591mik

[591mik]

Wait...there's another!

4 Dragon Kings of the 4 Seas, postcards version

instagram

[591mik]

Rayquaza deserves a little ouroboros as a treat

[591mik]

4 Dragon Kings of the 4 Seas, postcards version

instagram

[591mik]

me, sketchbook scan

[591mik]

I would like to express my sincere and huge gratitude to @inkiblr for their invaluable contributions as my editor. Their exceptional ability to untangle and formalize complex ideas has been vast needed and apprecciated in refining my work.

Additionally, I am pleased to acknowledge the video How I Solved Pokemon's Biggest Mystery, which served as a significant inspiration for my latest post.

[591mik]

ArchaeoChronicles #1

Real-World Archaeological Sites and Pokemon World Ruins

This post will serve as an introduction to a project I've been thinking about for almost a year. For now, I'll use this post to outline key aspects of this research regarding relations and correspondences between real archaeological sites and those in the Pokemon world.

I'll begin with the Ruins of Alph. I'm skipping Kanto and the Sevii Islands even though they harbor some interesting ruins, as those structures have no direct counterpart in the real world. My main focus is to understand more of Japanese Archaeology, using the games as a easy link. Therefore, I will likely omit some obscure/pseudo-archaeological sites, especially those without clear anthropic evidence.

I believe that exploiting a medium such as pokemon, which is within everyone's reach, could be a really fun and easy way to broadcast culture and information.

Feel free to comment and to write your thoughts!

Ruins of Alph -

Kitora Tumulus, Takamatsuzuka Tumulus, Ishibutai Tumulus.

All three structures are lsituated in Asuka, a historically rich region within Nara Prefecture. In this area there are a couple of tombs called kofun, traditionally formed by a passageway and with the burial chamber structure formed by stone walls and a stone cieling with embankments on sides. Without diving deep in the description of the singular tomb, all of them are fairly painted with celestial bodies, human figures and a group of 4 mythological creatures called Si Ling, which resembles the Therian form of the Forces of the Nature pokemon.

It seems reasonable to me that the Ruins of Alph could be based on these sites due to the stone structural elements and the Unown motifs on the walls, despite those not being evident burial sites and resembling more of a religious/worshipping complex. The presence of wall art suggests a possible intepretive key related to the society of the period.

The ruins are accessible via four distinct entrances, each of which leads to areas where the Pokémon Unown can be encountered in various forms. The appearance of Unown within the ruins is contingent upon the completion of at least one of four corresponding puzzles.

Here the puzzles solved

One by one, in every chamber the floor will shatter, revealing four new underground chambers. It is here that four hidden messages, written in the Unown Alphabet, become discernible on the ground.

Upper-right entrance, Kabuto's Chamber:

Our clan engraved words in this place

Lower-right entrance, Aerodactyl's Chamber:

Our clan created Pokémon statue outside

Upper-left entrance, Ho-Oh's Chamber:

We humans need to walk with them. We leave here for the sake of them.

Lower-left entrance, Omanyte's Chamber:

They possess power to sense with mind and reject outside

It is evident that these Ruins are intrinsically linked to the complex relationship between humans and Pokémon. However, the precise nature of this connection warrants further investigation. The presence of Unown, the Symbol Pokémon, within these very ruins, and their capturability here, strongly suggests a direct correlation.

The sentence "they possess power to sense with mind and reject outside" unequivocally appears to reference the Unown themselves. Nevertheless, the impetus behind the abandonment of this location remains a perplexing question. There is a notable absence of narratives suggesting fear or apprehension towards these creatures; rather, the evidence points towards activities resembling veneration or worship, possibly influenced by the unique, letter-like morphology of the Unown.

Following up on new findings, in relations to the people who "created Pokémon statue outside" and "engraved words in this place"

During the Asuka Era (538–710 CE), women of the imperial lineage played a profoundly influential role in the political, religious, and cultural development of Japan. Empress Suiko, the first female monarch to officially reign, was a pivotal figure in the institutionalization and propagation of Buddhism throughout Japan, supporting its integration with indigenous Shinto practices.

