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Oni (myth): Difference between revisions
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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 [[the Daodan's "unearthly" overpower and regeneration abilities]]. If you look at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oni_(Japanese_folklore) 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 (KANA BÔ). This image leads to the expression "oni with an iron club" (ONI NI KANA BÔ), 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 (KANA BÔ). This image leads to the expression "oni with an iron club" (ONI NI KANA BÔ), 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" (ONI NI KANABÔ, literally "an iron club for a demon"). Daodan-enhanced Mai, Muro and Mukade are all that (virtually invincible, undefeatable, and "strong beyond strong", their natural abilities being "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" (ONI NI KANABÔ, literally "an iron club for a demon"). Daodan-enhanced Mai, Muro and Mukade are all that (virtually invincible, undefeatable, and "strong beyond strong", their natural abilities being "supplemented" by the Daodan). | ||