| “ | A small shrine resting in a country far to the east, the "Hakurei Shrine". Many out-of-the-ordinary events transpire here, causing normal people to almost never draw close to the shrine. On the other hand, there is also a reason that "things that aren't human" never descend to terrorize the Human Village: because shrine maidens, females with the power to channel the gods, have lived at this shrine for many generations, guarding the gates to other realms such as Hell and Makai where those "things that aren't human" reside. Long ago, powerful mountaineering ascetics, exorcists, and spiritual leaders from all areas of the country gathered in order to seal away youkai, demons, and other creatures from their land. Despite their great success, the recoil from performing the ceremonies was so tremendous that it annihilated everyone gathered there. Much time passed after that — so much time that the effectiveness of the seal began to fade. The shrine maiden currently living at this shrine has trained her body and mind intensely in order to fight these unstoppable enemies, these "things that aren't human", and prevent them from reaching the Human Village. Even though she knew it was a futile effort, even though she knew her life would be forfeit, she made her way to one of the gates. ...Actually, it's not really that serious. The truth is that this shrine maiden is Reimu Hakurei, who always gets caught up in strange things. One of the "things that isn't human" destroyed her shrine, and she flew into a rage. There is only one thing that will quell her anger: the total annihilation of all "things that aren't human"!! ...Well, that's half wrong too. The real truth is that Reimu Hakurei is actually quite the optimist. Acting on her whims as always, she figured she'd go and enter one of the gates. After a while, she realized that only the Hakurei Shrine's greatest treasure, the Yin-Yang Orb, was effective against these non-human creatures. Reimu "Well, whatever. Things will turn out just fine as long as I use the yin-yang orb skillfully!" What sort of fate awaits this shrine maiden? |
„ |
| ~ Highly Responsive to Prayers Prologue English |
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YuugenMagan
YuugenMagan refers to a collection of evil eyes that serve as the Stage 10 boss along the Makai route in Highly Responsive to Prayers. They represent the first opponent Reimu Hakurei encounters within Makai after passing through the gate leading there. As with other bosses from this game, virtually no information exists regarding this enemy.
| YuugenMagan | |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Origin | Touhou |
| Creator | ZUN |
| First Appearance | Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers |
| Voiced by | N/A |
| Characteristics | |
| Species | Unknown Makai Species |
| Gender | Unknown |
| Pronouns | They/Them |
| Sexuality | Unknown |
| Age | Unknown |
| Birthday | Unknown |
| Height | Unknown |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Ethnicity | Unknown Makai Entity |
| Status | Alive |
| Alignment | Neutral Evil |
| Archetype | Minion |
| Time Period | Non-linear |
| Language | Unknown |
| Combat Style | Magical Combat |
| Homeworld | Makai |
| Relationships | |
| Affiliations | Shinki, Makai |
| Enemies | Reimu Hakurei |
Background
| This dropdown contains the synopsis of Sariel’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise! | ||||||
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Highly Responsive to Prayers
A shrine located in the Far East, the Hakurei Shrine, houses a powerful seal that has begun to deteriorate. As a result, numerous non-human entities have started to emerge. Reimu only encounters YuugenMagan if she chooses the Makai route, where YuugenMagan is the Stage 10 boss that ends up being defeated by Reimu. YuugenMagan has not been seen again, but due to Reimu rarely killing any of her adversaries unless they directly broke the laws of Gensokyo, it is very likely YuugenMagan is still alive. ZUN has made word too that characters from PC-98 games are still alive and are just "retired". |
Name Meaning
YuugenMagan lacks an official kanji spelling. The name appears in-game rendered simply as "YuugenMagan". Two possible kanji interpretations exist: "幽玄魔眼" and "幽幻魔眼".
