Nue
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A nue (鵺) is a legendary creature found in Japanese folklore. It has the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the legs of a tiger, and a snake instead of a tail. A nue can also transform into a black cloud and fly around. Due to its appearance, it is sometimes referred to as a Japanese chimera.
Nue are bringers of misfortune and illness. One legend tells of the Emperor of Japan becoming sick after a nue took up residence atop his palace in the summer of 1153. After the samurai Minamoto no Yorimasa killed the creature, the emperor recovered.
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Trivia
- In the video game, Breath of Fire III, The very first boss in game is a Nue who is terrorizing the "starter town"
- Eating a nue is thought to cure hiccups.
- Nue are also a type of nocturnal blackbird native to Japan. They, too, are thought to bring bad luck.