Abe no Seimei

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In this Japanese name, the family name is "Abe".
Abe no Seimei

Abe no Seimei as drawn by

Kikuchi Yōsai (菊池容斎), a
popular painter in Japan.
Religion Onmyōdō
Personal
921?
Born
– Abemonju-in Temple in Sakurai, Nara, Japan[1]
1005 (aged 83–84)
Died
Japan
Senior posting
Based in Japan
Title Onmyōji
Religious career
Post Onmyōji – adviser to the Emperor on the spiritually correct way
 to deal with issues.
Abe no Seimei (安倍 晴明?, February 21, 921 – October 31, 1005) was an onmyōji, a
leading specialist of onmyōdō during the middle of the Heian Period in Japan.[2] In
addition to his prominence in history, he is a legendary figure in Japanese folklore and
has been portrayed in a number of stories and films.
Seimei worked as onmyōji for emperors and the Heian government, making calendars
and advising on the spiritually correct way to deal with issues. He prayed for the well-
being of emperors and the government as well as advising on various issues. He was also
an astrologer and predicted astrological events. He enjoyed an extremely long life, free
from any major illness, which contributed to the popular belief that he had mystical
powers.
The Seimei Shrine, located in Kyoto, is a popular shrine dedicated to him. The Abeno
train station and district, in Osaka, are sometimes said to be named after him, as it is one
of the locations where legends place his birth.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Life and legends

• 2 Λεγαχψ

• 2.1 Senji Ryakketsu

• 3 In fiction

• 4 Ρε φερενχεσ

• 5 Εξτερναλ λινκσ

[edit] Life and legends

Part of the series on
Japanese Mythology & Folklore

Mythic Texts and Folktales:

Kojiki | Nihon Shoki | Fudoki
Kujiki　| Kogo Shūi | Nihon Ryōiki
Otogizōshi | Oiwa | Okiku | Urashima Tarō
Konjaku Monogatari
Divinities
Izanami | Izanagi | Amaterasu
Susanoo | Ame-no-Uzume | Inari
Kami | Seven Lucky Gods | List of divinities
Legendary Creatures & Spirits
Oni | Kappa | Tengu | Fox | Yōkai
Dragon | Yūrei | List of creatures
Legendary Figures
Abe no Seimei | Benkei | Kintarō
Momotarō | Tamamo-no-Mae | Sōjōbō
Mythical & Sacred Locations
Mt. Hiei | Mt. Fuji | Izumo | Ryūgū-jō | Takamagahara | Yomi | Jigoku
Sacred Objects
Amenonuhoko | Kusanagi | Tonbogiri
Three Sacred Treasures
Shintō & Buddhism
Bon Festival | Setsubun | Ema | Torii
Shinto shrines | Buddhist temples
Folklorists
Kunio Yanagita, Keigo Seki, Lafcadio Hearn, Shigeru Mizuki, Inoue Enryo
Seimei's life is well recorded, and there is little question about it. Immediately after his
death, however, legends arose much like those surrounding Merlin. Many legends of
Seimei were originally written in the Konjaku Monogatarishu, and by the Edo period
there were many stories in circulation that focused on his heroic acts.
Abe no Seimei was a descendant of the poet Abe no NakamaroHYPERLINK \l
"cite_note-3"[3] and a disciple of Kamo no Tadayuki and Kamo no Yasunori, 10th-
century diviners of the Heian court. He became Kamo no Yasunori's successor in
astrology and divination, while Yasunori's son took on the lesser responsibility of
devising the calendar.[4]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-5"[5] Seimei's duties included
analyzing strange events, conducting exorcisms, warding against evil spirits, and
performing various rites of geomancy. He was said to be especially skilled in divining the
sex of fetuses and finding lost objects.[2] According to the Konjaku Monogatarishu, he
correctly predicted the abdication of Emperor Kazan based on his observation of celestial
phenomena.
Seimei's reputation grew sufficiently that, from the late 10th century, the Onmyōryō, the
government ministry of onmyōdō, was controlled by the Abe clan. The Kamo clan
likewise became the hereditary keepers of the calendar.[6]
The mystical symbol of the equidistant five-pointed star, referred to in the West as a
pentagram, is known in Japan as the Seiman or the Seal of Abe no Seimei.[7]
According to legend, Abe no Seimei was not entirely human. His father, Abe no Yasuna,
was human, but his mother, Kuzunoha, was a kitsune (a "fox spirit").[8] At a very early
age, no later than five, he was allegedly able to command weak oni to do his bidding. His
mother entrusted Seimei to Kamo no Tadayuki so that he would live a proper human life
and not become evil himself.
The Heian period, especially the time when Seimei lived, was a time of peace. Many of
his legends revolve around a series of magical battles with a rival, Ashiya Doman, who
often tried to embarrass Seimei so that he could usurp his position. One noted story
involved Doman and the young Seimei in a divination duel to reveal the contents of a
particular box. Doman had another person put fifteen mandarin oranges into the box and
"divined" that there were fifteen oranges in it. Seimei saw through the ruse, transformed
the oranges into rats, and stated that fifteen rats were in the box. When the rats were
revealed, Doman was shocked and defeated.
Seimei is involved in numerous other tales as well. He appears as a minor character in the
Heike Monogatari and is said to be responsible for divining the location of the Shuten-
dōji, a powerful oni purportedly slain by Minamoto no Yorimitsu.[9] He is sometimes
said to be the onmyōji who discovered Tamamo no Mae's true nature, although the time
of the Tamamo no Mae story does not coincide with Seimei's lifetime; other sources
credit the act to a descendant, Abe no Yasuchika.[10]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-
11"[11]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-12"[12]

