Religious and Mythological Themes in SM
Robato Yao
Once in a while, this information has to reposted for readers
interested on this matter.
1. Taoist Astrology
The system of Five Elements came from Taoist beliefs. The Five Elements
are, Fire (Ka), Water (Sui), Earth (Do), Metal (Kin), Wood (Moku). The
Five Elements are associated with a planet, a virtue, a color, a season,
and a sacred animal.
The Element of Fire, the Planet is Mars, the Color is Red, the Season is
Summer, the Direction is South, and the Virtue is Wisdom. Its sacred
animal is the Phoenix, the Firebird. (Feng Huang)
The Element of Water, the Planet is Mercury, the Color is Blue, the
Season is Winter, the Direction is North, and the Virtue is Benevolence.
The animal is the Dark Warrior, the Serpent-Tortoise.
The Element of Metal, the Planet is Venus, the Color is Gold, the Season
is Autumn, the Direction is West, and the Virtue is Righteousness. The
animal is the Tiger.
The Element of Wood, the Planet is Jupiter, the Color is Green, the
Season is Spring, the Direction is East, and the Virtue is Order. The
animal is the Dragon.
The Element of Earth, the Planet is Saturn. As the center, it has no
direction, no color, no season, no animal. The Virtue is Loyalty.
Taoist system of Elements is also practiced in part with Feng Shui or
Chinese Geomancy, or its Japanese variation, the Nine Ki system.
The Taoist system of Five Elements should not be confused with the
Buddist system, which in addition to the Five, adds a sixth
element---Consciousness. The Buddist Astrological system also uses the
well known 12 Animals, which again should not be confused with the Four
Taoist Elemental Animals (Phoenix, Tiger, Dragon, Serpent-Tortoise).
2. Shinto
Uranus's Sword, Neptune's Mirror and Pluto's Orb represents the three
sacred jewels of the Japanese Imperial Family, the Kusanagi Sword, the
Eight Handed Mirror and the Yakasa Jewel. This has already been
discussed frequently here.
In Shinto, mirrors are said to be able to hold or trap one's soul, and
this theme shows in Sailor Stars.
Rei Hino is a Shinto Priestess.
3. Buddism
While Rei Hino is a Shinto priestess, Shinto is a religion that seemed
based more on water or water rituals. In contrast, Buddism is a
religion that is marked more with fire and fire rituals (burning of
incense, etc,.)
Rei's Burning Mandala attack shows all the signs of classic Mantric
Buddism. Buddism has three forms of worshipping action, sometimes known
as the Three Jewels---Mantra, Mudra, and Mandala.
Mantra is the prayer in voice. As Rei begins her attack, she utters a
mantra (ending in zen). Someone told me this is the Kyu Ju Kuri, and
for me, it seems like the Nine Steps used to attain enlightenment.
Mudra is the prayer in finger position. As Rei speaks her mantra, her
fingers take the steeple position (thumbs crossed on the base, two index
fingers joined and pointing up to create the point of the Vajra, the
Indivisible Jewel). This is also known as the Uttara Bodhi Mudra.
Mandala is the prayer in symbol. A burning mandala appears behind Rei,
with nine concentric circles, each probably a step for Enlightenment.
The characters inside the circles are neither Japanese, nor Chinese, but
Sanskrit (Hindu), which is used as the Sacred Text of Buddism.
For those familiar with Vajrayana (schools like Tibetan, Shingon)
Buddism, the idea of the Star Seed used in the series, is a thin
metaphor for the Vajra. In Hinduism. the Vajra is the Thunderbolt
weapon of the Thunder God Indra. In Buddism, the Vajra is the
indivisible Diamond/Admantine, the embodiment of perfection and
enlightenment. Our karmic center and soul is embodied in the Vajra, of
which there are three in the body. The first is the Diamond Vajra,
which is centered on our forehead. The Second is the Ruby Vajra, which
is centered on our throat. The Third is the Sapphire Vajra, which is
centered on our heart.
With enlightenment, the purity of our soul should be as hard and
indivisible in the form of the Vajra. (Japanese; Vajura?)
4. Hinduism
The Sailor Stars is a metaphor for the Hindu Trinity.
Maker --- Brahma the Creator
Healer --- Vishnu the Preserver
Fighter --- Shiva the Destroyer
5. Christianity
Already often discussed in the newsgroup with the much abused metaphors
on angels and crucifixion, the Crystal Chalice like the Holy
Grail, I will add some more.
Some of Sailor Moon's attacks resemble exorcism, the rite of the removal
of a demon or entity possessing a body.
Perhaps the greatest Christian theme is Sailor Moon's own character.