The term magan (魔眼) literally means "magical eye" or "demon's eye" and roughly corresponds to the concept of an "evil eye". If interpreted as 幽玄, yuugen carries meanings such as "simple and elegant", "subtly graceful", "profoundly mysterious", or "mystic". The word also refers to the occult, which is likely the intended meaning here, as YuugenMagan is surrounded by five evil eyes. ZUN has previously used the kanji 幽玄 in the theme title "Eternal Dream ~ Mystical Maple (幽玄の槭樹)". Under this interpretation, "YuugenMagan" would translate to "Occult Evil Eyes" or "Mystic Evil Eyes".
The alternative reading 幽幻 does not form a legitimately established term in Japanese. If intended this way, it likely derives from Yuugen Doushi (幽幻道士) (original title 殭屍小子), a Taiwanese action horror comedy film featuring a Jiang Shi as the heroine. ZUN has also used this character combination before in the theme title "Eastern Record of the Sealing of a Demon ~ A Phantom's Boisterous Dance" (東方封魔録 ~ 幽幻乱舞). With this interpretation, "YuugenMagan" would translate to "Phantom Evil Eyes" or "Phantom Demon Eyes".
Appearance
General Description: YuugenMagan is a hovering set of five independently-moving eyes. The eyes are connected by what appears to be an electric-like force and are surrounded by strange markings on the screen.
Structure: At the center of the formation is an outline or projection of a figure wearing a kimono. This central figure appears to be the source or controller of the five eyes.
Special Features: Each of the five eyes moves independently from the others. They are linked by a visual effect resembling electrical energy. Strange markings surround the entity.
Alternate Forms/Disguises: This character does not have other widely recognized alternate forms.
Personality
YuugenMagan has no spoken dialogue or narrative exposition in Highly Responsive to Prayers. Their actions and motivations are not explained or referenced within the game.
Goals
- Not known, other then possibly defeating Reimu (Failed).
Relationships
Shinki
While YuugenMagan and Shinki never directly interact, YuugenMagan is a resident of Makai, and Shinki is the goddess and creator of Makai[1]. Meaning that Shinki created YuugenMagan, as she created other residents such as Yumeko[2].
General Information
Name: YuugenMagan[3]
Origin: Touhou
Overall Series: Touhou Project
First Appearance: Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers
Latest Appearance: Touhou Project - Highly Responsive to Prayers
Company: Team Shanghai Alice
Creator: ZUN
Actor: N/A
Gender: Unknown
Sexuality: Unknown
Pronouns: They/Them (As their gender is unknown)
Handedness: N/A
Age: Unknown
Birthday: Unknown
Time Period: The world of Gensokyo itself is in a non-linear time period
Timeline: Main Timeline
Homeworld: Makai
Residence: Makai
Story Role: Boss
Legacy: Unknown Legacy
Influence: No Influence
Language: Unknown
Ethnicity: Unknown Makai Entity
Religion: Makai Religion
Classification: Stage 10 Boss EvilEyes 'YuugenMagan'[5]
Species: Unknown Makai Species
State of Being: Regular
Physiology: Irregular Physiology
In-Universe Creator: Shinki
Occupation: N/A
Combat Style: Magical Combat
Affiliations: Shinki, Makai
Enemies: Reimu Hakurei
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Status: Alive (Noted by ZUN that characters from the PC-98 games have probably retired and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays[6])
Alignment: Likely Neutral Evil (As a makai demon they will go around attacking anyone they see)
Threat Level: Global Threat (Noted to be pouring out of the broken seal from the Hakurei Shrine, being an overall threat to the world outside of Makai)
- Type(s) of Potential: Fixed Potential
- Level of Potential: Fixed
- Description: Hasn't had any real statements to showcase anything beyond the standard potential.
- Limitations: Standard limitations.
