Chinese mythology in popular culture
Encyclopedia
Elements of Chinese mythology
have appeared many times in popular culture.
Dragon turtle
Hong
Jade Emperor
In the television series Stargate SG-1
, the Goa'uld
System Lord Yu is presumably based on the Jade Emperor, though whether Lord Yu is supposed to be the originator of the related myth, or merely impersonated the deity among the ancient Chinese (as was the case with several other Goa'uld, who impersonated Egyptian
gods, among others) is unclear.
Akito Sohma
, the antagonist of the anime and manga Fruits Basket
, is based on the Jade Emperor.
In the manga Fushigi Yūgi
, the identity of Tai Yi-Jun (aka Tai Itsuken), the oracle who created the Universe of the Four Gods, is eventually revealed to be the Jade Emperor.
In the 2008 film The Forbidden Kingdom the Jade Emperor is one of the minor characters.
In the "Dragonball" anime and manga series, the character Kami-sama is based on the Jade Emperor, hence his green, or jade colored, skin.
Nezha
The story of Nezha has been made into several animated films. One of the most well-known is the 1979 production of Nezha Nao Hai
(哪吒鬧海) (63 minutes), translated into English on the recent DVD release as Nezha Conquers the Dragon King, which won international award and recognition in the former USSR.
In the Chinese VCD
, Nezha is shown with fire wheels, a red ribbon, and a golden ring.
Also, Nezha appears in the popular Japanese manga
/anime
series Saiyuki as Nataku, a half-mortal war god who won the then-divine Son Goku (Sun Wukong
)'s friendship. Unfortunately, Nataku falls into a catactonic state (the reasons for this are not disclosed in the anime) and sits in the divine garden of heaven with only the Goddess of Mercy to keep him company staring blankly ahead for all time. In the series, Nataku is decidedly more somber than Goku and is resigned to being a puppet (he was 'given the honor' of being the War prince, a role which is later passed onto Homura
) to the Gods. Furthermore, Nataku goes by a different title, but his background is still very much the same—right down to a Commander father and spear weapon. (However, it is glaringly obvious as the series goes on that the Commander is exploiting his son for fame and recognition from the Gods, reversing the roles that Nataku is to blame for misfortune) Nataku's father however, is then lectured by the past reincarnation of Cho Hakkai (Field Marshal Tenpou) and further mis-treatment of his son is then yet to be seen in the series.
In the anime series Gundam Wing, Meilan Long, Chang Wufei's wife, insists on calling herself Nataku (the Japanese pronunciation of the kanji for "Nezha"). After her death, Wufei would give his mobile suits, the Shenglong and Altron Gundams the nickname Nataku in her honor.
In the manga/anime series X/1999
, one of the Dragons of Earth is named Nataku after the god. A genderless clone with the body of an adult and a childlike mentality, Nataku is presumed by its creators to be soulless and without emotions, though its actions prove otherwise.
Again in an anime series Soul Hunter
Nataku is the son of a minor governor who is born through mysterious means with great powers and weapons called . He ages quickly, kills a dragon and is killed by the Dragon's higher powered father to save his parents. Nataku also is restored by a god to be an incarnation of a lotus flower. Nataku's powpei include fire/stone wheels that allow him to fly. .
Nezha, renamed Nata, appeared in the animated version of Monkey Magic
as the main character's first major opponent. In this version Nezha was defeated more by trickery than power or skill.
Nezha is a motif in the live action film Rebels of the Neon God
by the Taiwan
director Tsai Ming-liang
Nian
The Nian are a part of the Canthan New Year Celebration as part of the game Guild Wars
, specifically appearing in Guild Wars Factions
Omen, a boss in World of Warcraft
which appears only once a year during the Lunar Festival was inspired by the Nian.
The Nian make an appearance in an episode of Three Delivery
The Nian is available as a mount in the game World of Kung Fu
The Nian (known as the Neinbeast in game) is available as a mount in the game Perfect World International. There is also an in-game event in which players try to kill Neinbeasts and their minions.
