The Four Perils

Kirinmaru: Konton (混沌), Totetsu ( 饕餮 ), Kyuki (穷奇), Tokotsu (梼杌). These 4 demons are based on Chinese mythical beasts of the same name, the Four Perils, otherwise known as the Four Evildoers. In the Zuo Zhuan and the Shanhaijing, they are defined as: the Hundun (混沌; Hùndùn; ‘chaotic torrent’), a yellow winged creature of chaos with six legs and no face; the Qiongqi (窮奇; Qióngqí; 'poor and strange’), a monstrous creature that eats people, consider the same in Japan as Kamaitachi the Taowu (檮杌; Táowù; 'stupid stump’), a reckless, stubborn creature; the Taotie (饕餮; Tāotiè; 'greedy glutton’), a gluttonous Creature; The above illustration comes from an interesting article that gives more details on the Four Perils. Each holds evil characteristics such as encouraging greed, distorting truth, and making wars. The evil beasts’ names are still often referred to as metaphors out of superstition.