Daiyōkai

A daiyōkai (大妖怪（だいようかい）, "Great demon") is a very powerful type of yōkai that is much stronger and smarter than common yōkai. Daiyōkai possess many different shapes and powers, with some being gigantic and inhuman in appearance, like Ryūkotsusei. Some have, or are able to assume, more human-like forms, e.g. Tōga and Sesshōmaru. It seemed that some daiyōkai became feudal rulers over vast territories, commanded armies of lesser yōkai, and constantly waged war against each other and humans alike. Most daiyōkai were supernaturally long-lived, possibly having even longer lifespans than the average yōkai.

During the series, most daiyōkai (except Tōga, Hōsenki I, Hōsenki II, and Tsukuyomaru) showed a haughty, arrogant, ruthless attitude towards other yōkai and humans, despising them for being weak in their opinion. They also saw themselves as invincible or even god-like, and were quite confident in their own skills and weapons, staying calm in even the most dire situations. Sesshōmaru was the only daiyōkai who seemed to have positively changed their point of view about humans in any sense as the series progressed.

Notable daiyōkai

Tōga † Sesshōmaru Sesshōmaru's mother Ryūkotsusei † Taigokumaru † Tsukuyomaru † Gatenmaru † Garamaru † Panther King † Tekkei † Princess Abi † Hōsenki I † Hōsenki II Hoshiyomi †

Shishinki † Hyōga † Menōmaru † Kaguya † Ryūra † Kyōra † Jūra † Gōra † Kirinmaru † Zero † Rion † Meidomaru † Riku (detachment from Kirinmaru) Osamu Kirin (detachment from Kirinmaru) †

Trivia

• A daiyōkai who has fully mastered their mind, body and spirit like Kirinmaru is capable of severing a body part and regrowing it; even the severed part can turn into an incarnation to serve them, if the daiyōkai so wishes.
  • This implies that when Naraku had all but six shards of the Shikon Jewel, he was already on this level of daiyōkai sorcery. Since Naraku already had full mastery of all three aspects, the dominant will of multiple demons latched onto Onigumo's soul.
  • Sesshōmaru is implied to have only mastered body and mind throughout most of the series, with his spirit mastery linked to his attachment to Tessaiga and hatred of Inuyasha. Once he accepted Inuyasha as the true successor to the blade, not only was Sesshōmaru able to regrow his long lost arm, but he manifested a blade of his own in it.
• Sesshōmaru and Menōmaru both looked down on the Shikon Jewel, claiming their powers are greater. A Rainbow Pearl is 1/7 of Zero's demonic power, and it took two to transform Mistress Three-Eyes similar to when Mistress Centipede ate the Shikon Jewel. Given this math, a daiyōkai is on average more than three times as strong as any powers the Shikon Jewel can grant.
• Hanyō born from a daiyōkai prove more powerful than ones born to average yōkai. For example, Inuyasha has shown power greater than those of average demons like Mistress Centipede or Shibugarasu even after they ate the Shikon Jewel.
• The daiyōkai who lead large hordes of demonic beasts go by the title of "Beast King" (獣王, "Jūō").

Species Yōkai Badger yōkai  •  Bakeitachi  •  Bat yōkai  •  Bear yōkai  •  Bird yōkai (Demon birds)  •  Boar yōkai  •  Bull yōkai  •  Horse yōkai  •  Kappa  •  Kawauso  •  Lizard yōkai  •  Monkey yōkai  •  Oni  •  Oyster yōkai  •  Qilin yōkai  •  Rat yōkai (Fire-rat)  •  Root yōkai  •  Shinidamachū  •  Tree yōkai  •  Turtle yōkai (Meiōjū) Canines Dog yōkai  •  Kitsune  •  Tanuki  •  Wild dog yōkai  •  Wolf yōkai Felines Cat yōkai  •  Bakeneko  •  Nekomata  •  Leopard cat yōkai  •  Tiger yōkai  •  Wildcat yōkai Insects Flea yōkai  •  Mantis yōkai  •  Moth yōkai (Yōkai moth)  •  Ōmukade  •  Parasite  •  Saimyōshō  •  Spider yōkai (Kumogashira)  •  Steel wasps Other Human  •  Hanyō  •  Ghost  •  Specter  •  Dragon  •  Kami  •  Demigod  •  Shikigami  •  Kugutsu