Mononoke
/mo̞no̞no̞ke̞/noun
A Japanese ghost, spirit, or supernatural force believed to cause illness, misfortune, or possession.
Did you know?In Heian-period literature, mononoke were often described as invisible spirits that possessed people or caused illness, sometimes emerging from intense jealousy or resentment.
Etymological Timeline
Old Japanese
Old Japanese
mono no ke
“A spirit or supernatural influence associated with a person, place, or thing.”
Heian Period, 10th–11th Century
Japanese
物の怪 (mono no ke)
“A troubling spirit believed to cause disease, misfortune, or possession.”
11th Century
Classical Japanese
物の怪 (mononoke)
“A supernatural being or spiritual affliction frequently described in court literature.”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
もののけ (mononoke)
“A ghostly or uncanny entity, increasingly associated with demons, curses, and strange phenomena.”
Modern Japanese
Japanese
もののけ (mononoke)
“A supernatural spirit or monster; the term was popularized internationally by works such as Princess Mononoke.”
Explore more surprising origins