Gensokyo
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 Map of Gensokyo Note: This image is fanmade | |
| Basic Information | |
| World Name | Gensokyo (幻想郷, げんそうきょう) |
|---|---|
| Inhabitants | Yōkai, humans, mages, deities, fairies, undead, etc. |
| Works | Touhou Project |
Gensokyo is the setting of the Touhou Project series, created by Team Shanghai Alice.
Gensokyo is a fictional world, most of the plots of the Touhou series take place here.
Contents
Introduction
Gensokyo is thought to exist deep in the mountains, away from Japan.[1]
Most of the territory is inhabited by yōkai and other non-human creatures. But there are a few human inhabitants.
Due to the strong borders that cut off Gensokyo from the outside world, there is no way to confirm the existence of Gensokyo in the outside world. Outsiders can't get into Gensokyo either, but if there is a very rare event, outsiders can enter there. Also, there is no way to confirm what the outside world looks like inside Gensokyo, and most residents can't leave either.[2][3] However, yōkai and humans with special powers can enter Gensokyo by various other means. Reisen, who escaped from the moon many years ago in Imperishable Night, and went back to the moon in Reimu's rocket in Silent Sinner in Blue, Sanae Kochiya, who was transported there from the outside world in Mountain of Faith, and Mamizou Futatsuiwa, who was transported to Gensokyo because of the Nue, a sealed beast who could communicate with the outside world by some means, in Ten Desires, are some examples of exceptions in works.
Additionally, Gensokyo is separated from the outside world with a border. It is not another dimension, or another world, as it is geographically connected to the outside world.[4] Also, since Gensokyo is located inland, it does not border with the sea.[5]
(Reference: Japanese Wikipedia[6])
Concept archetypes
The first mention of the word "Gensokyo" appears in the fourth Touhou Project game, Lotus Land Story, part of the title of the game and the title of its main theme, but its appearance as a place wasn't until Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, the sixth game in the original series, and its tie-in music CD, Dolls in Pseudo Paradise.
Summary:
- In old works, it was described as being "in the mountains of a certain Eastern country". (1996-1998)
- In Kioh Gyoku, Yuka's bomb is called "Gensokyo". (2001)
- It first appears as a location in Dolls in Pseudo Paradise and Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. (August 2002)
Locations in Gensokyo
The following are excerpts from Perfect Memento in Strict Sense.
Human Village
- Main article: Human Village
One of the most populated villages in Gensokyo, and one of the most peaceful places.
Hakurei Shrine
- Main article: Hakurei Shrine
A shrine located at the eastern end of Gensokyo.
Inside the shrine lives a specialist in mutation resolution, the Hakurei shrine maiden.
Youkai Mountain
Degree of danger: High
Possible youkai encounters: tengu, kappa, etc.
The Youkai Mountain was build a long time ago, it is where many yokai live. It has been around longer than humans.
The Youkai at the bottom of the mountain are different, living independently, serves as an important counterbalance to Gensokyo. In particular, tengu and kappa have technological powers that rival or surpass those of the outside world ( * 1 ). It is a mountain no youkai can attack.
The youkai in the mountain are more cheerful and united than any race in Gensokyo, and live a near-futuristic life, with advanced technology. But also, because of a strong sense of companionship, they are quite repulsive to others as well, especially intruders within the mountain. Whoever they are, the youkai will do all they can to eliminate them. That's why the mountain is full of mystery.
( * 1 ) Tengu focus on photography, printing, publishing and related technologies, kappa focus on steel, building, making objects, and related technologies.
Forests of Magic
Degree of danger: Medium
Possible youkai encounters: Youjuu, magicians
The Forest of Magic has the highest humidity in Gensokyo, a pristine forest that few people have ever set foot in. ( * 1 ) It's a somewhat nice place outside the village, but the forest has a hostile environment. The cysts of youkai mushrooms flutter in the air, the average person gets sick after inhaling them.
For an average youkai, this is not exactly a nice place, either. They rarely enter here. So if they can put up with the miasma put out by the youkai mushrooms, it would be a great place for a hideaway.
The forest is very dense and gloomy. Somehow, it is able to reproduce mushrooms. There are some mushrooms that are edible, but they are ugly. Hallucinogenic mushrooms make up the majority.
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Notes and references
- ↑ In a submission to this forum dated June 1, 2003, ZUN thinks of the shrine in the Outer World, which is the entrance to Gensokyo, as being deep in the mountains of Tohoku and Shikoku.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20050408092238/http://gensou.s93.xrea.com/world/qa0307.html
- ↑ "Hakurei Reimu" article in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense.
- ↑ Yukari Yakumo article in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense
- ↑ Touhou Bugetsushou manga, chapter 5
- ↑ Wikipedia (Japanese): https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/幻想郷/