The Nian are in the TV show Spirit Warriors (however they are humanoid and ninja like in this show).
Nüwa
Nu Wa appears in the Koei video game Dynasty Warriors 3
and the later game, Warriors Orochi 2
. She wields a rapier and a shield.
In Dynasty Warriors Three, she wore green pants, a green top with a gold chestplate, a golden hairpiece, and she looked human. In the Warriors Orochi Series, her appearance was greatly changed.
In Warriors Orochi 2, she believes that Cao Cao is the chosen one, but she has mixed feeling about both Cao Cao and Oda Nobunaga on whether they will slip into darkness or not. Although she assists Wei, she is constantly testing Cao Cao. After Orochi's second demise, Nu Wa believes that Orochi mixed the different worlds because he wanted it that way.
"Nuwa" appears in her more snaky incarnation as a Han Commander unit in the game Arcane Legions. She is able to resurrect fallen Terra-Cotta warriors.
Ox-Head and Horse-Face
Ranka
The legend was referenced by the Japanese playwright Chikamatsu in his play The Battles of Coxinga
in 1715.
Sha Wujing
In Japan
he was popularly seen and depicted as a kappa, another fearsome kind of water demon.
In the manga/anime Saiyūki, Sha Gojyō
is loosely based on Sha Wujing, with a modified version of the same weapon (albeit incorrectly called a shakujō, the Japanese name for the Chinese xīzhàng). However, Gojyō is described as being half human, half yōkai with the ability to breathe underwater, instead of a man-eating river monster.
Mega Man: The Wily Wars
had a character based on Sha Wujing named Mega Water.S in the unlockable "Wily Tower" game. Mega Water.S later made an appearance in the CD Database for Mega Man & Bass.
In the manga/anime Dragon Ball, the character Yamcha, the Desert Bandit, was originally based upon Sha Wujing.
There is a Digimon
called Shawujingmon.
Shen
In the Chinese novel Water Margin
, the character Tong Meng is nicknamed Fanzhiang Shen 翻江蜃 "River-churning Shen". In Japanese manga
, Shin 蜃 is an illusion-creating weapon of Tomo (Seiryu Seishi) and an illusion-manifesting technique of Demon Eyes Kyo
. The title Honō no Mirāju 炎の蜃気楼 "Mirage of Blaze
" transcribes shinkirō 蜃気楼 with the English gairaigo
loanword mirāju.
Shisa
The 1974 tokusatsu
kaiju
film Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla features a giant shisa monster called King Shisa (transliterated as King Caesar
or King Seesar in the U.S. release), who was awakened from its ancient slumber in Okinawa to help Godzilla
destroy his mechanical doppelgänger
, Mechagodzilla
. This monster was later used in Godzilla: Final Wars
as one of the monsters that were controlled by the Xilians.
The Pokémon
Growlithe and its evolution Arcanine
are based on the shisa.
The Digimon
Seasarmon
is based on a shisa, along with Chatsuramon.
Shisas feature prominently on the crest of local Okinawan football
club F.C. Ryukyu
Yoshiyuki Saito
, a Japanese professional wrestler hailing from Okinawa, uses the mask and gimmick Super Shisa. He also has a young protegé named Shisa Boy and once formed a team with King Shisa (Pentagon Black from Mexico
).
Mega Man ZX Advent
have two Shisa-based Pseudoroids, Argoyle and Urgoyle, They work as a pair when fighting and become a playable form after being defeated.
In the game The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
, the talking boat, The King of Red Lions has a head on the front of the boat resembling a Shisa.
The Demon Sorcerer Dai Gui from Jackie Chan Adventures
has a Shisa-like face.
Two variations on the Shisa, in this case referred to as Foo Dogs and Foo Lions or Foo Creatures, are featured in the first edition Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game's
Monster Manual II.
In the game Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES, there is a Shisa Persona, although its name is spelled as "Shiisaa." Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne also features a Shisaa.