Progressively, empresses Saimei and Jito continued to exert considerable influence, particularly in foreign policy and cultural exchange towards the continent. These exchanges were crucial for the transmission of advanced governmental structures, legal codes, architectural styles, artistic techniques, and philosophical ideas, all of which were integral to the formation of a centralized Japanese state and a distinct national identity.

While male figures are also present in the broader artistic corpus of the period, the notable emphasis on female representation, particularly within such significant funerary contexts, deserves a particular attention.

A group of female figures is related to our in-game ruins: the Kimono Girls. Their ritualistic performances, which are presented as capable of invoking legendary creatures such as Lugia and Ho-Oh, suggests a connection to and mastery of ancient cultural traditions. Following this thread, it's plausible that the two group of ladies are quite similar to each other. Moreover, the Kimono Girls reside in Ecruteak City, located proximate to the Ruins of Alph.

Further research will follow.

[591mik]

I really like the way you named your ask box as If you're a professor :] it's really on brand 🙂‍↕️

You're causing a reddening of my face ( 〃▽〃)

Should you have any queries or wish to unravel further curiosity, please feel at ease and ask without hesitation. I will respond to the best of my ability

[591mik]

Shinto 神道: Venerating Kami 神 and Jinja 神社

I hope this collection of sources is informative. I tried to keep my comments to a minimum.

Disclaimer: Auto translation was used for basic sections of text on Japanese websites, because I looked topics up using Kanji. I am not fluent in Japanese.

🔴 Jinja 神社 — Shinto Shrine

"Jinja Shinto" 神社神道 — Shrine Shinto. The traditional religious practices carried on in shrines throughout Japan's history, as well as the attitudes toward life which support these practices. At the core of this religion exists a reverent religious experience which has prevailed from antiquity and which leads Japanese believers to experience the will and activity of the gods through various events of everyday life — Basic Terms of Shinto, Kokugakuin University Link

.▪️.

"A jinja and its grounds are like the home of the kami. You should treat it with the respect you would show when visiting an important person in their home. The entrance to a jinja is marked by a torii. The torii marks the border between the sacred space of the jinja and the everyday world outside, and so many people pause and bow their heads slightly before walking through". — Jinja Honchō English Link | Jinja Honchō can be translated to "Association of Shinto Shrines"

.▪️.

"[...] terminology relating to the religious institution of the Shinto jinja, customarily translated as "shrine," including its architectural structures and other facilities, ritual implements, and clerical vestments. [...] Present day shrines are ordinarily composed of main shrine buildings (shaden 社殿) together with halls of sacred dance (kaguraden 神楽殿), shrine offices (shamusho 社務���), and other structures in the shrine precincts (keidai 境内). Items such as torii 鳥居 (sacred arches or gateways), komainu 狛犬 ("Korean Lions"), votive lanterns (tōrō 灯篭), and purification fonts (temizuya 手水舎) can be found along the approach inside the shrine. Shrine buildings may include distinct structures such as a the sanctuary (honden 本殿*), hall of worship (haiden 拝殿* ), and the hall of offerings (heiden 幣殿*). The symbolic "kami body" (shintai 神体) is usually sequestered inside the remote recesses of the sanctuary." — Encyclopedia of Shinto, Kokugakuin University Link

"At shrines, worshipers may present offerings to the kami 神 with the purpose of making a supplication, and in turn, symbolic articles may be presented to worshipers as an emblem of divine power (shintoku 神徳). Offerings to kami may include monetary gifts (saisen 賽銭) or a "votive horse picture" (ema 絵馬). When a person's supplication is granted, he or she frequently makes another offering as a sign of gratitude. Other articles presented to worshipers include "good luck charms" (engimono 縁起物) such as "demon-breaking arrows" (hamaya 破魔矢) and bows, and other similar talismans. These may be charms for general good fortune, or amulets for protection and blessing in specific areas of life" — Same as above.

