Post by Rika Lefcourt on May 21, 2012 22:53:30 GMT -8
Shirasagi - White Crane Academy of Wizardry and Witchcraft
Some information of Japan's academy of wizardry and witchcraft. This was originally written in 2007 and has now been updated to fit recent events.
Index:
1) The reasoning behind having such an academy in Japan (this very post)
2) Education at Shirasagi
3) History of the academy
4) Japan's wizarding world & relation to muggles
5) SWACSOG
Youkai:
Japanese muggles commonly use the term “youkai” to refer to “spook”. This may include anything from the wizarding world. Gotoku neko are youkai. Goblins are youkai. Even wizards and witches are youkai.
The Eight
In 859, emperor Seiwa, the 56th Tenno -only a year after ascending to the throne and not even a hundred years after the beginning of the Heian Period-, called upon willing heroes to deal with the ever growing Youkai Threat. Seiwa’s predecessor emperor Montoku had been assassinated by Youkai serving a former servant of the Imperial Family, Takatsukasa Katsunaga, one of the most powerful wizards of the country, and Seiwa knew well that the standing army of the Japanese Empire with their “Ugly Shields”, the border guards and normal samurai, were no match for supernatural creatures. His call was answered only by few. Most came because they were searching for fame and glory. Many came because of the promised rewards. Only a few came because it was the call of the Emperor. And even less came because they felt it was the right thing to do. More than a hundred came to Kyoto and vowed to fight for the Emperor, but in the end only eight remained... Eight, who were willing to fight for the Emperor and to stake their lives on this task. Eight, who came because of many different reasons. Some sought for fame and glory, some for recognition, some came simply because their people were in danger as well -even though they despised the Imperial reign.
Those who answered the call were:
Kitashirakawa Fusae, a lady of the Imperial Family and a miko (shrine maiden) in the Imperial Palace. Fusae-hime was known outside the palace to be an itako, a miko with the ability to see the future. But she was also known to speak for the dead, just like many other itako. She was also quite skilled with potions, though it was certainly not her specialty. Divination remained her primary skill.
Nakamikado Tameshige, a member of the Imperial Guard, who went because somebody needed to protect Fusae-hime. He was skilled in combat casting and transfiguration and knew a fair share of Defense against Dark Arts.
Kabayama Kozue, who came from Iga province, was one of the later famed Iga shinobi. Her magnificent skills in transfiguration proved useful for someone of her profession. She was also leaning towards the Dark Arts and was most likely a gotoku neko.
Goto Juemon was a yamabushi, one of those who followed shugendo. As such he never cut his hair, didn’t touch alcohol, never ate meat and also stayed away from women. His skills as a healer, though, were known even among the common folk, the muggles. He was also gifted in the arts of divination.
Owari-bo Kozaburo came from Owari. He was a Buddhist priest belonging to a small, at that time unimportant, Buddhist sect, the Black Lotus. Skilled in herbology but also the dark arts, his knowledge would later prove crucial for the success of the quest.
Yamanouchi Kasumi came from the east, from Musashi, an area that many of the noble society in Kyoto considered to be primitive. Kasumi came in disguise of a man, since it was unfitting for a woman of her status to go on such an adventure (a disguise that didn’t work long, though). She had great knowledge in the ways of dealing with magical creatures and also had found out how to use certain offensive spells that would help her with her archery.
Hyuga-bo Taikan was born in Hyuga province before he joined a Buddhist monastery. He was a fierce looking sohei, a warrior monk, and as such highly skilled in offensive arts but also in the defense against dark arts. He also loathed people who were using dark arts, conflicts with Owari-bo Kozaburo and Kabayama Kozue were clearly just around the corner.
Arakawa Nobuaki, from the north eastern Echigo province, was highly skilled in the ways of the sword and spear and also used his knowledge in the ways of wizardry to improve his chances in a fight.
