Kintōun
Kintōun, also spelled Kinto'un or Kinto-un, (jap. "flying cloud", 筋斗雲) are the result of a spell, talisman or similar means that conjures a solid, rideable cloud which is used by Japanese witches and wizards as a means of transportation.
History and Conception
The idea of magic clouds, or "unmo" (雲母) in Japanese, dates back to ancient times and is found in various folk tales and legends. The concept of Kintōun specifically, as a magical cloud that can be ridden like a horse, is believed to have originated in China and was later adopted into Japanese mythology.
According to legend, the first Kintōun was created by a powerful sorcerer named Kannon, who used his mastery of magic to enchant a simple cloud sometime between the 2nd and 1st century BCE.
The concept of Kintōun was popularized in Japanese culture through the famous novel "Journey to the West," which was written in the 16th century. In the story, the character Sun Wukong, a monkey king, was able to summon the cloud as a mode of transportation. The Kintōun eventually became a popular motif in Japanese art, literature, and mythology, and continues to be a beloved element of Japanese folklore and pop culture today.
Interestingly, although the Kannon was likely inspired by Chinese folklore when they created the first Kintōun, such clouds were never actually used by Chinese wizards.