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Oni (myth): Difference between revisions
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===Resources=== | ===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 | *[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) | *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) | ||
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==Why is Bungie's Oni called Oni?== | ==Why is Bungie's Oni called Oni?== | ||
That is, who or what is the "demon" in Bungie's Oni? There are a few more or less trivial explanations | That is, who or what is the "demon" in Bungie's Oni? There are a few more or less trivial explanations | ||
=== | ===Miscellany=== | ||
*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'''''. | ||
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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 [ | 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 : | ||
:'''''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). | ||
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That last thing was taken from ''In Ghostly Japan'', which you can read either [http://books.onelang.com/In-Ghostly-Japan/index.htm#HOME here] (top of [http://www.literaturehead.com/section/hearn%252c-lafcadio/in-ghostly-japan/34.html page 34]) or [http://www.literaturehead.com/book/hearn%252c-lafcadio/in-ghostly-japan.html here] (middle of the [http://books.onelang.com/In-Ghostly-Japan/Japanese-Buddhist-Proverbs.htm Japanese Buddhist Proverbs chapter]). | That last thing was taken from ''In Ghostly Japan'', which you can read either [http://books.onelang.com/In-Ghostly-Japan/index.htm#HOME here] (top of [http://www.literaturehead.com/section/hearn%252c-lafcadio/in-ghostly-japan/34.html page 34]) or [http://www.literaturehead.com/book/hearn%252c-lafcadio/in-ghostly-japan.html here] (middle of the [http://books.onelang.com/In-Ghostly-Japan/Japanese-Buddhist-Proverbs.htm Japanese Buddhist Proverbs chapter]). | ||
Another proverb with a similar meaning is "[ | Another proverb with a similar meaning is "[[wikipedia:Benkei|Benkei]] ni [[wikipedia:Naginata|naginata]]" (Benkei is a legendary fighting monk). There's also the Western allegory of Hercules with his massive club and lion skin (see below) | ||
Basically it means that great tools (primarily tools of death : any great power holds some kind of danger) should be handled by the ones who are worthy of them. The juxtaposition of the two proverbs "Oni ni kanabô, Benkei ni naginata" is rare (I only found it in some guy's forum signature) and the moral meaning would be somewhat weaker. | Basically it means that great tools (primarily tools of death : any great power holds some kind of danger) should be handled by the ones who are worthy of them. The juxtaposition of the two proverbs "Oni ni kanabô, Benkei ni naginata" is rare (I only found it in some guy's forum signature) and the moral meaning would be somewhat weaker. | ||
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===Hercules=== | ===Hercules=== | ||
Ironically, a character that's very similar to Buddhist ONI is the ''pagan'' hero [ | Ironically, a character that's very similar to Buddhist ONI is the ''pagan'' hero [[wikipedia:Hercules|Hercules]]/[[wikipedia:Heracles|Heracles]]. He wears a lion skin and wields a massive wooden club, which is fairly close to an ONI's tiger skin and kanabô... | ||
The Greek mythos has episodes where Hercules displays gratuitous violence, while at other times he appears as sly and cunning (just as ambiguous as the Buddhist Oni). One thing's for sure : he's inhumanly strong to start with (half-god), and his chosen attributes (the Nemean Lion's skin and the massive club) make him even tougher. | The Greek mythos has episodes where Hercules displays gratuitous violence, while at other times he appears as sly and cunning (just as ambiguous as the Buddhist Oni). One thing's for sure : he's inhumanly strong to start with (half-god), and his chosen attributes (the Nemean Lion's skin and the massive club) make him even tougher. | ||