The article did not give Kanji I added them, hopefully getting them correct. Asterisk means I had to utilize wikipedia's Kanji, otherwise they are from Nihingo Master Dictionary Link and Imiwa Japanese Dictionary Link

🔹 Links for image examples of many of the aspects mentioned above: Japan Guide Link; Maikoya Link; Illustrations Link;

.▪️.

Venerating a specific Kami vs venerating a specific Jinja I have only seen in David Chart's writing thus far. You may want to research further. It makes sense to me as all the Ofuda I possess have the Jinja's name rather than the Kami's name but that might not be universal.

"The first thing that you need to do is to choose a jinja to venerate. Note that you need to choose a jinja, not a kami. Even when the same kami is enshrined at more than one jinja, which is common, you venerate the kami at a particular jinja. You can choose more than one jinja, and, in fact, the standard rule in Japan is to venerate at least two, and normally three or more. You can even venerate more than one jinja that enshrines the same kami, and those venerations are separate from each other." — Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese by David Chart p 29 Link

"Although you primarily venerate a jinja rather than a kami, it is common to choose a jinja because you like the main kami enshrined there. Most jinja enshrine more than one kami, and some famous kami are actually more than one kami. The most important example is Hachiman Okami, who is (normally) Homudawake no Mikoto, Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto, and Tamayorihime no Mikoto. This means that, if you choose a jinja based on one of the kami, you may well get other kami as part of a "package deal"." — Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese by David Chart p 30

It is probably even more common to choose a jinja because it is famous for a particular kind of benefit. Kinkazan Koganëyama Jinja ("Gold Flower Mountain Gold Mountain Jinja") in Miyagi Prefecture is famous for financial benefits, and according to the jinja's story, if you visit three times in three consecutive years, you will never suffer financial hardship. [...] Tokyo Daijing is famous for "enmusubi", which in this case means finding a good marriage partner, and not because its main kami is Amaterasu Omikami. ([Ise] Jingū is not famous for enmusubi, despite having the same main kami.) Kitanotenmangū is famous for academic success, because its main kami is Tenjin-sama, who was the famous scholar Sugawara no Michizane. — Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese by David Chart p 30

🔴 Ujigami Jinja 氏神神社— 'Local Kami' Shrine

Since the middle ages, the ujigami has come to be viewed as the tutelary deity of a geographical area such as a village — Encyclopedia of Shinto Kokugakuin University Link

.▪️.

Generally, every local community, whether in city, town, or village, has its own ujigami shrine. The Japanese word uji means "clan", and ujigami denotes the clan's guardian kami, the kami who look after family and community life. All the members of a given community are considered ujiko or 'children of the clan,' hence 'children of the clan kami.' [...] From this perspective it may be said that Shrine Shinto has superimposed a kind of archaic kinship system on territorially defined social units. — Jinja Honchō English link

A ujigami shrine is a shrine that enshrines the guardian deity of the area in which one lives, and the people who live in a certain area around the shrine are called ujiko. Originally, it originated from the fact that clans literally worshipped their ancestral deities (oyagami) or deities with a deep connection to the clan as "ujigamisama," and this group of blood relatives was called ujiko. Today, the terms "ubusunagami" and "ubuko" refer to geographical relationships, but the terms ujigami and ujiko have gradually become confused [(conflated?)] when referring to geographical relationships as well. — Jinja Honchō Japanese Link

.▪️.

