Mythology of X (manga)
This article describes the fictional setting of the manga series X. X takes place in the year 1999. The end of the world is fast approaching as superhuman individuals gather and take sides in the city of Tokyo, site for the battle of Armageddon.
Locations
Mount Kōya
Sorata is a monk from Mount Kōya (高野山 Kōya-san). Koya is a mountain in Wakayama prefecture to the south of Osaka and primarily known as the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism.
Ise Shrine
Arashi is a shrine maiden of Ise Shrine. The Ise Shrine (伊勢神宮 Ise-jingū) is a Shinto shrine to the goddess Amaterasu, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan.
Mitsumine Shrine
Yuzuriha is a descendant of the keepers of Mitsumine Shrine, located in the Chichibe Region of the Saitama Prefecture on Mitsumine Mountain. The shrine is also known as Mitsumine-Daigongen (The Great Avatar of Mitsumine), a title bestowed by Shougoinkan, a distinguished temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism.
Togakushi Shrine
The fictional Togakushi Shrine (釖隠神社 Togakushi Jinja) is the place where the Kamui's Holy Sword can be born. Fūma and Kotori live here with their father.
Clamp Academy
The Clamp Academy (CLAMP学園 Clamp Gakuen) is a fictional school/functioning community in the southern area of Tokyo built in the shape of a pentagram enclosed within a circle. The Academy was built by the Imonoyama family with the dual purpose of providing some of the most talented minds in the world with an educational setting and sealing the Shinken within the centre of the pentagram which the school itself forms.
The unusual layout for the Campus resulted from an agreement between Shirō Tōru and the former director of Clamp Academy for the school to contain and conceal the Sacred Sword, even though the school was nearly half-built and most of the buildings (built and about to be built) needed to be moved. Every aspect of the Academy's design, from the layout of the buildings to the architecture to the infrastructure, is actually carefully plotted to help form the dynamic spell capable of sealing the Sacred Sword. Par example: the trains which run between the five cardinal points of the Campus's pentagram and along the perimeter of the circle run only in one direction and at a speed which is only slightly faster than a person is able to run. The constant retracing of the pentagram and circle by way of commuter train is but a single aspect of the seal.
Although it never comes under attack by the Angels (indeed, it seems that the Angels—excluding Fūma, perhaps—cannot transgress the boundaries of the Academy), Clamp Academy seems to act as a protective zone much in the same way as the Spirit Shield. After Monou Fūma's awakening as the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth, Imonoyama Nokoru provides the Dragons of Heaven with all of the resources at the disposal of Clamp Academy.
Clamp Academy figures into several of Clamp's works, including Clamp School Detectives, Duklyon: Clamp School Defenders and Man of Many Faces.
Terminology
Shadow Sacrifice
In traditional Japanese occult practices, a "kage-nie" (陰牲 lit. shadow sacrifice) is actually a wooden or paper doll that acts as a representation of an actual person. The doll serves to protect this person from harm, especially harm of the magical nature (kind of like a reversal of the idea of the voodoo doll). When someone attempts to harm a person protected by a shadow sacrifice, the doll will suffer instead of the one it represents. In "X", the members of the family from which Shirō Kamui is descended, the Magami clan, are able to act as shadow sacrifices to other people. The Magami clan is so renowned among occult circles for this power that (as Sorata tells Kamui), at least half of Japan's legislative body, the Diet, are suspected of having hired shadow sacrifices from the Magami clan to protect them from such dangers as assassination. Such as this is, Shirō Tōru, Shirō Kamui's mother, is destroyed in a fire which results from her acting as the shadow sacrifice for (alternately) Kamui himself and for the Earth. Magami Tokiko, Tōru's younger sister and Kamui's maternal aunt, likely acts a shadow sacrifice to bring forth the second of the Sacred Swords. Similarly, Monou Saya (Fūma and Kotori's mother) may have also possessed this power when she took the place of Tōru to bring forth the first Sacred Sword. It can be assumed that (being of Magami lineage), Shirō Kamui himself would have the power to act as shadow sacrifice to another person.
Sacred Sword
The Sacred Sword (神剣 Shinken) is Kamui's weapon. "Shinken" can be taken to imply the meaning "sword that is gifted by god(s)" or "sword that is offered as a sacrifice to god(s)". The inscription upon the blade of the Sacred Sword is a Hebrew prayer and reads:
Barukh attah adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, she-ha-kol nihyeh bi-d'varo.
