Samurai Spirits and Buddhist Terms

PAGE 3 : Buddhist Terms in SS (N - Z)

Here is the third page of explanation of Buddhist terms appear in SS, arranged alphabetically from N to Z.

Some of them I could find the root of Sanskrit. I put (Skt :) beside the word ; actually, Sanskrit also use long vowels so I show them all in upper long hyphen (a¯ ). However,  if you want to see the original spelling, you may find them in books mentioned in References page. Some of them also found in Archaic Japanese Dictionary which the spelling may be different from present time, so I put the original spelling from Archaic Japanese Dictionary. I put the description and available pictures of moves too.

I'm very sorry that I can't find English version of the moves. Click the word to see the detail. (note : some moves in SS2 Asra Zanmaden are not included in this page. It's under construction)
 


"Naraku"
Naraku (Kanji)

[From SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Shura Shiki's move 'Naraku Otoshi']
<Move Description : After Shiki done cross her legs around enemy's neck and throw him down (Yomi Otoshi) ; she sits down and pierce on lying enemy with her sword>  =PICTURE=

Naraku (Skt : Naraka), means Hell or Jigoku. However, Naraku is an idea of Hell adopted from Hindu. Unlike "Yomi",  which also mean to Hell but Yomi expresses the idea of Hell from traditional Japanese religion like Shinto.

Naraku can be divided into 2 sections, Hell of coldness (Hachikanjigoku) and Hell of hotness. The Hell of hotness is accepted as Hachidaijigoku or The Eight Great Hells, they are :

[Word List]

"Nehan"
Nehan (Kanji)

[From SS64 : Rasetsu Shiki's Special move, 'Nehan']
<Move Description : Shiki sitting on enemy's shoulder, slashes his neck, lie he down and pierce his chest, then enemy's body explodes>  =PICTURE=

Nehan (Skt : Nirva¯na), is the definition of Buddhism. It refers to the condition of leaving from causes and effects of birth and death, takes off all evil passion and goes to enlightened state. (This may be difficult to understand, if you want to know, please find the concept in other Buddhist books)
 

[Word List]

"Nioh"
Nioh (Kanji)

[From SS2 : Nicotin's and SS4 : Shura Gaira's Special move 'Niohfureisatsu' and 'Niohbakushinsatsu']
<Move Description : Light from a cabalistic writing (Nicotin) or a large rosary (Gaira) appears in the figure of six-arm Myooh>  =PICTURE=
<Archaic Japanese : Niwau>

Nioh or Benevolent Kings, is the two forms of Taishaku Ten,  and is said to be the  two Buddhist guardian deities (Kongohjin; Kongoh=strong, Jin=god), also to be known as "Kongoh Rikishi". Their figures can be seen at Japanese temples. They stand guard at the two sides of the gate.

The left side guardian deity is Misshaku Kongoh, opening his mouth widely represents to 'A' or exhalation. He is the mark of justice.

The right side guardian deity is Nara-en Kongoh, closing his mouth represents to 'Un' or inhalation (See A · Un). He is the mark of knowledge.

Both of them have strong bodies, frightening faces, naked their chests and hold a strong wooden pestle in their hands. The picture below is Nioh, Left is Misshaku Kongoh (836.0 cm) and Right is Nara-en Kongoh (842 cm) By Unkei and Kaikei. Painted wood ; Dated 1203. South Main Gate, Todaiji, Nara.

Nioh - Misshaku Kongoh, Naraen Kongoh

However, there is a doubtful point. Actually, the figure appears in Nicotine and Gaira's move is not "Nioh" but "Aizen Myooh" (Aizen Myooh (Kanji) , Skt : Ra¯gara¯ja). From one of Aizen Myooh sculpture (Painted wood ; dated 13th century. At Konso-In, Mount. Koya, Wakayama prefecture), we can see that Aizen Myooh's appearance is quite exact to the figure in the game : He has red body with 3 eyes, 6 arms and also 'lion head' on his head. He is the Myooh of Love and Enlightenment. Compare both picture of Aizen Myooh, click here.
 