Sarutahiko no O Kami is the main enshrined kami of Tsubaki Grand Shrine North America. Ancestor and leader of all earthly Kami. [...] This is the Hokubei Tsubaki Grand Shrine Ofuda of Sarutahiko no O Kami, specific to North America. If you are not sure of your Ujigami 氏神 (Clan Kami), Ubusunagami 産土神 (Birthplace Guardian Kami), or Chinjugami 鎮守神 (Local Guardian Kami), this Ofuda can be used in the role of an Ujigami Ofuda, because Sarutahiko no O Kami is the leader of all earthly Kami. This Ofuda can be used in the role of an Ujigami Ofuda for all of North America. — Shin Mei Spiritual Center Link

.▪️.

If you live in the continental USA then Tsubaki Grand Shrine [of North America]* and Shinto Shrine of Shusse Inari in America are both good choices. They have English websites, and will ship ofuda and omamori to you. It will also be easier for you to visit the jinja in person at some point. It could also be argued that these are the nearest equivalent to an Ujigami Jinja for people in your position. —Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese by David Chart p 30

*It is now more broadly "North America" and is officially located in Canada. I don't know if they ship items beyond the US and Canada. Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Washington State was closed down and the Kami transferred to a shrine at the Shin Mei Spiritual Center in British Columbia, Canada where it is one of three shrines Link. It maintains a similar name "Tsubaki Grand Shrine North America."

🔴 Sūkei Jinja 崇敬神社 — A Shrine special to an individual

Revered Shrines: shrines that people have particular faith in. In contrast [to Ujigami Shrines], a revered shrine is one that is revered due to a special personal faith, rather than due to geographical or blood ties, and those who worship at such shrines are called "sūkeisha 崇敬者" — Jinja Honchō Japanese Link

.▪️.

Sūkeisha are people who particularly revere a jinja, and who visit it to pay their respects, but who are not ujiko. It is common for them to also support the jinja financially.” — An Introduction to Shinto by David Chart p 112 Link

🔴 Ofuda お札

Ofuda are used to venerate the kami in your own home, and some people say that the kami’s spirit resides in them. Physically, they are tablets with the name of the kami or jinja written on, and they come in various sizes. — Jinja Honcho English Link

"If you visit a shrine, you may receive a sacred talisman or amulet. There are various types of ofuda (sacred charms), including the "Jingu Taima" ofuda of Ise Grand Shrine and oufuda issued by each shrine. [...] Ofuda is enshrined in the household altar to protect the home. Ofuda that has been enshrined for a year is brought to the shrine at the end of the year and burned. Then, as the new year approaches, it is a good idea to receive a new Ofuda" — Jinja Honcho Japanese Link

.▪️.

Ofuda — These serve as a kind of talisman or amulet and contain the name of the Kami written within a protective cover of paper or cloth. Generally, they are placed within the household's kamidana and serve to incorporate the household into the deity's benevolent graces. — A Year in The Life of a Shinto Shrine by John K Nelson pp 261-262 Link | About Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki

.▪️.

Jingū Taima are the Ofuda of Amaterasu-Ōmikami:

In early modern Japan, they were typically known as oharai お祓 and were understood to be efficacious in warding off evil, as the name suggests. In the modern period (1868-1945), Ise amulets were restyled jingū taima, [...] One [position] held that: they were symbols (onjirushi 御璽) of the Sun Goddess and her unsurpassed virtue (shintoko 神徳) The other [position held] that: amulets were himo-rogi 神籬, namely the most sacred of material objects since, in them, the Sun Goddess was a real presence. These contrary positions were established in the Meiji period, and they are current today. In 2003, there was a major debate on Ise amulets at [Jinja Honchō] headquarters in Tokyo, where arguments in favor of both positions were traded. The symbol theory won through" pp 302-303 [...] "Notwithstanding the official [Jinja Honchō] interpretation of the amulets as "symbols," purification rites in Ise and the rites demanded for home veneration suggest, indeed the very different understanding that the Sun Goddess is present in every one of them." p 305 — Resurrecting the Sacred Land of Japan by John Breen in Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture. Link

Daijingu Temple of Hawaii still describes them as oharai お祓

"Jingu-Taima Oharaisama for Kamidana" — Link

.▪️.

