The Mythology of Okami

Anonymous asked: The Dogu have almost certainly been around for a while--the giant Dogu and the Jomon style figurines in the Tsuta ruins are all very old. They could have been built by locals some time after Orochi's defeat at Shiranui and Nagi's hands but not very much considering the decay the place displays, but I think they're much older. I've got the feeling that Dogu were used for good in ancient times, maybe by shaman-type villagers to protect their homes and villages. They could be artifacts animated by

—Orochi’s malevolent forces. The bestiary even mentions that they were once used for good. I also have a personal headcanon that Orochi did not bring every single monster/demon with him, and that there were some sort of supernatural beings present before. The difference between these and the monsters from the Ark is that the Ark’s are /malevolent/, causing strife and chaos, while those already present were at worst mischievous. The dragonians would be part of that latter category.

The “spirits of earth, air, and sea” that the Oina worship might also be of this sort—benevolent otherworldly creatures. This is just all my speculation though!

Thank you for bringing this up—that’s a good point. It’s also interesting that the “ancient civilization” present long before the game is doubtless a parallel to Jomon culture as well, and yet they also brought many aspects of it into the not-so-ancient Kamiki Village. I can only imagine that they built those structures. There’s nothing Jomon about that door to Kamui, but the Tsuta Ruins are a big pointer. The crystal ball in Hana Valley could also be a shamanic tool. No one knows when Shinto truly formed, but Japan was home to shamanic cultures at least until the end of the Yayoi period.

I remember Orochi’s power having something to do with it too, now that you mention it. Stirring the spirits from their slumber or simply imbuing them with dark power. 

Personal thought/Shintoism time: I also think that there are non-evil spirits that have inhabited the rivers and mountains of Nippon before Orochi and the Ark. In Shinto, there are kami who reside in Heaven (Takamagahara) and kami who live on Earth alongside humans and nature, and are inextricably connected with the two. You have kami who control forces of nature like Ryujin (King Wada) and Otohime, and kami who reside in (or simply are) large trees and rocks, and kami of man-made things like roads and toilets. In a vibrant and abundant world like Nippon, I also like to think that they inhabit the hills and valleys. Maybe we don’t see them because they were killed by demons over the last 200 years. The only other nature kami we meet is Sakuya, and she was brought over with Konohana from a distant land.

The Ainu concept of kamui is very similar to kami, and the words are similar, which I think most scholars agree is not a coincidence. So yes, I agree that Oina prayer is in the same religious vein, if not the same thing.

fruityprophet asked: Though they seem to be animated statues of clay soldiers-- trying to remember if said statues were buried with people of importance, but I think I'm thinking of a different culture... They've always made me think of the Inuyaha episode where Kikyo was revived (not sure if you've seen Inuyasha). Still, Waka plays the flute and has a history of sorts with Yami, so it does make me wonder! Of course, it could all stem from the Moon Tribe being a very musical culture, if indeed that is the case...

“As for the demons… Who knows? It could be that it was a portrayal of idleness; would that have been looked upon negatively? As for the markings, it could just as easily have been a link to Yami alone. I wonder why and how demons changed so much over 100 years, by the way. The ones from the present day are portrayed as well when Tuskle speaks of the Ark… Any ideas?”

They’re called haniwa, and they’re from the Jomon period. You’re correct in that they were buried in the tombs of important people. The instruments might be a reflection of the imps, but who knows. Kamiki Village takes a sharp turn toward the Jomon period when we go back 100 years—simpler clothes, the pot on Nazo’s mama’s head, the Dogu and Clay Soldiers very clearly echo the Jomon period. Susano’s/Nagi’s house is reminiscent of a haniwa house as well. Which makes Nami’s rice agriculture anachronistic, since rice farming technology was brought over by China in the Kofun period, I think. I suspect that the change was made to be so drastic just so you *know* you’re in a different time. Or maybe the peace after Orochi’s defeat brought about a cultural revolution. Maybe the place where Peony and Peoni/Camille and Camellia are from had something to do with it, too. It’s not realistic for a culture to change so much without strong outside influence, but then I think it is mostly for dramatic effect, and anyway the whole game is an amalgam of Jomon, Yayoi, and Heian cultures and aesthetics, so why the heck not? XD (And Edo I guess)

I do wonder if Orochi brought all those monsters with him, although the bestiary makes it sound like the Dogu have been around for a while. I don’t want to speculate too much, though. It could be the same reason as above.

fruityprophet asked: I actually haven't played it in a very long time, so I don't know how much more beautiful they made it, but... It's so beautiful anyways! <3 Oh, and Japanese Stag Beetles? Jewel Beetles? I know that Stag Beetles are culturally significant in Japan, and Isshaku's helmet is a stag beetle... I think Issun's is a jewel beetle, but I don't know how those relate to Japanese culture... Also, ever notice how the clay demons from 100 years ago have Moon Tribe markings and are beamed down from the sky?

