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:''This article is about the mythical Japanese ogre. For the game, see [[Oni]].''
:''This article is about the Japanese myth. For the game, see [[Oni]].''
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{|style="float:right"
{|style="float:right"
|[[Image:Oni kanji.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[wikipedia:kanji|kanji]] for Oni.]]
|[[Image:Oni kanji.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[wikipedia:kanji|kanji]] for "oni".]]
|}
|}


==Traditional depictions of oni==
==Traditional depictions of oni==
Many people give the translation for "oni" as "demon", but below we examine more accurate terms for the various depictions of oni in Japanese stories. On the whole, it will be seen that a modern oni is always some kind of minor evil ''in the flesh'' that afflicts, threatens, or sometimes even ignores humans. This is in contrast to the usual use of the word "demon" in English, which refers to the fallen angels in the Bible, who are immaterial and who can possess humans. In fact, a much closer translation, looking at the Eastern depictions of an oni, would be "ogre", "beast" or "monster", but not "demon", which more closely corresponds to the Japanese word "akuma" ("evil being").
===Imps===
===Imps===
In traditional Buddhist-Japanese mythology, the oni are the exact counterparts of Christian imps (or devils with a small D). Some would guard the gates of Buddhist hell, while others would hunt down bad people and bring them ''to'' hell, and others would actually torture the bad people ''in'' hell. It's exactly what Christian imps do, so it's a pretty exact analogy. Recurrent features of oni were somewhat improbable skin color, two small horns on the forehead, a big club (imps have forks instead), and they were dressed in tiger skins. The iron club is called a kanabô.
In traditional Buddhist-Japanese mythology, the oni are the exact counterparts of Christian imps (or devils with a small D). Some would guard the gates of Buddhist hell, while others would hunt down bad people and bring them ''to'' hell, and others would actually torture the bad people ''in'' hell. It's exactly what Christian imps do, so it's a pretty exact analogy. Recurrent features of oni were somewhat improbable skin color, two small horns on the forehead, a big club (imps have forks instead), and they were dressed in tiger skins. The iron club is called a kanabō.


===Ghosts===
===Ghosts===
There are also recurrent pictures of another kind of oni: barely human manifestations of evil, not related whatsoever to Buddhist hell. Instead of being the "official enforcers of the underworld", they would infest sacred places and prey on humans. While at first they may have been depicted as immaterial spirits like the [[wikipedia:yurei|yurei]], which needed to be driven out through [[wikipedia:Onmyodo|yin-yang magic]], the concept of oni eventually crystallized into a more solid form.
Before the influence of Buddhism, oni may have been depicted as immaterial spirits like the [[wikipedia:yurei|yurei]], which needed to be driven out through [[wikipedia:Onmyodo|yin-yang magic]]. Instead of being the "official enforcers of the underworld", they would infest sacred places and prey on humans. However, the concept of oni eventually crystallized into a more solid form.


===Ogres===
===Ogres===
Just as the Buddhist oni resemble Christian imps, the theme of the monstrous, man-like enemy that must be slain by samurai or a demon-hunter connects to Western (Greek, Medieval, Slavic) heroes and the mythological beasts they slay.
The theme of the monstrous, man-like enemy that must be slain by samurai or a demon-hunter resembles Western (Greek, Medieval, Slavic) heroes and the mythological beasts they were said to have slain. As opposed to the Buddhist "imps" or the Shinto "ghosts", this is more secular mythology, closer to the fantasy genre than a moral tale belonging to religion.


As opposed to the Buddhist "imps", this is more secular mythology, closer to the fantasy genre than a moral tale belonging to religion. A few stories involving them:
A few stories involving them:
;[http://www.kyoto.zaq.ne.jp/mibu/eng/pages/plays/tales.html#Anchor-Ogre-43793 Rashômon 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.'''''
;[http://www.kyoto.zaq.ne.jp/mibu/eng/pages/plays/tales.html#Anchor-Ogre-43793 Rashômon 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.'''''
;Mukade: mukade are large centipedes native to Japan. Pagan mythology depicts giant versions of these things alongside gods, dragons and other beasts. As opposed to e.g. dragons, the Mukade were irredeemably vile, so of all the beast-gods they're the most likely to fall in the category of oni, super-oni even... See [[Mukade]]'s page for more.
;Incidentally, mukade are large centipedes native to Japan. Pagan mythology depicts giant versions of these things alongside gods, dragons and other beasts. As opposed to e.g. dragons, the Mukade were irredeemably vile, so of all the beast-gods they're the most likely to fall in the category of oni, super-oni even... See [[Mukade]]'s page for more.


