Hengeyokai (pron. Hane-Gay-Yo-Ky, alt pron. Hane-Gay-Yo-Ka-Ee) is a
recently invented term by
TSR for the
Oriental Adventures suppliment to
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in 1985 (and later by
White Wolf Publishing, Inc). Based on the
Japanese word "
henge" (or, alternately, said to be based off of the word "
henkei"), it is a blanket-term to generalize Eastern animal
shapeshifters. Specifically it refers to
beings based on a particular
type of animal, who can assume other forms, human often being one of those forms.
While "common knowledge" of this term is indeed based upon books from
Dungeons and Dragons and
The World of Darkness, I would like to
focus more on the
Oriental folklore behind the term, and leave the game specifics to
another writer.
To fully understand the significance of these particular
shapeshifters, one must also
be familiar with the cultural and religious mindset at the time these legends came about.
Kami, or,
Gods in
Japanese, are not nearly as invulnerable as western theology, and
were not nearly so distanced from the natural order. They were also considerably more
numerous. Nearly every aspect of nature had its own representative deity, and host of
supernatural creatures. Though there were some Kami whom lived on another plane of
existence, such as
Amaterasu (the Goddess of the Sun and ancestor of the imperial line)
and the
Yama Kings, most dwelled in forests, rivers, lakes, caves, and other places of
nature. Kami generally had a particular task (guard this tree, guard this shrine, kill
anyone who travels down this road), and were able to be slain if the attacker/defender
were skilled or clever enough to survive. This was not a culture where God was some
all-powerful, all-knowing, yet unknowable force living in another realm. It was a culture
where Gods hunted Men, and vice versa. This is, perhaps, one of the many reasons
Japan
was able to bounce back from
World War II and become the industrial superpower it is
today. After all, if one could best the Kami with enough dedication, wit, and skill, then
how hard could it be to become equal with mortal men?
This is not to say the Kami were pushovers, or that they were anything
less than
Gods. The distinction is similar to that of the
Greek and Roman mythology, where there is a definite hierarchy, as well as Big Gods, and
Small Gods.
Rather,
Eastern religion dealt with Gods on a far more local scale.
This brings us to the hengeyokai, or shapeshifters of Eastern
Asia. Nearly all Kami had
the shapeshifting powers of the hengeyokai, though there were a few that did not have the
power to transform, such as Moro no Kimi (goddess of dogs). Generally gods that could not
transform were the King or Queen of their species, the title of which grants them their
godhood.
However, just as not all Kami are Hengeyokai, not all Hengeyokai are Kami. Such is the
case with
kitsune, who are Japanese fox-
spirits and the messengers of
Inari
(not gods), whose motives were secret to man and kami alike, and their mischief
infamous to both. Hengeyokai, therefore, does not so much refer to a race or species of
creature or god as it does the ability to transform shapes, but not neccesarily
auras (another important trait of spiritual encounters in
Japanese
folklore).
Though
European culture had its shapeshifters as well (most notably the
werewolf),
being a hengeyokai not considered some sort of disease or curse inflicted upon the victim, like
lycanthropy. A true human who
had the ability to transform into an animal would not be considered a hengeyokai, they
would be considered extremely advanced in their studies. Hengeyokai were generally
limited to members of the normally non-sentient animal kingdom. It was a natural ability,
and though a frightening prospect to your average forest-wandering-unarmed-peasant, it
was also accepted as the
natural order of things. This is also not to say that it was a
theological belief that touted harmony with nature, everyone had their own beliefs on
that, but rather that they did not assume that such beings were
un-natural.
Though there are far too many hengeyokai to write about, here are a few links to some of
the more notable species:
- Kitsune - Japanese Fox-Spirits. Spies and tricksters.
- Ryu - Dragons. Usually imparts wisdom, or guards special pearls in lakes.
- Tanuki - Canine animals that look similar to raccoons. Practical jokers.
- Tengu - Forest and Mountain Goblins with many powers. Usually targets monks.