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Oni (myth): Difference between revisions
added a lede; revamped the "Connections to the game" section; broke "Miscellany" section into "Ghosts" and "Iron Demon" and added some ghost references
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{{Hatnote|This article is about the Japanese myth. For the game, see [[Oni]].}} | |||
{|style="float:right" | {|style="float:right" | ||
|[[Image:Oni kanji.jpg|thumb|300px|Bungie's rendition of the | |[[Image:Oni kanji.jpg|thumb|300px|Bungie's rendition of the ''oni'' [[wp:Kanji|kanji]]. The Chinese reading is ''guǐ'' (ghost), considered at the bottom of the article.]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
The name "Oni" was intended as a reference to the game's inspiration, [[Ghost in the Shell]], though it turned out that the Japanese kanji 鬼 does not accurately translate as "ghost". First we'll look at the actual meaning of the word by examining the myths of oni in Japanese folklore, then we'll consider some ways in which these true meanings of the word might appear in the game. | |||
==Traditional depictions of oni== | ==Traditional depictions of oni== | ||
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In Russian, "oni" means "them". Since [[:Image:Windows_(RU)_box_art_-_front.jpg|the title was transliterated into Cyrillic characters]], some Russian gamers tend to assume that the game is actually called "Them", which just so happens to convey the same creepy ambiguity as "Oni". Most of the other Slavic languages, such as Polish and Czech, also use "oni" for "them" or "they", creating the same potential for confusion as in Russian. | In Russian, "oni" means "them". Since [[:Image:Windows_(RU)_box_art_-_front.jpg|the title was transliterated into Cyrillic characters]], some Russian gamers tend to assume that the game is actually called "Them", which just so happens to convey the same creepy ambiguity as "Oni". Most of the other Slavic languages, such as Polish and Czech, also use "oni" for "them" or "they", creating the same potential for confusion as in Russian. | ||
== | ==Connections to the game== | ||
{{SysopAdvice|I think [[Konoko|Oni]] is a | {{SysopAdvice|I think [[Konoko|Oni]] is a pretty cool guǐ. Seh fights [[Strikers|Stirkers]] and doesn't afraid of anything.|Don't listen to that guǐ.}} | ||
As explained [http://oni.bungie.org/special/part1/brent.html | As explained in Bungie.org's [http://oni.bungie.org/special/part1/brent.html interview with Brent Pease], "Oni" was originally going to be the game's code name during development. It started with Pease, who formulated the idea for the game, asking what was the Japanese word for "ghost", as a reference to his inspiration [[Ghost in the Shell]]. | ||
However it turned out that the Japanese word ''oni'' (鬼) does not accurately translate as "ghost", and is used more typically for monsters-in-the-flesh which could be called ogres or demons. Oni's design lead Hardy LeBel came to understand the proper meaning(s) of the word and [http://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=19851 explained here] that he attempted to justify the title of the game in the final story (as he also made sure to justify the game's tagline, "A dark future… an uncertain past… no one left to trust"). | |||
== | ===Monsters=== | ||
It appears that one definition of "oni" that Hardy leaned towards was "monster". If one searches [[Quotes/Speech|Oni's dialogue]] for "monster", a theme develops from the five occurrences of the term. | |||
First, Barabas is described as a '''monster''' (see "Barabas" section below to see how Hardy applied myths about the oni to Barabas). Then Konoko describes Muro and his men as '''monsters''', fearful that the Chrysalis will do the same to her. During her attack on the TCTF HQ, Konoko tells an unnamed NPC that she was made into a '''monster''' when she was implanted with the Chrysalis. But Konoko has not fully decided whether she is any better than Muro and his men until the point at which the player has to decide whether to kill Griffin. Each scenario, sparing him and killing him, uses the word "monster". If she spares Griffin, Konoko says that she won't be "the '''monster''' you thought I would be". If she kills Griffin, Konoko puts the blame on him for her actions, calling ''him'' a '''monster''' for what he did to her. | |||
Finally, though the game refers to him as "Mutant" Muro, Muro's transformation in the killed-Griffin scenario is certainly monstrous, and no doubt intended to reflect Konoko's own choice to take Griffin's life and what that might portend for her development as a symbiote. | Finally, though the game refers to him as "Mutant" Muro, Muro's transformation in the killed-Griffin scenario is certainly monstrous, and no doubt intended to reflect Konoko's own choice to take Griffin's life and what that might portend for her development as a symbiote. | ||
===Ghosts=== | |||
[[:Category:Dark Horse comics|Dark Horse's comics series]] works in the original understood meaning of "oni", "ghosts". Thus, in the synopsis for [https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/00-238/Rockstar-Games-Oni-1-of-3 issue #1], "Syndicate thieves have been spreading rumors of a ghost-like entity that attacks them after successful jobs and steals their loot." In issues [https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/00-244/Rockstar-Games-Oni-2-of-3 #2] and [https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/00-252/Rockstar-Games-Oni-3-of-3 #3], "mysterious 'ghosts' are plaguing Syndicate operations, and Agent Konoko, while investigating the Syndicate, finds out what these 'ghosts' are." | |||
Hardy may also have paid tribute to the "original" meaning of the word with one "ghost" in the dialogue (in reference to Prof. Hasegawa) and two references to ghost signals in the [[Quotes/Consoles|consoles]], or these may be a coincidence. | |||
===Red oni & blue oni=== | ===Red oni & blue oni=== | ||
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===Barabas=== | ===Barabas=== | ||
The Japanese have a saying, "oni ni kanabo", "like an oni with its iron club". The phrase conveys the concept of an already strong entity with a weapon to make it even stronger. | The Japanese have a saying, "oni ni kanabo", "like an oni with its iron club". The phrase conveys the concept of an already strong entity equipped with a weapon to make it even stronger. [[Barabas]] is represented as a very strong fighter, and on top of that, he has the game's biggest weapon in his hands when Konoko first confronts him. | ||
But there's more. Barabas also possesses a regenerative ability, an occasional attribute of oni, ''as well as horns'', and to top it all off, <u>''he's guarding a gate''</u>, as many oni do in folk tales. Coincidence? | |||
===Iron Demon=== | |||
The [[Iron Demon]] is a demon too, at least in name. The "Iron" may be a reference to the kanabo, discussed in the "Barabas" section above. The Dark Horse comic runs the risk of being ''too'' on the nose by also equipping the Iron Demon with a ''[[:Image:Oni_Comic_Issue_1_p22.jpg|literal iron club]]''. | |||
==Alternate universe titles for Oni== | ==Alternate universe titles for Oni== | ||