Kenren, Goujun, and Tenpou--Oh My...

[tj_dragonblade]

(hacking and coughing like there's no tomorrow) Gaaaah. I'm still f*cked up from whatever hit me over the weekend, and now there's smoke drifting into town from forest fires out in the valley to really wreak havoc on my lungs. (wheezes)(coughs a few more times)(offers non-denominational prayer for safety of individuals closer to the fires) At least it's not as bad as it was yesterday. And y'know, I haven't had any issues with asthma since I was a wee little thing...funny how one never really appreciates breathing until it's suddenly more difficult to do...

But enough of my complaining.

Kenren, Goujun, Tenpou, and rank: Tenpou as Field Marshal outranks Kenren as General, and, if I'm getting the gist of the manga right, he holds roughly equal power to Kenren and behaves very much as though he's in charge in battle situations--though no one seems to expect to see him there, if I remember correctly. Yet Tenpou speaks of 'working under' Kenren and tends to behave as someone of parallel rank in casual situations. Is that 'working under' comment simply thrown in for the delight of us hentai fans and TenKen-shippers, or is there some sort of military technicality that escapes me? Is the 'field marshal' title/rank more an honorary/beaurocratic one rather than a full-fledged combat-functional officer's rank? Is it simply a matter of personal perception on Tenpou's part that he views Kenren as above him? And Kenren bills himself as subordinate to Goujun, so...(frowns thoughtfully) Does Goujun have authority, then, over Tenpou as well? I would assume that rank-wise he'd equate to something on the order of 'supreme commander' or 'commander-in-chief', as his title is King and the army is billed as his army; but I've never been quite sure if Tenpou falls parallel to or under his authority.

And kami...I've been under the impression for some time that it translates to 'god', either 'deity in general' or the name of one in specific...are all denizens of heaven kami, then? (And...would that be kami or kamis? It sounds plural without the 's', but what do I know?) Kenren is, I'm rather certain, given the chakra; and while Tenpou's bangs hide his forehead quite nicely I'm inclined to think he's one as well. Is Goujun also kami as well as dragon, or does the one preclude the other?

(scribbles fretfully) Details, details...input is always appreciated...(casts a hopeful look at fellow Saiyuki fans)

Comments

[solaas.livejournal.com]

Gojoun is not a kami, he's a dragon. They're special. :) And he's the Head Honcho supreme of the Western Army. Tenpou is his underling, and so is Kenren.

When it comes to the Kenten dynamics, I suspect that Minekura has turned the entire thin on its ear because it's fun that way. Technically Tenpou _is_ Kenren's commanding officer, but he hates to be in the spotlight. Yea and verily, he lets Kenren run the show and keeps to the background reading books and keeping an eye on goings-on. But when push comes to shove, Tenpou does visit Litouten after the latter's been mean to Kenren, and pulls the rank thing. And gets ... well, you've read the translations I assume, but I won't spoiler anymore regardless. ;P

So, for your everyday use, Kenren is the star of the show and Tenpou is happy to have it that way.

Re. Kami. Urr. If you were to map kami over to our western archetypes, they'd be closer to out angels (and demons) than anything else. The bosatsus are somewhere between Archangels and actual deities, one assumes. (They ought to be more like the Catholic Saints, but given the power-levels of the bosatsus I'd go with Archangel.) It is also hard to peer too closely at Japanese mythology and folklore when trying to figure out the Saiyukiverse, since Minekura picks out the bits and pieces she likes and gives sod all about the rest. In the Saiyukiverse, as far as I've been able to gather, kami = heaven-dwellers. They come in varying levels of power, from unimpressive to frightening.

[solaas.livejournal.com]

Also, these are good questions to ask on the saiyuki_yaoi ML because mjj might come out and answer you. She tends to know her stuff very, very well. :)

[tj-dragonblade.livejournal.com]

I might do that...but then again, you've pretty well answered my questions and confirmed my impressions so maybe not...

[solaas.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, but mjj's better than me. She's like the Saiyuki oracle of Doom! :)

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

There is a possible reason that Gojun is the reccarnation of Jiip. And Gaiden not my thing so that doesn't help as if I pay attention to it anyway (lets out a big sigh)

[sychogrl.livejournal.com]

Just thought I'd mention that not all heaven-dwellers are kami. Goku, for one, is not. ^_^ I can't recall that it was ever clarified what qualifies one as a kami, however... *scratches head*

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

Goku was born from Flower Fruit Moutain... And somehow got sent to Tenkai when all the excitement happened, but due what the crimes he did he was sent back down to earth being stuck under a giangantic rock for 500 years. He's the only creature in the entire book that's non-human, non-demon but a monkey.

[sychogrl.livejournal.com]

Nup, not a native of Heaven. Damn them Gekai furriners...

>_> :D

*flail*