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'''Christianity''' ({{lang|ja|キリスト教}}, ''kirisutokyou''; Greek: Χριστιανισμός; Latin: Religio Christiana) is a monotheistic Western religion. Believing in only one [[god]], Christianity is greatly different than [[Shinto]] which believes in many gods. While Christianity is prolific in many parts of the world, Shinto and [[Buddhism]] has remained the two dominate religions in Japan, placing Christianity as a minor religion in the country.
{{nihongo|'''Christianity'''|キリスト教|kirisuto-kyou|Greek: Χριστιανισμός, Latin: Religio Christiana}} is a monotheistic Western religion. Believing in only one [[god]], Christianity is greatly different from religions like [[Shinto]], which worship many gods and may acknowledge the existence of gods from other religions. While Christianity is a majority religion in many parts of the world, it has little presence in Japan compared to [[Shinto]] and [[Buddhism]]. Because of this, Christianity has developed a reputation as something exotic and mystical.
 
{{nihongo|Christmas|クリスマス|kurisumasu}} is widely celebrated in Japan, but it is not considered a national holiday and its religious aspects are mostly ignored; it is largely a commercial event centered on [[wikipedia:Santa Claus|Santa Claus]], and has also absorbed aspects of [[wikipedia:Valentine's Day|Valentine's Day]].


==Christianity in Touhou==
==Christianity in Touhou==
Christianity appears to hold little if no spiritual significance in the ''[[Touhou Project]]''. One example would be the cross which has no effect on supernatural creatures like the [[vampire]] while Shinto charms and the [[Yin-Yang Orb]] inflict spiritual damage upon them (It can still be used as a projectile in [[danmaku]]).<ref>''[[Shoot the Bullet]]'': [[Shoot the Bullet/Spell Cards/Level Ex|Spell Card Ex - 2]]</ref>
Christianity appears to hold little if no spiritual significance in the ''[[Touhou Project]]''. The [[vampire]]s [[Remilia Scarlet]] and [[Flandre Scarlet]], for instance, are unharmed by crosses despite taking spiritual damage from Shinto charms and the [[Yin-Yang Orb]].<ref>''[[Imperishable Night]]'' - Manual: [[Remilia Scarlet]]. "Crosses have no effect on her. It puzzles her to hear that her kind are supposed to be weak against such a thing. "</ref><ref>''[[Shoot the Bullet]]'': [[Shoot the Bullet/Spell Cards/Level Ex|Spell Card Ex - 2]]. "I was fairly sure vampires were weak to the cross symbol, but it doesn't seem like it. She just came out and played with it..."</ref>
 
;References to Christianity
In ''[[Embodiment of Scarlet Devil]]'', [[Rumia]] claims that she stretches her arms out to resemble the "crucifixion of a saint", most likely refering to [[wikipedia:Jesus|Jesus Christ]] <ref>''[[Embodiment of Scarlet Devil]]'' - Marisa Scenario, Stage 1: <br />
'''Marisa''': So, why are you stretching out your arms like that? <br />
'''Rumia''': Doesn't it look like it says "The saint was crucified on the cross"? </ref>, and both [[Seiga Kaku]] and [[Hieda no Akyuu]] compare [[Toyosatomimi no Miko]] to Jesus: Seiga finds tales of his resurrection after a mere three days unimpressive compared to Miko's<ref>''[[Ten Desires]]'': [[Ten Desires/Story/Youmu's Scenario|Youmu's Scenario]]. "She will be revived very soon. Compared to that foreign prophet who resurrected
three days after his execution... this will be much more divine and magnificent."</ref>, while Akyuu notes that legends of Prince Shotoku being born in a stable (which Miko denies) were probably influenced  by Christianity.<ref>''[[Symposium of Post-mysticism]]'': [[Symposium of Post-mysticism/Toyosatomimi no Miko|Miko article]]</ref>
 
In ''[[Symposium of Post-mysticism]]'', [[Seiga Kaku]] decides to act as a "Santa Claus" for Gensokyo (being unsure if the real Santa exists there), but simplify things by stealing valuables to pay for the toys she leaves. [[Aya Shameimaru]] merely expresses a hope that she doesn't wear Santa's white hair while she does it, since she wouldn't want such deeds associated with someone who looks like the tengu's god [[wikipedia:Sarutahiko|Sarutahiko]].<ref name="bou_n_1">''[[Symposium of Post-mysticism]]'': [[Symposium of Post-mysticism/Bunbunmaru Newspaper 4|Bunbunmaru Newspaper 4]]</ref>
 
In [[Wild and Horned Hermit]], [[Kasen Ibaraki]] compares Buddha, a saint who died beneath a pair of sal trees and ''"rid himself of all worldy attachments and abandoned his flesh"'' to Jesus, who died while crucified and was ''"so attached to the flesh that he performed the miracle of resurrection"''.<ref>[[Wild and Horned Hermit]] - Chapter 44</ref>


During [[Seiga Kaku]]'s conversation with [[Youmu Konpaku]], Seiga possibly refers to [[Toyosatomimi no Miko]]'s ressurection similar to the western propet Jesus Christ derogatarily referring him as an "pagan prophet" (''country dweller''), claiming Miko's to be far more grand and divine. It is unknown if Seiga has witnessed this event or simply heard of it some time later, but she wasn't impressed, likely becuase ressurections appeared to be rather common in her country. Becuase he was not mentioned by name, it cannot be comfirmed as it could have been anyone.<ref>''[[Ten Desires]]'': [[Ten Desires/Story/Youmu's Scenario|Youmu's Scenario]]. "She will be revived very soon.<br/>Compared to that pagan prophet who resurrected
In the [[PC-98]] games [[Yumemi Okazaki]] used crosses as danmaku, leading [[Ellen]] to ask if she was a Christian. [[Sariel]] and [[Shinki]] appear to be based on [[wikipedia:Sariel|an angel of death]] and [[wikipedia:Lucifer|Lucifer]] respectively.
three days after his execution...<br/>...this will be much more divine and magnificent."</ref>