Archetypal Tiering: Minion
Codex Statistics
Grade: A
Tier: Unknown-D, Far Higher with Spiritual Power
Cardinality: Finite
Dimensionality: 3-D
Attack Potency: Unknown: True level (YuugenMagan has no way of inducing physical strikes[7]), Far Higher with Spiritual Power (Noted how even Yumemi Okazaki's scientific magic truly pales in comparisson with the real thing[8], which Yumemi noted to not make light of the power of her science as she could blow up the planet at any moment[9]). Can ignore covnentional durability with Magic (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[10], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[11]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[12]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[13]. The second layer of reality is spirit and magic, while the first layer is where all things within the laws of physics presides, putting attacks with magic outside of the conventional laws of physics[14])
Durability: Unknown: True level (The only part of them that can be harmed is their eyes[15]), Far Higher with Spiritual Power. Their existence as a non-human makes them difficult to kill (It's noted that one cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon with an unnatural amount of spiritual power such as the Yin-Yang Orb[16])
Striking Strength: N/A (YuugenMagan has no way of inducing physical strikes[17])
Lifting Strength: N/A
Travel Speed: Unknown: True level (YuugenMagan does not move[18])
Attack Speed: Superhuman (Capable of tagging Reimu Hakurei with their attacks[19]where they can reach across long distances due to being able to fly[20]). Magic Attacks lack a defined speed (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[21], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[22]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[23]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[24])
Reaction Speed: Superhuman
Stamina: Superhuman (Doesn't seem to get tired, shooting out multiple energy projectiles[25], coming out of its own eyes[26], at rapid speeds[27] along with attacks that go across the screen[28] and attacks that combine together into a singular one[29] over the course of the battle)
Range: Several Meters through sheer size (YuugenMagan is this wide compared to Reimu[30]). At least Tens of Meters (Shoots out[31], energy projectiles[32], and bladed weapons[33] that[34] go across the screen[35])
Intelligence: Unknown Intelligence
Knowledge: Unknown level
Powers and Techniques
- Regeneration
- Non-Standard Defenses (Reimu realized that only the Yin-Yang Orb was effective against non-human creatures[37], with it being noted that Reimu using her ofuda, her spirit power, and her martial arts all prove to be useless against her enemies[38], meaning Youkai cannot really be harmed by regular or standard weaponry. It's noted that one cannot defeat spirits or devilish powers without a weapon with an unnatural amount of spiritual power such as the Yin-Yang Orb[39]. In the world beyond (Gensokyo), physical form has no meaning for all non-human entities[40])
- Acausality
- For Their Physiology
- Magic (Magic exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[41], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[42]. Yumemi also explains that in the world of Gensokyo, magic unifies everything[43]. Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[44])
- Transferal (Magic users can transfer their magic into a tool, having the tool change depending on the user[45])
- Transmutation
- Acausality
- For their Magic
- Irregular Causality
- Unknown: Magical power exists outside of the Grand Unified Theory[46], a theory with any model that merges electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces into a single force at high energies, unifying gravity with the electronuclear interaction, providing a more comprehensive theory of everything. It's further explained that magic is a force that cannot be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, with Yumemi even proposing a "Non-Unified Magic World" theory[47]. Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[48]. Magic does not exist in Yumemi's world, which is a Probability World, a different world, but in the same dimension[49].
- Irregular Causality
- For their Magic
- Holy Manipulation (Magic is noted by Yumemi to have close ties with religion[50])
- Transferal (Magic users can transfer their magic into a tool, having the tool change depending on the user[45])
- Spirit Manipulation (The bombs used are referred to as spiritual attacks[51], being directly called spiritual attacks[52])
- Explosion Manipulation (When bomb users are cornered from attacks they cannot repel with regular attacks they can release a massive spirit explosive that destroys all objects on screen[53], along with killing all enemies on screen[54])
- Magnetism Manipulation (When using a bomb[55], all items on screen will be attracted towards the user[56])
- Perception Manipulation (When using a bomb the screen flashes white and an image of the bomb user can be seen[57])
- Logic Manipulation (The Great Hakurei Barrier is a boundary of common sense, which things with high spiritual power in the cause to waver[58])
- Nullification & Erasure
- Projectile Nullification & Physical Erasure: Bomb users can use a bomb to nullify & erase all projectiles on screen[59]. This makes the enemy incapable of[60] shooting out any further projectiles until the bomb's duration is done[61].
