List of Saiyuki characters

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This article lists the main protagonists from the manga and anime series Saiyuki. They were originally created by mangaka Kazuya Minekura.

[edit] Concept and creation

Minekura's Sanzō-Ikkō, or Sanzo Party, bears only a superficial similarity to the original four in the Chinese novel. While their general physical design is similar to those from the novel, their personalities are the complete polar opposites. Their names are the same as the names of the characters in the Chinese novel, but given Japanese pronunciations:

Genjyo Sanzo (玄奘三蔵) is Xuánzàng (玄奘) or Táng-Sānzàng (唐三藏, Tang's three scriptures).
Son Gokū is Sūn Wùkōng (孫悟空), or the Monkey King.
Cho Hakkai is Zhū Bājiè (豬八戒), a pig monster. His original name, Cho Gonou is actually Zhū Wùnéng (豬悟能), the Buddhist name given to Zhu Bajie by Guan Yin when they first met in the original novel.
Sha Gojyō is Shā Wùjìng (沙悟淨), a water demon, classified as a kappa in some translations.
Gyūmaōh is Niumowáng (牛魔王) Ox King

[edit] Central characters

[edit] Sanzo

Genjyo Sanzo (玄奘三蔵, Genjō Sanzō^?) is the central protagonist. He is a young, blond Buddhist monk who disregards many Buddhist principles; he smokes, drinks, gambles, swears, and generally follows his own path. Sanzo is aloof and cold towards his companions, but nevertheless cares for them. His primary weapon is a Smith and Wesson revolver, but he does use the holy Maten Sutra, a sutra he carried on his shoulders, when needed and occasionally is seen fighting in hand-to-hand combat. He often ends conflict within the group (usually caused by Gojyo, Goku, or both) with a large, white paper fan. Sanzo had previously been found in a river by his predecessor, Koumyou Sanzo, and was subsequently taken under the man's care and named Kouryuu. Upon his master's death, Sanzo was chosen as a "Sanzo priest" by the Gods and he took on the title "The 31st of China, Genjo Sanzo." Sanzo faced much turmoil in the years following, but finally accepted to live. Soon after, Sanzo found Goku abandoned in a cave and, upon learning that he was Seiten Taisei, placed him under his care. Sanzo later encountered Hakkai and Gojyo on a mission. Feeling that Hakkai, a criminal, wasn't a threat, Sanzo agreed to keep tabs on him in exchange for Hakkai's freedom. Sanzo was summoned by the Gods to travel to India and stop the resurrection of Gyumaoh. Sanzo is voiced by Toshihiko Seki in Japanese, with the exception of an OVA produced before the television series, in which he was voiced by Wataru Takagi. Sanzo was voiced by David Matranga in English for the original series and Requiem, and Lex Lang for Reload and Gunlock.

[edit] Goku

Son Goku (孫悟空, Son Gokū^?) is the cheerful "Monkey King" who uses a staff, known as the Nyoi-Bo, as his primary weapon. He is Seiten Taisei, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, and whose true self and powers are released when his diadem is removed. Seiten Taisei is very destructive and cruel, and nearly invincible, being able to take in the Earth's energy and regenerate. During Saiyuki Gaiden, Goku was made a ward Konzen and befriend both Tenpou and Kenren. When his diadem was removed, Goku killed many celestial beings in his craze. Konzen, Tenpou, and Kenren work to protect Goku, but all four are banished from Heaven. Goku was locked in cage high in the mountains and lost his memories and ability to age. Goku is found by Sanzo and freed from his imprisonment, and Sanzo becomes something like a foster father to Goku. Goku accompanies Sanzo on his mission to track down Hakkai, and helps to prevent Hakkai from killing himself, and Hakkai later becomes his teacher. Goku joins Sanzo, Hakkai, and Gojyo to stop the resurrection of Gyumaoh, during which he discovered that he was Seiten Taisei, having previously been aware of it. Goku is voiced by Sōichirō Hoshi in Japanese, with the exception of when he was voiced by Kōsuke Okano in the first OVA series. He is voiced in English by Greg Ayres in the original series and Requiem, while Jimmy Benedict voiced him in Reload and Gunlock.

