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Perfect Memento in Strict Sense

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東方求聞史紀 (とうほうぐもんしき)
Perfect Memento in Strict Sense
Perfect Memento in Strict Sense
Developer

Team Shanghai Alice

Publisher

Ichijinsha

Released

2006-12-27

Genre

Official Book

Writers

ZUN

Illustrators

Aki★Eda
Genji Asai
Monoji Tsukuri
TOKIAME
Yagi Shinba
Yamai

Pages

166

Comes with

Perfect Memento in Strict Sense (CD)
booklet

ISBN

4758010633


Touhou Gumon Shiki(Histories by Hieda) ~ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense (東方求聞史紀 ~ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense) is the second official Touhou book by ZUN. Compared to the first, Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red, it is quite serious in tone; focusing mainly on factual information about the world of Gensokyo.

Perfect Memento comes with a CD containing three original music tracks plus some desktop wallpaper, and some shops also added a booklet drawn by Aki★Eda and written by ZUN. In addition, one month before release, a manga based upon it called Memorizable Gensokyo, also by Aki Eda and ZUN, was published in the December 2006 issue of Comic REX magazine.

Here, we see Gensokyo from the perspective of the (almost) normal human Hieda no Akyuu, a recorder of its history who lives in Gensokyo. Her descriptions show a quite different realm; one where things are described in terms of ‘threat levels’, and most Youkai are to be feared and avoided rather than laughed at. It deals primarily with the characteristics of the youkai as well as countermeasures that can be taken against them. However, everything recorded are only things within the range of Akyuu's knowledge.

Of note is that the youkai requested to Akyuu to describe them as being stronger than they actually are, thus many things may be grossly exaggerated. The descriptions also contain Akyuu's own monologues and considerations. Thus, one must be aware that they are prone to misconceptions, lack of proper research, or outright lies (not necessarily from Akyuu, but from her sources). However, despite how the contents are written by someone who is not omnipotent, it is still information from someone who sees it as her duty to properly record Gensokyo's history, thus there is likely at least some truth to most of it.

Examples of Dubious or erroneous statements
  • Sakuya Izayoi's past before serving Remilia Scarlet is complete speculation (Akyuu states this in her article).
  • Eirin Yagokoro and Kaguya Houraisan have been categorized as human (while it is arguable whether Lunarians are human or not, the way their articles are written seems to indicate that Akyuu is completely unaware of their Lunarian descent).
  • Fujiwara no Mokou is the descendant of a group of anti-youkai ninjas who live in the bamboo forest (she is not a ninja and there is a high possibility that she is not a descendant, but instead is the actual person that caused the legend of ninjas in the first place).
  • The reason why ascending into Heaven nirvana is restricted is because Heaven is filled to capacity (in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody, Yukari Yakumo and Suika Ibuki eventually discovered that it was a big lie. There's plenty of room in Heaven, though it implies the Celestials are hogging more than their fair share.)

Despite what is stated above, it is still the best source for official and canonical information on the series, so one should not think everything in it cannot be trusted.

Contents

Danger/Friendship Level Summary

Danger Level
H
u
m
a
n

F
r
i
e
n
d
s
h
i
p

L
e
v
e
l
Very Low Low Medium High Very High Unknown
High Lily White Lunasa Prismriver
Merlin Prismriver
Lyrica Prismriver
Alice Margatroid
Keine Kamishirasawa
Youmu Konpaku Yuyuko Saigyouji
Normal Luna Child
Star Sapphire
Eiki Shiki, Yamaxanadu
Cirno
Sunny Milk
Hong Meiling
Tewi Inaba
Komachi Onozuka
Wriggle Nightbug
Patchouli Knowledge
Chen
Ran Yakumo
Aya Shameimaru
Suika Ibuki Yukari Yakumo
Reisen Udongein Inaba
Low Rumia
Letty Whiterock
Very
Low
Remilia Scarlet
Flandre Scarlet
Poor Mystia Lorelei Medicine Melancholy
Worst Yuuka Kazami

Other Information

The title "求聞史紀" and Akyuu's ability "求聞持" comes from a so-called mantra "虚空蔵求聞持法" (Kokuuzou Gumonji Hou), which is popular in Japan as part of Shingon Buddhism, brought into Japan by Kuukai, one of the most famous Japanese Buddhists. The prayer is for Akasagarbha (虚空蔵菩薩, Kokuuzou Bosatsu) to improve their memory retention. This suits Akyuu's ability to remember everything she sees. [1]

References