During the Heian period (794-1185), it is said that those who were called "onmyouji" made extensive use of spirits called "shikigami" to change their form into animals or other people, and even used them to curse others or to protect themselves from curses. This was called "using" the shikigami.
Shikigami were originally guardian deities of a divination method employed by onmyouji called "chokuban-uranai", which eventually came to be used themselves by the onmyouji.
Onmyouji manipulated shikigami as they wished by having the shikigami inhabit paper figures or grass in the shape of the shikigami, called shiki-ningyou, and substituting their forms for birds, animals, children, and so on.
They could also have them take care of their personal belongings and inflict curses on others.
Originally, shikigami were invisible, but it is believed that they looked like oni.
The famous onmyouji Abe no Seimei was said to have placed 12 shikigami under the Ichijou-modoribashi bridge in Kyoto, and be able to manipulate them with ease.
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