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Seishis From Fushigi Yuugi
Each one of the four Gods (Genbu, Byakko, Suzaku, and Seiryuu) has seven constellations in their quadrants that are all named. In Fushigi Yuugi these constellations are represented by humans, who are the Seishi. Each one of them has the name of the constellation they are for, and have the symbol of it someone where on their body. The constellations are called "Sei Shuku" (Star Houses) and each one is significant and has powers of some sort. The God in which the Seishi belong to are the Shichi Seishi (Seven Star Warriors), or just Seishi.
Seishi means constellation or star, however, the meaning is more like star warrior in this story. Each one of the Seishi’s names is written with two characters. The first one is for the star/constellation they represent while the second one is Shuku (House, Inn). This means that aside from just having the name of their constellation, they are also a holder a certain power of the god to reside in.
IE: Tamahome has the character "Oni" (Ogre) on his body. This name is written as "Tamahome Boshi" (Tamahome Star), which is represented by the character for "Oni" (Ogre). Tamahome’s name contains Oni and Shuku. Oni-Shuko means Ogre House. Though the name is pronounced Tamahome, it is writen as Oni-Shuku, showing that Tamahome represents the "Oni" constellation, and is a "Shuku" for the power to reside in.
The story of Fushigi Yuugi is more than a what some may this is just the renaming of existing constellations. The four animal gods that are the four directions of the sky and the four seasons are a real part of in ancient star lore and each Seishi's name comes from this. The Gods are: Eastern Blue Dragon of Spring, Southern Red Bird of Summer, Western White Tiger of Fall, and Northern Brown Tortoise of Winter. However, it is just really a part of Fushigi Yuugi that it is the duty of the Seishi's, and essentially their purpose in life, to help and protect their Miko until their God is called. Being they are warriors, (hehe, Seishi senshi!) they were each bestoyed with a gift, be it a talent (beyond genius smart) or an ability (healing people). Every Seishi seems to come around just a decade or two before their Miko visits their world. Which makes sense, otherwise it would be pointless to have 3 Seishi alive at once while the others have yet to be born or died long ago. And since the Miko doesn't appear instantly when all Seishi are alive, it gives each of them time to grow and work on their gifts so they're prepared when she does come.
When the Miko appears she is supposed to gather all of her seishi, and it may seem like a coincidence when she finds them all, but, the Seishi are also drawn together by destiny and the power of their god when the Miko appears. The Miko is given the intention to call their god, but is unable to if not all seven Seishi are alive and present. Once this task is complete the Seishi may start living as other normal humans and the Miko returns home.
Seishuku Astrology
In ancient China, the movement of the moon was used as the way to know seasons. The moon's orbit was divided into 28 sections called Shuku and each Shuku named for a Seishuku (constellation) within the area. They thought that the moon wandered from Shuku to a next one everyday. These ideas were spread as a calendar or an astrology to other Asian countries and were altered or developed in tehre. "Seishuku astrology" seems the one which came later to Japan via ancient India or later China. "Inami" (One of Genbu's Seishuku) was cut away at India or later CHina, the reason is obscure though, perhaps because the moon takes about 27.3 days to go around it's orbit... And according according to a book, the time to change date is in GMT+10.
Find out more about the Seishis!
| Genbu | Suzaku | Seiryuu | Byakko |
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