In the PlayStation 2
game Final Fantasy X
and Final Fantasy X-2
, the aeon Yojimbo had a shisaa, Daigoro, as his companion. Yuna
gains a similar shisaa, Kogoro, as her animal partner with the Trainer dressphere.
A Shisa has also appeared in few episodes of Friends
, in Joey and Chandler's apartment.
In an episode of Azumanga Daioh
, Osaka appears musing over Shisa during a field trip to Okinawa.
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
have appeared many times in popular culture.
Dragon turtleDragon turtleA dragon turtle is a legendary Chinese creature that combines two of the four celestial animals of Chinese mythology: the body of a turtle with a dragonlike head. It is promoted as a positive ornament in Feng Shui, symbolizing courage, determination, fertility, longevity, power, success, and support...
- Bowser, the arch-nemesis of MarioMariois a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
in the Super Mario Bros.Super Mario Bros.is a 1985 platform video game developed by Nintendo, published for the Nintendo Entertainment System as a sequel to the 1983 game Mario Bros. In Super Mario Bros., the player controls Mario as he travels through the Mushroom Kingdom in order to rescue Princess Toadstool from the antagonist...
video game franchise, is a well known dragon turtle. - In the Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing gameRole-playing gameA role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
dragon turtles are gigantic sea creatures, feared by sailorSailorA sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s for their ability to capsizeCapsizeCapsizing is an act of tipping over a boat or ship to disable it. The act of reversing a capsized vessel is called righting.If a capsized vessel has sufficient flotation to prevent sinking, it may recover on its own if the stability is such that it is not stable inverted...
the largest shipShipSince the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s. They are massively armourArmourArmour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
ed and breathe a cloud of scalding steamSteamSteam is the technical term for water vapor, the gaseous phase of water, which is formed when water boils. In common language it is often used to refer to the visible mist of water droplets formed as this water vapor condenses in the presence of cooler air...
. - Dragon turtles are monsters in some DragonQuest/DragonWarrior games, often called Tortragon.
- There are dragon turtles in the game Might and Magic VIII.
- In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) (season 5), the turtles turned into creatures that resembles dragon turtles.
HongHong (rainbow-dragon)Hong or jiang is a two-headed dragon in Chinese mythology, comparable with rainbow serpent legends in diverse cultures and mythologies.-Chinese "rainbow" names:...
- Rainbow Dragon, a "Crystal Beast" card in Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card GameYu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card GameThe is a Japanese collectible card game developed and published by Konami. It is based on the fictional game of Duel Monsters created by manga artist Kazuki Takahashi, which is the main plot device during the majority of his popular manga franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and its various anime adaptations...
- Rainbow Dragon (1988), a Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
soundtrack by Ben DaglishBen DaglishBen Daglish is a composer and musician. His parents moved to Sheffield when Daglish was aged one year old. He is known for creating many soundtracks during the 1980s for home computer games, including Commodore 64 hits as The Last Ninja, Trap, and Deflektor... - "Dragon or Rainbow Serpent" was a gunpowder-art project of Cai Guo-QiangCai Guo-QiangCai Guo-Qiang is a Chinese contemporary artist and curator.-Biography:Cai Guo-Qiang was born in 1957 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China. He was trained in stage design at the Shanghai Theater Academy from 1981 to 1985. Cai's work is scholarly and often politically charged...
Jade EmperorJade EmperorThe Jade Emperor in Chinese folk culture, is the ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell, according to a version of Taoist mythology. He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religion pantheon...
In the television series Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
, the Goa'uld
Goa'uld
The Goa'uld are a fictional symbiotic race of ancient astronauts from the American-Canadian military science fiction television franchise Stargate. The Goa'uld are parasites from the planet P3X-888, integrated within a host, most of the time human. The resulting creatures are a powerful race bent...
System Lord Yu is presumably based on the Jade Emperor, though whether Lord Yu is supposed to be the originator of the related myth, or merely impersonated the deity among the ancient Chinese (as was the case with several other Goa'uld, who impersonated Egyptian
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
gods, among others) is unclear.
