Tengu Coloring Pages

Mysterious Beings Living in the Mountains! Tengu!

Tengu are mysterious beings that people have long said live deep in the mountains of Japan. They have bright red faces, long pointed noses, and wear clothing just like Yamabushi, the people who train in the mountains.

Are There Different Types of Tengu?

There are a few types of Tengu! There is the Hanataka Tengu with the long nose that everyone knows well, and the Karasu Tengu with wings and a beak like a crow. Karasu Tengu are also famous for being great at sword fighting.

What Powers Do They Have?

It is said that Tengu have a mysterious power called Jintsuuriki. They can create big gusts of wind by waving their large feather fan (Hauchiwa), know secret things that no one else knows, and fly freely through the sky. People say they sometimes punish bad people, or help people who get lost in the mountains.

Things Tengu Carry

Tengu carry a few special items with them.

• Feather Fan (Hauchiwa): Shaped like a Japanese aralia leaf, it can make a huge wind when waved.
• Swords and Staves: Some Tengu even fight with swords or walking staves.

What Are Their Personalities Like?

Tengu are said to be very full of feeling and always super confident. That is why showing off and acting proud in Japanese is called "becoming a Tengu"! But in some places, people think of Tengu as god-like guardians who protect the peace of the mountains.

How to Choose Colors

Tengu has a mysterious feel and lots of strength, just like a mountain god! Let's pick the perfect colors for a Tengu like that.

• Face and Nose: When you think of a Tengu, you think of red! Use dark red for an angry face, or a bright vermilion orange for a gentle face.
• Hair, Eyebrows, and Beard: If you color them black or gray, your Tengu will look old and grand.
• Clothes (Mountain Monk Outfit):
  • Tokkin (Hat): Color the tiny black hat sitting on its head with black.
  • Kimono: Colors like yellow, mustard yellow, green, and blue look great on the kimono. Try looking at real mountain monk clothes for ideas!
• Feather Fan: These are usually made of green leaves. Mix in a little yellow or draw brown leaf veins to make it look real!
• Takageta (Tall Clogs): Since they are made of wood, let's color them brown or ochre.

Let's Show Powerful Textures!

Let's use your coloring to show the Tengu's mysterious power and grand feeling!

• If you draw hair and beard lines one by one with a black colored pencil, it will look super fluffy!
• If you trace the lines (veins) on the fan's leaves with a slightly darker green, it will look much more real!

How to Make it Look 3D: Think About "Shadows" and "Light"!

Let's make the Tengu's tall nose, its best feature, look popped out and 3D!

• Add shadows with a darker color (like brown or dark red) where the nose meets the face and on the sides. That will make the nose look really tall!
• If you color the wrinkles in the clothes with a slightly darker color, the clothes will look 3D, too!
• Try adding shadows under the eyebrows and under the chin as well.

Draw a Background to Make Your World Bigger!

Tengu lives deep in the mountains, so try drawing mountains in the background!

• Trees: Draw lots of trees using dark green and brown. Tall, straight trees like cedar trees look great!
• Sky: Sunset skies with orange and purple fit the Tengu's mysterious mood really well. A blue daytime sky is great, too!
• Rocks and Waterfalls: If you draw rugged rocks and rushing waterfalls, it will look like a tough mountain where a Tengu trains!

Tips for Enjoying Your Coloring Page!

You don't have to stick to old traditional Tengu colors! Color your very own original Tengu! A Tengu with a blue face or a Tengu in rainbow clothes would be super fun, too. The best thing to do is to color freely and have fun!