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Aswang is an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil creatures in Filipino folklore, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and transforming human-beast hybrids (usually dogs, cats, pigs). The aswang is the subject of a wide variety of myths, stories, arts, and films, as it is well known throughout the Philippines. [1] .
- What Is An Aswang?
- Characteristics
- Related Creatures
- Cultural Representation
- Explanations of The Myth
The Aswang (æ·swang) is a flesh-eating, shapeshifting monster. During the day, Aswangs appear as regular townspeople, though they may be observed by others to have reclusive habits or magical abilities. At night, Aswangs shift into eerie predatory forms and go hunting for human prey, preferring to feast on children and pregnant women above all else...
Physical Description
Varying horrible descriptions have been given of the Aswang’s appearance, but some recurrent traits stand out among all the different descriptions. Usually, the Aswang is a woman during the day. At night, however, it may appear as a bird, a pig, or a dog. No matter which animal form it takes, an Aswang will differ from a regular animal in various disturbing ways. Most Aswangs have long, proboscis-like tongues, and are frequently described as walking with their feet backward. They have also be...
Special Abilities
The Aswang’s most fearsome ability is its knack for blending in with its victims. During the day, Aswangs look and act just like regular people. Although they are generally shy and somewhat reclusive, they can have jobs, friends, and even families. During the night, Aswangs shift into a form that is better suited to hunting. Different regional versions of the creature are said to take different forms. The tik-tik and wak-wak become large birds, while the zegben (sometimes described simply as...
Weaknesses
The first step towards ridding a town of this deadly assailant is identifying the monster. There are several ways in which you can do this. Aswangs generally have bloodshot eyes, since they have been awake hunting all night. In addition, it is said that if you look directly into an Aswang’s eyes, your reflection will appear upside-down. The most common method of detecting Aswangs, however, involves using albularyos oil, a special oil made of coconuts and holy plants. This oil is said to boil...
The Aswang has a lot in common with western vampires, but there is no evidence to show that either creature inspired the creation of the other. Stories of the Filipino monster and of vampires probably evolved separately. Other monsters in Philippine folklore are more likely to be related to the Aswang. Both the wak-wak version of the Aswang and the...
Origin
The Aswang was born out of Philippine folklore, with stories of this terrifying creature dating back to at least the 16th century, when Spanish explorers created the first written record of monster. The explorers noted that of all the monsters in their folklore, the Aswang was the most feared by native people. The creature’s name comes from the Sanskrit word “asura,” which means demon. This terrifying monster is also sometimes called the tik-tik or the wak-wak. These names come from the sinis...
Famous Myths
Despite the fact that belief in this terrifying creature has spread throughout the Philippines, there aren’t many well-known individual stories. Instead, the Aswang’s fame is built on a collection of firsthand encounters, and almost everyone who claims to have seen this fabled creature has a slightly different report. Aswang mythology was formalized in the 1960s, when Maximo Ramos included a description of the monster in a book titled Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology.
Visual Arts
Drawings of the Aswang have populated Philippine folk art for centuries. Since its introduction to western culture, the creature has also begun to make appearances in western art. The Aswang Inquiry, an illustrated book by Gilda Cordero-Fernando, contains many paintings of the Aswang. Stage plays have also brought the mythology surrounding this creature into the spotlight, with Luna: an Aswang Romance and Tiktik: the Aswang Chronicles both showcasing the monster. Most recently, a documentary...
As fantastic as stories of the Aswang might seem, they may actually have been inspired by real life events. One theory is that native wildlife was the inspiration for the legends. The “tik tik” and “wak wak” hunting calls the monster is said to make are probably the calls of nocturnal birds. Bats, Tasmanian devils, and kagwang, an endangered specie...
Jan 16, 2024 · [*] The name Aswang comes from the Sanskrit word asura, which means demon. The story of this creature comes from Filipino folklore in the 16th century. It has been most frequently sighted in Visayas, southern parts of Luzon, and parts of Mindanao.
- January Nelson
The term “aswang” originated from the Filipino word “aso-wang,” meaning dog, because the beasts usually take the form of dogs. While these mythical creatures make for a terrifying bedtime story, historian and Professor Anthony Lim provides sociological and scientific explanations behind aswangs.
Oct 2, 2019 · The term “aswang” comes from “asin” (which means salt in English) and “bawang” (which means garlic in English). These kitchen items, which are believed to ward off the “aswang,” are placed on doors, windows and beams of houses.
May 14, 2024 · The Aswang is a complex and multifaceted creature in Philippine folklore, shaped by the intersection of indigenous and colonial influences. It embodies the nation’s history and collective psyche, reflecting societal concerns, anxieties, and moral complexities. The Aswang’s symbolism and powers are deeply rooted in the country’s cultural heritage.
Sep 6, 2024 · In the Philippines, a mythical creature called the aswang combines the horror of a shapeshifter with the most fearsome traits of vampires and werewolves — making this monster the most feared in all of the region’s folklore.