On the whole, it can be seen that a modern oni is always some kind of minor evil ''in the flesh''. This is in contrast to the usual use of the word "demon" in English, which refers to the fallen angels in the Bible, who are immaterial. In fact, a much closer translation, looking at the Eastern depictions of an oni, would be "ogre", "beast" or "monster", but not "demon", which more closely corresponds to the Japanese word "akuma" ("evil being").
===Aliens===
As seen in contemporary anime, Japan's view of the oni has mellowed somewhat; oni might simply be immortal, aloof, selfish beings, superior to humans but with no clear intentions about them. In some cases they are clearly depicted like Western ogres.
Some oblivious, some malicious, some downright malevolent. Some, however, could feel sympathy or pity for the humans and defend them against a greater evil (end-of-all-worlds kind). But mostly they're just outsiders, aliens in the mortal world.


===Aliens===
A classic modern example of oni is found in Urusei Yatsura, where Lum (pictured, below) and her relatives are aliens (literally, the alien race of Oni) sent here to (fairly benevolently) conquer Earth. Their powers include flying, breathing fire, and shocking electrically. Lum has the typical two horns of an oni, but they're mostly hidden by her hair.
As seen in contemporary anime, Japan's view of the oni has mellowed somewhat; oni might simply be immortal, aloof, selfish beings, superior to humans but with no clear intentions about them. In some cases they are clearly depicted like Western ogres (see right).
Some oblivious, some malicious, some downright malevolent. Some, however, could feel sympathy or pity for the humans and defend them against a greater evil (end-of-all-worlds kind).


A small piece of reference [http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/2448/types.html#demon here].
===Satire===
{|style="float:right" cellpadding=10
Occasionally the modern take on oni is a bit more satirical, as in the case of George Saotome (pictured, below) from Yu Yu Hakusho, who appears to be a traditional monstrous oni, but who is actually a mild-mannered, harried office worker, assisting the ruler of Spirit World. In Dragon Ball Z, Goku accidentally falls into Hell and encounters Goz and Mez (pictured, below), who challenge him to physical competitions. More typical oni, they display the traditional red-and-blue coloring and one-and-two horns, as well as carrying kanabō.
|http://geyser.oni2.net/oni1/oni/lum.gif
{|class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"
|-
|[[Image:Lum.jpg|200px]]
|[[Image:George from YYH.jpg|200px]]
|[[Image:Goz and Mez from DBZ.jpg|200px]]
|-
|<center>Lum</center>
|<center>George</center>
|<center>Goz and Mez</center>
|}
|}
I kinda like that one :
:'''''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]]. As for flying, breathing fire, and/or shocking electrically, I'm not the only one who'd like to see that in "future releases".
Lum (see picture) is truly a bridge character between Japanese traditional mythology and anime: she's very "modern" in that she's a fairy alien royal demon gorgeous babe, and yet she stays true to the ''traditional'' features that characterize a (Buddhist) ONI : horns and tiger skin.
----
===Resources===
*[[wikipedia:Oni_(Japanese_folklore)|Buddhist imps on Wikipedia]]
*[http://www.sonic.net/~anomaly/oniko/eprofile.htm Oniko's Gallery] : not trivial, draws the connections between Buddhist ONI and the ones in contemporary ANIME
*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 :
:'''''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.


----
===Further reading===
*[[wikipedia:Oni_(Japanese_folklore)|Oni (folklore) on Wikipedia]]
*[http://www.sonic.net/~anomaly/oniko/eprofile.htm Oniko's Gallery]; draws the connections between Buddhist oni and the ones in contemporary anime
*and a [http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa110400.htm lot] [http://www.artelino.com/articles/japanese_mythology.asp more] (minor/trivial ones, ONI=imps/ogres/demons)