If you have a Kamidana you can also use this Ofuda stand next to your Kamidana to hold Gokitou shinpu (special Ofuda [given] at prayer ceremonies) or Housaiyoke Ofuda (Home Protection Ofuda). — Shin Mei Spiritual Center Link

🔹Home Protection Ofuda examples that are available from Daijingu Temple of Hawaii: 1- Protect from Robbery; 2-Maintain Peace, Harmony & Prosperity; 3- Protect from Fire & Disaster. — Link

🔴 Kamidana 神棚

"A household Shinto altar, a facility for the conduct of family rites at home, in which amulets of the kami, an "apportioned spirit" (bunrei 分霊) of the kami, and similar items may be enshrined. The place chosen for installation of the kamidana should be clean, bright, and quiet, in a location convenient for worship and placement of offerings. An eastern or southern orientation is generally considered to be desirable. While kamidana have today become important sites for daily devotion to the kami, the institution of the kamidana itself is not particularly old" — Encyclopedia of Shinto Kokugakuin University Link

.▪️.

"Kamidama — Shinto altar in a private home. Japanese homes freguendy have both an altar for Shinto deities as well as a butsudan for worshipping the Buddha and honoring ancestral spirits. Shrines sell a wide variety of amulets that are then placed within the kamidana. Together, they serve to link the household to the shrine." —A Year in The Life of a Shinto Shrine by John K Nelson p 357

.▪️.

"...you should set up your kamidana 神棚 (Shinto altars for the households) at home. To cultivate a sense of reverence, it is important to practise daily worship of kami. By placing ofuda 御神札 (secret tablets) from the Grand Shrines in Ise, your own local Shinto shrine known as ujigami jinja 氏神神社, and other favourite Shinto shrines on the kamidana, offering rice, salt, water, sake and others items every day, and reciting norito, you will feel closer to the kami. This is particularly recommended for those who cannot easily visit Shinto shrines due to time schedules or geographical reasons." —Mediators between Kami and the People: What is the position of the Shinto priests? by Shinto Priest Hirohito Tsuji Link This is advice for prospective priests but is the same guideline for lay people (except for lay people not everyone offers every single day.)

.▪️.

"Kamidana" means "kami shelf", and that succinctly expresses the two essential elements of a kamidana: kami, in one or more ofuda, and a shelf to put them on. That is all you need, and the shelf can be extremely small, little bigger than the ofuda and fixed to the wall. The important point is that the ofuda must be standing on the shelf, not lying down, and must not be pinned or fastened to the wall or a surface. Stand the o-fuda so that the surface with the writing on is facing away from the wall; imagine that the kami are looking out of that side. You can arrange ofuda next to each other, or one in front of another, with those in front leaning on those behind. — Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese by David Chart p 41

Never get ofuda from anywhere but a Shinto Shrine. I have seen sellers on Amazon, Etsy, and Ebay selling ofuda but its extremely improper and against religious tradition.

Caring for an Ofuda:

An Ofuda is a sacred item that should be properly cared for. Please do not request an Ofuda to use as a decoration. To properly care for the Ofuda, place the Ofuda in a Kamidana, or high on the north or west wall in your living room or workplace. If the floor above is occupied, please write the kanji for cloud (雲) and place it on the ceiling above the Ofuda/Kamidana. Offerings of rice, salt, and water should be made (The Member's Handbook has the details). One year after receiving an Ofuda, we recommend replacing it with a new one" — Shinto Shrine of Shusse Inari in America's Instructions Link

"Installation: If you have a Kamidana, please place this Ofuda on your Kamidana, inside the Ita or Miya (small shine) if you have one. If you do not have a Kamidana please place this Ofuda in a sacred space in your home or a central place in your home. Place the Ofuda higher than eye-level and facing south or east if possible. You can take the Ofuda out of its shop bag, but please keep the translucent paper cover on the Ofuda to preserve the Ofuda’s purity. Duration: This Ofuda is your in-home connection to the Kami so it is traditional to replace it annually to strengthen and renew your connection to the Kami." — Shin Mei Spiritual Center Instructions Link

"It is common for the ofuda to face south or east, but depending on the layout of the house, any direction is acceptable as long as it is an appropriate location" — Ise Jingū Japanese Link

.▪️.