- Invulnerability
- Resistance to
- Observation & Subjective Reality (Once a youkai/non-human enters Gensokyo or if a youkai/non-human is a native, they are liberated from the spell of human imagination and obtain true freedom, being able to develop their own characteristics, though the observations of the humans from within Gensokyo can have some effect on them to a degree[63])
- Probability Manipulation (Yumemi explains that on her world, all power can be explained by the Grand Unified Theory, however she posits an existence of a power not covered by the Theory: the power of magic[64]. Magic does not exist in Yumemi's world, which is a Probability World, a different world, but in the same dimension[65])
- Madness Manipulation (Unaffected from the affects of the Lunarian Full Moon, a hypnosis that drove the humans who came to the Moon insane[66], further being noted by Reisen that the moon drives people insane[67])
- Disease Manipulation (Non-Humans within Gensokyo do not have much demand for medicine for physical illnesses as they are comprised mostly of spirit, thus they are always fit and robust with no diseases[36])
- Matter Manipulation & Physics Manipulation (Gensokyo is a brane world dominated by particles with different properties, not following the standard physics of the real world[68], with the grand unified theory being the reason for all pheneomna in the human world, which does not apply to Gensokyo[69])
- Gravity Manipulation (Noted by Maribel that in the world of Gensokyo, they the gravitons likely have a different structure and the world's properties are likely different too, likening it to being one of the brane worlds[70])
- Breaking the Fourth Wall (Touhou characters constantly acknowledge being a stage boss[71])
- Cartoon Physics (Gensokyo is a world that lacks and defies common sense[72], where characters can explode[73], this is even acknowledged with ZUN roleplaying as the characters in-universe that they explode upon defeat[74]. Despite this they will still come back, even human characters that do not have regeneration)
- Irregular Physiology (YuugenMagan is multiple eyes connected together by electricity[75])
- Large Size
- Supersized: It's size is far larger then Reimu[76].
- Non-Standard Interaction
- Metaphysical Interaction: As a non-human that can only be truly harmed from powerful spiritual attacks, they should also be able to harm other non-humans.
- Non-Standard Damage (SinGyoku attacks mainly with magical attacks, which are innately spiritual and go beyond conventional attacks)
- Curtain Fire
- Eye Beam (Shoot its projectiles[80] mainly out of its eyes[81])
- Fusionism (Can combine their attacks together into a star shaped object that shoots out multiple energy projectiles[82])
- Energy Manipulation
- Electricity Manipulation (Seemingly using electricity to keep all of it's eyes together[84])
- Link Manipulation (Strong Emotions can be contained in objects that can connect between the main world and the netherworld[85])
Equipment
Nothing notable.
Notable Techniques
Starting Attack

Multiple Lasers
YuugenMagan initiates the fight with this attack and cannot be damaged throughout its duration.
On Easy and Normal difficulty, each eye simply fires a laser directly downward.
On Hard and Lunatic, the pattern intensifies significantly. All eyes except the leftmost and rightmost on Hard fire a 5-way spreadshot aimed at the opponent's position, while the descending lasers remain active.
Phase 1

Energy Projectiles
The leftmost and rightmost eyes activate, firing a series of aimed energy projectiles at the opponent. Each wave consists of five pairs of projectiles angled around the opponent's position, followed by a single projectile aimed directly at the target.
Phase 2

Eye Missiles
The lower two eyes activate. After tracking the opponent's position for a brief duration, both eyes flash and rapidly fire indestructible red missiles toward their current position. Following the volley, the eyes' angles shift away from the tracked position. Subsequently, one of two behaviors occurs: either a single eye drastically turns and sweeps past its original position, or both eyes return to their initial angle.
Phase 3

Spiral Projectiles
The leftmost and rightmost eyes reactivate, alternating between two spiral patterns. The first spiral fires diagonally upward, tracing nearly three-quarters of a circle. The second spiral fires to the side, tracing approximately half a circle.
