Gagoze 元興寺

Gagoze (がごぜ), also known as Gangō or the Oni of Gangō-ji, is a terrifying demon-ghost whose legend is tied to one of Japan’s oldest and most sacred temples.

Meaning and Origin

The name Gagoze is actually a corruption of the name of the Gangō-ji temple in Nara.

The legend dates back to the 6th century (Asuka Period). It is said that a wicked servant of the temple died and, because of his lazy and sinful life, became a vengeful spirit that returned to haunt the temple grounds. Over time, “Gagoze” became a generic nursery-bogeyman term in some parts of Japan, used to warn children that a “monster from the temple” would get them if they misbehaved.

Characteristics

Gagoze is typically depicted as a hideous, crouched figure crawling on all fours, often wearing the tattered ruins of a monk’s robes. It has the facial features of an Oni (ogre)—with horns, fangs, and bulging eyes—but its movements are more like those of a predatory animal. Its presence is signaled by a heavy, oppressive atmosphere and the sound of something dragging its claws across the wooden floors of a temple.

Legends

The most famous story involves a young boy born with the strength of a thunder god. Apprentices at Gangō-ji had been mysteriously dying at night near the bell tower. The supernaturally strong boy volunteered to wait in the dark to confront the killer.

When the Gagoze appeared to snatch the boy, he grabbed the demon by its long hair. They struggled throughout the night, and as dawn broke, the boy pulled so hard that he ripped the entire scalp off the Gagoze’s head. The demon fled, leaving a trail of blood that led to the grave of the former temple servant. The stolen scalp was said to have been kept as a treasure at Gangō-ji for centuries as proof of the supernatural encounter.