She often practices Christian attitudes of sacrifice like to turn the
other cheek; not to hate an enemy but even to love, forgive and work on
the redemption of even the most cruelest enemy. Such Christian themes
are even stronger than metaphors of angels in the series---they make up
the center and the eventual resolution of the story plot such as with
Nehemiya and Sailor Galactica.
6. Mythology
This is again already much discussed; Endymion and Selena, the Greek
gods etc,. The three cats are actually names of moon
goddesess---Artemis, Luna and Diana. Why SM is named Usagi is based on
the Rabbit on the Moon, on the part of Japanese and Chinese mythology.
Luna is the Roman name for the Egyptian Goddess Bastet. Bastet, the
Goddess of the Moon, is the patron of cats. The Egyptian myth is the
basis of all connections between the Moon and cats. Bastet also has the
power to foretell the future, which is why there is a cat bringing
tommorrow's news in the CBS series Early Edition.
More stories and concrete details to add to the essay would be most
welcome.
Umino
On 28 May 1998 08:09:34 GMT, cro...@kuentos.guam.net (Robato Yao)
wrote:
>
>
>
>Once in a while, this information has to reposted for readers
>interested on this matter.
<snip>
>
>Rei's Burning Mandala attack shows all the signs of classic Mantric
>Buddism. Buddism has three forms of worshipping action, sometimes known
>as the Three Jewels---Mantra, Mudra, and Mandala.
>
>Mantra is the prayer in voice. As Rei begins her attack, she utters a
>mantra (ending in zen). Someone told me this is the Kyu Ju Kuri, and
>for me, it seems like the Nine Steps used to attain enlightenment.
>
Aren't you confusing Burning Mandala with Akuryou Taisan?
<snip>
Samuel Crider
In alt.fan.sailor-moon Robato Yao <cro...@kuentos.guam.net> wrote:
>Our karmic center and soul is embodied in the Vajra, of
> which there are three in the body. The first is the Diamond Vajra,
> which is centered on our forehead. The Second is the Ruby Vajra, which
> is centered on our throat. The Third is the Sapphire Vajra, which is
> centered on our heart.
Heart Crystals either arise from people's chests or are sucked out of
their mouths.
Starseeds appear from the forehead (except for one time when it appears
from the amble clevage of a female victim -- fan service being mostly
likely to be blamed there, rather than philosophy....).
--
Samuel Lewis Crider
allo...@mcs.net
Austin Watkins
Robato Yao <cro...@kuentos.guam.net> wrote:
: Once in a while, this information has to reposted for readers
: interested on this matter.
: 1. Taoist Astrology
< all discussion of Taoism snipped >
: 2. Shinto
< all discussion of Shintoism snipped >
: 3. Buddism
< beginning of discussion of Buddhism snipped >
: Mudra is the prayer in finger position. As Rei speaks her mantra, her
: fingers take the steeple position (thumbs crossed on the base, two index
: fingers joined and pointing up to create the point of the Vajra, the
: Indivisible Jewel). This is also known as the Uttara Bodhi Mudra.
< discussion of mandala snipped >
: For those familiar with Vajrayana (schools like Tibetan, Shingon)
: Buddism, the idea of the Star Seed used in the series, is a thin
: metaphor for the Vajra. In Hinduism. the Vajra is the Thunderbolt
: weapon of the Thunder God Indra. In Buddism, the Vajra is the
: indivisible Diamond/Admantine, the embodiment of perfection and
: enlightenment. Our karmic center and soul is embodied in the Vajra, of
: which there are three in the body. The first is the Diamond Vajra,
: which is centered on our forehead. The Second is the Ruby Vajra, which
: is centered on our throat. The Third is the Sapphire Vajra, which is
: centered on our heart.
The three Princes of Nemesis from 'R': Demando, Rubeus, and Saffir!
: With enlightenment, the purity of our soul should be as hard and
: indivisible in the form of the Vajra. (Japanese; Vajura?)
Reminds me of the theme song to the anime "Zenki" --
"Vajra Om!" (or is that "Vajra On?")
That series never seemed particularly Buddhist to me, though;
however, I doubt I'd recognize actual Buddhism if it came up
and introduced itself to me.
: 4. Hinduism
< all discussion of Hinduism snipped >
: 5. Christianity
< all discussion of Christianity snipped >
: 6. Mythology
< all discussion of Mythology snipped >
--
Why does SM eat so often?
(==> She can only "tide" herself over for 6 hours.)
awat...@teleport.com (that's only my ISP! I don't run the place.)
-- "don't feed the Wyvern" -- Tuxedo Ingrate