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Wanyūdō (Japanese:輪入道, literally "wheel (輪) monk (入道)"), also known as "Firewheel" or "Soultaker",[1] is ayōkai depicted inToriyama Sekien's collection of yōkai illustrations,Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki. He is a relatively well-known yōkai; the earliest reports of him date back to theHeian period.[citation needed]
Wanyūdō takes the form of a burning ox cart wheel bearing the tormented face of a man. Various folklore purports him as the condemned soul of a tyrannicaldaimyō who, in life, was known for having his victims drawn on the back of an ox cart. He is said to guard the gates ofHell, and to wander back and forth along the road between this world and the underworld, scaring townsfolk as he passes and stealing the souls of anyone who gets too close in order to bring them to Hell with him.[2]
One of the most famous legends comes fromKyoto, Japan. As Wanyudo rolled through the town, a woman peeked out her window at him. Wanyudo told her "Instead of looking at me, have a look at your own child!"
She looked down at her baby to find him lying on the floor in a pool of blood with his legs missing.
When she looked back outside at the demon, she saw her baby's legs in his mouth as he ate them.[3]
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