This translates into English as: Praised are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, at whose Word all things come into being.
Dreamseer
In "X", dreams play a very important role as they are a window through which certain characters are able to view what is supposedly the unalterable future. These characters are called Dreamseer (夢見 yumemi). The word yumemi is used in this instance to mean not only "one who has dreams", but specifically "one who has true dreams", a seer. The dream worlds in X are expressed as being one connected world, rather than separate but only the dreamseers can "cross" between them.
Several characters in "X" have the ability to either move through the dreamscape with some degree of control or actually foresee the future in dreams, among them: Hinoto, Kuzuki Kakyō, Kanoe, Monou Kotori, Sumeragi Hokuto, and Monou Saya. It appears that Kanoe and Hokuto are especially limited in that they can only move into the dreams of others; Kanoe usually looks into the dreams of her sister, while Hokuto has been "drawn" into the dreams by Kakyō, making it uncertain what her actual ability is. Saya's own abilities were restricted to viewing the future of her loved one— namely, Shirō Tōru.
Hinoto, Kakyō, and Kotori all have dreams foreshadowing future events. Kotori was supposedly weaker in this power (or that her power has not been awakened) in that although she can see disconnected images of the future, she can not fully understand or control them. Perhaps it is because of this, Kotori has expressed optimism for the future. Hinoto and Kakyō are the more powerful dreamseers who can fully utilize their abilities; they can understand, divine, and control their dreams consciously. Whereas the other characters are referred to as having some abilities of a dreamseer, these two are referred to as actual dreamseers.
Besides crossing into other people's dreams, they can also draw people into their own dreams, whether the person was conscious or not and force them into an illusion. The dreamseers are shown to have lucid power in their dreams, thus creating their dream-world the way they want; Hinoto used her dreams to show Kamui what the future might look like, while Kakyō's dream scenery are either a room with Japanese sliding doors or the seaside.
Because dreamseers can intercept each other's dreams and it was suggested that dreamseers of lesser power will not be able to intrude into the dreams of one who possesses greater power, Kanoe and Hinoto are surprised when Kakyō's dream passes by and determine that one of the Dragons of Heaven and Earth must be a dreamseer.
It has also been suggested that the dreamseermakes some physical sacrifices for their power (whether as a willing trade or something they are simply born with), notably seen in Hinoto and Kakyō, who are both physically disabled in some ways. It is notable that Kotori goes into a mental shock when her powers awaken. Another theory is that the "sacrifice" the dreamseers make in the show for their foresight is not literal but rather metaphorical. In the X OVA, Kakyo, who has foreseen the death of Hokuto Sumeragi, finds himself unable to effect the future as he saw it, despite his fervent efforts to due so. After his attempt to save Hokuto, he passes out and remains unconscious unwilling to return to reality (like Kamui does in episode 13 after seeing Kotori killed by Fūma). Kotori, after seeing the birth of the second sword is no longer able to deny her dreams of the future and thus, wishing them not to be true, disconnects herself from reality and enters a comatose state. Hinoto, unlike Kakyō and Kotori, is rather mobile despite her complete lack of physical senses (she cannot see, hear, or move conventionally) and indicates that her sacrifice may have been the result of a spell used to amplify her abilities (the floor on which she sits the whole of the show is covered with inscriptions and patterns that bare the semblance of a spell).
Spiritual barriers
In Buddhist tradition, an impenetrable spiritual parameter created by a monk within which the monk retreats in order to meditate or, more generally, any kind of spiritual or magical boundary in Japanese tradition. In X, the kekkai (結界) are both man-made barriers which form a sort of spiritual network throughout the world as well as the Spirit Shields which the Seven Seals create in order to spare the material plane from damage when they do battle. As man-made structures, the barriers' spiritual network prevents most major natural catastrophes from destroying human civilization. Because of this, humanity is able to live (and continue to pollute and otherwise defile the Earth) in relative peace and prosperity. Tokyo's barriers act as the keystones to this network; it is the proverbial "tie that binds". Therefore, if the barriers in Tokyo were to be destroyed, eventually the entire worldwide spiritual network of barriers would come undone, and with it the protection they provide. Earthquakes would then wrack the planet, destroying humanity and allowing the Earth to recover from the damage which humans have done to it (this is the ultimate goal of the Dragons of Earth).
