Asian Magical Creatures

Like Europe, Asia has a great number of myths and legends based on history. Many of these are the magical beasts and creatures that can be found in Wizarding Asia of today, and a large number are located in both Japan and China.

Jingwei - A sea creature that takes the form of a bird. Though the mythology is Chinese, the bird swims beneath the waters and soars through the air when it feels like. It often drops stones and other objects on swimmers who invade its territory. It can live beneath the water for up to a month before needing to resurface. Though tricky they are fairly harmless except for the occasional knock on the head.

Kyuutori - A strange bird with nine heads, they dwell in nests atop mountains guarding their egg. Kyuutori live for hundreds of years and are very nearly extinct in the wild due to the fact that it takes twelve years for one to hatch. They are enormous, the size of dragons, and where one can be found the dragons cannot.

Sagari - A creature that tends to appear to those in forest. It attracts attention using the distressed whinny of a horse and attempts to lure its targets into the shrubbery. When found they appear first as a dismembered horses head. It is a creature that adores wearing the skin of dead equine and is said that if seen, a curse is laid upon the beholder.

Nuppeppo - A genderless and animated lump of flesh that has a pungent odour and is found in dark and damp places in Japan. Though they are generally found alone, they live in large groups and are rumoured to be the cause of all horrid smells in the country. However the blood of a nuppeppo is said to grant immortality, and if one can handle the smell and grotesque image for long enough to eat it, they are given that gift.

Akaname - A creature that thrives off dirt and grime, they live within the walls of old buildings and appear when a place has built up enough that they may feast. They are considered a natural cleaner and will make a room instantly spotless with their long prehensile tongue and scaled, webbed feet. They are the stuff of nightmares however as if you are to catch one whilst cleaning it is said to take you to its lair and mate with you in order to create another of its beings.

Bashe - An enormous snake that has the ability to become invisible, they have been known to eat Elephants and other creatures much too big for any other animal. They are terrified of magic however, and often burrow deep underground should a wizard be near. Bashe scales are in powdered form, a rare and sought-after wandcore.

Hsigo - Most strangely they are considered to be the basis for the flying monkey of the Wizard of Oz, a monkey with great bird wings, they can fly between trees at great speeds and instead of feet, have great talons used for capturing prey. Both fantastic climbers and fliers.

Kutabe - A bovine like creature with nine eyes and six horns. It is generally a timid and sweet creature unless it is threatened at which point it will charge until it is exhausted or has killed its foe.

Komainu - Protective creatures that very rich families are given, they guard the houses and belongings of their chosen family and will follow their master endlessly. Komainu travel in pairs, a male and a female, and separating them will result in the death of both. The Komainu appears as a cross between a lion and a dog, though may be disguised as a large house breed if necessary. They often provide teeth to the family they serve as the core to their wands.

Kirin - A hoofed chimerical creature known also as the Asian Unicorn. It resembles a somewhat equine creature though it appears to have the head of a horse and the body of a deer. Its feet are scaled to the hoof with the tail of an ox, and on its head a single, twisted horn. Like the European counterpart they are considered good omens and are powerful in their blood. The hair from the mane is said to be one of the strongest cores in Asian wandmaking.

Tanuki - A strange creature that has the ability to shapeshift. They are generally tricksters and like to live among humans. A cross between a dog and a raccoon, they play jokes and are able to take on even human appearances. The only way to tell a tanuki from a human is by their prominent tails which appear even in daylight. There has been a small number of human-tanuki cross breeds known and they too have the prominent and giveaway bushy tail.

Rokurokubi - A humanoid creature that can breed with humans, they are considered terrifying due to their long necks. Most can live in secret, but generally, like veela, they have a darker side. Should you mock them for their long neck they will turn on you and their generally normal appearance will darken and they will grow claws - at which time they can be very dangerous.

Kitsune - A fox-demon that most often takes the form of a human they are talented shapeshifters and live closely among humans so that they may breed with them. There are a number of human-kitsune half breeds and the easiest way to identify one is to observe them in the dark. Though their tales are non-corporeal, in the dark a ghostly shape tends to take the form of their ever-swishing tails. They live longer than most humans due to their magical blood, but are not as talented in other areas of magic than transfiguration.

Yuki-onna - Considered a spirit by Muggles who see them, the yuki-onna is a beautiful but deathly pale woman - her skin appears transparent when seen in a snowy landscape. All Yuki-onna are pale-skinned and dark-haired, and are most comparible to their European veela counterparts. They often lure people with their beauty out into the snow where they freeze them to preserve them as food. It is quite normal for men and women alike to be entranced by the loveliness of a Yuki-onna, and often for witches and wizards it is their strong magical presence that draws them together. Often they mate with human men and, if they believe the man is true of heart, will free him and provide him with his child nine months later.

Oni - Very large and powerful creatures, the Oni are distant relatives of European giants. More ogre-like than some of their counterparts, they often have claws or extra eyes that set them apart from humans. Oni live in high places and on the outskirts of mountains as a method of hiding from muggles, as their unusually coloured skin and horns tends to give way to their magical heritage. Though they may mate with humans, they do so very rarely for most tend to be uncomfortable with their slightly less human faces.