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Shikigami

Folklore
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Spirit servants summoned by onmyōji (Japanese occultists) to do their bidding

Detailed Definition
Shikigami can take animal or human form. In poetry, they symbolize control, the extension of will, and the risks of magical power, often used in esoteric or psychological contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
Shikigami, spirit familiars in Japanese magic, appear in esoteric poetry: "Shikigami folds from paper—flies to spy on enemies’ plans"; Poets use them to explore control and consequence: "Master’s will, but spirit’s price—shikigami may turn on hand that feeds"; In minimalist verse, they symbolize intention: "A crane of origami—shikigami carries thought to deed"; Their fragility inspires caution: "One wrong word, and shikigami burns—magic’s thread is thin and sharp"
Additional Notes
Shikigami: Spirit servants conjured by onmyōji (Japanese esoteric practitioners), often appearing as animals or paper figures. In folklore and pop culture (e.g., “Jujutsu Kaisen”), they reflect their master’s power. In poetry, they embody control, projection, and the ethics of summoning. Useful in metaphysical or psychological verse exploring agency, servitude, or the extension of will; note their link to tsukumogami (object spirits) for animist themes.
Also Known As
Shiki
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