Regarding the Bunroku Keicho no eki War, it is said that the army led by Yoshihiro SHIMAZU was called 'Oni Shimazu' and was feared by the Ming army, but this 'Oni' is used as an expression of contempt for a worthless or disgusting man instead of implying bravery.
文禄・慶長の役の際、島津義弘の率いる軍勢を明軍は「鬼石曼子」と言って恐れたとの逸話においても「鬼」はその勇猛さよりも、つまらない奴や忌々しい奴という蔑視表現に使われる。