They left Kyoto to find Takatsukasa Katsunaga and eventually, after several battles against Takatsukasa minions and followers, they found him in his hideout at the border of Mino and Shinano province. In the end, only five of the eight were standing anymore, with two injured on the ground and one dead. Nakamikado Tameshige was killed by Takatsukasa’s champion, Agi. Agi is considered to be one of the most tragic figures in the Great Youkai War. Born human she came into service of Takatsukasa Katsunaga in Kyoto. Using dark arts he twisted and corrupted her and turned her into a willing and extremely dangerous minion, for Katsunaga had found out about her talents. She, too, was skilled in the arts of wizardry. Agi, though, was nearly killed by Arakawa Nobuaki in the final battle against Katsunaga and only survived because Fusae-hime and Yamanouchi Kasumi intervened on her behalf.
Katsunaga then sent one final wave at them which left only Nobuaki and Hyuga-bo Taikan without injury. It was them who then hunted down Katsunaga and killed him. The Great Youkai War came to an end.
Before they returned to Kyoto, Nobuaki left the group to return home and Kasumi followed him. Their trace disappeared in history. What happened to them is unknown, so legend says.
The others returned to Kyoto where Emperor Seiwa made a decision. In order to prevent a Second Youkai War the world of magic and the world of the muggles were to be split. The remaining five were to form a school where people from the whole country, who were found to be able to wield magic, would learn how to control it. The school would also serve the purpose of keeping track of the activities of wizards and witches. All this was under supervision of the Imperial Ministry of Magic and the school was based in Kyoto. It was the beginning of the White Crane Academy of Wizardry.
Five houses were set up to form the school, based on the crests of the five who returned to the capital:
A golden chrysanthemum on white, representing Kitashirakawa Fusae.
Three red, five-petal cherryblossoms, representing Kabayama Kozue.
A white dragon on blue, representing Hyuga-bo Taikan.
A white Chinese bellflower, surrounded by a white circle on green, representing Goto Juemon
And a black lotus blossom on red, representing Owari-bo Kozaburo.
In comparison the original crests:
Kitashirakawa Fusae – Itako (Kyoto, Imperial Palace) – Golden chrysanthemum on white, clearly showing her relation to the Imperial Family, to which she was a distant relative (related due to her mother, a cousin of the Emperor).
Kabayama Kozue – Kunoichi (Iga han, low ranking retainer) – Three red five-petal sakura on dark blue
Hyuga-bo Taikan – Sohei – White dragon on light blue
Goto Juemon – Yamabushi – White bellflower on green
Owari-bo Kozaburo – Buddhist priest – Black lotus on red, or a white/red lotus (shape only) on black
The Missing:
Arakawa Nobuaki – Samurai, kensei – Three black oak leaves on white/yellow (120°)
Yamanouchi Kasumi – female samurai (archer) – Two yellow hawk feathers, crossed, with a yellow circle around them on blue
Nakamikado Tameshige – Kingo, member of the Shitsu Kingo, the Imperial Guard – Yellow wisteria on red, indicating his relation to the Fujiwara of old.
The houses were then:
The Golden Chrysanthemum -usually just called Chrysanthemum “Kiku” ((comparable to Ravenclaw)); uniform: grey blazer, dark blue pleated skirt/trousers, dark blue knee-high stockings (female students only), red bowtie/tie
The Red Sakura – “Akasakura” (usually referred to simply as “Sakura”); red blazer, dark blue skirt/trouser, dark blue knee-high stockings (female students only), blue bowtie/tie
The White Dragon - “Shiratatsu" ((comparable to Gryffindor)); blue sailor style uniform with grey collar and red scarf, grey skirt, blue knee-high stockings (female students only); blue trousers, blue tunic resembling pre-Pacific War navy uniform (male students only)
The Bellflower “Kikyou” ((comparable to Hufflepuff)); dark green blazer, dark grey skirt/trousers,
The Black Lotus “Kurohaso” ((comparable to Slytherin)) standard uniform: all black, female and male students alike, except white shirt/blouse
Ironically, despite the fact that their founders both leaned towards the Dark Arts, there was never an alliance between the Red Sakura and the Black Lotus.