Ghost

Meaning & Symbolism

Unresolved attachment, vengeance, lingering emotion. Yurei are spirits trapped between worlds by powerful emotions — love, jealousy, or desire for revenge.

The Story

Unlike Western ghosts, yurei have specific visual conventions — white burial kimono, long disheveled black hair, limp hands, no feet (floating). Famous yurei include Oiwa (from Yotsuya Kaidan) whose husband poisoned her, and Okiku who counts plates endlessly at the bottom of a well.

Traditional Placement

Best Seasons

Compatible Motifs