Torii of the Seimei shrine in Kyoto.

Seimei's pentagram mon represents the Wu Xing.

[edit] Legacy
After Seimei's death the emperor had a shrine, the Seimei shrine, erected at the location
of his home. The original shrine was destroyed in war during the fifteenth century, but it
was rebuilt in the same location and still stands today.[1]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-
13"[13]
The asteroid 5541 Seimei, discovered in 1976, is named for him.[14]

[edit] Senji Ryakketsu

Abe no Seimei is credited with the writing of the Senji Ryakketsu, an onmyōdo primer.

[edit] In fiction
His name appears in many works of fiction, often as a helpful, wise man and rarely as an
enemy. There are exceptions such as Nurarihyon no Mago where Seimei was also a great
ayakashi and the Lord of Darkness.
The first modern fictional work credited with bringing back popular interest to onmyōdō
mysticism in Japan is the 1985 historical fantasy novel Teito Monogatari by Hiroshi
Aramata. [15] In the novel's story two of the primary characters, Yasumasa Hirai and
Yasunori Katō, are descendants of Seimei and have inherited all his knowledge.
Yasumasa Hirai is notable example because his appearance is modeled off classic
depictions of Seimei and many of his actions are based on those of Seimei's from stories
in the Uji Shui Monogatari.[16] Yasunori Katō is also notable because his first name
"Yasunori" is derived from the name of Seimei's legendary teacher and he proudly wears
the Seiman (five pointed star) on his gloves and handkerchief. Unlike Hirai though,
Katō's burning hatred for the Japanese Empire has transformed him into an oni. With one
in defense of the Empire and one against it, the two men naturally become enemies.
In 1988, Baku Yumemakura started a novel series named Onmyoji with Seimei portrayed
as a handsome young man who lived in a Heian-period world populated with mysterious
beings. This was turned into a manga by Reiko Okano and became popular with teenage
girls. In 2002, an NHK television series was made, based on the novels.[17] A version of
Abe has also been rendered by acclaimed Taiwanese manga artist Ethan, who has stated
that he is a huge fan of the novel.[18]
Since 1989, Abe no Seimei has been depicted as a bishōnen.[19] He appears in Kouta
Hirano's Drifters manga series leading a group of Magicians called Octobrist. He appears
as a handsome young man and wears a beret.
The movie Onmyoji, starring Mansai Nomura as Seimei, was released in 2001 (2004 in
the U.S.) by Pioneer (now Geneon). As with any other work featuring both Seimei and
Minamoto no Hiromasa, the film was based on Yumemakura's novels. Despite
Yumemakura having been involved, the manga adaptation and the movie adaptation are
quite different in style and plot.
The horror/survival video game Kuon featured Seimei as a female exorcist who becomes
a playable character near the end of the game.
To capitalize on the success of the Onmyoji films (a sequel was made in 2003), Fuji
Television produced a miniseries in 2004, called Onmyoji: Abe no Seimei.[20] This series
has no ties to cinematic releases.
The character Hao Asakura from Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King is directly based on
Seimei. Hao is the author of a magical book called Chō-Senjiryakketsu, clearly inspired
in Seimei's Senji Ryakketsu. They also share facts about their lives, such as their mother
being called a demon fox and their ability to create oni since they were young.
Seimei can be seen in the anime Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, which was
released in 2004 in the U.S. by ADV Films. The show's focus was on the Onmyoji
practice of changing events to avoid an ill occurrence and the misadventures of two
youths. Seimei also appears in the anime Gintama as an onmyoji, as well as in the anime
Shonen Onmyouji which is about his grandson. Seimei is a central character in the anime
called Otogi Zoshi.
Abe no Seimei had been shown in a manga called Nurarihyon no Mago by Hiroshi
Shiibashi, as an evil Nue, dark lord of the Ayakashi, born from an evil fox. Nurarihyon
no Mago was adapted into an anime series starting on July 2010.
Abe no Seimei also appears in the manga Igyoujin Oniwakamaru as an evil spirit who
plans to revive himself to begin his second life and rule over both humans and yokai.
Abe no Seimei was made a playable character in the PlayStation Portable version of
Warriors Orochi 3.