==Speculative meanings of "oni" in Bungie's Oni==
==Speculative meanings of "oni" in Bungie's Oni==
That is, who or what is the "demon" in Bungie's Oni? There are a few more or less trivial explanations that can work within the world of the game. There is also the [[#Real origin of name|real-world explanation]], if you hate ambiguity.
That is, who or what is the "demon" in Bungie's Oni? There are a few more or less trivial explanations that can work within the world of the game. There is also the [[#Real origin of name|real-world explanation]], if you hate ambiguity.
===Russian Oni : Them===
===Russian Oni : Them===
*In Russian, "oni" means "them". Since the title was transcribed with Cyrillic characters, Russian gamers hardly wonder about the japanese meaning of Oni :) It's worth to say that "Oni" means "them" also in Polish language, but in comparison to Russian, title wasn't transcribed.  
*In Russian, "oni" means "them". Since the title was transcribed with Cyrillic characters, Russian gamers hardly wonder about the japanese meaning of Oni :) It's worth to say that "Oni" means "them" also in Polish language, but in comparison to Russian, title wasn't transcribed.  
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*[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===
Oni-related artwork (CD cover, a few desktops) pictures Konoko against a background of electronic circuits and/or a lot of binary digits : "0"s and "1"s. This allows for another interpretation of the title : ONI = 0'n'1 = 0&1. Zeros and ones. Binary data. Could be a remnant of the initial project perspective where Konoko was a cyborg (legal high-tech) fighting the Syndicate of Technological Crime (illegal high-tech). It doesn't make much sense now that Konoko's human (at least to start with).
Oni-related artwork (CD cover, a few desktops) pictures Konoko against a background of electronic circuits and/or a lot of binary digits : "0"s and "1"s. This allows for another interpretation of the title : ONI = 0'n'1 = 0&1. Zeros and ones. Binary data. Could be a remnant of the initial project perspective where Konoko was a cyborg (legal high-tech) fighting the Syndicate of Technological Crime (illegal high-tech). It doesn't make much sense now that Konoko's human (at least to start with).
===Them again : Russian evangelisation===
===Them again : Russian evangelisation===
The fact that "oni" means "them" in Russian is a rather nice touch (IMO). ONI is very ambiguous, but so is "them" : actually it conveys about the same general creepy feeling. Some lucky coincidence...
The fact that "oni" means "them" in Russian is a rather nice touch (IMO). ONI is very ambiguous, but so is "them" : actually it conveys about the same general creepy feeling. Some lucky coincidence...
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There are other words for those purely Christian notions, namely Satana=Satan, Chort=Devil and chort=devil=imp. But "bes" is very much used, despite, or maybe ''because'' of its ambiguity with pagan evil : Christian Evil was a "sensible substitute" to pagan beliefs, and evangelisation goes better if people can use the same vocabulary as before :)
There are other words for those purely Christian notions, namely Satana=Satan, Chort=Devil and chort=devil=imp. But "bes" is very much used, despite, or maybe ''because'' of its ambiguity with pagan evil : Christian Evil was a "sensible substitute" to pagan beliefs, and evangelisation goes better if people can use the same vocabulary as before :)
===An iron club for a demon===
===An iron club for a demon===
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 [[Daodan|the Daodan's "unearthly" overpower and regeneration abilities]]. If you look at the [[wikipedia:Oni_(Japanese_folklore)|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 [[Daodan|the Daodan's "unearthly" overpower and regeneration abilities]]. If you look at the [[wikipedia:Oni_(Japanese_folklore)|Wikipedia article]], there's this :
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See "Oni2:Heroes" for a deeper connection between Bungie's [[Daodan]] and Greek heroes (no, it's not just the way they used the Greek alphabet at the TCTF... there's more).
See "Oni2:Heroes" for a deeper connection between Bungie's [[Daodan]] and Greek heroes (no, it's not just the way they used the Greek alphabet at the TCTF... there's more).
===AO-ONI & AKA-ONI===
===AO-ONI & AKA-ONI===
A very nice short page on Oni [http://www.city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp/hp/data/page000005200/hpg000005113.htm here]
A very nice short page on Oni [http://www.city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp/hp/data/page000005200/hpg000005113.htm here]
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==Real origin of name==
==Real origin of name==
As first explained [http://oni.bungie.org/special/part1/brent.html here], "Oni" was originally going to be the game's codename during development. Brent Pease, who first formulated the idea for the game, was told that it meant "ghost", which was the word he wanted for the code name, being inspired by [[wikipedia:Ghost in the Shell|Ghost in the Shell]] as the project was. As later explained by Hardy LeBel (the story lead) [http://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=19851 here], in writing the story he tried to incorporate the meanings of "ghost" and "demon" to justify the name, now that it had ended up being the title under which they would actually release the game. (Of course, if you've read the rest of this page, you know that neither of those words are good translations for "oni", but give the man credit, he tried. --[[User:Iritscen|Iritscen]]).
As first explained [http://oni.bungie.org/special/part1/brent.html here], "Oni" was originally going to be the game's codename during development. Brent Pease, who first formulated the idea for the game, was told that it meant "ghost", which was the word he wanted for the code name, being inspired by [[wikipedia:Ghost in the Shell|Ghost in the Shell]] as the project was. As later explained by Hardy LeBel (the story lead) [http://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=19851 here], in writing the story he tried to incorporate the meanings of "ghost" and "demon" to justify the name, now that it had ended up being the title under which they would actually release the game. (Of course, if you've read the rest of this page, you know that neither of those words are good translations for "oni", but give the man credit, he tried. --[[User:Iritscen|Iritscen]]).
==Connections to the game==
*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.'''''
They've apparently mixed up pagan and Buddhist ONI here, but there are many interesting things nevertheless. Thanks to ZDLO for that one.
==Alternate universe titles for Oni==
What if Brent had received an accurate response that day as to the Japanese word for "ghost"? Well, the most common words for ghost seem to be youkai, yurei, youma, and konpaku. So in an alternate universe, it could be that we'd all be big Youma fans or avid Youkai players.
It's probably worth pointing out here that an "ou" is used to represent the long 'o' sound in the standard Hepburn romanization system. When one has fancy characters at one's disposal, the sound can be written as 'ō'. Since most English speakers don't know about that use of "ou", they would be inclined to pronounce "youma" as "yuu-ma" when it should really be said "yoh-ma". So presumably Bungie would have ended up just writing it "Yoma" or "Yokai" to avoid confusion if Brent had used one of those words for the project's code name instead of "Oni".


==Related==
==Related==
Retrieved from "https://wiki.oni2.net/Special:MobileDiff/22546"