Onmyōdō: Difference between revisions

{{tropeUseful Notes}}

[[Onmyōdō]] (meaning "The Way of Yin and Yang") is Japanese-style [[Functional Magic|spell-casting]]. Methods range from Yin/Yang, [[wikipedia:Godai|Five Elements]], [[wikipedia:Shikigami|Shikigami]], and Divination to O-Fuda and Alchemy. ''Onmyodo'' is a very eclectic blend; while it can be treated as simply ''Rule Magic'', it also has elements of ''Force Magic'' and ''Theurgy''.

Over the centuries, the various arts and practices of ''OnmyodoOnmyōdō'' gradually became absorbed into [[Useful Notes/Shinto|Shinto]] and [[Useful Notes/Buddhism|Buddhist]] tradition, and also into the disciplines of the ''Shugenja'', and other ascetic groups. Thus, in many anime and manga works, ''[[Miko]]'' (shrine maidens) are shown as knowing how to summon and control Shikigami.

A practitioner of ''OnmyodoOnmyōdō'' is called an ''OnmyojiOnmyōji''. Traditionally, the only ones able to legally practice [[Onmyodo]]'''Onmyōdō''' were appointed by the Imperial government, and were in fact, civil servants of the Bureau of Onmyō. During the Heian period, Onmyōji had quite a bit of political clout, but when the imperial court fell into decline, their status as civil servants was lost. Their original responsibilities included keeping track of the calendar, divination, and protection of the capital from evil spirits. They also watched for auspicious and/or harmful influences in the earth, (earthquake detection).

The most famous ''OnmyojiOnmyōji'' is ''Abe no Seimei'', who is roughly analogous to the Merlin of [[King Arthur|Arthurian legend]]. Like Merlin, it is said that he was not entirely human. Abe no Seimei is a documented historical personage who lived from about 921 CE to around 1005 CE, the middle of the [[Jidai Geki|Heian Period]]. A shrine dedicated to him was built in Kyoto soon after his death, and still exists today.

: [[wikipedia:Kuji-in|The Nine Syllable Seals]] and [[wikipedia:Kuji-kiri|the Nine Symbolic Cuts]] are also among OnmyodoOnmyōdō techniques, though they were never unique to OnmyodoOnmyōdō.

: One of the divination means ''OnmyojiOnmyōji'' employed. During the Heian era, ''OnmyojiOnmyōji'' were also responsible for making calendars. <ref>Japan used the Chinese calendar until after the opening of Japan.</ref> As part of that system, [[The Four Gods]] were thus also incorporated into OnmyodoOnmyōdō.

: Another Chinese influence amalgamated into OnmyodoOnmyōdō.

* In ''Doomed Megalopolis'', an anime based upon ''[[Teito Monogatari (Literature)|Teito Monogatari]]'' (in Literature, below), the villain [[Yasunori Kato]] is an onmyoji. He is shown with gobosei on his gloves; as his magic often involves hand signs the gobosei may have served to focus/increase his power. At the beginning of the anime, Kato contends with the [[Tsuchimikado Family]] (the official clan of onmyodo specialists who served the Japanese Imperial Court in the Edo and Bakumatsu eras) led by Yasumasa Hirai, who is a descendant of Abe no Seimei. Later on in the anime, it is determined that Kato was born in the same hometown of Abe no Seimei, implying that he might also be a descendant (or at least a student). Throughout the anime, Kato utilizes many different onmyodo practices, including Shikigami, Feng Shui, and [[Kuji-In]] to achieve his ends. The heroes use o-fuda to resist his magics.

* Lin Koujo from ''[[Ghost Hunt (Manga)|Ghost Hunt]]''.

* Abe no Yasuaki from the game and anime ''[[Harukanaru Toki no Naka Dede]]'' is an onmyoji and a disciple of Abe no Seimei.

* The protagonist of Gainax's ''[[AbenobashiMagical MahouShopping ShoutengaiArcade (Anime)|Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai]]'' is drawn to a parallel world where he learns the the art of onmyodo from Abe no Seimei.

* Isumi of ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler (Manga)|Hayate the Combat Butler]]'' can do nearly anything related to exorcism via this method.

* Parodied on ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'' when [[Highly-Visible Ninja]] Koyuki [[New Powers Asas the Plot Demands|is suddenly able to use onmyodo]] to unseal a cursed dungeon. She's not very good at it, though, and by the end of the episode, all of the Keronians have gotten accidentally possessed.

* {{spoiler|Tsuchimikado Motoharu}} of ''[[ToA AruCertain Majutsu noMagical Index]]'' is a highly-skilled onmyoji, and is even descended from a famous clan of them. However, having undergone the Power Development Curriculum, using these abilities causes a backlash in his body, and is potentially fatal for him. Luckily, his ability, Level 0 Auto-Rebirth, allows him to bypass this for a limited number of times.

* Keiya Tenpouin from the Playstation game ''[[Evil Zone (Video Game)|Evil Zone]]''.

* The [[Play StationPlayStation]] game ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' includes a Job called Onmyoji (translated as "Oracle" for the English release of the game).

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