Jung Li Kan: Chin. Myth. The first of the eight Immortals.

He has the power, beside

others, of flying through the air. (Chin. Volksmarchen, p. 69.)
Juno: Class. Myth. Wife of Zeus, daughter of Saturn, and the goddess of marriage. The
Greeks called her Hera. Poets consider her to have been a haughty, jealous and vin-
dictive woman.
Jupiter: Rom. Myth. An ancient god of the Heavens, corresponding to the Greek Zeus
(q.v.).
Jurjin: Jap. Myth. A god of luck, a variation of Fukurokuju.
Juventas: Class. Myth. A nymph who was turned into a fountain by Zeus. This fountain
is said to have the property of rejuvenating anyone bathing in it.
K
Ka-di: Babyl. Myth. A patron deity of Dur-ilu, a town situated near the Elamitic frontier.
Kagu-tsuchi: Jap. Myth. A god of fire. In giving birth to him Izanami was burnt so that
she sickened, and lay down and died. Izanagi, in his grief and rage, slew him, thereby
generating a number of other deities, two of whom Take-mika-tsuchi and Futsumushi
were favourite objects of worship in later times. (ASTON, Shinto, p. 23).
Kli: Hind. Myth. Devi in her malignant form is usually designated by the name of Kali,
"the black"; she is portrayed as dripping with blood, encircled with snakes and adorned
with skulls. (For a description, see Ethnologie du Bengale, P. 57, quoting S. C. BOSE,
The Hindus as they are, p. 137.)
Kliya: Hind. Myth. A king of the serpents who was subjugated by Krishna (q.v.).
Kma: Hind. Myth. A god of love corresponding to our Cupid. He is represented as a
beautiful youth riding a parrot and attended by nymphs. He carries a bow of sugar-
cane with a bowstring of bees, and each arrow is tipped with a flower. cf. Cupid, Eros.
Kma-dhenu: Hind. Myth. The cow which grants all desires. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 147.)
Kami: The ordinary Japanese word for god. It is applied to many other things besides
deities, such as nobles, the authorities, etc. The Kami "are high, swift, good, rich, living,
but not infinite, omnipotent and omniscient. . . Not only human beings, but birds,
beasts, plants, trees, seas and mountains and all other things whatsoever which
deserve to be dreaded and revered for the extraordinary and pre-eminent powers
which they possess, are called Kami." (ASTON, Shinto,, pp. 5 seq.)
The Kamis possess two essential qualities without which it would be impossible to
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recognise them as deities, viz., sentiency and super-human power. They are of two
classes: Nature-gods and Man-gods; the first as a result of personification, the second
of deification. Almost any Kami may send rain, bestow prosperity in trade, avert or cure
sickness, or cure sterility, and so on.
Kamu-musubi: Jap. Myth. Divine growth." A god of Growth.
Kappa: A Japanese water-demon who swallows boys who go down to swim without
leave. (CONWAY, Demonology, Vol. I, P. 112.)
Karlagatch: A little bird whose tail is always twitching. If you keep this tail about you, it
will ward off ill luck. (Turkestan.--SCHUYLER, Vol. II, P. 30.)
Kasyapa: A Vedic sage to whom some hymns are attributed. All authorities agree in
assigning to him a large part in the work of creation. (DOWSON, H.C.D., p. 153.)
As this word means "tortoise," all creatures are said to be descendants of Kasyapa.
Katie King: One of the best known examples of the modern materialization theory. With
Florence Cook of Hackney as medium, Cook materialized (?) the spirit of Katie King,
so that she appeared in human form. For a full description of this interesting experi-
ment, vide Materialization of Katie King; PODMORE, Modern Spiritualism, Vol. II, P.
154, etc.; and for an explanation, LEHMANN, Aberglaube und Zauberei, P. 327, etc.
Kaya-nu-hime: "Reed-lady." A Japanese goddess.
Kebhsnauf : Vide Qebhsnauf.
Kephu: It is the Karen wizard's stomach going forth in the shape of a head and entrails
to devour the souls of men, so that they die. It corresponds to our own vampire (q.v.).
(CROSS, Karens, p. .312.)
Ker: Gr. Myth. A ghost or disembodied soul, often represented as a winged mannikin.
Frequently he was an avenging spirit, a spreader of disease and pollution. (Pl. Keres.)
Keraunia: "thunder-bitten an epithet of Semele.
Ketu: Hind. Myth. A monster who causes an eclipse by devouring the moon the is rep-
resented as being red in colour (CROOKE, P.R.I., vol. I, p. 19; Ethnologie du Bengale,
p. 102). cf. Rahu, Maboya, Aracho.
Key: The iron keys of a synagogue placed under the pillow of a dying child release him
from death's grasp. (Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p. 486.)
A key kept under the pillow of a sleeping child protects him from the machinations of
evil spirits and witches. (India.) Vide Knife, Iron, Scissors.
