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Oni (myth): Difference between revisions
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→Real origin of name: kanji
(→Alternate universe titles for Oni: it's all chinese to me) |
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Brent Pease, who first formulated the idea for the game, asked for the Japanese word for "ghost", as a reference to his inspiration, [[Ghost in the Shell]]. | Brent Pease, who first formulated the idea for the game, asked for the Japanese word for "ghost", as a reference to his inspiration, [[Ghost in the Shell]]. | ||
:''It turned out that the Japanese term | :''It turned out that the Japanese term '''''oni''''' ''鬼'' does not accurately translate as "ghost", and is used more typically for demons-in-flesh. | ||
:''However, in Chinese the term '''''[[guǐ]]''''' does indeed mean "ghost" in the usual immaterial spooky sense. In compounds, its meanings range from "person" (neutral) - similar to "guy" in English - to "stranger" or "paleface" (pejorative). The most Oni-relevant compound is '''''[[Daodan|dǎo dàn]] guǐ''''' ''捣蛋鬼'' (troublemaker). | :''However, in Chinese the term '''''[[guǐ]]''''' ''鬼'' does indeed mean "ghost" in the usual immaterial spooky sense. In compounds, its meanings range from "person" (neutral) - similar to "guy" in English - to "stranger" or "paleface" (pejorative). The most Oni-relevant compound is '''''[[Daodan|dǎo dàn]] guǐ''''' ''捣蛋鬼'' (troublemaker). | ||
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 real (Japanese) meaning(s) of "oni" into the game. Speculation on the ways he did this are found below. | 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 real (Japanese) meaning(s) of "oni" into the game. Speculation on the ways he did this are found below. | ||