Phase 4

Rotating Missiles
The lower two eyes reactivate, employing a pattern similar to Phase 2 but with some differences. Rather than shifting away from the tracked position before returning, the eyes now rotate continuously in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, then reverse course and continue slightly past their starting point.
The missiles begin tracking toward the opponent significantly earlier than in Phase 2.
Phase 5

Laser Attack
The top eye activates, sweeping the playfield with a laser three times: left to right, then right to left, and finally from both sides simultaneously until stopping just before the center.
On Hard difficulty, the eye accompanies its laser sweeps with an aimed 3-way spreadshot. On Lunatic, the third sweep replaces the 3-way with a 5-way spreadshot.
Phase 6
Combined Attack
YuugenMagan generates a pentagram and moves it onto its central humanoid figure. Once the pentagram settles into position, all but one eye close. The pentagram simultaneously fires pellets from its tips, beginning to rotate after a brief delay.
The pentagram alternates rotation direction (clockwise -> counterclockwise). After the third clockwise rotation (five total rotations) it stops firing and slowly descends toward the opponent.
The pentagram immediately begins expanding without its standard rotation sequence, stopping fire only as it prepares to slam.
Other
Standard Tactics
- Phase 1: YuugenMagan starts the fight with a multiple laser attack each time. Afterwards, the leftmost and rightmost eyes activates and fires a series of energy projectiles.
- Phase 2: The lower two eyes activate and start firing indestructible red missiles.
- Phase 3: The leftmost and rightmost eyes reactivate firing a spiral pattern of energy projectiles.
- Phase 4: The lower two eyes reactivate, firing missiles in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, reversing course when going slightly past their starting point.
- Phase 5: The top eye activates and shoots out a laser that it sweeps across the screen.
- Phase 6: All the eyes combine their attacks into a pentagram that shoots out projectiles into a clockwise then counterclockwise angle, the pentagram will eventually go towards the opponent and expand itself to slam down at the opponent.
Weaknesses
- Magic Weaknesses: Magic users taking too much damage will cancel out their attacks[86]. If a magic users spirit is depleted they enter a state of "Guard Crush" where they can't use bullets, special moves, or spell cards at all[87]. Repeatedly attacking red glyphs will break one's defenses[88].
- Unique Weaknesses: Nothing notable.
Note
- Any translations from en.tohouwiki.net are considered fine to use as they all fall under Project Translations, a fan translation team that have translation guuidelines and rulesets, along with moderators that directly overlook and proofread English translations to check for machine translations.
- Yumemi's statements can be taken with credibility, not only do the science from her world surpass the main one by 500 years[89] where she notes the science of the main world is much more primitive then hers[90], but her world has already fully proven the existence of Grand Unified Theory and Yumemi herself notes that her theory was proven right by seeing magic.
- Despite Gensou Narratograph being directly noted to be an "unofficial Touhou tabletop RPG", ZUN has directly participated in the RPG and noted the way Reimu acts during his session is how canon Reimu would act[91], thus character actions done by him and mechanics are fine to use.
- Even if characters have not showcased using a bomb, they should all be able to use bombs, as bombs are realistically just spiritual attacks[51] and to even be able to fight the non-human entities, requires a weapon with an unnatural amount of spiritual power such as the Yin-Yang Orb[92], meaning everyone that is non-human or is fighting non-humans is using spiritual energy.
Explanations
Canoncity of Touhou Project
The Touhou Project franchise canoncity mainly falls under any media worked on by ZUN are official and canon to the overall lineup.
There are various aspects constantly debated about within the canon:
PC-98
Media like PC-98, has been noted by ZUN to be ignored as one can ignore derivative works[93]. He has also said that anything prior to Embodiment of Scarlet Devil can for the most part be ignored and one can think fo Embodiment of Scarlet Devil as the starting from a clean slate and starting a new series[94], he's also referred to Highly Responsive to Prayers as a study product[95]. With this in mind, one would assume that PC-98 is thus non-canon to the Windows continuity of games.
