How Old Is an Oni?

Despite the fact that Japanese oni were born about 1400 years ago and—depending on your belief system—never strictly walked the Earth, you have likely seen an oni demon.

Are oni born?

Oni Oni are born when truly wicked humans die and end up in one of the many Buddhist Hells, transformed into Oni. They become the ogreish and brutal servants of Great Lord Enma, ruler of Hell, wielding iron clubs with which they crush and destroy humans solely for enjoyment.

Can a human become an oni?

In some tales a person can become so wicked that they turn into an oni even before they die. According to Shinto myths, a part of the soul of either a deity or a mortal, known as an aramitama, can become an oni if that person or deity has been insulted or wronged in some way.