Akito Sohma
Akito Sohma
is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the manga and anime series Fruits Basket. Akito is the head of the Sohma clan and is shrouded in mystery and although frail with poor health, is feared and loathed by many members of the Sohma clan....
, the antagonist of the anime and manga Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket
, sometimes abbreviated , is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Natsuki Takaya. It was serialized in the semi-monthly Japanese magazine Hana to Yume, published by Hakusensha, from 1999 to 2006. The series was also adapted into a 26-episode anime series, directed by Akitaro...
, is based on the Jade Emperor.
In the manga Fushigi Yūgi
Fushigi Yūgi
, also known as Curious Play, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yu Watase. Shogakukan published Fushigi Yûgi in Shōjo Comic in its original serialized form from May 1992 through June 1996. Viz Media released the manga series in English in North America starting in 1999...
, the identity of Tai Yi-Jun (aka Tai Itsuken), the oracle who created the Universe of the Four Gods, is eventually revealed to be the Jade Emperor.
In the 2008 film The Forbidden Kingdom the Jade Emperor is one of the minor characters.
In the "Dragonball" anime and manga series, the character Kami-sama is based on the Jade Emperor, hence his green, or jade colored, skin.
Mogwai
- Mogwai are featured in the movie "GremlinsGremlinsGremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature—called a Mogwai—as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. It was followed by a sequel,...
" - There is a Scottish post-rock band named MogwaiMogwai (band)Mogwai are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite , John Cummings , Barry Burns , Dominic Aitchison , and Martin Bulloch...
NezhaNezha (deity)Nezha, Na Zha or Nata . He was then given the title "Third Lotus Prince" after he became a deity.Modern scholarship has shown that he is based on two figures from Hindu mythology, namely Nalakubar and Krishna....
The story of Nezha has been made into several animated films. One of the most well-known is the 1979 production of Nezha Nao HaiPrince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King
Prince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King is a 1979 Chinese animated film. It was screened out of competition at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
(哪吒鬧海) (63 minutes), translated into English on the recent DVD release as Nezha Conquers the Dragon King, which won international award and recognition in the former USSR.
In the Chinese VCD
VCD
VCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
, Nezha is shown with fire wheels, a red ribbon, and a golden ring.
Also, Nezha appears in the popular Japanese manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
/anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Saiyuki as Nataku, a half-mortal war god who won the then-divine Son Goku (Sun Wukong
Sun Wukong
Sun Wukong , also known as the Monkey King is a main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West . In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices...
)'s friendship. Unfortunately, Nataku falls into a catactonic state (the reasons for this are not disclosed in the anime) and sits in the divine garden of heaven with only the Goddess of Mercy to keep him company staring blankly ahead for all time. In the series, Nataku is decidedly more somber than Goku and is resigned to being a puppet (he was 'given the honor' of being the War prince, a role which is later passed onto Homura
Homura
Homura is the name of:* Jin Homura , prominent painter in Japan* Nagi Homura, a fictional character in the My Hime anime/manga series* Hōmura Uta, a 2005 album released by Mucc...
) to the Gods. Furthermore, Nataku goes by a different title, but his background is still very much the same—right down to a Commander father and spear weapon. (However, it is glaringly obvious as the series goes on that the Commander is exploiting his son for fame and recognition from the Gods, reversing the roles that Nataku is to blame for misfortune) Nataku's father however, is then lectured by the past reincarnation of Cho Hakkai (Field Marshal Tenpou) and further mis-treatment of his son is then yet to be seen in the series.
In the anime series Gundam Wing, Meilan Long, Chang Wufei's wife, insists on calling herself Nataku (the Japanese pronunciation of the kanji for "Nezha"). After her death, Wufei would give his mobile suits, the Shenglong and Altron Gundams the nickname Nataku in her honor.
