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This should summarize the factual part of [http://mukade.bungie.org/cgi-bin/mukade/ikonboard.cgi?s=9e8aa20d57c34eac9667af23bc1dad84;act=ST;f=1;t=38 Oni Name Translations, kanji and other Japanese stuff] (a thread on [http://mukade.bungie.org/cgi-bin/mukade/ikonboard.cgi Oni Central Forum]) | This should summarize the factual part of [http://mukade.bungie.org/cgi-bin/mukade/ikonboard.cgi?s=9e8aa20d57c34eac9667af23bc1dad84;act=ST;f=1;t=38 Oni Name Translations, kanji and other Japanese stuff] (a thread on [http://mukade.bungie.org/cgi-bin/mukade/ikonboard.cgi Oni Central Forum]) | ||
Unless mentioned otherwise, it's [[User:Geyser|geyser]] speaking. Occasional quotes of reference material are in ''italics''. | Unless mentioned otherwise, it's [[User:Geyser|geyser]] speaking. Occasional quotes of reference material are in '''''bold italics'''''. | ||
==Meaning of Oni== | ==Meaning of Oni== | ||
===Russian Oni : Them=== | ===Russian Oni : Them=== | ||
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Just as the Buddhist ONI connect to Christian imps, this other theme connects to Western (Greek, Medieval, Slavic) heroes and the mythological beasts they slay. | Just as the Buddhist ONI connect to Christian imps, this other theme connects to Western (Greek, Medieval, Slavic) heroes and the mythological beasts they slay. | ||
As opposed to the Buddhist "imps", this is "pagan" mythology, close to the fantasy/epos genre, but little or not related to religion. For one thing, artistic representations of those (not too human) ONI are absent in architecture etc. A few stories involving them : | As opposed to the Buddhist "imps", this is "pagan" mythology, close to the fantasy/epos genre, but little or not related to religion. For one thing, artistic representations of those (not too human) ONI are absent in architecture etc. A few stories involving them : | ||
;Rashoumon gate:''[Taken from one of the stories of the demon-hunter, Raiko.] While in Kyoto, he and his five retainers heard tale of an oni that lived inside the great gate Rashoumon, the southern gate on the main road through Kyoto. One of his retainers, Watanabe, volunteers to see if this is true, and if so, slay the oni and hang a talisman with all of their names on the gate's handle. Sure enough, he encounters an oni there, but only succeeds in severing one of its arms and driving it off.'' | ;Rashoumon gate:'''''[Taken from one of the stories of the demon-hunter, Raiko.] While in Kyoto, he and his five retainers heard tale of an oni that lived inside the great gate Rashoumon, the southern gate on the main road through Kyoto. One of his retainers, Watanabe, volunteers to see if this is true, and if so, slay the oni and hang a talisman with all of their names on the gate's handle. Sure enough, he encounters an oni there, but only succeeds in severing one of its arms and driving it off.''''' | ||
;Redemption smiles:A short [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/bok/kentaro fantasy story] with a well-depicted oni hunt. | ;Redemption smiles:A short [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/bok/kentaro fantasy story] with a well-depicted oni hunt. | ||
;Mukade:Mukades are giant centipedes that live in Japan. Pagan mythology involves giant versions of those things along with gods, dragons and other beasts. As opposed to e.g. dragons, the Mukade were irredeamably evil and reckless, so of all the beast-gods they're the most likely to fall in the catergory of ONI, super-oni even... See [[Mukade]]'s page for more | ;Mukade:Mukades are giant centipedes that live in Japan. Pagan mythology involves giant versions of those things along with gods, dragons and other beasts. As opposed to e.g. dragons, the Mukade were irredeamably evil and reckless, so of all the beast-gods they're the most likely to fall in the catergory of ONI, super-oni even... See [[Mukade]]'s page for more | ||
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|http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/2448/lum.gif | |http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/2448/lum.gif | ||
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:''In Ursei Yatsura Lum, Tenten, and all their relatives are presented as oni, although in their case oni are simply misunderstood aliens from another planet, who only want to conquer earth (no hard feelings). These oni have two small spiral horns, the ability to fly, breath fire, and/or shock electrically.'' | :'''''In Ursei Yatsura Lum, Tenten, and all their relatives are presented as oni, although in their case oni are simply misunderstood aliens from another planet, who only want to conquer earth (no hard feelings). These oni have two small spiral horns, the ability to fly, breath fire, and/or shock electrically.''''' | ||
*Personaly, the "misunderstood aliens" crack me up, partly because of the [[Oni2:Oni 2|Oni 2]] perspectives with respect to [[Daodan]]. | *Personaly, the "misunderstood aliens" crack me up, partly because of the [[Oni2:Oni 2|Oni 2]] perspectives with respect to [[Daodan]]. | ||
*As for flying, breathing fire, and/or shocking electrically, I'm not the only one who'd like to see that in "future releases". | *As for flying, breathing fire, and/or shocking electrically, I'm not the only one who'd like to see that in "future releases". | ||
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*and a [http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa110400.htm whole] [http://www.mangajin.com/mangajin/samplemj/ghosts/ghosts.htm lot] [http://www.artelino.com/articles/japanese_mythology.asp more] (minor/trivial ones, ONI=imps/ogres/demons) | *and a [http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa110400.htm whole] [http://www.mangajin.com/mangajin/samplemj/ghosts/ghosts.htm lot] [http://www.artelino.com/articles/japanese_mythology.asp more] (minor/trivial ones, ONI=imps/ogres/demons) | ||
*also a [http://anime.dvdspecial.ru/Japan Russian site] with some non-trivial info : | *also a [http://anime.dvdspecial.ru/Japan Russian site] with some non-trivial info : | ||
