shikigami; familiar spirit used by onmyōji
A spirit or supernatural servant controlled by an onmyōji (陰陽師) in Japanese folklore. Often depicted as a small, paper-like creature or a powerful summoned being.
See also: 陰陽師
The onmyōji used a shikigami to exorcise the evil spirit.
Shikigami are often depicted as small figures made of paper.
陰陽師 is the practitioner who controls 式神; 式神 is the spirit servant itself.
Standard kanji spelling for this term.
Rarely used kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form.
From 式 (ceremony, ritual) + 神 (god, spirit). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with onmyōdō practices.