Saiunkoku Monogatari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saiunkoku Monogatari | |
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| 彩雲国物語 (Tale of Saiunkoku) |
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| Genre | Fantasy, Drama, Josei, Romance, Historical Setting |
| Novel: Saiunkoku Monogatari | |
| Authored by | Sai Yukino |
| Artist | Kairi Yura |
| Publisher |  Kadokawa Shoten |
| Publish date | 2003 – (ongoing) |
| No. of volumes | 12 |
| Manga: Saiunkoku Monogatari | |
| Authored by | Kairi Yura |
| Publisher | Kadokawa Shoten |
| Serialized in | Beans Ace |
| Original run | 2005 – |
| No. of volumes | 1 |
| TV anime : Saiunkoku Monogatari | |
| Directed by | Jun Shishido |
| Studio | Madhouse Studios |
| Network | NHK |
| Original run | 8 April 2006 – |
| No. of episodes | 39 |
Saiunkoku Monogatari (彩雲国物語; lit. Tale of the Land of Many-Coloured Clouds, often rendered Tale of Saiunkoku) is a series of Japanese novels written by Sai Yukino and illustrated by Kairi Yura. The story currently consists of 12 volumes; it is serialized in the Japanese magazine The Beans. The story is set in a fantasy realm resembling medieval China and contains strong drama, comedy and romance elements.
A manga version, also illustrated by Kairi Yura, is serialized in Beans Ace, which is published by Kadokawa Shoten. Currently one tankoban has been released. A drama CD was released in 2005.[1]
The anime series, produced by Madhouse Studios, is directed by Jun Shishido. It began airing in April 2006. The series is currently slated to run for 39 episodes. As of July 2006 it airs on Saturday mornings on NHK in Japan.[2] ATV has confirmed another season of Saiunkoku Monogatari will air in April 2007 following the current 39-episode run.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The story, which takes place in the fictional medieval empire of Saiunkoku, follows the adventures of Shuurei Kou, the princess of a noble family that has fallen on hard times. Her father serves as librarian in the Imperial palace, a post which offers prestige and respect but little compensation. Shuurei teaches in the temple school and works odd jobs to make ends meet, but her dream is to pass the imperial examinations and take a post in government, a path forbidden to women. Shuurei's plans come to an abrupt halt when the Emperor's Grand Advisor makes a startling offer: join the imperial household for six months as the young Emperor's consort, and teach the Emperor to be a responsible ruler. If she succeeds, the financial reward will be great. The story details Shuurei's growing relationships with the Emperor and other members of the court, the intrigues that surround imperial politics, and Shuurei's commitment to better herself and her country.
[edit] Setting
According to legend, Saiunkoku was once infested by demons who threw the country into turmoil and made the people miserable. A brave young warrior named Sou Gen gathered together the eight Enlightened Sages of Colour and drove away the demons. Sou Gen forged the nation of Saiunkoku and became its first emperor. After Sou Gen's death, the eight sages disappeared, but according to legend they still exist among the people. A beautiful shrine was built for the Eight Coloured Sages; it still stands within the Imperial City.
Saiunkoku had always been divided into eight distinct provinces named after colours of the rainbow. Six hundred years ago, the Emperor commanded that the ruling family of each province change their names to match the province they ruled. Commoners were forbidden to share the same family names as nobles.
[edit] Provinces and ruling families
Each province in Saiunkoku is ruled by a noble family of the same name. All eight provinces and families are named after colours.
- Ran (藍 Ran?, Blue) — The most powerful clan in Saiunkoku, although they play a dormant role in the political issues of the country.
- Kou (紅 Kō?, Red) — Equal power to that of the Ran clan. Along with the Ran clan, the Kou clan is known to be the 'highest of nobility'.
