Sennin
The Japanese term sennin is a loanword from Chinese xiānrén 仙人 "immortal person", known also as xian "immortal; transcendent; genie; mage; djinn; sage; hermit" in Daoism.
Sennin is a common Japanese character name. For example, Ikkaku Sennin (一角仙人 "One-horned Immortal") was a Noh play by Komparu Zenchiku (金春禅竹, 1405–1471). The Japanese legend of Gama Sennin (蝦蟇仙人 "Toad Immortal") is based upon Chinese Liu Hai (劉海), a fabled 10th-century alchemist who learned the secret of immortality from the Chan Chu ("Three-legged Money Toad").
In media
- Dragon Ball (anime and manga), contains a hermit character known as the Kame-Sen'nin, Turtle Sage, or Master Roshi.
- Naruto (anime and manga), is usually translated to sage (a hermit), using the novelized sense that the hermit is a wise old man that aids the protagonists in their quest towards some good end. The sennin are usually represented by both human and anthropomorphic toads.
- The Twelve Kingdoms also have sennin; many officials in any of the twelve kingdoms' governments are granted immortality and the rank of sennin to better serve their kingdom.
- Touhou Project's Ibara Kasen, the "The One-Armed, Horned Sennin", is a possible reference to the Ikkaku Sennin play.
External links