World culture is loaded with tales of mythological monsters and horrors of all shapes and sizes. However, some of these creatures tend to hog the spotlight. Many have heard stories of dragons, yeti, and minotaurs, but there are all kinds of terrors lurking in the stories from cultures across the planet. Explore some of the more bizarre mythological monsters you might not know, and take a moment to indulge in some truly fascinating explorations of humankind’s collective imagination.
Mythological Monsters: The Kumiho
Foxes play a large part in many of the folktales around Asian nations like China and Japan. However, it is the Korean tale of the Kumiho that is most intriguing. According to legends from Korea, the Kumiho is a shapeshifter that most often takes the form of a fox. The distinct feature of the fox is that instead of the traditional single tail, it has a collection of nine tails. The reason Kumiho are considered mythological monsters is that they can shapeshift into a human form, but the process requires the consumption of 100 human livers.
The stories of the Kumiho vary by time period, as newer elements are still being introduced to its mythology. One popular tale suggests the Kumiho is trapped within a painting where it is depicted as a fox with a single tail. To release the monster, a person viewing the painting must add the other eight tails to the fox, which seems a decent way to caution anyone away from defacing artwork.
Koschei the Deathless
Koschei the Deathless is a creature that appeared in many ancient Slavic tales, and its story is quite intriguing. Dating back to the twelfth century, stories of Koschei never truly paint a full picture of who or what the creature is. Some claim Koschei to be a heartless giant, others a human revolutionary. However, all stories state Koschei is immortal and impossible to kill. This is because the soul of the creature is not found within the body. Instead, it is hidden in an item that is impossible to find.
Several famous stories state Koschei’s soul is kept in a sewing needle. However, the needle is not always found in the same place. In one story it is hidden in an egg carried by a duck that flies away whenever someone approaches. Another suggests the needle is buried in a haystack on the most dangerous magical island no sensible person would dare to go.
Mythological Monsters: Patupaiarehe
Supernatural entities that protect the land are quite common in many world myths. According to the Māori of New Zealand, the patupaiarehe are such creatures. The stories of these beings state they are human-like in many ways, but with pale skin and reddish hair. The entities are said to exist in deep forests and valleys, where they spend their days and nights playing bog flutes. Though they typically stay away from humans, many stories state the patupaiarehe will become very hostile when uninvited humans step foot on their lands.
Uchchaihshravas
This list started with a fox with nine tails and will come to an end with a seven-headed horse. In the mythology of India, Uchchaihshravas was a flying horse that had seven heads and a powerful roar. In fact, the roar of Uchchaihshravas was said to be so loud and fierce, it would cause anyone unlucky enough to hear it to go deaf. Though threatening in appearance and ability, the stories usually tell of Uchchaihshravas as a steed to various king gods and not a beast likely to harm humans.
Whether the stories are new or familiar, hearing about the many monsters of world myth can be quite fascinating. The more you explore these fascinating tales, the more can be understood about the shared beliefs and fears of human beings.