Hannya

Green Hannya tattoo design painting by Marco

Meaning: Perfect Wisdom, Jealousy, Rage, Torment, Sorrow

Hannya are often confused with Oni, though they are both demons of a sort they actually couldn’t be more different from one another.

Hannya specifically represent women or girls that have turned into demons. Their representation comes from Noh Theater masks used to represent women that have turned into demons due to jealousy or some other human emotion.

The Hannya is said to be demonic and dangerous but also sorrowful and tormented, displaying the complexity of human emotion. Because of this they are said to represent Perfect Wisdom due to the fact that it would take a very wise person to create such a thing.

The three most famous Hannya are Lady Rokujo, Kurozuka and Kiyohime.

There are three stages and types of hannya: White masks are those of refined women, Green masks are those of peasant women and Red masks depict true demons.

Namanari Hannya- (White Hannya) These still resemble women with small horns using dark magic to perform evil deeds but they can still be turned back to humans.

Chunari Hannya- (Green Hannya) These are mid-level and they have long horns, sharp fang-like tusks and they possess more powerful magic but can with proper prayers be brought back to human form.

Honnari Hannya- (Red Hannya) These are true demons that have embraced their jealousy and there is no calming their fury. They can have snake-like bodies and breath fire.