Knowledge Bank

A yamauba is an enigmatic woman living in the mountains. The Japanese narrative often equates a yamauba to a female oni (ogre/demon), sometimes devouring humans who unwittingly cross her path. A portrayal of yamauba in the medieval period is predominantly a witch-like white-haired hag. She is, however, not entirely negative or harmful as she is also credited with some nurturing aspects. By the end of the seventeenth century, yamauba came to be considered the mother of Kintarō, a legendary child with Herculean strength raised in the mountains. While yamauba have many attributes, the article will primarily discuss yamauba's less-known attribute of mindreading with a focus on "The Smile of a Mountain Witch" and how the mindreading trait may have come about.