I have no idea what Issun’s helmet is supposed to be. I don’t think the art book sheds any light on that, either. (Or maybe it’s an indiscernable note in Japanese).

I’ll have to look into the cultural significance of the stag beetle, because I’ve never heard anything about it. Apparently Japan is home to 39 species of stag beetle, though. 

Yeah, I have noticed that. The Dogu are specifically stated to have come from the moon, but the Clay Soldiers are just described as statues inhabited by vengeful warriors in the bestiary. It could just be a way of color-coding them, but then they also beam down from the sky, so maybe they’re vengeful Moon Tribe warriors?? (Actually, that could make sense…) There was definitely something odd going on around that time, though. Aside from Orochi, I mean. All this space-Jomon stuff. Like Nazo’s spaceship??

Anonymous asked: Hi! Could you please recommend links, books or even make a post about the Johmon culture? Thanks in advance!

(Sorry it took me so long to respond!;;)

The first volme of the Cambridge History of Japan is pretty informative on ancient matters, I found. Otherwise I don’t have any particular sources saved, but I can give you links to some more basic info. The trouble is that very little is actually known about Jomon culture because most of what remains is the pottery and a few ruins. However, the Ainu are descended from the Jomon people, so we can make some inferencees there. Hopefully there will be a day when we can have a comprehensive text on Jomon culture that isn’t 90% about the pottery.  This is a pretty good link. Otherwise I pretty much recommend looking at Wikipedia articles (and their sources), because they actually seem to be pretty good compliations. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jomo/hd_jomo.htm

itsmrbump asked: does it annoy anyone else that they ever so slightly changed the running in the HD =/

How so? I never noticed. :o

toasterfaic asked: Master post of in-game kanji would be killer!! ((And would help me on my kanji before studying abroad...)

I can’t say these kanji will be very useful abroad, but I’m sure you could impress some people! I’ll start working on it as my next post.

Anonymous asked: Hello, congratulations for the blog, it's great!Well, not know if someone else has already asked, but what represent those pictograms (not sure which alphabet belong) appearing in *cursed zones?correcting, sorry *

Thank you! The pictograms are all Japanese kanji. A few of them have been mentioned before, but I suppose it might be helpful to make a sort of master post of kanji that appear in the game. (Would any of you like that?) all of the ones in the cursed zones and demon scroll walls mean things like “evil”,  ”curse”, “demon”, and “danger”. Some of them are written in “standard” brush calligraphy and some are in seal script, an old form of Chinese writing used mostly in engravings. 

Anonymous asked: What is the meanin of the floral finisher system? Does it refer to ow nature is sronger then evil or am I reading to much into the lore and myths of Ôkami?

I would guess that a certain amount of symbolism was intentional (glory & triumph of nature—maybe also that death is not an end but a transformation, but I could be reading into this too much as well now). Ultimately I think it was meant to be an interesting game mechanic for getting Demon Fangs and deepening the combat system, but it fits into the themes of the game, so maybe the connections aren’t unwarranted. Combat isn’t the only place we see evil power transforming into nature and life.

Important notice!

You can look up posts on specific things by adding /tagged/ at the end of the main blog URL, followed by whatever subject you’re looking for (use dashes between words, e.g. /oni-island).

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to ask and I’ll add it to my drafts (or help you find it if I know it’s there). You can also use the archive. I’m more than happy to help people around, but I get a lot of asks for things I’ve already done so hopefully this helps!

Anonymous asked: There's any mythology behind the Sasa Sanctuary? And what about the Spider Queen?

Sasa Sanctuary is discussed a bit here. But I don’t think I’ve said this yet so it’s also worth noting that the bamboo grove inside is based on the famous bamboo forest on Arashiyama in Kyoto. 

Spider Queen is here.