Onmyōdō
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2008-07-12T07:40:04Z
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[[Image:Abe Seimei.jpg|right|thumb|[[Abe no Seimei]], a famous onmyōji]]
{{nihongo|'''''Onmyōdō'''''|陰陽道|extra="On'yōdō"}} is a traditional [[Japan]]ese [[esoteric cosmology]], a mixture of [[natural science]] and [[occultism]]. It is based on the [[Chinese philosophies]] of ''[[Wu Xing]]'' and ''[[Yin and yang]]'', introduced into Japan at the turn of the 6th century, and accepted as a practical system of [[divination]]. These practices were influenced further by [[Taoism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Shintoism]], and evolved into present-day onmyōdō approximately in the late 7th century.
Until the middle of 19th century, when ''onmyōdō'' was prohibited as [[superstition]], it was under control of the imperial government, and later its courtiers, the [[Tsuchimikado family]]. The restrictions have been lifted, and as of 2006 anyone may study ''onmyōdō''. Professional practitioners of this art were called {{nihongo|''onmyōji''|陰陽師}}.
==Development==
In the 5th and 6th centuries, when the principles of yin-yang and the [[Five elements (Japanese philosophy)|Five Elements]] were transmitted to Japan from [[China]] along with Buddhism and [[Confucianism]]. Yin-yang and the Five Elements, as well as the divisions of learning to which it was linked - [[astronomy]], [[calendar]]-making, the reckoning of time, and [[divination]], studies based on observation of nature - were amalgamated into fortune-telling. This process of judging auspicious or harmful signs present in the natural world was accepted into Japanese society as a technique for predicting good or bad fortune in the human world. Such techniques were known mostly by [[bhikkhu|Buddhist monks]] come over from mainland Asia who were knowledgeable in reading and writing Chinese. Over time, demand from members of the [[Imperial Court in Kyoto|imperial court]] who believed that ''onmyōdō''-divination would be helpful in decision-making made it necessary for the laity to perform the art, and ''onmyōji'' began to appear around the middle of the 7th century.
With the implementation of the ''[[ritsuryo]]'' system law codes in the 7th and 8th centuries, yin-yang techniques were put under the jurisdiction of the {{nihongo|Bureau of Onmyō|陰陽寮|''Onmyō-ryō''}} in the {{nihongo|[[Nakatsukasa Department]]|中務省|''Nakatsukasa-shō''}} of the Imperial bureaucracy. The Bureau of ''Onmyō'' was responsible for overseeing the divinations of ''Onmyōdō'', astrological observations, and the creation of calendars. Also, by law the Buddhist clergy was forbidden to practice [[astrology]] and fortune-telling; hence, government-controlled onmyōji came to monopolize the practice.
From the [[Heian period]] onward, as the ''ritsuryo'' system relaxed and the [[Fujiwara family]] rose to power, the society of the Imperial court took on a more formal shape, and adherence to {{nihongo|rituals to placate the souls of the dead|御霊信仰|''Goryō Shinkō''}} to combat the creation of {{nihongo|[[yurei|vengeful ghosts]]|怨霊|''onryō''}} burgeoned. Because onmyōji displayed methods that could avert disasters with their skills of divination and magic, the superstition afforded ''onmyōji'' influence over the personal lives of the Emperor and the nobility of the court. Consequently, popular awareness of ''onmyōdō'' gradually spread from court society to Japanese society as a whole, strengthening its development into a characteristically Japanese art.
''Onmyōdō'' merged with other beliefs and occultism, and evolved from Chinese-imported thoughts to a [[syncretism]] found only in Japan. Japanese ''onmyōdō'' took in elements from {{nihongo|[[Taoism]]|道教}}, which was transmitted to Japan at the same as ''onmyōdō'', including magical elements such as ''katatagae'', ''monoimi'', ''henbai'', and ceremonies to Taoistic gods such as the [[Taizan Fukunsai]]. Elements of ''[[feng shui]]'' and the medical art of ''[[jukondō]]'' were incorporated as well, and as ''onmyōdō'' and Japanese [[Shinto]] mutually influenced each other, ''onmyōdō'' grew more distinctive. From the end of the 8th century onward, it was influenced by the magical elements of [[Vajrayana|esoteric Buddhism]] and the [[India]]n-derived [[astrology]] (''[[Sukuyōdō]]'') that were transmitted with it.
During the Heian period the nobility organized their lives around practices recommended by ''onmyōji''. The practice of "lucky and unlucky directions" provides an example. Depending on the season, time of day, and other circumstances, a particular direction might be bad luck for an individual. If one's house was located in that direction, such an individual was advised not to go back directly to his house but had to "change direction" (''katatagae''), by going in a different direction and lodging there. Such a person would not dare to go in the forbidden direction, but stayed where they were, even if that resulted in absence from the court, or passing up invitations from influential people.