- Heki (碧 Heki?, Green)
- Kou (黄 Kō/Ki?, Yellow) — Although pronounced the same as the 'Red' (紅) clan, the kanji (黄) means 'yellow'
- Haku (白 Haku ?, White)
- Koku (黒 Koku ?, Black)
- Sa (茶 Sa?, Brown) — Known as the least distinguished clan in Saiunkoku
- Shi (紫 Shi?, Purple) — The family of the Emperor
[edit] Characters
[edit] Episode list
The Saiunkoku Monogatari anime started airing in Japan on April 8, 2006 and will have 39 episodes in total. There is also going to be a second season staring in April of 2007.
| Screenshot | Title | Original airdate | # |
|---|---|---|---|
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"Every Good Story Has A Hidden Side" "Umai hanashi ni wa ura ga aru" (うまい話には裏がある) |
April 8, 2006 | 01 |
| Shuurei enters the Imperial Palace as the Emperor's consort and unofficial tutor. | |||
 |
"A Frog In A Well Does Not Know The Great Ocean" "I no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu" (井の中の蛙大海を知らず) |
April 15, 2006 | 02 |
| Shuurei teaches Ryuuki about daily life by taking him on an excursion through the Imperial City. | |||
 |
"The Talented Hawk Hides Its Talons" "Nou aru taka wa tsume o kakusu" (能ある鷹は爪を隠す) |
April 22, 2006 | 03 |
| Ryuuki averts an attempt to assassinate Shuurei by drinking the poison intended for her. | |||
 |
"Casting Pearls Before Swine" "Sore wa takara no mochigusare" (それは宝の持ち腐れ) |
April 29, 2006 | 04 |
| After participating in a swordfighting tournament, Ryuuki discovers his exiled brother Seian is closer at hand than he previously believed. | |||
 |
"There Is No Genius Without Hard Work" "Doryoku ni masaru tensai nashi" (努力に勝る天才なし) |
May 6, 2006 | 05 |
| Shuurei meets Ryuuren Ran, the eccentric brother of the General of the Shaorin Army. | |||
 |
"Lacking The Finishing Touch" "Garyotensei o kaku" (画竜点睛を欠く) |
May 13, 2006 | 06 |
| Shuurei is kidnapped by forces who may or may not be working against the Emperor's interests. | |||
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"Even The Strongest Swimmer May Drown" "Yoku oyogu mono wa oboreru" (よく泳ぐ者は溺れる) |
May 20, 2006 | 07 |
| The plot against Ryuuki and Shuurei comes to a head as the conspirators are defeated. With her task complete, Shuurei leaves the palace. | |||
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"Wanting To Borrow A Cat's Paws" "Neko no te mo karitai" (猫の手も借りたい) |
May 27, 2006 | 08 |
| Shuurei returns to her work at the temple school. Ensei Rou, one of Seiran's friends, arrives from Brown Province. | |||
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"The Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step" "Senri no michi mo ippo kara" (千里の道も一歩から) |
June 3, 2006 | 09 |
| Shuurei disguises herself as a boy to assist the Imperial bureaucracy during a heat wave. | |||
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"Good Things Come To Those Who Wait" "Mateba kairo no hiyori ari" (待てば海路の日和あり) |
June 10, 2006 | 10 |
| The reason bandits have been attacking Ensei Rou is revealed; while acting as temporary governor of Brown province, Ensei angered the local nobility by rejecting corruption and bribes. As he has not passed the official examination required to be a high official, Ensei returns his seal of governorship to Ryuuki. Ryuuki passes a law allowing women to take the official examinations. | |||
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"There Is No Cure For Lovesickness" "Koi no yamai ni kusuri nashi" (恋の病に薬なし) |
June 17, 2006 | 11 |
| Seiran and the rest of the household watch over Shuurei after she catches a bad cold while chasing a troublesome student. Reishin Kou continues to conceal from Shuurei that he is her uncle. Reishin fears that if Shuurei knew his identity, she would hate him as the man who took her father's place as head of the Kou clan. | |||