[edit] References
^ a b "Seimei Shrine". The Tale of Genji. 2007. Archived from the original on 21
August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
^ a b Miller, Laura. "Extreme Makeover for a Heian-era Wizard." Mechademia 3:
Limits of the Human. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2008. 33.
^ Anderson, William. Descriptive and Historical Catalogue of a Collection of
Japanese and Chinese Paintings in the British Museum. London: Longman's &
Co., 1886. 391.
^ Mikami, Yoshio. "The Development of Mathematics in China and Japan."
Abhandlungen zur Geschichte der mathematischen Wissenschaften mit Einschluss
ihrer Anwendungen. Volume XXX. 1913. 179.
^ Goff, Janet. Conjuring Kuzunoha from the World of Abe no Seimei. A Kabuki
Reader: History and Performance, ed. Samuel L. Leiter. New York: M. E.
Sharpe, 2001. 271. (ISBN 0-7656-0704-2)
^ Itō, Satoshi. Shinto — a Short History. New York: RourledgeCurzon, 2003. 98.
(ISBN 0-415-31179-9)
^ Miller. Extreme Makeover. 44
 ^ Goff. Conjuring Kuzunoha. 269–270.
^ Tanaka, Stefan. New Times in Modern Japan. New Jersey: Princeton University
Press, 2004. 57–58. (ISBN 0-691-11774-8)
^ Gilbertson, E. "Japanese Archery and Archers." Transactions and Proceedings of
the Japan Society of London. Volume 4. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner
and Co. Ltd., 1900. 118.
^ Schwarz, Karl M. Netsuke Subjects. Vienna: Novographics, 1992. 72.
^ Kusano, Eisaburō. Stories Behind Noh and Kabuki Plays. Tokyo: Tokyo News
Service, 1962. 80.
^ Dougill, John. Kyoto: a Cultural History. New York: Oxford University Press,
2005. 19.
^ Schmadel, Lutz D. Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Berlin: Springer-Verlag,
1992. 472. (ISBN 3-540-00238-3)
^ Kazuhiko, Komatsu. "Seimei jinja" 28-61
^ Reider, Noriko T. Japanese Demon Lore: Oni from Ancient Times to the Present
Utah State University Press, 2010. 113. (ISBN 0874217938)
^ "Onmyouji 陰陽師". 2007. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007.
Retrieved 2007-08-29.
^ "The Onion Club, E's Past Works". 2007. Archived from the original on 19
November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
^ Miller, Laura. "Extreme Makeover for a Heian-Era Wizard". .
^ "Onmyouji 陰陽師". 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
Retrieved 2007-08-29.

