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− | |Alternate Names/Spellings= |
+ | |Alternate Names/Spellings= 河童, かっぱ, Kawatarō, Kawako, River Child |
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|Alignment = Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil |
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==Appearance== |
==Appearance== |
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Kappa are humanoid yōkai, about the size of a small child. They have slimy, reptilian skin, usually green in color, and a fishy odor. A kappa has frog-like feet and hands and a turtle-shaped beak and shell. However, kappa also have strange characteristics. Most famously, they have a dish-like spot on top of their head, full of vital fluid. If a kappa spills this, they shrivel up and die. Another strange thing is that the kappa's arms are connected inside their torso, so if one arm is pulled, the other one shrinks. Most peculiarly, the kappa has three anuses. |
Kappa are humanoid yōkai, about the size of a small child. They have slimy, reptilian skin, usually green in color, and a fishy odor. A kappa has frog-like feet and hands and a turtle-shaped beak and shell. However, kappa also have strange characteristics. Most famously, they have a dish-like spot on top of their head, full of vital fluid. If a kappa spills this, they shrivel up and die. Another strange thing is that the kappa's arms are connected inside their torso, so if one arm is pulled, the other one shrinks. Most peculiarly, the kappa has three anuses. |
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− | [[File:kappa.jpg|thumb|left| |
+ | [[File:kappa.jpg|thumb|left|242px]] |
==Behavior== |
==Behavior== |
Revision as of 15:51, 8 November 2013
Disclaimer: While it is the intention of the foremost members of this website to keep pages as mythologically accurate as possible, this site should not be taken fully as mythical, legendary or folkloric canon (let alone as a resource for any paper, report or journal). Cite pages at your own peril. |
Origins
The Kappa comes from Japanese folklore. There are three main theories about their origin. One theory states that the Kappa originally came from Chinese mythology, and later moved to Japan. Another theory is that they are based on misidentified sightings of the hanzaki, or Japanese giant salamander. Lastly, some believe that the Kappa is a nursery bogey used to keep children from drowning.
Appearance
Kappa are humanoid yōkai, about the size of a small child. They have slimy, reptilian skin, usually green in color, and a fishy odor. A kappa has frog-like feet and hands and a turtle-shaped beak and shell. However, kappa also have strange characteristics. Most famously, they have a dish-like spot on top of their head, full of vital fluid. If a kappa spills this, they shrivel up and die. Another strange thing is that the kappa's arms are connected inside their torso, so if one arm is pulled, the other one shrinks. Most peculiarly, the kappa has three anuses.