As the barrier fields created by the Dragons of Heaven, the Spirit Shields are fields of varying geometrical shape (depending on which of the Dragons of Heaven has created the Spirit Shield) which only those involved with the end of the world can exist within. The barrier field effectively creates an alternate plane or dimension resembling the area of the material plane which the Spirit Shield was created to protect. This ensures that (so long as the one who created the Spirit Shield remains alive, conscious, in relatively decent health, and maintains an undisclosed amount of concentration required to create the Spirit Shield in the first place) the area in which the Spirit Shield was created and all the ordinary people within it cannot be harmed. Also, as a general rule, it is impossible for even the Dragons of Heaven and Dragons of Earth themselves to leave the space of a Spirit Shield until the creator of the Spirit Shield releases it. Trying to leave a Spirit Shield is said to be extremely painful and dangerous, requiring a great deal of power to even attempt. The rules regarding entering a Spirit Shield, however, seem to be more obscure.
Another way to easily put it is that a Spirit Shield is like a carbon copy of the battlefield combatants can do battle without fear of hurting innocent people or any interference from the outside. If any damage at all occurs in the city inside the Spirit Shield and the one who puts it up lives or kills the other, then no damage will be done to the real location in the primary dimension—as if the battle had never happened. However, if the one who set up the Spirit Shield in the first place gets injured to the point that he or she cannot maintain the requisite concentration to support the Spirit Shield, falls unconscious, or killed altogether, then the Spirit Shield is destroyed, and the damage done to the location within the Spirit Shield during combat is done to the primary physical dimension, killing many innocent bystanders in the vicinity and causing massive destruction.
It should be noted that Spirit Shields can be erected only because the person who set them up have someone they want to protect, and if the person they wish to protect dies—then the Dragon of Heaven's ability to erect the Spirit Shield dies too.
List of the Tokyo barriers
The following are the barrier fields which have appeared in X.
Nakano Sun Plaza
中野サンプラザ (Nakano San Puraza)
A cultural hall in the Nakano ward, west of Shinjuku, internationally known as a musical venue. Destroyed by Sakurazuka Seishirō in the manga and the motion picture. Nakano Sun Plaza did not appear as a barrier in the television series. This building's appearance might have related to the fact that Clamp worked with Tanaka Yoshiki in Sohryūden (Kodansha bunko). Nakano ward is a place where the heroes of Sohryūden live. Interestingly, Nakano is considered "sacred ground" for otaku in Japan.
Sunshine 60
サンシャイン 60 (Sanshain 60) is a sixty-story skyscraper in the Ikebukuro district of the Toshima ward, well known for its myriad shops, novelty restaurants, aquarium, and SKYMAX planetarium. Destroyed by Monou Fūma and Nataku in the manga and the television series, destroyed by Nataku in the motion picture. Ikebukuro is also featured prominently in Tokyo Babylon.
Yamanote Line/Tokyo Station
山手線/東京駅 (Yamanotesen/Tōkyōeki) is the busiest mass transit rail line in Tokyo, encircling much of the city in the shape of the Amida Butsu's hand with the Imperial Palace roughly at its center. Destroyed by Asagi Shōgo in the motion picture, destroyed by Monou Fūma in the manga, and (nearly) derailed by Kigai Yūto in the television series. Notably, the Yamanote Line may have been the most powerful barriers in Tokyo other than Tokyo Tower; it was a linear barrier that covered a vast area of the city with its protection. In the manga, when Fūma broke just a small section of the Yamanote Line in Shibuya, every station along the line was destroyed in rapid succession—his explanation for this being that all one need do to completely compromise the protection of a circle is to breach it at but one point.
Shinjuku Highrises
新宿副都心 (Shinjuku Fukutoshin)
The many skyscrapers of the Shinjuku ward, the administrative and commercial center of Tokyo. Destroyed by Yatōji Satsuki in the manga and the television series, destroyed by Shiyū Kusanagi and Kigai Yūto in the motion picture.
Shibuya 109
渋谷 109 (Shibuya Ichimarukyū)
A landmark building in the Shibuya shopping district famous for its trend-setting department store. Destroyed by Sakurazuka Seishirō in the manga. Shibuya 109 does not appear as a barrier in the television series or the motion picture.
