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Chang'e

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Revision as of 22:23, 15 October 2015 by Tony64 (talk | contribs)
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嫦娥 (じょうが)
d͡ʑʲo̞ːɡ̃a̠
Chang'e
Chang-o, Jouga

More Alternative Spellings
Chang'e
Chang'e as depicted in Silent Sinner in Blue
Species

Goddess (Lunarian?)

Abilities

Immortality

Occupation

Prisoner

Location

Lunar Capital

Appearances
Official Games
Print Works

Chang'e (嫦娥 Jouga) is a Goddess and possible Lunarian who drank the Hourai Elixir, for which she was imprisoned on the Moon in the Lunar Capital.

General Information

Chang'e is an enigmatic character. Not much is known about her, except that she lived on the Moon and was the master of the moon rabbits. She drank the Hourai Elixir and became immortal, but was imprisoned on the Moon for it. Today, the moon rabbits sing in unison when pounding mochi to atone for her sin.

It was unknown what happened to her until Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom, when it was revealed that Junko and Hecatia Lapislazuli had a grudge with her and that they intended on invading the Lunar Capital to reach her whilst she is still in prison.

Background Information

She is highly based on the mythological Chang'e, who is the Chinese goddess of the Moon. In nearly every story, her husband Houyi acquires an elixir of immortality and comes home after an absence, only to discover that Chang'e had drunk it before she drifts off to the Moon, though the circumstances of her taking the elixir changes with each telling.

Name

Her known name is Chang'e (嫦娥), having the English translation use the Chinese pinyin of her name; her Japanese romaji equivalent is Jouga. Like Eirin Yagokoro, her real name is unknown and unpronounceable to earthlings. The first kanji can mean "proper name" (specifically in Japanese) whilst the second kanji means "beautiful" (in both Chinese and Japanese). Usually, cannot be used as a standalone character, but it is usually seen as an abbreviation of her name. According to official rules of pinyin romanising, an apostrophe is used before a syllable that starts with a vowel to avoid any ambiguity in pronunciation.

Relationships

Houyi

Houyi is Chang'e's husband, an archer who shot down the sun, creating Junko and Hecatia's grudge. In Touhou, it is unknown which version of him exists: in one story, he is a loving husband who becomes helpless as Chang'e is forced to drink the elixir; in another, he is a despotic ruler who Chang'e is forced to stop by consuming the elixir in his place; in yet another, it is her to gives in to the elixir's temptation. They are sometimes known to represent the yin and yang.

Moon rabbits

Chang'e is the true master of all the moon rabbits. They pound mochi to atone for their master's sin of drinking the Hourai Elixir.[1] Although they are said to pound rice cakes, in reality they are attempting to create the Hourai Elixir.[2] Reisen Udongein Inaba also seems to serve under Chang'e as she refers to her as "Lady Chang'e" (嫦娥様), but it's unknown if Chang'e particularly knows her.

Junko & Hecatia

Junko has a grudge against Chang'e. This is because her husband, Houyi, shot down the sun, killing Junko's husband and son. Hecatia Lapislazuli also hates Chang'e because of the same reason, except that Houyi took away the light Hell needs to exist, because without it, there would be no shadows. It is said the Hecatia's grudge against Chang'e is due to Junko's influence. It is unknown if Chang'e knows Junko.

Official Sources