:''Oni. Big evil human-like demons with fangs and horns living in hell (Dzigoku). Very strong and resilient : severed body parts can grow together again. Preferred weapon is an iron club with spikes on it (KANABÔ). Wear tiger skins around their hips. Despite their appearance, they're very sly and clever, and can morph in human shape. Feast on human flesh. People who can't control their anger can become oni, especially females. Sometimes oni can be good to people and even defend them. | :'''''Oni. Big evil human-like demons with fangs and horns living in hell (Dzigoku). Very strong and resilient : severed body parts can grow together again. Preferred weapon is an iron club with spikes on it (KANABÔ). Wear tiger skins around their hips. Despite their appearance, they're very sly and clever, and can morph in human shape. Feast on human flesh. People who can't control their anger can become oni, especially females. Sometimes oni can be good to people and even defend them.''''' | ||
They've apparently mixed up pagan and Buddhist ONI here, but there are many interesting things nevertheless. Thanks to ZDLO for that one. | They've apparently mixed up pagan and Buddhist ONI here, but there are many interesting things nevertheless. Thanks to ZDLO for that one. | ||
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===Miscellani=== | ===Miscellani=== | ||
*The [[Iron Demon]] is an oni by definition. It would be a bit absurd, though, if Oni was named after a boss that didn't make the final cut... | *The [[Iron Demon]] is an oni by definition. It would be a bit absurd, though, if Oni was named after a boss that didn't make the final cut... | ||
*[http://www.darkhorse.com/search/search.php?frompage=userinput&sstring=oni Dark Horse's comics series] involves "ghosts" rather than "demons". Thus, in [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=00-238 episode 1], ''Syndicate thieves have been spreading rumors of a ghost-like entity that attacks them after successful jobs and steals their loot''. In episodes [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=00-244 2] and [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=00-252 3], ''mysterious "ghosts" are plaguing Syndicate operations, and Agent Konoko, while investigating the Syndicate, finds out what these "ghosts" are''. | *[http://www.darkhorse.com/search/search.php?frompage=userinput&sstring=oni Dark Horse's comics series] involves "ghosts" rather than "demons". Thus, in [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=00-238 episode 1], '''''Syndicate thieves have been spreading rumors of a ghost-like entity that attacks them after successful jobs and steals their loot'''''. In episodes [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=00-244 2] and [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=00-252 3], '''''mysterious "ghosts" are plaguing Syndicate operations, and Agent Konoko, while investigating the Syndicate, finds out what these "ghosts" are'''''. | ||
*Was there any other "official" explanation? | *Was there any other "official" explanation? | ||
===Binary data=== | ===Binary data=== | ||
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===Oni with an iron club=== | ===Oni with an iron club=== | ||
The most probable explanation, IMO, has to do with how the [[Daodan]] makes [[Konoko]] super strong and resilient. The quote above "Very strong and resilient : severed body parts can grow together again." is already a hint at the Daodan's "unearthly" overpower and regeneration abilities. If you look at the Wikipedia article, there's this : | The most probable explanation, IMO, has to do with how the [[Daodan]] makes [[Konoko]] super strong and resilient. The quote above "Very strong and resilient : severed body parts can grow together again." is already a hint at the Daodan's "unearthly" overpower and regeneration abilities. If you look at the Wikipedia article, there's this : | ||
:''Depictions of oni vary widely but usually portray them as hideous, gigantic creatures with sharp claws, wild hair, and two long horns growing from their heads. They are humanoid for the most part, but occasionally, they are shown with unnatural features such as odd numbers of eyes or extra fingers and toes. Their skin may be any number of colors, but red, blue, black, pink, and green are particularly common. Their fierce appearance is only enhanced by the tiger skins they tend to wear and the iron clubs they favor, called kanabô (BLA BLA). This image leads to the expression "oni with an iron club" (BLA BLA BLA BLA), that is, to be invincible or undefeatable. It can also be used in the sense of "strong beyond strong", or having one's natural quality enhanced or supplemented by the use of some tool.'' | :'''''Depictions of oni vary widely but usually portray them as hideous, gigantic creatures with sharp claws, wild hair, and two long horns growing from their heads. They are humanoid for the most part, but occasionally, they are shown with unnatural features such as odd numbers of eyes or extra fingers and toes. Their skin may be any number of colors, but red, blue, black, pink, and green are particularly common. Their fierce appearance is only enhanced by the tiger skins they tend to wear and the iron clubs they favor, called kanabô (BLA BLA). This image leads to the expression "oni with an iron club" (BLA BLA BLA BLA), that is, to be invincible or undefeatable. It can also be used in the sense of "strong beyond strong", or having one's natural quality enhanced or supplemented by the use of some tool.''''' | ||
Regeneration is not mentioned there, but note how the superhuman strength is covered by the expression "oni with an iron club" (KANABÔ ?? ONI). Daodan-enhanced Mai, Muro and Mukade are all that (virtually invincible, undefeatable, and "strong beyond strong", their natural abilities beint "supplemented" by the Daodan). | Regeneration is not mentioned there, but note how the superhuman strength is covered by the expression "oni with an iron club" (KANABÔ ?? ONI). Daodan-enhanced Mai, Muro and Mukade are all that (virtually invincible, undefeatable, and "strong beyond strong", their natural abilities beint "supplemented" by the Daodan). | ||