百鬼夜行

ひゃっきやぎょう
Alternative readings: ひゃっきやこう
Frequency:
1

A folkloric image of a nightly procession of monsters, spirits, and yokai—often depicted in Edo-period paintings.

NounYojijukugo

Examples

浮世絵には百鬼夜行の場面がしばしば描かれている。

Ukiyo-e often depicts scenes of the hyakki yakō (procession of a hundred demons).

夜道で奇妙な影を見て、思わず百鬼夜行を想像してしまった。

Seeing a strange shadow on the road at night, I couldn't help imagining a hyakki yakō.

2

Figuratively, a veritable pandemonium; a chaotic throng of people (or sinister characters) acting together, often implying mischief or evil.

NounYojijukugo

Examples

ネット掲示板は匿名の書き込みで百鬼夜行のようになっている。

The online forum has become like a hyakki yakō due to anonymous postings.

選挙後、街頭には野次や歓声が入り混じり、百鬼夜行の様相だった。

After the election, the streets were a mix of jeers and cheers—a scene of pandemonium.

そのイベントは管理が行き届かず、百鬼夜行のような騒ぎになった。

The event was poorly managed and turned into a chaotic uproar.