In the manga/anime series X/1999
X (manga)
, also known as X/1999, is a Japanese shōjo manga series created by Clamp, a creative team made up by Satsuki Igarashi, Nanase Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Mokona. It premiered in Monthly Asukas May 1992 issue and ran there until the magazine's editors showed concern with the increasingly violent...
, one of the Dragons of Earth is named Nataku after the god. A genderless clone with the body of an adult and a childlike mentality, Nataku is presumed by its creators to be soulless and without emotions, though its actions prove otherwise.
Again in an anime series Soul Hunter
Soul Hunter (anime)
, also known as Soul Hunter, is a Japanese manga series by Ryu Fujisaki.Hoshin Engi was inspired by an ancient Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi...
Nataku is the son of a minor governor who is born through mysterious means with great powers and weapons called . He ages quickly, kills a dragon and is killed by the Dragon's higher powered father to save his parents. Nataku also is restored by a god to be an incarnation of a lotus flower. Nataku's powpei include fire/stone wheels that allow him to fly. .
Nezha, renamed Nata, appeared in the animated version of Monkey Magic
Monkey Magic
Monkey Magic may refer to:*Monkey Magic , an animated Japanese television series**Monkey Magic , a 1999 PlayStation game based on the animated series...
as the main character's first major opponent. In this version Nezha was defeated more by trickery than power or skill.
Nezha is a motif in the live action film Rebels of the Neon God
Rebels of the Neon God
Rebels of the Neon God is a 1992 Taiwanese film by Tsai Ming-liang. It is his first full-length film. It tells two stories of Taipei youth. One details alienated buxiban student Hsiao Kang and his troubled interactions with his family...
by the Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
director Tsai Ming-liang
Tsai Ming-liang
Tsai Ming-liang is one of the most celebrated "Second New Wave" film directors of Taiwanese Cinema, along with earlier contemporaries such as Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Edward Yang...
NianNianAccording to Chinese mythology, a Nian is a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains. Once each spring, on or around Chinese New Year, it comes out of hiding to attack people, and prefers children. Weaknesses of the Nian are purported to be a sensitivity to loud noises, and a fear of the...
The Nian are a part of the Canthan New Year Celebration as part of the game Guild WarsGuild Wars
Guild Wars is an episodic series of online 3D fantasy role-playing games developed by ArenaNet and published by NCsoft. Although often defined as an MMORPG the developers define it as a CORPG due to significant differences from the MMORPG genre. It provides two main modes of gameplay—a cooperative...
, specifically appearing in Guild Wars Factions
Guild Wars Factions
Guild Wars Factions is an Action RPG released in 2006 by ArenaNet, the second in the Guild Wars series. Factions introduces the continent of Cantha where two warring factions, the Luxons and the Kurzicks, are locked in a global persistent war...
Omen, a boss in World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
which appears only once a year during the Lunar Festival was inspired by the Nian.
The Nian make an appearance in an episode of Three Delivery
Three Delivery
Three Delivery is an American animated sitcom and action adventure, inspired by kung-fu movies. It is created by Larry Schwarz, who also created similar series, Kappa Mikey and Speed Racer: The Next Generation. It is a collaboration between Animation Collective in Manhattan, New York and the...
The Nian is available as a mount in the game World of Kung Fu
The Nian (known as the Neinbeast in game) is available as a mount in the game Perfect World International. There is also an in-game event in which players try to kill Neinbeasts and their minions.
The Nian are in the TV show Spirit Warriors (however they are humanoid and ninja like in this show).
NüwaNüwaNüwa is a goddess in ancient Chinese mythology best known for creating mankind and repairing the wall of heaven.-Primary sources:...
Nu Wa appears in the Koei video game Dynasty Warriors 3Dynasty Warriors 3
is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. It is third in the Dynasty Warriors series in North America and the second in the Shin Sangokumusou series in Japan. It is a spin-off from the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms and based around a series of books...
and the later game, Warriors Orochi 2
Warriors Orochi 2
is a video game developed by Koei and Omega Force for the Sony PlayStation 2. It is the sequel to Warriors Orochi, a crossover video game of the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors series. The game was released on September 23 in North America and September 19 in Europe...
