onmyoji

Onmyoji are practitioners of onmyodo, a traditional Japanese system of cosmology, divination, and ritual that blends Chinese yin-yang philosophy, the five elements theory, and aspects of Taoism, Buddhism, and Shinto. Historically, onmyoji served as court diviners and spiritual advisers, interpreting omens, celestial events, and seasonal cycles to guide political decisions and public safety.

In the Heian period, a state bureau known as Onmyōryō oversaw astrological and divinatory work, calendar calculations, and ritual practices. Practitioners used talismans, incantations, and purification rites to protect the realm, ward off disasters, and exorcise malevolent spirits. The tradition acquired a wealth of legendary figures, among them Abe no Seimei, who became a central character in folklore and later popular media as a master onmyoji, though historical details about him are interwoven with myth.

Practice within onmyodo centers on a cosmology of yin and yang and the five elements, applied to calendar work, astrology, dream interpretation, and ritual timing. Rituals often employ talismans called ofuda, protective seals, and written charms to influence spirits, purify spaces, or repel misfortune. Exorcism and appeasement of yokai or restless spirits are common motifs, as are ceremonial purifications and the use of ritual tools and chants rooted in East Asian esoteric traditions.

Legacy and contemporary context: onmyodo continues to be studied as a historical and cultural tradition in Japan. It has a prominent presence in literature, film, and popular culture, where onmyoji are depicted as powerful sorcerers or spiritual specialists. In modern times, the practice exists mainly as a shaper of cultural heritage and fictional archetype, with occasional practitioners who preserve traditional rites in specific communities.