yaomo

Yaomo (妖魔) is a Chinese term used to describe a broad category of malevolent supernatural beings, including demons, monsters, and other uncanny entities. The two characters combine yang meanings: 妖 (yao) for demon, enchantment, or spirit, and 魔 (mo) for demon or evil force. Together, yaomo function as a catch-all label for beings believed to threaten humans or disturb cosmic or moral order.

In traditional folklore and classical literature, yaomo appear as antagonists or obstacles encountered by heroes, immortals, and sages. They can be shapeshifters,Hybrids of animal and magical forms, undead creatures, or magical beings born from wrongdoing, magical experiments, or karmic imbalance. Daoist and Buddhist writings frequently frame yaomo as forces of corruption or temptation that exorcists, immortals, or skilled cultivators seek to restrain or defeat. Some tales use yaomo as allegories for inner vices or social dangers as well.

In later Chinese fiction, especially Ming and Qing novels and the broader wuxia and xianxia genres, yaomo are common adversaries or plot devices. They range from intelligent, morally complex foes to more straightforward posturing threats that drive action and battles. The category also extends to creatures created or empowered by magic, ritual, or cultivation practices.

In contemporary usage, yaomo remains a familiar term in fantasy literature, video games, comics, and film, where it is often translated as “demons and monsters.” The label continues to encompass a wide spectrum of non-human malevolent beings drawn from Chinese folklore and mythic imagination.