The Story of Saiunkoku

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The Story of Saiunkoku

Saiunkoku Monogatari anime series logo
彩雲国物語
(Saiunkoku Monogatari)
Genre Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Historical Setting
Light novel
Author Sai Yukino
Illustrator Kairi Yura
Publisher Flag of Japan Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic Female
Published 2003 – ongoing
Volumes 12 + 3 short story compilations
Manga
Author Kairi Yura
Publisher Flag of Japan Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic Shōjo
Serialized in Beans Ace
Original run 2005 – ongoing
Volumes 2 (currently)
TV anime
Director Jun Shishido
Studio Madhouse Studios
Licensor Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Geneon Entertainment
Network Flag of Japan NHK, Animax
Flag of Malaysia Flag of the Philippines Flag of Hong Kong Animax
Original run 8 April 2006 – 24 February 2007
Episodes 39
TV anime: 2nd Series
Director Jun Shishido
Studio Madhouse Studios
Network Flag of Japan NHK
Original run 7 April 2007 – 8 March 2008
Episodes 39

The Story of Saiunkoku (彩雲国物語 Saiunkoku Monogatari?, lit. Tale of the Land of Colored 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, and 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 romantic elements.

A manga version, also illustrated by Kairi Yura, is serialized in Beans Ace, which is published by Kadokawa Shoten. Currently, two collected volumes have been released. The anime adaptation series, produced by Madhouse Studios, is directed by Jun Shishido, and broadcasted on the Japanese television network NHK on Saturday mornings.[1] The first season began airing on April 8, 2006, and completed its run on February 24, 2007, airing a total of 39 episodes. The second season, titled Saiunkoku Monogatari 2nd Series (彩雲国物語 第2シリーズ?) began airing on April 7, 2007 and consists of another 39 episodes, ending its run on March 8, 2008.[2] Geneon Entertainment licensed the anime series for English language release in North America. North America.[3] In September 2007, after only two volumes had been released, Geneon closed its North America operations.[4]

Contents

[edit] Plot

The story, which takes place in the fictional empire of Saiunkoku, follows the adventures of Shūrei Kō, a descendant of a noble family that has fallen on hard times.

Her father works as a librarian in the Imperial palace, a post which offers prestige and respect, but little compensation. Shūrei 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.

Shūrei's plans come to an abrupt halt when the Emperor's Grand Advisor makes a startling offer, which is joining 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 Shūrei's growing relationships with the Emperor and other members of the court, the intrigues that surround imperial politics, and her 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 Sō Gen gathered together the eight Enlightened Sages of Colour and drove away the demons.

Sō Gen then forged the nation of Saiunkoku and became its first emperor. After Sō 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 colors.

  • Ran (藍 Ran?, Blue) — The most powerful clan in Saiunkoku, although they play a dormant role in the political issues of the country.
  • Kō (紅 Kō?, Red) — Equal power to that of the Ran clan. Along with the Ran clan, the Kō clan is known to be the 'highest of nobility'.
  • Heki (碧 Heki?, Green)
  • Kō (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, main estate in the Sa Province.
  • Shi (紫 Shi?, Purple) — The family of the Emperor

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of The Story of Saiunkoku characters
Shūrei Kō (紅 秀麗 Kō Shūrei?)
Shūrei Kō is the daughter and only child of Shōka Kō of the Kō clan, one of the two most powerful clans in Saiunkoku.
She is sixteen years old when the story begins. As a descendant of the direct line, she has the title hime, which means 'princess' or 'lady'.
Ryūki Shi (紫 劉輝 Shi Ryūki?)
Ryūki Shi is the reigning emperor of Saiunkoku. He is nineteen years old when the story begins.
The youngest of six brothers, he was an unlikely candidate to ascend to the throne. Of his five elder brothers, four killed each other over the succession and one was exiled for treason.
Seiran Shi (茈 静蘭 Shi Seiran?)
Seiran Shi is a low-ranking army officer and the sole remaining retainer in the Kō household. Seiran was taken in thirteen years ago by Shōka Kō, but no one in the household knows about Seiran's past. He has made a vow to spend his life repaying the kindness of Shōka and Shūrei Kō.
He is a very skilled fighter and swordsman and is usually found following Shūrei to guard her, even when she does not know it. He is the 2nd prince in the Sainkoku, the one who is exiled.He is twenty-one years old when the story begins.
Kōyuu Li (李 絳攸 Li Kōyuu?)
Though young, Kōyuu Li is a civil official holding a high position in the government. He is the Assistant Secretary of Civil Affairs which is one of the ministries under the State Affairs Department of the Imperial Chamber. Kōyuu also holds the title of the youngest person who passed the national examination as Bougen (ranked 1) at the age of 16. Even though he is such an intelligent person, he does not have a sense of direction thus he always gets lost.
Shuuei Ran (藍 楸瑛 Ran Shuuei?)
Shuuei Ran is the General of the Left Imperial Army. He is also a young military official who is holding a high post like Kōyuu. He is also assigned as a personal guard of the Emperor.
He is also a very skilled fighter and swordsman like Seiran but known as a womanizer.

[edit] Media

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Light novels

Main story

The cover art of the fanbook.
The cover art of the fanbook.

Side story

[edit] Manga

[edit] Radio drama

The were two radio drama(s) that are released separately.[6] [7]

[edit] Fanbooks

There was a fanbook released on 28 August 2007.[8] It also has episode summaries of the anime series for the first season. There is also a short novel included in the book.

[edit] Anime

Main article: List of The Story of Saiunkoku episodes

The first season of the Saiunkoku Monogatari anime aired in Japan between April 8, 2006 and February 24, 2007, with 39 episodes in total. The second season started in April 7, 2007.

[edit] References

  1. ^ NHKアニメワールド　彩雲国物語 Accessed 08/02/2006
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Geneon to Sell The Story of Saiunkoku DVD on August 28 (2007-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
  4. ^ Geneon USA to Cancel DVD Sales, Distribution by Friday - Anime News Network
  5. ^ Web Kadokawa on Gaiden Volume 3. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
  6. ^ CDJapan on the 1st radio drama CD. Retrieved on 2007-10-02.
  7. ^ CDJapan on the 2nd radio drama CD. Retrieved on 2007-10-02.
  8. ^ The Kinokuniya Bookweb database on the Saiunkoku fanbook. Retrieved on 2007-10-02.

[edit] External links