In Japanese folklore and mythology, is the mythical king and god of the tengu, legendary creatures thought to inhabit the mountains and forests of Japan. Sōjōbō is a specific type of tengu called daitengu and has the appearance of a yamabushi, a Japanese mountain hermit. Daitengu have a primarily human form with some bird-like features such as wings and claws. The other distinctive physical characteristics of Sōjōbō include his long, white hair and unnaturally long nose.
Sōjōbō is said to live on Mount Kurama. He rules over the other tengu that inhabit Mount Kurama in addition to all the other tengu in Japan. He is extremely powerful, and one legend says he has the strength of 1,000 normal tengu.
Sōjōbō is perhaps best known for the legend of his teaching the warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune (then known by his childhood name Ushiwaka-maru or Shanao) the arts of swordsmanship, tactics, and magic.
Etymology
alt=|right|thumb|Tengu statue at Mount Kurama
Most tengu are referred to impersonally. Sōjōbō is an exception and is one of the tengu that are given personal names and recognised as individual personalities.
The name Sōjōbō originates from Sōjōgatani, the valley at Mount Kurama near Kibune Shrine associated with the Shugenja. It is in this valley that Ushiwaka-maru trained with Sōjōbō in legend. Sōjōgatani means Bishop's valley or Bishop's vale. The name of this valley is derived from the ascetic Sōjō Ichiyen.
The are ascetics from the Shugendō tradition. incorporates elements of many religious traditions, including Buddhism. Both tengu and yamabushi had a reputation for dwelling in the mountains. Yves Bonnefoy suggests that this contributed to the folk belief that yamabushi and tengu were identical or at least closely connected.
Other names
Sōjōbō is also referred to by other names and titles that function as names. Sōjōbō is sometimes called the Kurama tengu. This name references Sōjōbō's mountain home, Mount Kurama. Ronald Knutsen refers to Sōjōbō by the title of Tengu-san. For example, James de Benneville refers to Sōjōbō using the term goblin-king. Sometimes, Sōjōbō is named using both a title and a reference to Mount Kurama. The Noh play Kurama-Tengu, for example, features a character named Great Tengu of Mount Kurama.