However, ZUN has also directly stated PC-98 games are the same world as the Windows Games, stating that any contradictions that exist from PC-98 can be ignored from the retcon in Windows Era[96]. While one argues ZUN noting the works are derivative works to be ignored and Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil should be seen as the starting point, these statements are moreso telling a fan to not worry about having to play PC-98 games or learn more about their stories.
It's also been noted in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil's おまけ.txt that the game chronologically is not too far from the previous title, which would be Mystic Square, the PC-98 title[97]. ZUN has also directly brought back characters from PC-98 games, noting he wanted to bring back characters from before Embodiment of Scarlet Devil and notes any of the other older characters that don't appear have probably retired by now and are warmly watching over things from various places nowadays[98]. When asked where Mima from PC-98 has gone, ZUN notes that he doesn't bring them back due to making things complicated and having potentially angry fans ask where she has been the entire time, he has also noted that there's not much use for characters like Genji as Reimu can fly now and also notes he is not dead[99]. ZUN has also made mention to Genji probably living in the lake in the back of the shrine[100]. In Touhou Sangetsusei ~ Strange and Bright Nature Deity, Reimu and Marisa were talking about glowing moss with Reimu saying it would be nice to transfer it to the pond in the back of the Hakurei Shrine and Marisa saying that she could make it grow there on the turtles' back, referencing Genji[101].
In Touhou 07 Perfect Cherry Blossom, when Alice meets Reimu, she tells her long time no see, noting that they've met before calling her "old friend"[102]. In Yuuka's mode in Touhou Project - Phantasmagoria of Flower View, Reimu directly references defeating Yuuka back in PC-98[103]. If Yuuka defeats Marisa in the same game, she will note that Marisa has grown up quite a bit, when the last time she's seen her has been in PC-98[104].
Seeing as ZUN himself has directly said both PC-98 and Windows are in the same world and that characters directly acknowledged PC-98 events and reference characters from it, PC-98 is completely canon and any contradictions PC-98 have can be ignored.
Side Games Time Placements
Touhou 7.5 - Immaterial and Missing Power takes place between Perfect Cherry Blossom and Imperishable Night[105].
Multiple Playable Routes
In the series, there are multiple playable character routes, including some where the characters fight Reimu herself and defeat her, calling question into what route is canon. ZUN has elaborated that canonically, anytime Reimu and the gang are defeated, they challenge again however many times they want, but on the youkai side, they do not challenge again after being defeated and are not attached to the results of winning or losing[106].
In terms of how playable routes have went, some examples of canonically noted routes:
- In Reimu's profile on Perfect Memento in Strict Sense, it's noted that Reimu resolved the Scarlet Devil Mansion Incident alone[107].
- Reimu is also acknowledged to have resolved the Spring Snow Incident in Perfect Cherry Blossom, though it is not noted if she did this alone[108].
- Reimu claims she solved the Eternal Night incident, however if one asks her about the cause or the perpetrator, she'll only respond with ambiguous answers, it is also not noted if she did this alone[109].
With some of these examples, it is normally assumed that in some way Reimu has some part in resolving every incident and other routes are dubiously canon depending on what transpired.
Spell Card Rules
There are many cases of weaker humans beating stronger Yokai or vice versa within the Touhou series, this has been elaborated on in Reimu's profile on Perfect Memento in Strict Sense. Reimu introduced the spell card rules as the youkai had no way to defeat the Hakurei shrine maiden, making many youkai feel that their meaning to exist have dissapeared[110]. The rules incoporate the following:
- Spell cards are techniques specially-named by the individual, and they must be declared upon use.
- The number of each party's spell cards must be determined in advance of a duel.
- The first party to have all of their spell cards beaten must admit defeat.
- The victor is entitled only to what was agreed upon before the duel. If they're not interested in what their opponent has to offer, they can refuse a duel.