[edit] External links

The Taoist Deities

The religious current of Taoism evolved its own pantheon of deities that were
worshipped in temples by the various sects. These Taoist deities, like the Buddhist or
Hindu pantheon, represented different qualities and attributes and various ceremonies,
depending on circumstances were conducted to appeal to them.
Yu-huang -- The Jade Emperor
Yu-huang is the great High God of the Taoists -- the Jade Emperor. He rules Heaven as
the Emperor doe Earth. All other gods must report to him. His chief function is to
distribute justice, which he does through the court system of Hell where evil deeds and
thoughts are punished. Yu-huang is the Lord of the living and the dead and of all the
Buddhas, all the gods, all the spectres and all the demons.
According to legend he was the son of an emperor Ch'ing-te and his wife Pao Yueh-
kuang who from his birth exhibited great compassion. When he had been a few years on
the throne he abdicated and retired as a hermit spending his time dispensing medicine
and knowledge of the Taoist texts. Some scholars see in this a myth of the sacred union of
the sun and the moon, their son being the ruler of all Nature.
"The good who fulfill the doctrine of love, and who nourish Yu-huang with
incense, flowers, candles and fruit; who praise his holy name with respect and
propriety -- such people will receive thirty kinds of very wonderful rewards."
--Folkways in China L Holdus.

Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun -- The First Principal

Although Yu-huang is the High God, there are other abstract deities above him. He rules;
they simply exist and instruct. First and foremost is Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun - the First
Principal.
He has no beginning and no end. He existed "before the void and the silence, before
primordial chaos." He is self-existing, changeless, limitless, invisible, contains all virtues,
is present in all places and is the source of all truth.

San-ch'ing -- Three Pure Ones

These are the so-called Three Pure Ones. They are Yu-ch'ing (Jade Pure), Shang-
ch'ing (Upper Pure) and T'ai-ch'ing (Great Pure). They are believed to be different
manifestations of Lao Tzu. They are not rulers, but rather seek to save mankind by
teaching and benevolence.
In a place with Yu-ch'ing lives Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun and the Holy Men (sheng-jen). With
Shang-ch'ing lives Ling-pao T'ien-tsun (Spiritual Treasure Honoured by Heaven) and the
Heroes. T'ai-ch'ing is the direct manifestation of Lao Tzu. He holds a fan, symbol of his
powers, on which are written the yin-yang symbol and the Big Dipper.
San-kuan -- Three Officials
The San-kuan rule over all things in the three regions of the universe, keep a register of
good and evil deeds and award good or bad fortune accordingly. T'ien-kuan, the Ruler of
Heaven, grants happiness. Ti-kuan, Ruler of Earth, grants remissions of sins, and Shui-
kuan, Ruler of Water, averts all evil. Their compassion for all people is unbounded. The
San-kuan originated in a rite from the time of the Yellow-Turban Taoists.
"You, poor miserable people, ill-clad and destitute of worldly comforts, weighted
down beneath the burden of labour and affliction, keep abstinence, and having
taken a purifying bath, recite a thousand times the prayer in honour of the Ruler of
Heaven." --Recherches sue les superstitions en Chine, Henri Dore.

San-yuan -- Three Epochs (or Principals)

The San-yuan originate from a time in the Eastern Chin Dynasty (317-420 A.D.) when
the year was divided into three unequal periods. Shang- yuan ruled the first six moons
(winter and spring); Hsia-yuan ruled the 7th and 8th moons (summer); and Chung-yuan
ruled the 9th to 11th moons (fall). It was believed that they dwelled in the North Star
(tzu-wei).

T'ien-shih
T'ien-shih was the title awarded to Chang Tao-ling (157-178 A.D.), the founder of the
Yellow Turban Taoists (he is also claimed as founder by the Cheng-I and Five Bushels of
Rice sects). It is believed that he received the Ling-pao (spiritual Treasure) Scripture
written on golden tablets, from the Gods. He succeeded in finding the elixir of
immortality, swallowed it, and ascended to Heaven, leaving his secrets, including his
seals and demon-dispelling sword, with his son.
Since then the title T'ien-shih has passed through the family for generations. The current
(63rd) Chang T'ien-shih lives in Taiwan and heads the Five Bushels of Rice Taoist sect.
He continues to retain the sword and seals of Chang Tao-ling.

