Daki are female yokai with insatiable thirst for human blood. The word "daki" translates to “cliff” in Japanese, and as the name suggests, they lurk along the rocky ridges by the sea in Saga Prefecture. In appearance, daki are unassuming—hideous women dressed in plain clothes, but they are always on the hunt for fishermen. When a daki sees fishermen cooking lunch on the seaside rocks, she approaches them and asks for fish. It doesn’t matter how they respond. She will use any

Crocotta are mythical wolf-dog hybrid beasts said to roam the forests of India and Ethiopia, preying on both men and dogs. These chimerical creatures have the body of a dog, the tail of a lion, the mane of a horse and cloven hooves. They have large, grinning mouths filled with sharp teeth, and their bodies are as large as mules, covered in yellow or brownish fur with black spots and stripes. Overall, the description of crocotta bears a striking resemblance to hyenas. Crocotta

Churel are vengeful ghosts of women who died sudden and unnatural deaths. In their true form, churel are hideous hags with long disheveled hair and saggy breasts. Their tongues are said to be unnaturally long and pitch-black. However, they can appear as attractive women to lure unsuspecting men. One consistent physical trait they have, regardless of their appearance, is their backward-facing feet, a feature that they cannot change with their power. Find out more about Churel

Chordewa are shapeshifting witches capable of switching their form between a woman and a cat. According to the folklore, chordewa can be distinguished from ordinary cats by their peculiar way of mewing. In another version, they are not witches, but spirits that possess cats. They can also appear as hybrid creatures, with both feline and human features. It is in this werecat form that chordewa are said to be at their strongest.

Chochin Kozo looks like a young teenage boy with unkempt hair and is seen carrying a red paper lantern that illuminates his equally red face. He is said to appear on rainy evenings and follow lone travelers from behind before overtaking them. He then spins around and locks eyes on the person, staring at them with an eerie expression. When the unnerved traveler hurries past him, Chochin Kozo chases them and repeats the same act. He continues this eerie behavior until dawn, at

Chir batti are mysterious lights seen in the Banni grasslands and the adjacent salt flats of the Rann of Kutch in India. They are described as relatively bright lights that change colors, typically blue, red or yellow, and are often seen two to ten feet above the ground. While most accounts describe chir batti as spherical, there have also been reports of pear-shaped lights. Chir batti are described as intelligent and playful, with many anecdotes detailing their interactions

Cheuksin is the dangerous goddess of the outhouse. She appears as a young girl with long black hair wearing a white gown. She does not tolerate sudden intrusions into her territory. If a person enters the outhouse abruptly without the courtesy of knocking first, she flies into rage and strangles them by wrapping her long black hair around their neck, hanging them from the rafter. Even if the person can escape, they will still contract an incurable disease and die shortly afte

According to old Korean beliefs, those who die as virgins are said to transform into vengeful ghosts because of their resentment for never having experienced sexual intimacy. These virgin ghosts are known as cheonyeo gwishin for female spirits, and chonggak gwishin for the male. Cheonyeo gwishin appear as pale women wearing traditional white mourning clothes called sobok. These spirits have long, loose, black hair—a symbol of virginity, as only married women were traditiona

The word “chedipe” in the Telugu language means “prostitute”, a fitting name for these seductive ghosts that possess a mix of characteristics from succubi, vampires and werebeasts. Chedipe appear as alluring, nude women riding tigers on moonlit nights. Being shapeshifters, they can transform into tigers themselves. Their tiger forms are identical to real tigers, except for one detail—one of their legs keeps the shape of a human leg. Although they attack humans, chedipe are ti

Chay Kalain Ma, or a twisted-leg woman, is a ghost that haunts school toilets. As the name suggests, she has legs warped tightly together, making her look as if she stands on one leg instead of two. Yet, her deformed legs don’t slow her down. Chay Kalain Ma chases students at an incredibly fast speed by hopping on her legs. Once pursued by this phantom woman, escaping is nearly impossible since she can effortlessly cover the distance that takes a child ten running steps in ju

