Out of all the mythical creatures in Japan, the most feared might just be the tengu. They are chimeric supernatural creatures with a human form amalgamated with beast-like features. The one most famous tengu is the Great Tengu, represented by the red long-nosed mask, which can be seen atop entrances so as to ward off evil spirits. The lore that makes the tengu quite terrifying is the fact that they are said to abduct humans. While this might be a horrific experience for some, others actually seek out the tengu as they are also said to be masters of the martial arts, and those who seek them aim to learn their secrets.
As the lore of tengu evolved throughout the centuries, many different forms of tengu took shape and people have been interested in ranking which one of these tengu is the most powerful of them all. So, here is a list from Linda Lombardi of Tofugu giving us all the details about the eight most powerful tengu and where they are said to be found in Japan. It also has a more extensive narrative of the legend and its origins as well as references about the tengu in pop culture.
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