Youkai

Youkai (妖怪), also called Ayakashi or Mononoke, is the term used to refer to the collective groups of monsters, daemon, spirits, and faeries featured in Asian mythologies.
==Overview==
Yōkai (妖怪, "strange apparition") are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word "yōkai" is composed of the kanji for "attractive; calamity" and "apparition; mystery." Yōkai are not literally demons in the Western sense, but are instead spirits and entities, whose behaviour can range from malevolent or mischievous to friendly or helpful to humans.
Yōkai often have animal features, but may also appear humanoid in appearance. Some yōkai resemble inanimate objects, while others have no discernible shape. Yōkai are typically described as having spiritual or supernatural abilities, with shapeshifting being the most common trait associated with them.
Japanese folklorists and historians explain yōkai as personifications of "supernatural or unaccountable phenomena to their informants." In the Edo period, many artists, such as Toriyama Sekien, invented new yōkai by taking inspiration from folk tales or purely from their own imagination. 
==Summary==
The word "Youkai" is considered a term used to refer to all species of monsters, daemon, spirits, and faeries who featured in Asian mythologies. As such, all supernatural species that originated in the "Eastern world" - including East and South-East Asia, the Greater Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia - can all be considered youkai.
However, as time went on, the term became closely associated with Japan, to the point where it started to become synonymous with Japanese folklore and traditions. Because of this, many non-Japanese youkai distanced themselves from the term and used different names to call themselves, though not all youkai care enough to do this. The most notable of the differently named youkai are the Chinese youkai, who called themselves yaoguai (妖怪) to differentiate them from their Japanese brethren.
===The Daiyoukai===
Daiyoukai (大妖怪) is a term used to refer to youkai of immense intelligence and authority in comparison to the common youkai, whose power can range from Ultimate-class to God-class. Many daiyoukai were once feudal rulers over vast territories hidden beneath bounded fields, commanded armies of lesser youkai, and constantly waged war against each other to gain more power.
==Factions==
===Japanese Factions===
====Progressive Faction====
Progressive Faction, also called the West Youkai Faction, is the faction of youkai led by Yasaka Hakushin, a kitsune. Their main base is situated in Kyoto - as such, many also called them the Kyoto Faction - though their influence covers the entire western part of Japan. Members of this faction wish to re-open Japan's moonlit world to the outside in hopes of seeking peace and prosperity after the Fourth Holy War, as well as uniting all youkai groups in the country to create a unified Japan.
====Conservative Faction====
Conservative Faction, also called the East Youkai Faction, is the faction of youkai led by Yoshiiku Nura, a nurarihyon. Their main base is situated in the Kanto region - as such, many also called them the Kanto Faction - though their influence covers the entire eastern part of Japan. Members of this faction are traditionalists who wish to continue the isolation of Japan's moonlit world in fear of outsiders ruining Japanese traditions and culture. They are also famous for their yearly parade, known to mundanes as the Hyakki Yagyō led by the Nura Clan.
==Trivia==
*The word "youkai" means "strange apparition".
*Most of them hold hostile feelings against westerners.
*In many cultures, youkai are considered fallen gods and immortals.
*Celestial energy and the [Light] element are the weaknesses of many youkai.
*Many East and South-East Asian youkai factions are affiliated with the Celestial Bureaucracy.
*Due to their associations with the Three Factions, youkai in Central Asia and the Great Middle East are often not considered true youkai.
Category:Terminology
Category:Youkai
Category:Groups
Category:Species
Category:Classifications
Category:Japanese Mythology
Category:Chinese Mythology
Category:Asian Mythologies
Category:Monsters
Category:Daemon
Category:Spirits
Category:Faeries