Minokawa
A gigantic bird from Philippine mythology, the Minokawa has feathers as sharp as swords and a beak made of steel. It is believed to be able to swallow the moon, causing eclipses, and only a collective clamor from the people on Earth can startle it into spitting the moon back out.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Philippine folklore
- Region
- Philippines (place of origin)
- Kind
- Eclipse swallower
- Trait family
- The Storm-Winged
- Symbols
- Bird
Near this figure
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Bird is image-domain The bird denotes the soul and its flight between worlds, carrying aspiration, prophecy and divine essence, and moving freely where the earthbound cannot follow.
why
A gigantic bird from Philippine mythology, the Minokawa has feathers as sharp as swords and a beak made of steel.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Expandable swallowing mouth
why
it swallows the moon whole
- Giant wingspan
why
Its wingspan is said to blot out the stars, and the beating of its wings can cause hurricanes on the earth below.
Behaviour
- Pursues and tries to swallow the moon
why
It is believed to be able to swallow the moon, causing eclipses, and only a collective clamor from the people on Earth can startle it into spitting the moon back out.
- Startled into releasing swallowed moon by human clamor
why
The combined clamor of human voices, a cacophony of shouts, screams, and banging of pots and pans, is said to startle the Minokawa enough to make it release the moon from its steel beak.
- Wingbeats generate wind or storms
why
Its wingspan is said to blot out the stars, and the beating of its wings can cause hurricanes on the earth below.
Sight and sound
- Wingbeats blot out stars
why
Its wingspan is said to blot out the stars, and the beating of its wings can cause hurricanes on the earth below.
- Eyes blaze-like twin suns
why
The Minokawa's eyes are described as blazing like twin suns, capable of seeing across vast distances and perhaps even through time itself.
Omens
- Causes lunar or solar eclipse
why
Its very existence is intertwined with celestial phenomena, as it is believed to be the cause of lunar eclipses when it swallows the moon whole.
Offensive powers
- Storm summoning
why
Its wingspan is said to blot out the stars, and the beating of its wings can cause hurricanes on the earth below.
Utility powers
- Precognition
why
The Minokawa's eyes are described as blazing like twin suns, capable of seeing across vast distances and perhaps even through time itself.
Curses
- Causes natural disasters
why
It is believed to be able to swallow the moon, causing eclipses, and only a collective clamor from the people on Earth can startle it into spitting the moon back out.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Hero meets
2 citations
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Minokawa."