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"Discretion is the Better Part of Valour" "Nigeru ga kachi" (逃げるが勝ち) |
June 24, 2006 | 12 |
| Shuurei comes to the aid of thirteen-year-old Eigetsu, who is attacked by bandits while visiting the imperial city to take the official examination. A local gang challenges the city's crimelords and Kochou, the madam of a brothel and Shuurei's longtime employer. | |||
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"From A Gourd Comes A Horse" "Hyoutan kara koma" (瓢箪から駒) |
July 1, 2006 | 13 |
| Ryuuki earns the fealty of the local crimelords by resolving trouble with a gang who had been harassing examinees. Shuurei takes the imperial examination and passes with the third highest score. | |||
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"On A Rock For Three Years" "Ishi no ue ni mo sannen" (石の上にも三年) |
July 8, 2006 | 14 |
| After making a bad first impression Shuurei and Eigetsu are ordered to spend their first two months as imperial officials cleaning the lavatory and shining shoes. | |||
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"Children Do Not Know Their Parents' Hearts" "Oya no kokoro ko shirazu" (親の心子知らず) |
July 15, 2006 | 15 |
| Kouyuu Ri ponders his course in life and his relationship with his foster father Reishin Kou, who took him in on an apparent whim. | |||
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"There Are No Devils In The World" "Wataru sekai ni oni wa nai" (渡る世間に鬼はない) |
July 22, 2006 | 16 |
| A rumor spreads that Reishin Kou manipulated the imperial examination to allow Shuurei to pass. As Reishin is imprisoned, Shuurei, Seiran and Eigetsu face betrayal by a friend helping the conspiracy. | |||
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"Let Sleeping Dogs Lie or Poking a Bush Draws Out Snakes" "Yabu o tsutsuite hebi o dasu" (藪をつついて蛇を出す) |
August 26, 2006 | 17 |
| In retaliation for the arrest of Shuurei and Reishin, the Kou clan goes on strike, causing half of the imperial government to shut down. Shuurei and Eigetsu rush to finish their report before the official inquiry begins at noon. | |||
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"You Can't Hide By Burying Your Head In The Sand" "Atama kakushite shiri kakusazu" (頭隠して尻隠さず) |
September 2, 2006 | 18 |
| The plot against Shuurei is defeated after she passes a verbal examination before the Emperor and assembled officials with flying colours. Shuurei and Eigetsu's report furnishes evidence against the corrupt Sa clan official who plotted against them. | |||
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"If You Love Your Child, Send Her On A Journey" "Kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo" (かわいい娘には旅をさせよ) |
September 9, 2006 | 19 |
| Ryuuki appoints Shuurei and Eigetsu as co-governors of Sa Province. | |||
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"Flowers Blooming from Dead Wood" "Kareki ni hana saku" (枯れ木に花咲く) |
September 16, 2006 | 20 |
| Seiran recalls the events that led to his exile 13 years ago and the family that took him in. | |||
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"The Wise Know When to Approach Danger" "Kunshi ayauki ni chikayorazu" (君子危うきに近寄らず) |
September 23, 2006 | 21 |
| As Shuurei prepares to leave for Sa province, she, Eigetsu and Ryuuren Ran hear rumours of a ghost inhabiting the imperial palace. | |||
| "Where There is Life, There is Hope" "Inochi atte no monodane" (命あっての物種) |
September 30, 2006 | 22 | |
| Shuurei, Eigetsu, Kourin, Ensei and Seiran leave for their journey to Sa Province, all the while assassins are following them, hired by the Sa Clan. Eigetsu, Kourin, Ensei and Seiran are caught during their stay in a hotel, while Shuurei is safely hidden. | |||