- Winners should generally allow losers a rematch.
- Always prepare for the unexpected.
The original draft held these rules[111]:
- Combatants will give names and meanings to the duel for the benefit of beauty.
- Combatants will declare the number of named duels before beginning.
- Combatants may not repeat attacks by relying on stamina.
- Combatants may not deliver attacks that do not have meaning. The meaning itself becomes the attack's power.
- In the case that a combatant loses a named duel, that combatant will admit defeat, even if he or she has strength remaining. No combatant may kill a human, even upon victory.
- Combatants will write the duel's name on paper in the format of a contract. By doing so, the above-mentioned rules become absolute. These papers will be called spell cards.
These rules allows for duels that feel almost like sport rather then a match, and have allowed for weaker fighters to challenge stronger ones, due to this though, it also has become possible for youkai to freely defeat Reimu without worrying about the consequences.
Due to them being written into cards and essentially affecting the ability and power of an attack, the spell cards are likely the thing binding attacks to specific properties.
Parallel Worlds
Parallel Worlds is a topic brought up at some points in the Touhou Project franchise, they are worlds called "Probability Worlds" by Yumemi, stating that those and parallel worlds are one and the same[112]. This essentially means that parallel worlds in Touhou are based on the concept of probability. Yumemi and Chiyuri use a "Probability Space Hypervessel" in order to travel to alternate worlds and time periods[113], further showcasing that probabiliy serves an importance.
Magical vs. Physical Strength
There[114] are[115] multiple[116] occasions[117] of[118]characters[119] commenting[120] on[121] humans like[122] Reimu[123] being strong[124]. Despite this Reimu showcases physical strength that isn't superhuman, such as the fact that she cannot cut a bamboo stick while Fujiwara direclty does in front of her.
This is due to the difference between magical and physical strength.
In works like Symposium of Post-mysticism, Yuugi Hoshiguma's profile has Suika directly state that Yuugi is weaker then her in magical powers, but stronger than her physically[125], lining a clear difference between magical and physical strength.
While one can be physically stronger then another, such as how Onis are physically the strongest, magic users are still able to keep up with them due to using a different form of attack.
An example can be found with Yuugi herself, when Reimu fights against her in Subterranean Animism[126], with her acknolwedging her strength[127], something Yuugi only does to those who are truly strong[125]. This establishes even with spellcard rules, Yuugi considers Reimu a strong fighter. Reimu herself is very clearly not at an oni's physical strength, as she cannot do the things they can, however, her magical strength allows her to keep up with them.
To defend against magical based properties requires Non-Standard Defenses as it is acknowledged as not being something of standard physicality.
The Three Layers of Reality
In Chapter 27 of Curiosities of Lotus Asia, Reimu proceeds to explain how reality works to Rinnosuke and Marisa, where she explains in-depth the three layers of reality.
This conversation started from discussing the mechanism of fortune, where Rinnosuke attempted to posit that the future is predetermined and that Reimu's luck was her being able to calculate in an instant the predetermined future, however Reimu had a different explanation requiring her to lecture on the mechanisms of probability[128], in her explanation, the world is made up of three layers: the physical layer that moves in accuracy with the laws of physics, the second layer that moves with the spirit, and the third layer of memory which is the recollection of events that lies within all things[14]. The memory layer rejects the loop of the physical and mental layers, the two layers the youkai conceive of the world which is why they believe history repeats itself and the future is predetermined. Since it's only possible to add to the memory layer, it's possible to completely recreate the past.
While the physical layer follows the laws of physics, the mental layer interprets the outcomes and the memory layer alters the probability, essentially creating the future, since it's impossible for memories to raech the same state as a point in the past, the future is not predetermined, thus when Reimu is able to predict how the dice will fall, she's not predicting the fall of the dice, the dice members the fact that she predicted how the dice would fall, thus due to this, Reimu entering the memory of the die-face greatly skews the results in Reimu's favor, where the results side with Reimu[129].
