The Genderuwo
In Javanese folklore, a huge, hairy, ape-like spirit lives in old trees and ruined buildings, and loves to play tricks on people.
What was reported
The genderuwo is a spirit of Javanese folklore, said to look like a large, dark, hairy ape or man, with red eyes and a strong smell. It lives in big old trees, especially banyans, in rocks, caves, and old empty buildings.
It's known for mischief: throwing stones at houses, hiding things, and frightening people at night. In some stories, it takes the shape of a woman's husband to deceive her.
Explanations offered
The genderuwo is one of many spirits in Javanese beliefs that mix older traditions with Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic influences. Folklorists see it as a way of explaining strange noises and misfortunes, and of keeping people away from lonely places at night. It often appears in Indonesian horror films.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Central Java, Indonesia
- Witnesses
- Javanese folklore
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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