From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hakkenden (ザ(THE)・八犬伝, Za
Hakkenden
?) is an OVA series by AIC in two sequences,
the second subtitled Shin Shō (新章 lit. 'new chapter'). The
anime is based on the epic novel
Nansō Satomi Hakkenden
written by Kyokutei Bakin during the latter half of
the Edo Period. At 106 volumes, the novel bears
the distinction of being the longest novel in classic Japanese
literature.
The Hakkenden is most known for its unique approach to
animation, switching between several distinct visual styles
throughout the duration of the series (sometimes even several times
within the same episode). In addition, the series is also noted for
its heavy use of symbolic imagery and themes, allowing the series
to straddle the line between animation and art.
It is also known for introducing a modern perspective to a
literary classic, since outdated, morally ambiguous concepts such
as feudal loyalty and devotion are closely scrutinized and
re-examined during many of the conflicts in the story. The "THE" at
the front of the title is not, in fact, a formality of translation,
but an actual part of the title written in English, perhaps chosen
by the series' writers to deliberately convey that sense of
modernity.
Story
Overview
The story takes place during the beginning of the Sengoku Jidai in Awa,
a tiny province that is currently a part of modern-day Chiba
Prefecture. Fuse, princess of the Awa-based Satomi clan,
spiritually gives birth to eight warriors who are scattered across
different areas of the region. Because the spiritual father of
these warriors was a demonically-possessed dog, these warriors came
to be known as the Hakkenshi (八犬士), with hak (八), or hachi, meaning
"eight", the ken (犬) meaning "dog", and the shi (士) meaning
"warrior". (The word "den" (伝) at the end of the title means
"legend", so the title of the series can be translated as "The
Legend of the Eight Dogs".)
Throughout the series, each dog warrior recognizes the other
through three distinguishing features: a last name starting with
the word "inu" (meaning dog), a birthmark in the shape of a peony (the emblem of the Satomi
clan) and a bead containing a kanji character that reflects eight of the
fundamental virtues of Confucianism. They are:
- kō (孝) - filial piety; devotion
- gi (義) - duty and obligation, but it can also be translated as
righteousness
- chū (忠) - loyalty
- shin (信) - faith
- tei (悌) - brotherhood; brotherly affection
- jin (仁) - sympathy and benevolence, but note that, according to
Confucianism, "jin" is also the greatest and most perfect virtue of
all. It should come as no surprise that the bearer of this bead
also happens to be the most powerful warrior of the eight.
- chi (知) - wisdom
- rei (礼) - courtesy, but this can also be translated as proper
form, i.e. an extensive knowledge and proper observation of
tradition and manners
Note that this is the order in which the beads appear in the
story. The hierarchy of these virtues in order of importance to
Confucian philosophy are: jin, gi, rei, chi, chū, shin, kō,
tei.
Plotwise, the series can be divided into three parts: the
Prologue, the Search, and the Resolution. The Prologue presents
events that occur before the birth of the dog warriors and
encompasses the majority of episode 1, although numerous Prologue
events are also shown throughout the series in flashback. The
Search consists of the episodes prior to the warriors' final
assembly (episodes 2-11), and the Resolution shows the final
climactic battle fought by the Hakkenshi in the name of the Satomi
clan.
Character
Guide
The
Hakkenshi
Throughout the novel, the Hakkenshi undergo numerous changes in
class, location, and status, which would often result in a name
change. Because of the abridged nature of the OVA series, two
characters in particular underwent name changes with little
explanation for those unfamiliar with the novel.
Note: each warrior's "given name" contains the kanji character
on their corresponding bead. In Shino's case, for instance, the
kanji for "taka" in "Moritaka" is also the "kō" on his bead.
- Inuzuka Shino Moritaka (犬塚 信乃 戍孝) - Bears the
"kō" bead of filial piety; his birthmark is on his right arm. His
father bore the responsibility of returning the Murasame sword to the Ashikaga Shogun, but
before doing so, committed seppuku in protest of the local feudal lord,
thereby transferring the heavy responsibility onto Shino's
shoulders. He is engaged to Hamaji.
- Inukawa Sōsuke Yoshitō (犬川 荘助 義任) - Bears the
"gi" bead of duty; his birthmark is on his left arm. At the age of
7, his father was forced to commit seppuku after criticizing the
Ashikaga Shogun, and his mother perished from the cold winter
during the resulting pilgrimage from Izu. This left him under the cruel
parentage of Hikiroku and Kamezasa, who gave him the undignified
name of "Gakuzo" and forced him into indentured servitude to pay
back the debt of his mother's funeral. He secretly loves Hamaji,
thereby making him Shino's main rival.
- Inuyama Dōsetsu Tadatomo (犬山 道節 忠與) - Bears
the "chū" bead of loyalty; his birthmark is on his left shoulder.
