Thunder Beast - Raiju

Japanese: 雷獣 - らいじゅう

〘Noun〙 An imaginary monster. It is said to fall to the ground with a lightning bolt, make a thunder-like sound, split trees and harm people and animals. It is also another name for the Yellow Marten . It is said to live deep in the mountains and appear in villages when thunder rumbles. ※Horan Tensetsu (1795): "There is a being called the Thunder Beast (Raijyu) in the common language. It rides on the energy of thunder, and when lightning strikes, you can always see the marks of its claws." [Shanhaijing - Dahuang Dongjing]

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙想像上の怪獣。落雷とともに地上に落ち、かみなりのような声を発し、樹木を裂き人畜を害するという。また、黄貂(きてん)の異称。深山にすみ、雷鳴の時村里に出るとされるところからいう。※和蘭天説（1795）「世俗に云ふ雷獣(ライジウ)と云者あり、雷気を禀て乗じ、雷落れば必ず其獣の爪の跡を見る」〔山海経‐大荒東経〕

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