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Keyhole: This is one of the favourite entrances of a mara. (SIMROCK, Mythologie, P.
545; WUTTKE, p. 161.) cf. Knothole.
Kha: The Arabic letter Kha, representing khair "good," is considered lucky by the
Muhammedans. (MEAKIN, The Moors. P. 356.) cf. Shin.
Khabish: An Indian demon who resembles the Masan (q.v.) in his malignant nature and
his fondness for burial grounds. (CROOKE, P.R.I., Vol. 1, P. 260.)
Khon pa: Siamese: Men of the Wood"--apes. cf. Monkey, Banmanush.
Khu: (Pl. Khuu). Egypt. Myth. The demons. A khu is generally a wretched, wandering,
unhappy, hungry being, a sort of outcast from the great crowd of the dead and other
spirits. The Khuu of women dying in childbirth aim especially at causing infants to die.
The Khuu of suicides, executed criminals and shipwrecked sailors are partly tormented
and miserable. They appear suddenly to terrify the living, preferably in the neighbour-
hood of cemeteries, cause innumerable ills, violate women in lonely places, cause ani-
mals to die, in order to satisfy their craving for flesh.
"A Khu is a shining translucent part of the spiritual economy of a man which dwelt with
his soul in the Sahu or spiritual body."--BUDGE, Book of the Dead, Vol. 1, p. lxii. cf.
Incubus, Succubus, Jhoting, Cuichi Supai, Tululu Supai, Ignis Fatuus.
Khwan: Chin. Myth. A fish of enormous length and breadth dwelling in that dark and
vast ocean in the North, called the Pool of Heaven. The fish sometimes changes itself
into a bird called Phang. (Writings of Kwang-tze, Bk. I, Pt. I, 3.)
Kincardines: This family has the apparition of the Bloody Hand.
King: To dream of a King denotes gain, honour, and joy. (For other superstitions, see
ELWORTHY, E.E., P. 426, seq.; SIR J. G. FRAZER, The Magic Art).
Kingfisher: A kingfisher hanged by the bill shows what quarter the wind is by converting
the breast to that point of the horizon whence the wind blows. (BRAND, Observations,
Vol. III, P. 240.)
The cry of a kingfisher, heard on the right, indicates success in business; if on the left,
it is an evil omen (Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 113; cf. ELLIS, Ewe-speaking Peoples, p.
96.)
Kirin: Corean Folklore. It has the body of a deer and the tail of an ox. On its forehead is
a single soft horn. It is said never to tread on or injure any living being; it is the emblem
of perfect rectitude. It is considered as the noblest form of animal creation, and its
appearance on earth is regarded as a happy omen. (GRIFFIS, Corea, P. 303.)
Kirkegrim: In Danish superstition it is a Nisse attached to a church.
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Kiss: If a lady dons a gentleman's hat, it is a sign that she wants to be kissed.
(BERGEN, C.S., p. 63.)
If you dream you are kissing a pretty maid, it shows you have some evil design. Vide
Dress, Lip, Prick.
Kite: To cure rheumatic pains kill a kite on a Tuesday, cut up the bones and tie them to
the affected part; this brings about an immediate cure. (CROOKE, P.R.I., Vol. II, P. 250;
Panjab Notes and Queries, III, 81.)
The flesh of a kite gives keen eyesight.
Kite's foot is worn in South Africa to give swiftness to the feet. (TYLOR.)
Kitsune-tsuki: The fox-possession of Japan.
Kitten: To dream of kittens denotes the birth of children.
Kla: The vital soul among the Gold Coast negroes is called by this name. Vide Sisa.
Klabautermann: In German folklore this is the name of the guardian spirit of the ship.
He dwells in the mast and warns the sailors of any imminent danger by certain noises.
(BASSETT, P. 152 et seq.)
Klausenberg: A ruin of a castle in Germany, said to be haunted by a female spirit of a
malicious type.
Klekanicek: In Bohemia this is a kind of spirit which gets hold of children remaining out
of doors after the Ave Maria has been rung. (GROHMANN, P. 15.)
Klekanitsa: Moravian Folklore. A spirit who stalks around after the evening chimes and
entraps children she still finds out of doors. cf. Klekanicek, Bubak, Bogey.
Klytemnestra: Gr. Myth. Wife of Agamemnon, symbolic of seductive sensation nature
allied to the desire mind. (GASKELL, D.S.L.S.M., P. 435.)
Knee: If your knee itches, you are jealous. (Boston, Mass.)
Elephants have no knees.
Knife: Crossed knives denote a quarrel. (Great Britain, India.)
If you let a knife accidentally drop on the floor, it is a sign that you will receive a visit
from a gentleman. (Great Britain.)
In Transylvania they will carefully see that no knife is left lying with the sharp edge
upwards so long as a corpse remains in the house, or else the soul will be forced to
ride on the blade. (ELWORTHY, E.E., P. 223.)
