Classification: Divine & Demonic Forces

Temporal Range: 12th to 19th Century

Geographic Range: Forests and Mountains in Japan

Diet: Seeds, berries, and occasionally small rodents

Red-robed and carrying a fan, the Tengu is a fearsome swordsman who might surprise you when you see him. Part bird, part monkey, and part man, the Tengu has bird-like wings and the body of a monkey but stands upright like a man. While some tales describe a red face with a long nose, we have more commonly encountered those with a bird-like face and a prominent beak. This mysterious creature is incredibly powerful, and not just with a sword and martial arts prowess.

Tengu are able to communicate psychically and can speak to you without moving their mouths (or beaks in some cases) at all. They are also known for teleportation and can appear anywhere in the blink of an eye. This makes outrunning them impossible, so don’t even try. Tengu can be a little judgmental and are known for meting out punishment on the arrogant and the vain. However, today they are more widely recognized as protectors of forests and mountainous regions, so be careful where you trespass or you might end up on the wrong end of a Tengu sword.