Aoandon

Japanese mythological creature

Aoandon, or Aoandō (青(あお)行(あん)灯(どん) or 青行燈, "blue andon") is a creature illustrated by Toriyama Sekien in his Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. It was meant to represent the spirit that appeared during the game Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, after the last story was told.^[1] The candles in the room during these meetings were often placed in blue-paper andon lamps in order to create an eerie atmosphere, hence this creature's name.

It appears as a woman with a blue complexion and twin horns from its brow, and sharp teeth.^[1]

Popular culture

In the mobile game Onmyōji, Aoandon is a shikigami who loves storytelling.
The bioluminescent marine worm Polycirrus aoandon is named after the creature.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Davisson, Zack (2012-11-28). "Aoandon – The Blue Lantern Ghost". 百物語怪談会 Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
^ Jimi, Naoto; Bessho-Uehara, Manabu; Nakamura, Koji; Sakata, Masahiko; Hayashi, Taro; Kanie, Shusei; Mitani, Yasuo; Ohmiya, Yoshihiro; Tsuyuki, Aoi; Ota, Yuzo; Woo, Sau Pinn; Ogoh, Katsunori (March 2023). "Investigating the diversity of bioluminescent marine worm Polycirrus (Annelida), with description of three new species from the Western Pacific". Royal Society Open Science. 10 (3): 230039. Bibcode:2023RSOS...1030039J. doi:10.1098/rsos.230039. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 10049758. PMID 36998762.