HAKUTAKU

Lore

In Japan the Hakutaku is regarded not as an ordinary yokai but as a shin-ju—a divine beast whose purpose is to guard and pass on complete knowledge of the spirit world, of illnesses, and of the ways to protect humankind from them.

Its appearance is that of a large, white-furred animal, most often likened to an ox or yak, though it sometimes bears human features around the face—proof that it can hold a meaningful conversation. It is identified by nine eyes—three on the head and six along the flanks—and six horns: two above the brow and four running down the spine. These extra eyes and horns signal the creature’s ability to grasp every layer of reality.

The myth traces back to a Chinese tale in which Bai Ze meets the Yellow Emperor and recites a catalog of 11,520 spirits and demons, explaining how each could be neutralized. Over time the Hakutaku came to be seen as a guardian against epidemics and unknown plagues. During the cholera era of the nineteenth century, woodblock talismans bearing its image were used as powerful charms against disease.