There are many refrences to mythology in anime. One myth that frequently appears in various forms is the "Four Saint Beasts" also known as the "Four Gods". These four were originally from China but made their way to Japan, where their names were changed to Suzaku, Genbu, Byakko, and Seiryyu.
This is only the tip of the iceberg for the representation that are the Saint Beasts. In anime they are often seen in animal form: a red bird (similar to a phoenix), a black tortoise (sometimes shown with a snake), a white tiger, and a blue dragon. Direction also comes into play, Suzaku for the South, Genbu for the North, Byakko for the West, and Seiryyu for the East. The directions then in turn represent the season, Summer, Winter, Autumn, and Spring.
These beings show up, in some form or another, in many anime series. The strongest and most obvious is Fushigi Yugi (Mysterious Play). Here we have Miaka, a typical, clutzy, always hungry, high school girl. To make things short she gets sucked into a book where she becomes the priestess of Suzaku and has to find a way out. We have the four gods, in their respective direction, and their followers (the seven that the priestess has to gather) have constellation names.
My first encounter with these characters was in the series Yu Yu Hakusho, the Beasts of Maze Castle arc. To destroy the flute that was controlling demon insects on earth, Yusuke and company have to enter Maze Castle and confront its guardians. Though they are not named in the series it is obvious by their design who they represent. Genbu is made of rock with a turtle-like shell, Byakko is a bi-pedal white tiger, Seiryyu was a guy with a blue dragon design on his clothes. Suzaku has a red outfit and an annoying parrot lackey.
In the Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuie), Tsutzuki is able to summon the Beasts to do his bidding. In the anime they pretty much attack his enemies, in the manga they are given more "air time", so to speak, where they have their own personalities and they give Tsutzuki advice.
This is just a sampling of some series that show these characters. Whenever you see these animals this is the reference being made.
ed/pub:NB
Article comments
1 - Alisha Karabinus
You write great anime guides, Lindsay -- and I'm glad to see anime get some coverage around here.
But... but... I must say: never again do I want to see these words: Yu Yu Hakusho. That show makes me want to suicide in a spectacularly bloody fashion.
It is bad.
Bad, I say.
2 - Lindsay Beaumont
I like YYH. It's not my favorite but I like it. In fact this is the series I got my friend hooked on anime with. Just curious, what was wrong with it that you don't like? The Dark Tournament was kinda tedious arc, seemed like a DBZ arc.
3 - Alisha Karabinus
I didn't like the story... the voice acting (in the English version; I only ever saw it on Cartoon Network), the idea behind it, the characters... do I need to go on? :)
As with everything else, I'm really picky. I like Serial Experiments: Lain, Cowboy Bebop and a few select others.
4 - vikk
Well, I for one am glad you've written a guide. I work in a bookstore, yet I really don't know a lot about the anime books. I'd been away from the bookstore work for about four years and apparently that's when this hit. My first hint was when my grandson asked for a couple books about a year and a half ago. He's into the cartooning and I've bought a few books for him for Christmas but I don't know enough to buy any books.
I've noticed we have girls sitting on the floors around the bookstacks and shelves, so they seem to be the largest audience. I've also seen the maturity level grading on the back.
Do you know how all this began here in the states?
5 - Lindsay Beaumont
lol, I don't really know how it got going in the States, dare I say Pokemon had an influence? But for me it was a few years ago when my brother showed me Akira. I was like "wow, this isn't kids stuff!" (I had then gotten 'X - the Movie, Princess Mononoke, and Vampire Hunter D for Christmas that year) Then I got chronically addicted to it when I saw Inuyasha on Cartoon Network. What does your grandson like?
6 - Alisha Karabinus
I am half-sure it was before Pokemon... I think that's just when it spread to kids and got big. As far as I know, anime started with the "geek" culture here in the US. 'Cause, y'know, Japan is cool.
I remember people sitting me down to watch Ninja Scroll and such 10-12 years ago, long before I ever heard anything about Pokemon.
7 - VehementFlame
I've seen the four gods many times in anime and in japanese movies. And there is also anime based on the chinese zodiac known as Fruits Baskets. Where members of this family, when hugged by the opposite sex, turns into an animal of the zodiac.
Anime did not start with Pokemon!
Here in the states, it can go as far back as Thundercats and Voltron in the 80s.
Maybe even before that, but that is how it started for me.
As a matter of fact, there is an anime known as Kimba the white lion that was made in the 60s about a little lion cub becoming king.. stop me if you heard this before. There was controversy when Disney made their movie and they claim to never have heard of it. I like this website that shows screen shots from both, side by side. There are way to many similarities for Disney to never have heard of Kimba!
and in actuality, girl anime fans are kind of hard to find. i have an anime group here in my home town and i'm the only girl in it!
it's definitely a man's genre, seeing how many are out there with bouncing boobs and panty shots... please shoot me