Menreiki is attested in the 1781 compendium Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro, where it is listed among many supernatural beings of the Edo-period yōkai encyclopedic tradition. Folkloric commentary connected the masks that compose Menreiki to ancient Gigaku masks associated in legend with Prince Shōtoku and the performer Hata no Kawakatsu; the entity is thereby culturally anchored to the world of early court performance and the material culture of Gigaku masks.
The classical attestation describes Menreiki as being composed of Gigaku masks (面, men) and associated spirit-energy (霊気, reiki) (Source 1). No detailed classical description of number, color, or precise arrangement of masks is recorded in the cited Edo-period entry. Modern media and character designs inspired by the motif commonly portray Menreiki-derived figures with multiple masks or wearing masks to express shifting faces or stored emotions (Sources 3, 5–7); these are contemporary creative representations rather than original folkloric descriptions.
The Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro entry records Menreiki's composition from Gigaku masks but does not enumerate specific powers or behaviors in the supplied materials (Sources 1, 4). Later popular-culture sources (games, manga, fan pages) portray Menreiki-inspired characters as having mask-related functions—storing or displaying emotions, mediating identity, or compelling others through mask rites—and invent event narratives in which masked participants are coerced into violence (Sources 3, 5–8). These attributes are modern fictional elaborations and are not attested as canonical abilities in the classical source.
Weaknesses
- otherNo classical weaknesses recorded
Wards
- otherNo documented traditional wards
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Community Record
- [1]Menreiki (Wikipedia). Wikipedia: Menreiki article summarizing classical attestation and modern referenceswiki
- [2]Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (Wikipedia). Wikipedia: article on the 1781 compendium that lists Menreikiwiki
- [3]Hata no Kokoro (character notes / modern media). Modern manga/game-derived character page noting a 'menreiki youkai' who relies on masks to communicate emotionsother
- [4]Onmyoji Official Site - SP Glorious Takiyashahime arrives. Official game news and event material that includes modern narratives using the Menreiki motifother
- [5]Karma Duet | Onmyoji (event coverage). Fan event summary describing an Onmyoji event storyline involving mask-related coercion attributed to a Menreiki figureother
- [6]Kagome’s Song | Onmyoji (event/skin coverage). Fan coverage of an Onmyoji event and skin themed around Menreiki; represents modern creative use of the motifother
- [7]Touhou fan art / sprite resources (Hata no Kokoro imagery). Modern sprite art and character asset showing creative representations of a Menreiki-inspired characterother
- [8]Tales of Yokai Tier List: Best Characters in the Game. Modern game coverage listing Menreiki-derived characters in contemporary games; reflects adaptation rather than classical loreother