kodama appear most famously in the animated film Princess Mononoke, in which they are protrayed as small, white humanoids with large, rattling heads and mask-like features.
Kodama appears in the Magic: The Gathering card game in the Kamigawa block. With cards such as Kodama of the (North/South/Center) Tree, Kodama's Reach, Kodama's Might and so forth.
Many video games such as the Shin Megami Tensei series and the Persona series feature kodama.

[edit] References

Mizuki, Shigeru (2003). Mujara 1: Kantō, Hokkaidō, Okinawa-hen. (in Japanese). Japan: Soft Garage, p. 51. ISBN 4-8613-3004-1.

[edit] See also

Dryad

	Japanese Mythology & Folklore
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