Ebisu Garden Place
恵比須ガーデンプレイス (Ebisu Gaaden Pureisu)
A popular shopping district in Tokyo with many sidewalk cafes and fashion boutiques. Destroyed by Monou Fūma (with cans of tea) in the manga. Ebisu does not appear as a barrier the television series or the motion picture.
Rainbow Bridge
レインボーブリッジ (Reinbō Burijji)
A landmark bridge across Tokyo Bay connecting Tokyo with the Odaiba district in the Minato ward, which was built on reclaimed land. Destroyed by Sakurazuka Seishirō in the manga and the television series. Rainbow Bridge did not appear as a barrier in the motion picture.
The National Diet Building
国会議事堂 (Kokkai Gijidō)
The chief legislative building of the Japanese government. Hinoto is housed in the basement of the National Diet. Destroyed by Monou Fūma in the motion picture. It does not appear as a barrier in the manga (although it is pictured when referring to the two remaining barriers in volume 18, the two barriers in question are actually Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building) and despite the fact that it appears to act as a barrier in the television series, it is never destroyed let alone attacked.
Ginza
銀座 (Ginza)
(Yet another) shopping district in Tokyo, known for many department stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. Attacked (but not destroyed) by Nataku and Monou Fūma in the manga. Ginza does not appear as a barrier in the motion picture. Apparently, the Ginza barrier is specifically embodied by the Wakō Building Clocktower.
Inokashira Park
井の頭公園 (Inokashira Kōen)
A large, lush park in the midst of the city of Mitaka within Tokyo. Destroyed by Monou Fūma in the television series, and attacked (although not destroyed) by Yatōji Satsuki in the manga. Inokashira Park does not appear as a barrier in the motion picture. Inokashira Park is home to a shrine dedicated to the vengeful goddess of love, Benzaiten. According to folklore, she causes the relationships of young couples to come to premature ends—which is interesting in that the incident at Inokashira Park (in which Sorata is grievously injured attempting to protect Arashi with his gohōdōji) causes Arashi to realize how much she loves Sorata and — in the anime — to consequently break from the Dragons of Heaven to try to save Sorata from his lethal fate.
Yasukuni Shrine
靖國神社 (Yasukuni Jinja)
A shrine in Tokyo dedicated to all fallen Japanese soldiers. Yasukuni Shrine does not appear as a barrier in the manga (although Seiichirō has Daisuke and Yuzuriha meet him there), and it does not appear at all in the motion picture. In the television series, it may or may not be an actual barrier, but (as in the manga), the Dark Hinoto lies to the Seals, telling them that there will be an attack at Yasukuni Shrine in order to divide their forces.
Notably, the Kadokawa Shoten headquarters is in the vicinity of the shrine, perhaps the reason why Aoki Seiichirō (who is based on the real Aoki Seiichirō, editor of Monthly Asuka, a division of Kadokawa), an editor of Kadokawa's Asuka magazine in X, is able to get to the shrine with relative ease.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
東京都庁 (Tōkyō Tochōsha)
The administrative neural center of Tokyo, this landmark building was constructed after the fashion of a European gothic cathedral façade, with its distinctive belltower-like twin peaks. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is in the very heart of the Shinjuku ward and acts as the headquarters of Tokyo's governing body. The headquarters of the Dragons of Earth is directly beneath it, as well (some of its highlights including a throne that smacks of phallic imagery, Kanoe's shower and bedroom—which Yūto always seems to be in—and the cold storage chamber that the Beast is housed in). In the manga and television series, although Yatōji Satsuki destroyed the Shinjuku Highrises, it was left untouched. Indeed, it seems that in all of Hinoto's and Kakyō's dreams of the future which the Dragons of Earth are working towards, although Tokyo will be otherwise obliterated and flooded, the Metropolitan Government Building is still standing undamaged amidst several metres of water. It is unknown as to whether the Dragons of Earth intend to destroy it as well as Tokyo Tower, but it seems—at least at the moment—unlikely.
Tokyo Tower
東京タワー (Tōkyō Tawā)
Perhaps the most important barrier. A landmark of red and white steelwork done in the style of Paris's Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower is the final barrier. Tokyo Tower is a central recurring landmark in many of Clamp's works (including Tokyo Babylon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Magic Knight Rayearth, and Clamp School Detectives). In the motion picture and television series, Tokyo Tower is attacked by Monou Fūma, though in each of these instances Shirō Kamui manages to prevent him from destroying it. In the manga, it remains to be seen as to whether Tokyo Tower will survive the Final Battle.