. She wields a rapier and a shield.
In Dynasty Warriors Three, she wore green pants, a green top with a gold chestplate, a golden hairpiece, and she looked human. In the Warriors Orochi Series, her appearance was greatly changed.
In Warriors Orochi 2, she believes that Cao Cao is the chosen one, but she has mixed feeling about both Cao Cao and Oda Nobunaga on whether they will slip into darkness or not. Although she assists Wei, she is constantly testing Cao Cao. After Orochi's second demise, Nu Wa believes that Orochi mixed the different worlds because he wanted it that way.
"Nuwa" appears in her more snaky incarnation as a Han Commander unit in the game Arcane Legions. She is able to resurrect fallen Terra-Cotta warriors.
Ox-Head and Horse-FaceOx-Head and Horse-FaceOx-Head and Horse-Face are two fearsome guardians of the Underworld in Chinese mythology, where the dead face judgement prior to reincarnation. As indicated by their names, one has the head of an ox, and the other has the face of a horse...
- In Lone Wolf and CubLone Wolf and Cubis a manga created by writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima. First published in 1970, the story was adapted into six films starring Tomisaburo Wakayama, four plays, a television series starring Yorozuya Kinnosuke, and is widely recognized as an important and influential work.Lone Wolf and Cub...
, the protagonist, Ogami Itto, has visions about Ox-Head and Horse-face. He refers to them as "Gozu Mezu" and uses drawings of them to advertise his services as an assassin. - In the animated version of Rumiko Takahashi's InuYashaInuYasha, also known as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on November 13, 1996 and concluded on June 18, 2008...
, the cast fights with Ox-Head and Horse-Face in order to enter the underworld - but only Sesshomaru, with the healing sword Tenseiga, is allowed to pass without fighting Ox-Head and Horse-Face. - Ox-Head appears as the titular character in Takashi MiikeTakashi Miikeis a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over seventy theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. In the years 2001 and 2002 alone, Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions...
's movie GozuGozuis a Japanese cult film directed by Takashi Miike.-Plot:Structurally, Gozu is a succession of bizarre scenes sandwiched between a storyline involving Minami’s search for his Yakuza brother Ozaki in a small town, that is reminiscent of the episodic quests in Greek Mythology.-Cast:*Hideki Sone as...
. - In Shin Megami Tensei III: NocturneShin Megami Tensei III: Nocturneis a role-playing game for the PlayStation 2. It is the third main game in the Megami Tensei series. Shin Megami Tensei III was released nine years after Shin Megami Tensei II, and was the first Megami Tensei game in the series to be released into the United States using the "Megami Tensei" name...
, Ox-Head is Gozu-Tenno, one of the main antagonists in the story. - Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG features a card named "Mezuki" based on Horse-Head
- Mezura, the second phantom god from the anime Kotetsushin JeegKotetsushin Jeegis a Japanese animated television series and retcon to the 1975 Super Robot series Steel Jeeg, created by Go Nagai. It is directed by Jun Kawagoe . The show began airing on the satellite network WOWOW on April 5, 2007 at 11:30 p.m...
, is based after Horse-Face. Kyo even refers to its fight with Jeeg as Ox-Head and Horse-Face.
RankaRanka (legend)Ranka or Lankeshan ji, or Rotten Axe Handle in English, is a Chinese legend similar to that of Rip Van Winkle, although it predates it by at least a 1000 years. The exact date of origin of the legend is unknown...
The legend was referenced by the Japanese playwright Chikamatsu in his play The Battles of CoxingaThe Battles of Coxinga
' is a puppet play by Chikamatsu. It was his most popular play: first staged on November 26, 1715, in Osaka, it ran for the next seventeen months, far longer than the usual few weeks or months...
in 1715.
