Hanyō

A is a supernatural being who is part human and part demon. Hanyō are usually the child of a demon and a human, though humans can be transformed into hanyōs. Due to their dual nature, hanyō are often subject to prejudice from both human and yōkai societies because of the mutual hatred between both respective species.

Creation
There are two different ways to become a hanyō:
 * Natural Hanyō Birth: When a demon and a human procreate, this results in a hybrid offspring of a yōkai and a human. Apparently, in most cases, the father is a yōkai and the mother is a human.
 * Demonic Merging: Humans can turn themselves into hanyōs by merging their physical forms with that of a demon or demons. The most prominent example of such a half-demon is the spider hanyō Naraku.

It is more common for someone to be born a half-demon than to be unnaturally transformed into one.

Physiology and Psychological Characteristics
Even at birth, hanyō show physical signs of their yōkai roots (e.g. unusual eye or hair colors, abnormal skin tones, and even physical abnormalities). For example, Inuyasha had silver hair and dog ears, a trademark of his inu-yōkai heritage, and the half-demon children of Hōrai Island had unusual hair colors and physical peculiarities (i.e. pointed ears or horns). While half-demons can be born with rather human-like features, their are some like Jinenji who are far more "monstrous" in appearance. Certain half-demons can even display usual mannerisms and characteristics that pertain to their demonic heritage; for example, Inuyasha was known to perform dog-like actions (i.e. getting down on his hands and knees with his nose to the ground, using his foot to scratch his ear, playing fetch, shaking himself dry, and even growling).

The unnatural type of hanyō, formed by the merging of humans and demons, have almost completely human forms due to being originally human. However, their true form is primarily an amalgamation of demons fused together because they are essentially a colony of demons inhabiting a human body.

Powers and Abilities
The strength of hanyōs is remarkably varied, though they are normally stronger than ordinary mortals and more powerful half-demons can even stand on equal ground with full-fledged demons. Apparently the extent of a half-demon's power is a reflection of the power of their demonic parent. For example, the half-demon Inuyasha was exceptionally powerful, being the son of a powerful daiyōkai, and could dispatch most low-tier demonic foes with ease.
 * Enhanced Condition: A common ability amongst half-demons is inhuman strength, speed, endurance, resilience and/or recuperation. A half-demon can display any combination of these physical enhancements or the lack thereof. While Inuyasha had enhanced strength and could rapidly recover from injuries sustained on his body, Jinenji, while having inhuman strength in proportion to his size, did not seem to be able to heal rapidly.
 * Unique Powers: Many hanyō also have special powers that are rare or unique, depending on what kind of yōkai their parent is. For instance, Inuyasha has sharp claws and can use his demonic power to solidify his blood for offensive attacks. Shiori can also create powerful barriers whereas Ai was implied to have some type of underwater adaption, given how she apparently swam the distance from the Hōrai Island to the mainland in a relatively short span of time.
 * Longevity: Half-demons can be supernaturally long-lived. Before being sealed to the Tree of Ages, Inuyasha was over a century old, but he maintained the vitality of a fifteen year-old.
 * Transformation: Many half-demons seem to shape-shift between their human form in their demonic form when certain conditions are met. However, most half-demons do not have the ability consciously control these transformations.

Weaknesses

 * Demonic Blood: In times of great fear or when their life is in danger, a hanyō can be overwhelmed by their demonic blood, becoming a pure-blooded demon. In this form, they benefit from increased demonic powers and the extent of this enhancement is dependent on the yōkai from which they are descended from. Inuyasha is the only hanyō that has ever experienced this transformation, and as a yōkai he is wild, cruel, and ruled by a violent blood lust.
 * Power Loss: According to Myōga, all half-demons are subject to certain times when they lose their supernatural powers as demons and are rendered no stronger than any ordinary human. For example, Inuyasha lost his demonic powers during the night of the new moon whereas Izumo lost his superhuman powers during the day at sunrise. Half-demons formed by the amalgamation of demons and humans can apparently choose this period of weakness. Naraku was known to choose when he experienced a loss of power and would expel weaker portions of his physical form to grow in strength.
 * Spiritual Power: Hanyō are susceptible to the powers of spiritual energy. This is inclusive of mystical objects such as sacred arrows, arrows of sealing, sutras, and the beads of subjugation.

Known Hanyō
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By birth

 * Inuyasha
 * Izumo
 * Jinenji
 * Shiori

Hōraijima children

 * Ai
 * Asagi
 * Dai
 * Moegi
 * Roku
 * Shion

By unnatural means
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 * Naraku
 * Sara Asano
 * Tsubaki

Trivia

 * The term "Half-breed" is used as an offensive term for hanyō.
 * In the movie, InuYasha: Fire on the Mystic Island, there is a secret haven known as Hōrai Island where yōkai and humans lived together in peace, raising many hanyō offspring who were accepted by all.
 * According to the miko Lady Kanade in InuYasha the Movie: Fire on the Mystic Island, the spiritual power a human possesses normally clashes with the demonic power of a demon, in half-demons this power merges and produces a unique synergy of these powers.