Mythical bird-man goblins from the mountains of Japan. They have feathered wings on their backs, and either
beaks or very long, phallic noses on their faces. They can
shapeshift fully into a bird or a human to play tricks on people, or escape from danger. They dress like
yamabushi, with pom-pomed sashes and small black wooden skullcaps. They often carry shakujou or magical fans made of feathers.
Tengu are credited with both exceptional skill with a sword and a wicked sense of humor, and in numerous folktales they are portrayed as mischievous, curious, rowdy, and rather gullible. The
tengu king Soujoubou is said to have trained the famous warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune, and many
ukiyo-e prints show the young Yoshitsune sparring with Soujoubou's bird-billed subjects.