Onryō are vengeful spirits in traditional Japanese belief, a type of ghost (yūrei) thought to harm the living—seeking revenge for wrongs suffered in life by causing injury, death, or even disasters. They are often portrayed as deeply wronged individuals, especially women, driven by intense emotions like anger, jealousy, and bitterness.

Some historical figures, including Emperor Sutoku, Taira no Masakado, and Sugawara no Michizane, are known as Japan’s “Three Great Onryō.” After their deaths, disasters and unrest were attributed to their spirits, leading to their deification as kami to appease them.

Onryō frequently appear in traditional arts like Noh and Kabuki, often symbolized by the hannya mask (a female demon/vengeful spirit). Belief in their power persists today, as seen in the careful preservation of sites like Masakado’s burial mound in Tokyo, which is associated with misfortune when disturbed.

A related term, goryō, refers specifically to revered onryō who are the spirits of those who died unjustly and are worshipped to prevent further harm.

Traditionally, onryō and other ghosts had no fixed appearance, but during the Edo period, Kabuki established a recognizable visual style. Ghosts were portrayed using a standard costume: a white burial kimono, long disheveled black hair often obscuring the face, and white face makeup with blue shadow accents to emphasize a haunting, eerie look. This visual shorthand helped audiences quickly identify ghost characters and understand their emotions on stage.

A well known story featuring Onryo would be Banchō Sarayashiki where Okiku, a maid serving samurai Aoyama Tessan, rejects his advances. In revenge, he frames her by hiding a valuable plate, then kills her by throwing her into a well. After her death, Okiku becomes an onryō, returning nightly to count plates and scream upon reaching ten.

Another example would be the story Yotsuya Kaidan about a ronin named Tamiya Iemon and his wife Oiwa, whose troubled marriage leads Iemon to poison and disfigure her. After discovering the betrayal, Oiwa dies by suicide along with her child. She later returns as a vengeful onryō, haunting Iemon and his new wife.

All published appearances of Onryo from before January 1, )-(95)}} are public domain in the US.

Some notable appearances are listed below:

* ''Konjaku Monogatarishū''
** How a Man's Wife Became a Vengeful Ghost and How Her Malignity Was Diverted by a Master of Divination
* Konjaku Monogatari Shū (1921)
* A Japanese Miscellany (1901)
** Of a Promise Broken

* Banchō Sarayashiki (1741)
* Banchō Sarayashiki (1824) - Kabuki Version
* Ghost Story of Yotsuya in Tokaido (1825)
* Minoriyoshi Kogane no Kikuzuki (1850)
* Banchō Sarayashiki (1916)

* One Hundred Ghost Stories Series (1830)
* New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts (1890)

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onry%C5%8D Wikipedia]
*[https://myths-in-media.fandom.com/wiki/Onryo Myths in Media Wiki]
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