Sha WujingSha WujingShā Wùjìng is one of the three disciples of Xuánzàng in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, although versions of his character predate the Ming novel. In the novels, his background is the least developed of the pilgrims and he contributes the least to their efforts...
In JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
he was popularly seen and depicted as a kappa, another fearsome kind of water demon.
In the manga/anime Saiyūki, Sha Gojyō
Sha Gojyo (Saiyuki)
is the third main protagonist in the manga and anime, Saiyūki, created by Minekura Kazuya. He is the hanyou companion of the Sanzo-ikkō , armed with a version of a shakujō...
is loosely based on Sha Wujing, with a modified version of the same weapon (albeit incorrectly called a shakujō, the Japanese name for the Chinese xīzhàng). However, Gojyō is described as being half human, half yōkai with the ability to breathe underwater, instead of a man-eating river monster.
Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Mega Man: The Wily Wars, released in Japan as is a video game compilation by Capcom for the Sega Mega Drive. The game features remakes of the first three Mega Man games that were originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Wily Wars was released in cartridge format in Japan and...
had a character based on Sha Wujing named Mega Water.S in the unlockable "Wily Tower" game. Mega Water.S later made an appearance in the CD Database for Mega Man & Bass.
In the manga/anime Dragon Ball, the character Yamcha, the Desert Bandit, was originally based upon Sha Wujing.
There is a Digimon
Digimon
, short for , is a Japanese media franchise encompassing digital toys, anime, manga and video games. The franchise's eponymous creatures are monsters of various forms living in a "Digital World", a parallel universe that originated from Earth's various communication networks.-Conception and...
called Shawujingmon.
ShenShen (clam-monster)In Chinese mythology, the shen or chen is a shapeshifting dragon or sea monster believed to create mirages.-Meanings:Chinese classic texts use the word shen to mean "a large shellfish" that was associated with funerals and "an aquatic monster" that could change its shape, which was later...
In the Chinese novel Water MarginWater Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
, the character Tong Meng is nicknamed Fanzhiang Shen 翻江蜃 "River-churning Shen". In Japanese manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, Shin 蜃 is an illusion-creating weapon of Tomo (Seiryu Seishi) and an illusion-manifesting technique of Demon Eyes Kyo
Demon Eyes Kyo
Demon Eyes Kyo is the main character in the manga Samurai Deeper Kyo, a popular manga written by Akimine Kamijyo. He was ranked first in the 2002 Samurai Deeper Kyo popularity contest and has remained in the top in every other poll...
. The title Honō no Mirāju 炎の蜃気楼 "Mirage of Blaze
Mirage of Blaze
is a shōnen-ai light novel series by Mizuna Kuwabara, which are published under Shueisha's Cobalt label. It was adapted into a TV anime series directed by Susumu Kudo in 2002 and an OVA in 2004....
" transcribes shinkirō 蜃気楼 with the English gairaigo
Gairaigo
Gairaigo is Japanese for "loan word" or "borrowed word", and indicates a transliteration into Japanese. In particular, the word usually refers to a Japanese word of foreign origin that was not borrowed from Chinese, primarily from English. Japanese also has a large number of loan words from...
loanword mirāju.
ShisaShisaShisa is a traditional Ryukyuan decoration, often in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. People place pairs of shisa on their rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some evils...
The 1974 tokusatsuTokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
film Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla features a giant shisa monster called King Shisa (transliterated as King Caesar
King Caesar
is a fictional Kaiju from the Toho produced Godzilla series. King Caesar's appearance was inspired by the Shisa, a beast that looks like a combination between a dog and a lion. It first appeared in the 1974 Showa film Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla...
or King Seesar in the U.S. release), who was awakened from its ancient slumber in Okinawa to help Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
destroy his mechanical doppelgänger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
, Mechagodzilla
Mechagodzilla
is a fictional character from various films in the Godzilla series, introduced in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla . He is Godzilla's mechanical doppelgänger and one of the most popular Toho kaiju...