Thus the memory layer is essentially the most important layer that rejects the notion of loops from the previous two layers.
Trivia
- The concept of the evil eye appears across numerous cultures, with the shared belief that a malevolent glare can act as a curse. In Japanese, the term is most commonly rendered as 邪視 (jashi). The Judaic angel of death, Sariel, is associated with evil eyes and is said to possess the power to ward them off. Given Sariel's appearance elsewhere in Highly Responsive to Prayers and the abundance of Abrahamic imagery throughout Makai, YuugenMagan is most likely based on this Jewish conception of the evil eye.
- YuugenMagan holds the distinction of being the boss with the greatest number of individual hitboxes that all deplete the same shared health bar. The Prismriver Sisters in Perfect Cherry Blossom rank second in this regard.
- YuugenMagan and Mima share the same stage theme in Highly Responsive to Prayers, titled "Angel's Legend."
- The title of this theme may reference the angel Sariel, who, according to kabbalistic texts, is said to have associations with evil eyes.
- The kanji 邪, meaning "wicked" or "evil," appears prominently in the background throughout YuugenMagan's battle.
- Byakuren Hijiri's lotus aura appears to be a deliberate callback to YuugenMagan's evil eyes. Both share a similar visual presentation and fire comparable danmaku patterns. This parallel is fitting, as Byakuren—like YuugenMagan—is encountered within Makai.
- YuugenMagan's eyes emerge from purple magic circles, each of which contains a Star of David.
- In the final phase of the attack pattern, the evil eyes summon a pentacle that both fires danmaku and ultimately itself serves as an offensive element.
- The pentacle—or pentagram—carries multiple layers of symbolism: magic, the occult, and the seiman symbol of Onmyōdō. The Chinese concept of Wu Xing (五行, lit. "Five Elements") is traditionally represented in a diagram connected by a pentacle. Throughout YuugenMagan's fight, the background displaying the 邪 (evil) kanji cycles through various colors. Each color corresponds to a Wu Xing element: black and blue to water, indigo to metal, red and orange to fire, purple and yellow to earth, and green to wood.
- Story of Eastern Wonderland marks the debut of enemy evil eyes, including a massive artificial evil eye tank called Evil Eye Σ, constructed by the engineer Rika.
Gallery
-
YuugenMagan's sketch art in the good ending credits
Misconceptions
Characters Have Flown Through Outerspace
One example of this is believed to be in Touhou 02's Stage 3 Scarlet Dream ~ Scarlet Dream where it displays stars and a space-like effect in the background[130], however this is actually the World of Fantasies, the world that lies between Makai and the human world, with Genji confirming this is definetely not outerspace as Reimu can breathe just fine there[131].
All Characters are Children
This is an argument that spawns from how small the characters look in different works, though this is moreso due to the "moe" artstyle Touhou tries to capture, in many of the manga characters look far older.
Majority of characters in the series are outright shown to drink alcohol on a daily basis[132], where one needs to be at least 20 years old under Japanese law to drink, where Japanese law requires no underaged characters to be shown drinking. This is even acknowledged in the series itself with a note saying alcohol is only for those over 20 years old[133]. Thus if a character is ever seen drinking alcohol in the series, they are an adult.
The only direct non-adults in the series are Sumireko Usami, Chiyuri Kitashirakawa, and Hieda no Akyuu in her first appearance.
Youkai Control the world through both the mental and physical layer
This statement comes from a fan translation that says this in Curiosities of Lotus Asia[134].
While the statement seems clear cut, there is another translation used instead that makes more sense with the sentence.
It instead notes that most youkai concieve of the world through these two layers, which is why they believe the future is pre-determined and history repeats itself[135]. This falls in line with the earlier disucssion of Rinnosuke claiming that he believes the future to be predetermined and Reimu needing to explain to him why that's not the case[128].
Battle Records
0 - 1 - 0
None.
- Reimu Hakurei - Fight[136]
- Conditions: None.
- Location: Stage 10 - Makai Route
None.
References
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