Tengu

Meaning: Mischievous, Trickster, Prankster, Rebellious

Tengu are often thought by Buddhists to steer people off the path to enlightenment.

Generally, they are associated with destruction and war. They are depicted as humanoid now but previously they took the form of birds of prey. It is because of this they are depicted with long noses or beaks. Tengu are most often shown colored red to symbolize these traits, though this isn’t always the case.

The Tengu has transformed over the years. Initially, they were depicted as crow-like creatures called “karasutengu” but have come to be shown with more human traits with their beaks becoming long, phallic like noses, these are know as “daitengu”.

They are thought to be both demons and deities alike though they are almost always up to some sort of trouble. They have become so synonymous with mischief that almost any misfortune from the trivial to catastrophic can be associated with them.

In tattoos they can be represented whole or as Noh masks, either more human or more birdlike.