His father was killed by rival lord Uesugi Sadamasa, making him
hell-bent on revenge for the sake of his clan. In addition, he is
Hamaji's half-brother. His mother was assassinated by Hamaji's
biological mother (his father's second concubine), who became
jealous due to her inability to bear a male heir. Particularly
during the beginning of the series, Dōsetsu is ruthless, selfish,
and a reckless loose cannon in the group.
- Inukai Genpachi Nobumichi (犬飼 現八 信道) - Bears
the "shin" bead of faith; his birthmark is on his left cheek,
underneath his left eye. The stereotypical "crazed enforcer" of the
group, he is introduced as an inmate in the Shogun's prison, most
likely jailed for his uncontrollable behavior (or perhaps just his
sharp tongue). He is allowed a chance to win back his original post
if he is successful in killing Shino. Compared to the plot
exposition of most of the other major characters, not much of his
origin is revealed or even implied during the series.
- Inuta Kobungo Yasuyori (犬田 小文吾 悌順) - Bears the
"tei" bead of brotherhood. Kobungo has been friends with Genpachi
for several years prior. He is of large stature, but silent
demeanor - a stark contrast from his darker past, when he would
succumb to fits of alcohol-induced rage and random violence. His
father's death was the unfortunate result of just such a brawl,
causing his nature to become passive and non-confrontational.
- Inue Shimbei Masashi (犬江 親兵衛 仁) - Bears the
"jin" bead of benevolence. He is Kobungo's nephew, and was
originally known as Inue Daihachi. Following the skirmish at the
Shogun's palace, Shino is given refuge at Kobungo's inn, but
Kobungo's brother-in-law (Daihachi's father) offers to turn Shino
over to the authorities in return for a reward that would help keep
his family afloat. Kobungo refuses to sacrifice Shino, and a fight
ensues, resulting in the deaths of Daihachi's parents. Kobungo
takes it upon himself to raise the child along with Genpachi and
Shino, but sometime after the group temporarily splits up, a vision
of Princess Fuse and Yatsufusa appears. Telling Kobungo that the
child will be safe under their care, he willingly hands Daihachi
over to be raised in an otherworldly realm. Some time later, the
child returns, fully grown, extremely powerful, and with the new
name of Inue Shimbei.
(Note: The name of this character is actually Shimbee
(しんべえ), but this produces somewhat of a conflict as far as Hepburn
romanization is concerned. Since the bee sound is
similar enough to the bei sound, he will be referred to in
this article as Shimbei.)
- Inuzaka Keno Tanetomo (犬阪 毛野 胤智) - Bears the
"chi" bead of widsom. When he was a child, a local feudal lord
murdered Keno's father in an attempt to obtain the two legendary
flutes in his possession, but was only able to find one of them
after the incident. The other had been presumed lost. Since then,
Keno has sought to regain both flutes and has also plotted an
elaborate revenge against the family that killed his father. He is
a celebrated flautist and dancer, but is disguised as a female
under the pseudonym of "Asakeno", which is most likely a means of
evading suspicion of his ultimate intent.
- Inumura Daikaku Masanori (犬村 大角 礼儀) - Bears
the "rei" bead of courtesy; his birthmark is on his buttocks, much
to his embarrassment. He is first introduced in the story as
Kakutarō, son of Akaiwa Ikkaku, a talented swordsman who,
unbeknownst to everyone in the village, was demonically possessed
by an evil cat spirit many years ago. Kakutarō's wife, Hinaginu,
was given the "rei" bead as a keepsake memento, but swallowed it
down when Kakutarō's stepmother demanded that she relinquish it.
Since that incident, Hinaginu's stomach bulged, as if pregnant,
sparking talk of an affair with another man. When confronted by
Akaiwa about her "unborn child", she mortally stabbed herself in
the stomach with a knife to prove to everyone that she wasn't
pregnant. Meanwhile, the cat spirit's possession of Akaiwa had
advanced rapidly, forcing Kakutarō to execute his own father. With
no one else left in his life, he renames himself Daikaku and joins
the Hakkenshi.
Other
characters
Episode
guide
Episode 1: The Kaleidoscope
Episode 2: Dark Music of the Gods
Episode 3: The Futility Dance
Episode 4: Horyuu Tower
Episode 5: Demon's Melody
Episode 6: The Cicada Spirit Cry
Episode 7: Spirits
Episode 8: Taigyuu-rou Hall
Episode 9: The Legend of the Ghost Cat
Episode 10: Hamaji's Resurrection
Episode 11: Dog Warriors in the Netherworld
Episode 12: Aspirations of Paradise
Episode 13: Taking Leave of a Sullied World
External
links
- Hakkenden Hakuryu-tei - A
comprehensive site written in English (by a native Japanese
speaker) with more detailed information on the novel
- The Hakkenden - An English
fansite of the OVA series
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