Oni are born when very evil people die and wind up in one of the numerous Buddhist Hells, where they are changed into Oni. They become the ogreish and vicious slaves of Great Lord Enma, king of Hell, carrying iron clubs with which they crush and slaughter humanity only for fun. An oni's duty is to inflict severe punishments on individuals who have done wrong, such as ripping off skin, crushing bones, and other torments that are too awful to describe (but not quite wicked enough to be reborn as demons themselves). Hell is teeming with oni, who serve as the armies of the underworld's great generals.
Etymology
The term "oni" is said to be derived from on, the on'yomi reading of a character (é ) meaning to hide or conceal, since oni were once invisible spirits or gods that brought calamities, sickness, and other terrible things. These enigmatic entities might also take on a variety of shapes in order to fool (and often consume) people. As a result, a Chinese character (é14) meaning "ghost" began to be employed to describe these formless beings.
In Japanese popular culture, the oni is still a popular motif. Their varied modern depiction sometimes relies on just one or two distinguishing features to identify a character as an oni; they will always have horns and will sometimes have a distinct skin color, but such a depiction may otherwise appear human and lack the fearsome or grotesque features of traditional oni. The context of oni in popular culture is also diverse, including appearances in animated cartoons, video games, and usage as commercial mascots. Also see [edit]
The word Oni (é14) refers to a troll, ogre, or troll. Even though it was recognized as a demon in the Western culture, this is the most accurate definition of the term (which in Japanese would be Yokai). The Oni is a creature with a human body, an animal head (such as a monkey or a bird), and one or two horns of varied proportions. Their facial expressions are usually tense and hostile, giving them the appearance of wicked entities. According to legend, Onis may torture whole communities and even feast on people.