Buto ijo are man-eating, mythical demons. They appear as fierce, green monsters with bulging eyes and protruding fangs. They are also said to reek of a foul stench, like rotten meat or sewage. Despite their sinister nature, buto ijo are believed to possess the ability to bless humans with prosperity. Those seeking fortune summon these demons through black magic to make a deal with them. However, making a contract with a buto ijo is a dangerous affair, as the demon demands sac

Brahmins are individuals born into the highest Hindu caste and brahmadaitya are the spirits of departed brahmin men. According to superstitions, a deceased brahmin can become a brahmadaitya in two scenarios: if he died a virgin or if he did not receive proper funeral rites. Typically, brahmadaitya are viewed as reverential ghosts, often likened to lesser deities, and are considered benevolent towards humans. But they can be ruthless if offended, especially when their dwellin

Boroka are man-eating beasts with a particular fondness for human innards. There are two distinct depictions of boroka. The first is a chimerical creature with the head of a woman. It has bird-like wings instead of arms, and its lower torso resembles that of a horse, complete with four legs equipped with sharp talons. The second resembles the manananggal. Boroka prefer children over adults as their prey. However, they will also target lone adults if circumstances allow. Do yo

The boba legend is based on the sleep paralysis phenomenon, but with a more menacing twist. According to the legend, boba induce sleep-paralysis like symptoms in their victims and strangle them to death in their sleep. To avoid falling prey to boba, it is advised to avoid sleeping on your back, as boba are said to attack only those who sleep in a supine position.

A lone traveler walking down a remote alley at night hears loud footsteps echoing behind him. But when he stops to listen, the phantom footsteps also cease. He turns around to see who is following him, but there is no one to be seen. He continues his journey, only to hear the footsteps resuming, picking up the pace and drawing closer. It may be that he is being stalked by Betobeto-san, a shapeless yokai known to harass travelers at night. Although invisible, its presence is k

Besho bhoot are malevolent spirits that haunt bamboo forests. They lie in wait for unsuspecting travelers, ready to hurl bamboo branches at them. When someone steps over a fallen branch, the ghost strikes with force strong enough to cause serious injuries—or, in some cases, even death. To avoid being ambushed by these ghosts, travelers passing through bamboo forests are advised to walk around fallen branches rather than step over them. Do you love Asian paranormal folklore?

Berberoka are man-eating swamp monsters that live in freshwater places such as ponds, rivers, and lakes. They have enormous bellies that can store up the entire volume of water found in a small size pond and use this physical feature to their advantage. A berberoka would drink up all the water from the pond, leaving the fish floundering in the dried-up basin. The monster has a mossy body with a skin complexion resembling rugged rock that it can blend into the pond. When the b

Belu are the Myanmar version of rakshasa from Hindu mythology—a fabled race of man-eating humanoids. Interestingly, several other Southeast Asian countries also have mythical beings with traits similar to rakshasa. In Myanmar, belu prominently appear in various Buddhist texts and ancient stories. Nearly every major pagoda has belu’s statues, often sculpted as guardian deities. These statues have bulging eyes that seem to glare at anyone who dares to look at them. While belu h

Begu Ganjan are towering ghosts that resemble gaunt humanoid figures with protruding potbellies. Adding to their menacing appearance is a long red tongue that extends from their gaping mouths all the way down to their bellies. The female version of the ghost features long, flowing black hair. These ghosts are so tall that individuals encountering them may not immediately realize their presence. At first glance, people often mistake the ghost for a pair of long poles, only lat

Bayangi are ghosts confined within coconut shells and enslaved through black magic to serve their master’s will. Owning a bayangi is believed to bring great luck and riches, but it does so by draining the fortunes of the surrounding community and channeling them toward its master. While the bayangi owner accumulates wealth, their neighbors suffer a series of misfortunes. If the owner disregards this unsettling consequence, they may enjoy a period of prosperity for seven years