. This monster was later used in Godzilla: Final Wars
Godzilla: Final Wars
is a 2004 Japanese science fiction-kaiju film directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, written by Wataru Mimura and Isao Kiriyama and produced by Shogo Tomiyama. It is the twenty-eighth film in the Godzilla film series, and the sixth in terms of the series' Millennium era...
as one of the monsters that were controlled by the Xilians.
The Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
Growlithe and its evolution Arcanine
Arcanine
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Arcanine first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise...
are based on the shisa.
The Digimon
Digimon
, short for , is a Japanese media franchise encompassing digital toys, anime, manga and video games. The franchise's eponymous creatures are monsters of various forms living in a "Digital World", a parallel universe that originated from Earth's various communication networks.-Conception and...
Seasarmon
Seasarmon
Seasarmon is a fictional character from the Digimon franchise, a Holy Beast Digimon. His Japanese name comes from Okinawan word, Shiisaa, which are said to protect the islands of Okinawa.-Description:...
is based on a shisa, along with Chatsuramon.
Shisas feature prominently on the crest of local Okinawan football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club F.C. Ryukyu
F.C. Ryukyu
are a football club from Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. They currently play in the Japan Football League.The word Ryūkyū is Okinawa Prefecture's historical name. The club also has futsal and handball teams.-History:...
Yoshiyuki Saito
Super Shisa
Yoshiyuki Saito is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his ring name Super Shisa, currently wrestling for Dragon Gate. His gimmick is inspired by the Ryukyuan Shisa...
, a Japanese professional wrestler hailing from Okinawa, uses the mask and gimmick Super Shisa. He also has a young protegé named Shisa Boy and once formed a team with King Shisa (Pentagon Black from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
).
Mega Man ZX Advent
Mega Man ZX Advent
Mega Man ZX Advent, known in Japan as , is a video game developed by Inti Creates and published by Capcom for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the sequel to Mega Man ZX...
have two Shisa-based Pseudoroids, Argoyle and Urgoyle, They work as a pair when fighting and become a playable form after being defeated.
In the game The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, released as in Japan, is an action-adventure game and the tenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series. It was released for the Nintendo GameCube in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 24, 2003, in Europe on May 2, 2003, and in Australia on...
, the talking boat, The King of Red Lions has a head on the front of the boat resembling a Shisa.
The Demon Sorcerer Dai Gui from Jackie Chan Adventures
Jackie Chan Adventures
Jackie Chan Adventures is an animated television series chronicling the adventures of a fictionalized version of action film star Jackie Chan. Many of the episodes contain references to Chan's actual works. This series ran on Kids' WB! from September 9, 2000 to July 7, 2005 for a total of 95...
has a Shisa-like face.
Two variations on the Shisa, in this case referred to as Foo Dogs and Foo Lions or Foo Creatures, are featured in the first edition Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game's
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
Monster Manual II.
In the game Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES, there is a Shisa Persona, although its name is spelled as "Shiisaa." Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne also features a Shisaa.
In the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
game Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012...
and Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy X-2
is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square for Sony's PlayStation 2. It was released in 2003 and is the sequel to the best-selling 2001 game Final Fantasy X...
, the aeon Yojimbo had a shisaa, Daigoro, as his companion. Yuna
Yuna (Final Fantasy)
is a player character in the Final Fantasy series. She is the female protagonist of Final Fantasy X and the main protagonist of the sequel Final Fantasy X-2. She was designed by Tetsuya Nomura and voiced by Hedy Burress and Mayuko Aoki in the English and Japanese versions, respectively...
gains a similar shisaa, Kogoro, as her animal partner with the Trainer dressphere.
A Shisa has also appeared in few episodes of Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, in Joey and Chandler's apartment.
In an episode of Azumanga Daioh
Azumanga Daioh
is a Japanese comedy manga by Kiyohiko Azuma. It was serialized by MediaWorks in the shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh from 1999 to 2002 and collected in four bound volumes...
, Osaka appears musing over Shisa during a field trip to Okinawa.