In the 10th century [[Kamo no Tadayuki]] and his son [[Kamo no Yasunori]] made great advancements in ''onmyōdō'', astronomy and calendar science, and from among their students emerged [[Abe no Seimei]], who displayed superior skills in the divining arts of ''onmyōdō'', by which he gained an uncommon amount of trust from the court society. Tadayuki and Yasunori passed on their skills in astronomy to Seimei while their advances in calendar-making went to Yasunori's son. From the end of the Heian period into the Middle Ages, astronomy and calendar science were completely subsumed into ''onmyōdō'', and the Abe and Kamo families came to dominate the art.
==''Onmyōji''==
{{nihongo|''Onmyōji''|陰陽師|extra="On'yōji"}} was one of the classifications of civil servants belonging to the Bureau of ''Onmyō'' in ancient Japan's ritsuryo system. People with this title were professional practitioners of ''onmyōdō''.
''Onmyōji'' were specialists in magic and divination. Their court responsibilities ranged from tasks such as keeping track of the [[calendar]], to mystical duties such as [[divination]] and protection of the capital from evil [[yurei|spirits]]. They could divine auspicious or harmful influences in the earth, and were instrumental in the moving of capitals. It is said that an ''onmyōji'' could also summon and control ''[[shikigami]]''.
Famous ''onmyōji'' include [[Kamo no Yasunori]] and [[Abe no Seimei]] (921–1005). After Seimei's death the [[Emperor of Japan|emperor]] had a [[Jinja (Shinto)|shrine]] erected at his home in [[Kyoto]].
''Onmyōji'' had political clout during the Heian period, but in later times when the imperial court fell into decline, their state patronage was lost completely. In modern day Japan ''onmyōji'' are defined as a type of [[Shinto]] priest, and although there are many that claim to be mediums and spiritualists, the ''onmyōji'' continues to be a hallmark occult figure.
==Texts==
* Kinugyokutoshŭ (金烏玉兎集/三国相伝陰陽輨轄簠簋内伝金烏玉兎集, "the collection book of the moon and the jade rabbit")
* Senji Ryakketsu (占事略决, "the summary to judgements of divinations") by Abe no Seimei
==Cultural references==
The air of mystery surrounding ''onmyōji'' and ''onmyōdō'' make them frequently employed elements in [[film]], [[manga]] and [[anime]].
*Lin Koujo from [[Ghost Hunt]] is considered by most to be an onmyōji. He frequently exorcises spirits, summons spirits, controls shikigami, and possesses much expertise in the subject of eastern occultism in general.
*The film ''[[Onmyoji (film)|Onmyōji]]'' is a fictitious account of Abe no Seimei based on the novel series of the same name (which also inspired a manga adaptation, also of the same name).
*[[Subaru Sumeragi]], from [[Clamp (manga artists)|CLAMP]]'s ''[[Tokyo Babylon]]'' and ''[[X (manga)|X]]'', is an ''onmyōji'' who protects modern Japan from curses and vengeful spirits. The character of [[Seishirō Sakurazuka]] is Subaru's evil counterpart.
*In ''[[Shaman King]]'', ''onmyōji'' are high-level shamans. Characters include Yohmei Asakura, [[Yoh Asakura|Yoh]]'s grandfather, and [[Hao Asakura|Hao]].
*Abe no Yasuaki from the game and anime ''[[Harukanaru Toki no Naka de]]'' is an ''onmyōji'' and a disciple of Abe no Seimei.
*[[Ken Akamatsu]]'s ''[[Negima!: Magister Negi Magi]]'' features a sophisticated, secretive culture of ''onmyōji''.
*The protagonist of [[Gainax]]'s ''[[Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi]]'' is drawn to a parallel world where he learns the the art of ''onmyōdō'' from Abe no Seimei.
*In the novel ''[[Teito Monogatari]]'' by [[Hiroshi Aramata]], the villain, [[Yasunori Kato]], is an evil ''onmyōji'' who is revived from the angry and resentful souls of the dead mystics. He overthrows the [[Tsuchimikado family]] and employs massive ''onmyō'' magic to destroy the city of [[Tokyo]]. As shown in the film versions of the story, his power supposedly equals, if not surpasses, that of Abe no Seimei.
*The anime and manga ''[[Onmyou Taisenki]]'' revolves almost completely around ''onmyōdō''.
*''[[Ask Dr. Rin!]]'' features an ''onmyōji'' named Tokiwa Takashi.
*Keiya Tenpouin is an ''onmyouji'' from the Playstation game ''[[Evil Zone]]''.
* ''[[Shōnen Onmyōji]]'' chronicles the life of Abe no Seimei’s youngest grandson and his journey in becoming an onmyouji.
*The [[PlayStation]] game ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' includes a Job called ''Onmyoji'' (translated as "Oracle" for the English release of the game). ''Onmyoji'' can use "Yin-Yang Magic" to inflict status abnormalities such as blindness, paralysis and sleep on their enemies.
== External links ==
* [http://applepig.idv.tw/kuon/furu/explain/meisi/onmyouji/senji/senjiryakuketu.htm 占事略決](Big5 Chinese) Online text of Senji Ryakketsu.
[[Category:Esoteric cosmology]]
[[Category:Japanese folklore]]
[[Category:Religion in Japan]]
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