Jack-o'-Lanterns may be driven away by throwing a knife or a key at them. (Silesia,
Mecklenburg.--WUTTKE, P. 220; THORPE, Northern Mythology.)
When a gust of wind lifts the hay in the meadow, the Breton peasant throws a knife or
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a fork at it to prevent the devil from carrying off the hay. (SEBILLOT, Coutumes popu-
laires de la Haute.-Bretagne, PP. 302 seq.) Vide Razor, Sharpening, Drink.
Knock: Three loud and distinct knocks at the bed's head of a sick person, or at the
bed's head or door of any of his relations, is an omen of his death. (TYLOR, P.C., Vol.
I, P. 132.)
If on three successive nights a knocking be heard at midnight at the door of a house, it
is a sure sign of death. (DEANEY, Peasant Lore from Gaelic Ireland, PP. 55-60); or, in
Scotland, three knocks at regular intervals of one or two minutes foretell the same
(GREGOR, P. 203.).
To knock on the door and receive no answer is a sign of death. (Virginia, Englewood.-
BERGEN, C.S., p. 126.)
To hear a knock at the door and not to find the person knocking is an indication that the
Devil has just entered. (Great Britain.)
Knocker: A spirit or goblin imagined to dwell in mines and to indicate the presence of
ore by knocking. (HUNT, Pop. Rom.)
"In the Cardigan mines, the knockers are still heard, indicating where a rich load may
be expected."-Chambers' Journal, II, 371-2 (1885.)
Knot: If two persons break a piece of cotton with a knot in it, it denotes the fulfilment of
a wish for the person who gets the piece with the knot. (Great Britain.)
Witches were said to have had the power of making a marriage childless by tying a
knot in a piece of string. (LEHMANN, A.Z., p. III; FRAZER, G.Bl.,Vol. I, P. 392 seq.).
If you are making a shroud, avoid knots. (WUTTKE, p. 210 ; Jew. Enc., Vol. XI, p. 601.)
Vide Wart.
Knothole: Knotholes in a piece of wood used for doors, etc., are the favourite entrances
of fairies, maras and other nocturnal spirits. (Cf. SIMROCK, Mythologie, P. 545 ;
GRIMM, D.M.; THORPE, Northernt Mythology; HARTLAND, Science of Fairy Tales;
WUTTKE, P. 161,)
Kobold: German Folklore. A familiar spirit haunting houses and rendering services to
the inmates, but often of a tricky disposition.
Sometimes they are also underground spirits haunting mines and caves.
Kobud: The Wend name for a goblin.
Kokunochi: "Trees-father." A Japanese god of the tree.
Koma : It is the "shade" of the Wanika of East Africa, which cannot exist without food or
drink. (KRAPF, P. 150; TYLOR, P.C., Vol. I (?) P. 27.)
Konshana-Sakuya-hime: "The lady who blossoms like the flowers of the trees."
Daughter of a Japanese Mountain-god, wife of Ninigi.
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Kornmutter: "Corn-mother it is a Teutonic field-spirit in human form.
Kornwolf: "Corn-wolf; the name of a German field-spirit.
Kotavi, Kotari, Kottavi: Hind. Myth. A naked woman; a mystical goddess the tutelary
deity of the daityas, mother of Bana the demon. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 159.)
Kra: The vital soul among the Gold Coast negroes. Another spelling for Kla.
Kravyad: Hind. Myth. "A flesh-eater." A Rakshasa or any carnivorous animal. In the
Vedas, Agni is in one place called a Kravyad of terrible power. Fire is also a Kravyad in
consuming bodies on the funeral pyre. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 160.)
Kriemhild: Niebenlungenlied. The beautiful sister of Gunther, King of Burgundy, who
becomes the wife of Siegfried. After Siegfried's death she marries Etzel, King of the
Huns. Later, she brings about the slaughter of her kinsmen, the Burgundians, as a
revenge for Hagen's murder of Siegfried.
Kriksy: Russian Folklore. A hag who torments children by night.
Krishna: Hind. Myth. The eighth Avatar of Vishnu, and one of the most widely wor-
shipped deities of the Hindus. He is said to have been brought up by the cowherds as
one of them. He is reputed to have dictated the Bhagvat Gita, while Arjuna wrote it
down; he is the hero of innumerable exploits.
His body is supposed to have been turned blue from the poison of Kaliya, king of the
serpents, whom he subjugated by standing on his head.
Kuda: The demon of disease of Jewish superstition, which attacks women in childbirth.
(Jew. Enc., vol. IV, P. 517.)
Kukuchi: A Japanese god of trees, who represents a class (ASTON, Shinto, p. 11.)
Kuni no mihashiren: Jap. Myth. "August pillar of earth." A wind-god who is prayed to for
good harvest.
Kuvera: Hind. Myth, God of wealth.
Kyffhauser: German Legend. Barbarossa is said to sit at a marble table in Kyffhauser.
Kyklopes: The correct spelling for Cyclops.
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