User:Flamingspinach/Drafts/Mazoku

Mazoku (魔族) is a Japanese term variously describing races of beings acting in opposition to humanity or the gods, and is used primarily in mythology and fiction.

Mazoku in Myth and Legend
The word "mazoku" is not found in general Japanese dictionaries such as Kōjien, but it can be found in Japanese literature discussing myths and legends, denoting entities which oppose the gods or bear malice towards humans. The asuras of Indian mythology and the daevas of Zoroastrianism are prime examples of races that are referred to as mazoku. In polytheistic settings, the term can be regarded as the antonym of "shinzoku" (神族), which denotes a race of gods or godlike beings, and indeed it is common for the struggle between "mazoku" and "shinzoku" to be depicted in fiction (see below).

Mazoku in Fiction
Races termed "mazoku" appear frequently in fantasy-based fiction. The definition of the word "mazoku" in these contexts depends on the work, and while it is possible to use the word as a general term for any races of beings (such as demons, yōkai, monsters, etc.) that stand against mankind and the gods, there are also cases where it refers to a single race in particular. Even in such a case, the exact identity of that single race varies from work to work, and though it's possible for the individual members of the "mazoku" race to all conform to a single physical description, it's also possible that they may be depicted as consisting of all manner of beings, such as demihumans, therianthropes, and others, all grouped into a single race.