[Word List]

"Renge"
Renge (Kanji)

[From SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Shura Shiki's move 'Rengemai' and Rasetsu Sogetsu's move 'Rengesuibu']
<Move Description : Shiki jumps into the air and try to step on enemy's shoulder. Sogetsu does  5 times kick combo> =PICTURE01==PICTURE02=

Generally, Renge refers to a lotus which is divided into 5 kinds, (all of them can be seen in Japanese SS2 Asra Zanmaden Shiki's general attack chart) :

But, in the meaning of Buddhism, See "Hachiyoh" in page 2.
 
[Word List]

"Rokudoh"
Rokudoh (Kanji)

[From SS4, SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Rasetsu Kazuki's move 'Rokudohrekka']
<Move Description : Kazuki do sliding to enemy's feet then punches him up to the air and start 6 times combo>  =PICTURE=
<Archaic Japanese : Rokudau>

Also called Rikudoh, means the six worlds in which the souls of living being transmigrate from one to another. It also the world that  all living things must go after they dead that depend on behaviours they did when they were alive (Karma)

First 3 ways are "San-akudoh" or the three bad ways :

Last 3 ways are "Sanzendoh" or the three good ways :
[Word List]

"Sange"
Sange (Kanji)

[From SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Shura Shiki's move 'Sange']
<Move Description : After Shiki stands and sit on enemy's shoulder (Rengemai --> Kekkafuza), she jump backward while slashing enemy's back with her swords>

Sange means strewing flowers before the Buddha in memorial service. Monks chants sutras and showers Shikimi or Chinese anise or lotuses which made from paper. In another meaning appears in Japanese dictionary, it means "death in battle".

There is a word that come together with Sange for Shura Shiki's move : Shouka Shouka (Kanji) <Move Description : After Shiki stands and sits on enemy's shoulder, she crosses her swords and slash enemy's neck  =PICTURE=> . This word is not 'exactly' a Buddhist term but I think I should mention about it. Shouka means 'sublimation' (make it clear).
 

[Word List]

"Sara" · "Souju"
Sara - Soujuu (Kanji_1)

[From SS64 : Rasetsu Shiki's move, 'Sara' and 'Souju']
<Move Description : Shiki jumps up and spins her swords, as same as Shura's 'Tenhourin -Yoh-' and 'Tenbourin -In-'>  =PICTURE01= , =PICTURE02=

Generally, "Sara" or "Shara" (Skt : S'a¯la) means Sal tree and always use with "Souju" or 'Twin trees'. In Buddhist meaning, "Sara Souju" means :

By the way, the Chinese character for the name for Sal tree is a little bit different, it is generally used as Sara - Soujuu (Kanji_2). From the Chinese character of Shiki's move, "Sara" = "sand + chattering" and "Souju" = "twin + eagle".
[Word List]


"Setsuna"
Setsuna (Kanji)

[From SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Rasetsu Shiki's move, 'Setsuna']
<Move Description : Shiki disappears from a side and appears at the other side of enemy (in SS64, it has 8 alternative direction)>  =PICTURE=

Setsuna (Skt : Ksana), is still used in Modern Japanese. It means a moment, an instant or as a measure of time. One Setsuna equals to 1/75 of a second.
 

[Word List]

"Shikishu"
Shikishu (Kanji)

[From SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Rasetsu Shiki's move, 'Shikishu']
<Move Description : Shiki runs into enemy and slash his neck from the back. Then jump to the front and starts sucking enemy's life into her body> =PICTURE=

Shikishu (Skt : Rupa¯); 'Shiki' refers to a general form of matter which consist of atoms and has a distinctive shape and colour. Totally, 'Shiki' is an appearance and can be separated into 5 forms : Shiki (figure), Shou (sound), Koh (smell), Mi (taste) and Soku (touch).