Pa-hsien -- Eight Immortals

These are popular deities modeled on historical figures. They were believed to live in
grottos in Heaven. They are:

Lu Tung-pin
Lu Tung-pin (755 - 805 A.D.) was a scholar, doctor and official. He became a Taoist
after a long and distinguished life as an official which ended in disgrace. He was very
popular in his life and after his death became venerated as the King of Medicine. He
represents the wealthy and literacy.
Ts'ao Kuo-chiu
Ts'ao Kuo-chiu represents the nobility for he was connected with the Imperial Sung
Dynasty. His brother committed a crime for which he was ashamed and he retired and
became a hermit who studied the Tao and learned the recipe for perfection. He holds in
his hands the tablet that admits one to an audience with the emperor.
One day Han Ching-li and Lu Tung-pin found him and asked him what he was doing. He
replied that he was studying the Tao. "What is that and where is it?" they asked. He
pointed first to the sky and then to his heart. Then they realized that he understood and
they gave him the recipe for perfection.

Chang Kuo-lao
Chang Kuo-lao was once the head of the Imperial Academy but he retired to live as a
hermit on Mt. Chung-t'iao in Shansi. He was summoned to court by the Empress Wu
(684-705 A.D.) however, when he reached the Temple of the Jealous Woman he fell
down dead. Shortly afterwards he came back to life.
He had a magic mule which could travel thousands of miles a day. When he reached his
destination the mule would turn to paper and Chang Kuo-lao could fold it up and put it in
his pocket. To revive it he unfolded it and spurted water on it with his mouth. He is often
pictured riding the mule, facing the tail.

Li T'ieh-kuai
Li T'ieh-kuai has an iron crutch and a black face. He represents the crippled and
deformed. He tries to alleviate human suffering. He was taught to be an immortal by Hsi-
wang-mu, Queen of the Immortals.
One day, when his soul went to Mt. Hua he told his disciple to guard his body and
cremate it after seven days if he had not returned. On the sixth day the disciple's mother
fell ill and so leaving to take care of her he burnt the body a day early. Li T'ieh-kuai's
soul on returning could find no body so it entered that of an old man who had just died.
Only then did he discover that it was a cripple. At first he wanted to leave it but Lao Tzu
persuaded him to stay and gave him a golden circlet and an iron crutch.
He carries a gourd with him in which he keeps medicine to help people. Some say that it
contains the elixir of life made from the peaches of immortality that grow in Hsi-wang-
mu's garden.

Ho Hsien-ku
Ho Hsien-ku is represented holding a lotus blossom (a symbol of purity) and a peach. The
legend is that she lived in the time of the Empress Wu (684-705 A.D.) in the Yun-mu
(Cloud Mother) Mountains.
One night she had a dream that she should grind up a stone called Yun-mu and eat it. She
did and vowed chastity at the same time. She then floated from mountain peak to peak
gathering fruits which she gave to her mother (she having no need to eat). The Empress
heard of her and summoned her to the court but on the way she disappeared. In this way
she became an immortal.
She is a patron deity of women.

Han Hsiang-tsu
Han Hsiang-tsu represents youth. He was the grand nephew of Han Yu (768- 824 A.D.)
who was a minister to Emperor Hsing-tung. He is reported to have accomplished all
manner of remarkable feats including the production of extraordinary plants.
He became an immortal by eating one of the peaches of immortality. He carries with him
a basket of fruit or flowers.
He was a disciple of Lu Tung-pin.

Han Chung-li
Han Chung-li represents military men. He lived during the Han dynasty when he was a
Marshall of the Empire. In his old age he became a hermit and lived on Yang-chiu Mt. in
Shansi where he met the Five Heroes who taught him how to be an immortal. This
knowledge he taught to Lu Tung-pin.
During a famine he turned base metals into silver which he distributed to the poor people.
He is recognized as a figure who holds a fan or a peach.
When he achieved immortality he was carried by a stork into the Heavens. Another
legend has it that the wall of his hut burst open to reveal a casket in which were
instructions on how to become an immortal.

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