Chōchinobake
Also called Chchinobake.
From Japanese folklore, Chōchinobake is a sentient paper lantern. It can extend its tongue to lick those who pass by, causing them a sudden, disorienting chill.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Japanese folklore
- Region
- Japan (habitat)
- Kind
- Japanese tsukumogami
- Trait family
- The Waking Things
Near this figure
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Flame bears Flame denotes life-force, purification, wisdom, love, soul, divine presence, and transformation; one citation instead names a Chinese genealogical figure called Flame.
why
Their bodies are typically cylindrical or spherical, made of delicate rice paper adorned with intricate designs and patterns that seem to shift and dance in the flickering light of their internal flame.
- Tongue bears image-domain The tongue denotes eloquence and the power to persuade or wound, tasting and licking into life, and lolling from a devouring goddess to show doubleness.
why
It can extend its tongue to lick those who pass by, causing them a sudden, disorienting chill.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Extending tongue attack
why
This tongue, cool and slightly damp, is used to playfully lick unsuspecting passersby, causing them to experience a sudden, disorienting chill that runs down their spine.
- Sentient inanimate household object comes alive
why
a sentient paper lantern that comes to life when night falls
- Animated household object
why
Chōchinobake is a sentient paper lantern.
- Born from inanimate object
why
These ethereal creatures are born from ordinary lanterns that have reached their hundredth year of existence
Behaviour
- Ordinary object by day animate spirit by night
why
These ethereal creatures are born from ordinary lanterns that have reached their hundredth year of existence, gaining consciousness and a mischievous personality.
- Guides lost travelers with light
why
believed to guide lost travelers with their warm, inviting glow
- Appears and vanishes at will
why
they are capable of extinguishing their own light to disappear into the darkness when they wish to avoid detection
- Trickster outwits larger foes
why
While not inherently malevolent, Chōchinobake delight in startling humans and animals alike, finding amusement in their bewildered reactions.
Offensive powers
- Disorienting attack
why
This tongue, cool and slightly damp, is used to playfully lick unsuspecting passersby, causing them to experience a sudden, disorienting chill that runs down their spine.