| "It's the Company that Makes Travel Unpleasant" "Tabi wa michidureyo wa nasake" (旅は道連れ世は情け) |
October 7, 2006 | 23 | |
| While the rest are caught at the borderguard in Sairi, Shuurei has to make her way on her own to Kinka. She seeks help from the Merchants Guild, becoming a servant to a man whom she met on the streets: Lin Senya. | |||
| "Water on a Sleeping Ear" "Nemimi ni mizu" (寝耳に水) |
October 14, 2006 | 24 | |
| Ensei and Seiran were set free from their prison thanks to Kokujun, as Shuurei and Senya were finally departing after days of waiting, on Shuurei's part. Eigetsu and Kourin were also freed by Kokujun, who volunteered to bring them to Kinka. | |||
| "An Accidental Resemblance" "Tanin no sorani" (他人のそら似) |
October 21, 2006 | 25 | |
| Shuurei muses over the new information she learned from Senya that the Kou princess is to marry the second son of the Sa Clan. She also sees a strange resemblance between Senya and Ryuuki. Ensei and Seiran follows Shuurei's trail of Kanrou Cha, and Eigetsu and Kourin are en route to Kinka. | |||
| "Ravens In The Moonless Night" "Yamiyo no karasu" (闇夜の烏) |
October 28, 2006 | 26 | |
| The real identity of Lin Senya is revealed, and Shuurei is caught in his clutches in Chrysanthemum Castle. Seiran and Ensei heads over there to rescue Shuurei and to catch Sakujun. He escapes with Shuurei's flowerbud hairpin, telling her to go to Koren. | |||
| "The Prettier the Flower, the Higher the Branch" (花は折りたし梢は高し) |
November 18, 2006 | 27 | |
| "Worry Gives Small Things Large Shadows" "Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi" (案ずるより産むが易し) |
November 25, 2006 | 28 | |
| "Many Years' Worth of Thoughts in a Single Day" "Ichinichi senshuu no omoi" (一日千秋の思い) |
December 09, 2006 | 29 | |
| "Women Are Brave" "Onna wa dokyou" (女は度胸) |
December 16, 2006 | 30 | |
| "A Diamond In The Rough" "Haki dame ni tsuru" (掃きだめに鶴) |
December 23, 2006 | 31 | |
| "A Woman's Word Is Her Bond" "Onna ni mo futakoto nashi" (女にも二言なし) |
January 06, 2007 | 32 | |
| "No Use Crying Over Spilt Milk" "Fukusuibon ni kaerazu" (覆水盆に返らず) |
January 13, 2007 | 33 | |
| "Poison Gets the Better of Poison" "Doku o motte doku o seisu" (毒をもって毒を制す) |
January 20, 2007 | 34 | |
| "Meeting Is the Beginning of Parting" "Au wa wakare no hajime" (逢うは別れの始め) |
January 27, 2007 | 35 | |
| "All is Right in the World" "Yo wa subete koto mo nashi" (世はすべてこともなし) |
February 03, 2007 | 36 | |
| "Tears Fall Like Rain From Heaven" "Ame wa ten kara, namida wa me kara" (雨は天から、涙は目から) |
February 10, 2007 | 37 | |
| "There Is No Today After Today" "Kyou no ato ni kyou nashi" (今日の後に今日なし) |
February 17, 2007 | 38 | |
| "Fate Is An Inscrutable And Interesting Thing" (縁は異なもの味なもの) |
February 24, 2007 | 39 | |
This list may become incomplete as new episodes are aired.
[edit] Theme songs
- Opening Theme
- Hajimari no Kaze by Ayaka Hirahara
- Ending Theme
- Saikō no Kataomoi by Sachi Tainaka
[edit] A note on Romanization
The name spellings used here are only one possible romanization, and have been chosen to correspond to the most commonly used versions. Names are given in Western order, with the family name last. The romanization style according to the Manual of Style is given in parentheses to the right of the official romanization in Japanese order, with the family name before the given name.
[edit] References
- ^ 彩雲国物語／雪乃紗衣 イラスト：由羅カイリ Accessed 08/03/06
- ^ NHKアニメワールド 彩雲国物語 Accessed 08/02/2006
- ^ アニメイトTV Web - ニュース速報 - 彩雲国物語、新シリーズ放送決定 Accessed 11/20/06.
[edit] External links
- (Japanese) Anime official site
- (Japanese) Kadokawa official site
- Saiunkoku Monogatari at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
