King of the Waterfall Spirit
tah-kee RAY-oh
Sekien Iconographic Interpretation
An interpretive line anchored in Toriyama Sekien’s iconography, organizing the notion of Fudō Myōō’s epiphany at waterfalls as a yokai-encyclopedia entry. The title “Takiryōō” is treated as a pictorial theme, while the entity itself is viewed as a manifestation of Myōō devotion. It appears at waterfall basins across the provinces, subduing demons and malign influences, and is cited in miracle tales told by ascetics and pilgrims. Its virtue and demon-subduing nature take precedence over yokai-style terror, placing it closer to a divine spirit among strange phenomena. Concrete site names and dated incidents are scarce, with accounts drawn mainly from iconographic materials and temple origin narratives.