The magic and mystery of onmyōdō and the onmyōji, who practice the ancient art, are an esoteric combination of Wu Xing, Yin and Yang, Taoism, Buddhism and Shintoism. It came to Japan in the fifth and sixth centuries.
In the popular culture of film, manga, anime novels and video games, there are a host of these magicians and soothsayers, tweaked with extraordinary, supernatural power.
The anime, Ghost Hunt presents the character, Lin Koujo, an onmyōji, who can exorcise or summons spirits and control shikigami–spirits similar to a witch’s familiar.
In the live-action film and manga, Onmyōji,the fictitious account of the famous, real-life magician, Abe no Seimei, is based on the novel series of the same name.
In the manga, Tokyo Babylon and X, Subaru Sumeragi, an onmyōji and his sidekick, the assassin, Seishirō Sakurazuka, eradicate curses and vengeful spirits, evil shadow creatures in modern-day Japan.
In the manga series, Shaman King and the novel, Chō Senji Ryakketsu, Yoh Asakura is an onmyōji and a medium who can communicate between the world of the living and the world of the dead, who spends much of his time hanging out in graveyards. His goal is to hone his skills onmyōdō and win the title of Shaman King.
In the video game and anime, Harukanaru Toki no Naka de, Abe no Yasuaki is a dedicated disciple of Abe no Seimei, the famous onmyōji.
The manga and anime series, Negima!: Magister Negi Magi, involves a secret cult of onmyōji.
In the award-winning anime series, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, childhood friends Arumi and Sasshi find themselves pulled into another dimension where they learn onmyōdō from the famous wizard, Abe no Seimei.
The novel, Teito Monogatari by Hiroshi Aramata, has an evil onmyōji named, Yasunori Kato, who is brought back from the realm of angry and resentful souls of dead mystics. His power surpasses even that of Abe no Seimei.
The anime and manga, Onmyō Taisenki delves into I Ching and Taoism for its magical resources.
The manga series, Ask Dr. Rin! features a powerful onmyōji named, Takashi Tokiwa who is infatuated with Meilin Kanzaki, a young girl, endowed with Feng shui powers, who can read people’s fortunes and advise them concerning the best way to ensure good luck.
The Playstation fighting game, Evil Zone features an onmyoji named Keiya Tenpouin, “The Man in the Shadow” whose main goal is to kill and claim the power of Ihadulca, who can exist in multiple dimensions at the same time.
The novel, Shōnen Onmyōji is set in the Heian era of historical Japan and portrays the life of Abe no Masahiro, the youngest grandson of the famous onmyoji, Abe no Seimei, whose greatest desire is to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. .
In the manga and anime series, Steel Angel Kurumi, (an artificial humanoid with superhuman physical abilities) the main protagonist, Nakahito Kagura belongs to a family of onmyoji mystics.
The PlayStation game Final Fantasy Tactics includes a “Job” entitled, Onmyoji, which is translated in the English as “Oracle.” The practicing onmyoji has “Yin-Yang Magic” that can inflict blindness, paralysis or sleep on their opponents.
In the card game, Magic: The Gathering, one of the cards is entitled: Goryo’s Vengeance. The card type is arcane which includes spells represented spells by spirits or kami (Japanese word for spirits and natural forces, used in the Shinto faith).
In the anime, “Tsukuyomi’s Moon Phase,” Hazuki and his mother have the ability to summon a shikigami spirit.
In the horror, survival game, Kuon, the main characters are onmyoji. Most of the magic seals and puzzles are based on onmyõdõ.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onmy%C5%8Dd%C5%8D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Xing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism_in_Japan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shintoism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
Abe no Seimei http://en.whikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_no_Seimei
Thirty-six Ghost by Yoshitoshi
http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/rekius/36ghosts.htm
Magic: The Gathering: Goyo’s Vengence http://mtg.wikia.com/wiki/Goryo’s_Vengeance
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