You can buy supplies that are not ofuda or omamori, like an ofuda stand, miyagata, or shinki set from non-shrine vendors. However, keep in mind the money you give to obtain the items from a shrine helps support that shrine.

🔴 Location of the Ofuda on the Kamidana

Info for this section is compiled from Jinja Honcho's Japanese website; Ise Jingū's Japanese website; and Practicing Shinto For Non-Japanese by David Chart.

Order:

'Most important' or 'central' Kami/Jinja goes center or first in a stack

Ujigami Jinja goes to your right or second in a stack

Sūkei Jinja goes to your left or third in a stack

Any additional in order of importance: next to the right, then to the left, etc.

In Japan the "most important" is the Jingū Taima of Ise Grand Shrine specifically according to Jinja Honchō. Not all Shrines are a part of or agree with Jinja Honchō.

"...the center is the highest ranking [...] the sacred talisman (Jingu Taima) of Ise Jingu, the chief deity of the Japanese people, is placed in the center [...] In the case of a single-shrine Miyagata shrine, the Jingu Taima is placed at the front" — Ise Jingū Japanese Link | (for some reason a ton of the text disappeared in that link not sure why)

Outside Japan there is no statement on which is the most important.

If you live outside Japan:

The Jingū Taima ("most important") may seem irrelevant. However, instead of viewing it as solely the Ofuda of Amaterasu-Ōmikami one can see it as "oharai お祓" which are "understood to be efficacious in warding off evil," as Daijingu Temple of Hawaii still describes them for this purpose.

Ujigami Jinja ofuda may literally be impossible. Unless one is in North America and agrees with the concept that Sarutahiko-no-Ōkami can be one's Ujigami.

Ultimately, because no guidance has been issued for Kamidana outside Japan, the order of importance is unique to the individual and one may want to ask a priest for personal guidance.

🔴 Compiled Sources Links

Sources Not Used in Post

Shinto Norito: A Book of Prayers by Ann Llewellyn Evan | Includes Japanese Kanji, Kana, and Furigana; Rōmaji; and English Translation — Link

Living With Kami's Reading List — Link

Sources Used in Post

Links next to quotes give the exact quote location unless it's a book in which case I gave a page number. This list compiles the sources without regard to the specific quotes.

Jinja Honchō English — Link

Jinja Honchō Japanese — Link

Ise Jingū Japanese — Link

Shin Mei Spiritual Center's Shrines: Tsubaki Dai Jinja of North America; Shin Mei Jinja; Kinomori Jinja — Link

Shinto Shrine of Shusse Inari in America — Link

Daijingu Temple of Hawaii — Link

Encyclopedia of Shinto, Kokugakuin University — Link

Older: Basic Terms of Shinto, Kokugakuin University — Link

Mediators between Kami and the People: What is the position of the Shinto priests? by Shinto Priest Hirohito Tsuji

Resurrecting the Sacred Land of Japan by John Breen in Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture.

A Year in The Life of a Shinto Shrine by John K Nelson

Shinto Practice for Non-Japanese by David Chart

An Introduction to Shinto by David Chart

[591mik]

Four Symbols 4/4 - 青竜

Seiryu, the Azure Dragon, governs Spring and the East region of the sky. Since it is the guardian deity of the east where the sun rises, it brings the power to make things grow. It's depicted on the pedestal in Yakushiji Temple in Nara; a mural on the east side in the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus and on the east wall of the burial chamber of Gangseodaemyo Tomb in Pyeongyang.

The Azure Dragon is also related to another group of beings with 4 other dragons, related to the Yin-Yang elements and to the Onmyo-do.

