A kodama (木霊, 木魂, or 木魅) is a tree spirit in Japanese folklore.
Appearance
Kodama are usually invisible but may choose to appear as beautiful or as terrible as they wish. They are sometimes depicted as having an initially adorable humanoid appearance.
Powers
Kodama tend to inhabit trees of very great age or size and are surprisingly strong and powerful. It is believed that these spirits may transmigrate to another tree or be reborn through their seed.
Behavior
Cutting down a tree which houses a kodama is thought to bring misfortune, and such trees are often marked with a sacred rope called shimenawa. Kodama are generally wise and peaceful but dislike those who have no respect for the environment and who take it for granted. Sometimes they mimic human voices, creating echos in the forest. "Echo" has also come to be another meaning of the word kodama.
See also
Art/Fiction
- Kodama appear most famously in the animated film Princess Mononoke, in which they are portrayed as small, white humanoids with large, rattling heads and mask-like features.
- Many video games such as the Shin Megami Tensei series and the Persona series feature kodama.
- there is also a tiny ninja spirit in Oh My Goddess! by the name of Kodam