However, 'shu', generally means to the curse but in Buddhism idea, it refers to ' word contains mysterious power '. In my opinion,  "Shikishu", the main meaning is only on "Shiki".
 

[Word List]

"Shiki-Un"
Shiki-Un (Kanji)

[From SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Rasetsu Shiki's special move, 'Shiki-Un']
<Move Description : While Shiki flies in the air (Soukuujin = Varuna), when her gauge is maximum, she discharges many powerful balls to enemy>  =PICTURE=

Shiki-Un (Skt : Rupa¯ Skandha) ; The word "Un" (Skt : Skandha) means 'collecting'. And "Shiki-Un" is one of "Go-Un" or the Five Element of Humanity. "Go-Un" consists of 5 elements that compose physically or spiritually to various existence and they can bring about evil passion. Named generically : Shiki-Un, Ju-Un, Sou-Un, Gyou-Un and Shiki-Un.

Sometimes, Go-Un is called "Go-On" or "Go-shu".
 
[Word List]

"Shura" · "Rasetsu"
Shura - Rasetsu (Kanji)

[From SS3, SS4, SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : character types, 'Shura' and 'Rasetsu']

In English version of SS, "Shura" is substituted by 'Slash' and "Rasetsu" is substituted by 'Bust'.

[Word List]

"Shounetsu"
Shounetsu (Kanji)

[From SS4 : Shura Kazuki's move 'Shounekkon']
<Move Description : Kazuki shoots a fire ball to his enemy, as same as his 'Fudohgeki' in SS64>
<Archaic Japanese : Seunetsu>

Refers to 6th state of the Eight Great Hell, See "Naraku"
 

[Word List]

"Soukuujin"
Soukuujin (Kanji)

[From SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Rasetsu Shiki's move 'Soukuujin' (Varuna)]
<Move Description : Shiki flies into the air for a short while>

Actually, I could not find the word "Soukuujin" or "God of Blue Sky" in any dictionary. However, considered from Sanskrit word, It coincides to one of Juni Ten or The Twelve Deva guardians, "Sui Ten" (Suiten (Kanji) Skt : Varuna) who protect west (see the list of Juuni Ten above).

However, from the meaning of Sui Ten; he is generally one of Juuni Ten. He was originally converted from India's God of Sky and then converted into God of water. In Esoteric Buddhism, he is considered as the guardian deity of Saiten (Western Sky, means India). The appearance of Sui Ten : he is holding Kensaku (also called Kenjaku, a rope that made from 5 colour threads twisted together with golden pieces at both tips. It is a symbol of Buddha or Bodhisattva's achievement to help living things) and sword, sitting on a turtle or lotus.

The word "Varuna" can be found in Thai (my native language) that was influenced by Indian's Pali and Sanskrit language. It refers to the God of Rain. And I think the name "Varuna", suits with the appearance of Rasetsu Shiki's move because when Shiki flies into the sky, she can also do other moves (mostly, discharges power balls to enemy). This appearance looks like the God of Rain who flies in the sky and discharge the rain on earth.

[Word List]

"Tenbourin"
Tenbourin (Kanji)

[From SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Rasetsu Shiki's move, 'Tenbourin']
<Move Description : Shiki discharges a large energy circle with sun or wheel pattern in front of herself>  =PICTURE=

Tenbourin (Skt : Dharma cakra-pravartana), means :

Tenbourin can be counted as the symbol of Buddhism. It looks like a wheel with 8 or 12 spokes.
 
[Word List]

"Tenma Hajun"
Tenmahajun (Kanji)

[from SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Shura Shiki's Special move 'Tenma Hajun']
<Move Description : Shiki dashes into enemy and starts doing slash combos> =PICTURE=

[Word List]

"Yuga"

[From SS64, SS2 Asra Zanmaden : Boss, 'Kaitei Yuga']

Yuga, the SS64 boss's name, is written in Katakana. However, Buddhism has the definition of Yuga, Yuga (Kanji_1) or Yuga (Kanji_2) (Skt : Yoga) as :

[Word List]

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