[591mik]

Please, do not be mistaken: Archaeology and Paleontology are two distinct branches of knowledge.

Archaeology does not focus its studies on fossils nor dinosaurs.

Archaeology investigates past human societies and cultures (through the study of material remains);

Paleontology studies the history of life on Earth (through fossils).

[591mik]

Following some general guide-lines I found online I decided to use my second-hand japanese fabric to try and make an omamori charm.

Omamori (お守り) can generally be translated as an 'amulet' or 'good luck charm' and the term comes from the verb 守る (to protect). Usually in the shape of a little pouch, the owner is supposed to carry it at all times in order for the amulet to both protect against bad luck, or evil spirits, and usher in the good.

The origin of お守り is apparently dated back to the Jomon period, when people believed in animism and wore magatama and clay figurines as apotropaic talismans. Then, Buddhism were introduced. With it, religious protective items like talismans and amulets found their way nationwide and in the Heian period the culture habits of prayer using charms by onmyōji (exorcist priests) bloomed.

Inside the omamori there is a sacred object called ないふ (naifu? Knife?) which is said to be the source of the charm's powers. The material used depends on the shrine and can include wooden tags, washi paper or small metal tags.

The opening of the bag is prohibited to prevent the divine power from leaking out (I wouldn't done that after I sewed mine).

Between the variations of the omamori and my low possibility of obtaining one in a shrine in Japan, I've decided to make one on my own, trying to untangle myself to understand at the best of my skills the correct behaviour about this form of prayer to avoid every chances of disrespect.

I used japan cloth I obtained through a friend and I made use of my highest focus to write inside of it a simple shinto prayer, applying my on-going calligraphy skills. My intentions were completely towards the understanding and the acknowledgment of it and...somehow to justify it. It's bruised and full of imperfections, but I like it anyway. I wish my foremost resolutions has been catched by this act.

[591mik]

I'm so indecisive on who's my favourite

Eevee Groove Binder [full art]

[591mik]

Are you open for commission? Please DM’ that’s a amazing artwork you’ve done there

You can use my ko-fi for commissions. I manage them using the site to avoid scams <(_ _*)>

[591mik]

Four Symbols 3/4 - 朱雀

Suzaku is the guardian that protects the southern direction of the Heavens. This connection originates from the theory of the Five Elements, assigning the red/fire to the south.

Suzaku rules the summer and they're known as a beautiful bird that control fire, with fiery wings that can drive away evil spirits and give you strength and good fortune. It's depicted on the pedestal in Yakushiji Temple in Nara; on the southern wall of the inner stone coffin of the Kitora Tumulus with the other walls having depicted on them the other three beasts; on the south wall of the burial chamber of Gangseodaemyo Tomb in Pyeongyang. Clearly the placement of Suzaku was not taken by chance.

[591mik]

Picta Poesis (1552) Barthélemy Aneau

[591mik]

Turtle and Snake - Hanging Scroll by Chen Hongshou, 1598 - 1652

[source]

I can let the watercolored bois out

Four Symbols 1/4 - 玄武

Genbu is one of the shijin, or siling, which are important mythological figures in Taoism. Genbu is the guardian of the north. He is associated with the Chinese element of water, the season of winter and the color black. He is enshrined in the Genbu Shrine, north of Kyoto’s Imperial Palace.

He spans seven of the twenty-eight Chinese constellations, taking up one quarter of the entire sky. The constellation which makes up the snake’s neck is located in Sagittarius. The constellations which makes up the tortoise’s shell are located in Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pegasus. The constellations which make up the snake’s tail are located in Pegasus and Andromeda.

The Black Tortoise's Chinese name Xuan Wu was derived from the black northern cardinal point color (Xuan) and its rugged shell which resembles armor, linked to the military (Wu).

[source, all rights reverved] [source] [source]

[591mik]

I'm literally Blaziken

Pokémon fortune telling