Tengu

A bird-man or long-nosed hermit or goblin

A proud, bird-based, warrior race with much contradiction in its lore. Some accounts make them out to be demonic bandits and others show them as wise sages who live in remote areas.

Great Tengu by ultimatearm

Tengu are stubborn, loud, and hot tempered. Many are skilled martial artists. Myths say this species has caused several wars and natural disasters. Despite their negatives, they can be a sympathetic lot—taking the side of the downtrodden and helping them get a leg up in life or avenging their families by training them as warriors or teaching them tengu magic. Most live alone in forested areas, away from humankind. They can band together for a cause they consider worthy.
There are two main types in the folklore.

Kotengu

Karasu Tengu Statue by WolfgangMichel (Photographer)

The ‘lesser tengu’ is the more commonly found type. They look like a cross between a bird (often a crow or kite) and a man. Bird features dominate—showing up in the head, wings and feet.
Kotengu are a quarrelsome, egotistical lot that carry out acts of mischief and destruction—from benign and random kidnappings to pillaging holy areas.

Daitengu

by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳)

The ‘great tengu’ are the older and wiser of the tengu varieties and the top of the species hierarchy. They have more human features, though the wings may remain. Daitengu may also have red skin and a long nose. Their elongated noses may be the transformation of the beak when they changed from a kotengu.
Daitengu carry magical feather fans that can stir up the wind or change the size of another being’s nose. (Considering they are proud of their long proboscises, this is important.) They are known to cause earthquakes and fires if angered.

Related Articles

Tengu Bronze by Kawanabe Kyōsai

Related Ethnicities

Yokai

Lifespan

Daitengu - immortal
Kotengu - unknown

Intelligence

Kotengu tend to be simple thinkers, whereas daitengu tend to be wise, bordering on genius level.

Conservation Status

Unknown. They tend to be hermits and are a male only race.

Reproduction

Myths say that some tengu transformed from humans who were tending toward evil. Otherwise, unknown. Though Soujoubou is reported to have a wife.

Diet

Omnivores (including human flesh occasionally)

Famous tengu

Soujoubou (king of the tengu)

Taroubou (on Mt. Atago, Kyoto, whom hikers come to ask for protection every year from fire related disasters.)

Appears In:

Click book/story to read.

Liminal Chronicles Books

Short Stories

by Amy Winters-Voss

Chou becomes Ohno-chan's pet by Amy Winters-Voss

Initiation by AWV

Nakamura's Dream by AWV + Flaticon.com icons

Fujimori and the Fox by AWV + Flaticon.com icons

Misunderstandings by AWV + Flaticon.com icons

by AWV

Liminal Chronicles Series bookcover art by Odette.A.Bach and text by Amy Winters-Voss. Short story bookcovers by Amy Winters-Voss