==Characters under this Bestiary==
==Characters relevant to this religion==
*[[Unnamed girl on DiPP jacket]] (?)
*[[Unnamed girl on DiPP jacket]] (?)
*[[Yumemi Okazaki]] (?)
*[[Sariel]] (?)
*[[Shinki]] (?)
*[[Matenshi]] (?)
;Characters not original to Touhou
*[[wikipedia:Santa Claus|Saint Nicholas]]<ref name="bou_n_1">''[[Symposium of Post-mysticism]]'': [[Symposium of Post-mysticism/Bunbunmaru Newspaper 4|Bunbunmaru Newspaper 4]]</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200">
File:WaHH_Jesus_Crucifixion.png|Jesus Christ's crucifixion depicted in ''Wild and Horned Hermit''
File:WaHH_Jesus_Resurrection.png|Jesus' resurrection depicted in ''Wild and Horned Hermit''
</gallery>


==See Also==
==See Also==
*Wikipedia entry for [[wikipedia:Christianity|Christianity]]
*Wikipedia entry for [[wikipedia:Christianity|Christianity]]
*Wikipedia entry for [[wikipedia:Christianity in Japan|Christianity in Japan]]
*Wikipedia entry for [[wikipedia:Christianity in Japan|Christianity in Japan]]
*Wikipedia entry for [[wikipedia:Christmas|Christmas]]
*Wikipedia entry for [[wikipedia:Christmas worldwide#Japan|Christmas in Japan]]
*[[Demon]]
*[[Demon]]
*[[Angel]]
*[[Angel]]
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==References==
==References==
{{smallrefs|2}}
{{smallrefs|2}}
{{Navbox Bestiary}}


[[Category:Content]] [[Category:Bestiary]]
{{Navbox Religion}}
 
[[Category:Religions and Philosophies]]

Revision as of 00:27, 3 March 2018

Christianity (キリスト教 kirisuto-kyou, Greek: Χριστιανισμός, Latin: Religio Christiana) is a monotheistic Western religion. Believing in only one god, Christianity is greatly different from religions like Shinto, which worship many gods and may acknowledge the existence of gods from other religions. While Christianity is a majority religion in many parts of the world, it has little presence in Japan compared to Shinto and Buddhism. Because of this, Christianity has developed a reputation as something exotic and mystical.

Christmas (クリスマス kurisumasu) is widely celebrated in Japan, but it is not considered a national holiday and its religious aspects are mostly ignored; it is largely a commercial event centered on Santa Claus, and has also absorbed aspects of Valentine's Day.

Christianity in Touhou

Christianity appears to hold little if no spiritual significance in the Touhou Project. The vampires Remilia Scarlet and Flandre Scarlet, for instance, are unharmed by crosses despite taking spiritual damage from Shinto charms and the Yin-Yang Orb.[1][2]

References to Christianity

In Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, Rumia claims that she stretches her arms out to resemble the "crucifixion of a saint", most likely refering to Jesus Christ [3], and both Seiga Kaku and Hieda no Akyuu compare Toyosatomimi no Miko to Jesus: Seiga finds tales of his resurrection after a mere three days unimpressive compared to Miko's[4], while Akyuu notes that legends of Prince Shotoku being born in a stable (which Miko denies) were probably influenced by Christianity.[5]

In Symposium of Post-mysticism, Seiga Kaku decides to act as a "Santa Claus" for Gensokyo (being unsure if the real Santa exists there), but simplify things by stealing valuables to pay for the toys she leaves. Aya Shameimaru merely expresses a hope that she doesn't wear Santa's white hair while she does it, since she wouldn't want such deeds associated with someone who looks like the tengu's god Sarutahiko.[6]

In Wild and Horned Hermit, Kasen Ibaraki compares Buddha, a saint who died beneath a pair of sal trees and "rid himself of all worldy attachments and abandoned his flesh" to Jesus, who died while crucified and was "so attached to the flesh that he performed the miracle of resurrection".[7]

In the PC-98 games Yumemi Okazaki used crosses as danmaku, leading Ellen to ask if she was a Christian. Sariel and Shinki appear to be based on an angel of death and Lucifer respectively.

Characters relevant to this religion

Characters not original to Touhou

Gallery

See Also

References

  1. Imperishable Night - Manual: Remilia Scarlet. "Crosses have no effect on her. It puzzles her to hear that her kind are supposed to be weak against such a thing. "
  2. Shoot the Bullet: Spell Card Ex - 2. "I was fairly sure vampires were weak to the cross symbol, but it doesn't seem like it. She just came out and played with it..."
  3. Embodiment of Scarlet Devil - Marisa Scenario, Stage 1:
    Marisa: So, why are you stretching out your arms like that?
    Rumia: Doesn't it look like it says "The saint was crucified on the cross"?
  4. Ten Desires: Youmu's Scenario. "She will be revived very soon. Compared to that foreign prophet who resurrected three days after his execution... this will be much more divine and magnificent."
  5. Symposium of Post-mysticism: Miko article
  6. 6.0 6.1 Symposium of Post-mysticism: Bunbunmaru Newspaper 4
  7. Wild and Horned Hermit - Chapter 44