[edit] Gojyo

Sha Gojyo (沙悟浄^?) is a hanyou, a cross between a youkai and a human, and uses the Shakugetsujou, a metal weapon staff with a sickle and chain, as his primary weapon. His eyes and hair are blood-red, which expresses his status as a half-blood. Due to this, he is labeled as taboo and unclean by general society. As a child, he was abused by his step-mother, who had been enraged that her husband had had an affair with a human, producing Gojyo. He was very close to his older brother, Jien, who had tried to minimize the abuse and calm his mother down when she became violent. Eventually, Jien killed their mother to protect Gojyo, and proceeded to disappear. Gojyo smokes, gambles, and flirts with nearly every woman he meets. He and Goku are also prone to fighting, though they do care about each other. Gojyo is quick to defend others and holds particular sympathy towards threatened children. Gojyo is voiced by Hiroaki Hirata in Japanese, with the exception of the first OVA series, in which he was voiced by Kōichi Yamadera. He is voiced by Illich Guardiola in English for the original series and Requiem, and voiced by Tony Oliver for Reload and Gunlock.

[edit] Hakkai

Cho Hakkai (豬八戒^?) is the mild, polite and level-headed member of the group who always looks out for their day to day well-being. Hakkai rarely displays anger, but when he does even Gojyo and Goku are afraid of him. He also is able to manipulate chi, allowing him to heal others (depending on how wounded they are), and create blasts of chi and make protective barriers. Hakkai also owns a pet dragon, named Hakuryuu (or Jeep). Formerly, Hakkai had been known as Cho Gonou and worked as a school teacher. He had married his elder sister, Kanaan, though they hadn't originally known this as they had grown up in separate orphanages. Kanaan was later raped by a youkai, and she committed suicide, not wanting to bear the child. Originally human, Hakkai had changed into a youkai after killing many of youkai in the Hyakugenmaoh tribe, where the youkai that had raped Kanaan was from. Hakkai is found by Gojyo near-death, and is later tracked down by Sanzo and Goku. He tries to run away and is stopped by a member of the tribe he massacred and he tears out one of his own eyes. He is about to tear out the other but is stopped by Sanzo. Hakkai was forgiven for his crime, and proceeded to change his name and move in with Gojyo. To control his youkai powers, Hakkai wears a set of power limiters and he rarely removes them, only doing so when absolutely necessary. As a youkai, although much stronger, he becomes susceptible to the minus waves. Hakkai is voiced by Akira Ishida in Japanese, and Braden Hunt for the original series and Requiem. Steve Cannon voiced Hakkai in English for Reload and Gunlock.

[edit] Major characters

[edit] Hakuryuu

Hakuryuu: Hakkai's pet-dragon that can transform into the jeep the Sanzo-party travels in (growing much larger when he does, Hakuryuu is normally around the size of house cat). In the manga, Hakuryuu's typical name is "Jeep" (Jiipu), though they do display his name as Hakuryuu also. He's displayed the ability to breath fire.

[edit] Kanzeon

Kanzeon Bosatsu aka the Merciful Goddess: The Buddhist bodhisattva Guan Yin. She is portrayed as a hermaphrodite in the manga, while in the anime it gives no indication of her being anything other than a female. She rarely helps the Sanzo party, usually watching their travels on the way to India from Heaven for her amusement. She has only once intervened, the instance being when Goku's diadem had broken and Sanzo was unconscious and losing blood.

[edit] Kougaiji

Kougaiji: Based on Gyumaoh's Son, Kåfēise Dalu Hai Er (meaning "brown moose child") the Bull Moose Prince, Kougaji is Gyumaoh's son, and the Sanzo party's most frequently faced enemy. He reluctantly takes part in Ni Jianyi and Koushou's plan in order to restore his mother Rasetsu-nyo, who was turned to stone by a curse. He has no animosity towards the Sanzo party (despite that Goku once beat him to within an inch of his life while in his true form) but makes no effort to hide that he loathes Ni Jianyi and Koushou. He deeply cares for other yōkai, but has never displayed any ill feelings toward humans. Despite that he's willing to let countless humans and yōkai die if it means bringing his mother back. A notable aspect that's added in the manga is Kougaji's sense of pride leads him to pass up chances where he could easily defeat the Sanzo part when they've been weakened in some way, desiring to defeat them when they're at full strength. Of everyone he's been around, he's been shown to care for Lirin the most and often attempts to keep her out of battles. He wields power over fire and the ability to summon powerful fiends. He's also a highly skilled hand-to-hand fighter. He generally serves as Goku's opponent.

[edit] Lirin

Lirin: Kougaiji's half-sister and Gyokumen Koushou's daughter. She deeply admires Kougaiji, and overall is like a female Son Goku in personality, though she's far more naive then even him. Although she likes fighting she's also extremely friendly. Lirin is highly skilled hand-to-hand fighter, but she isn't very smart and as running gag Sanzo "defeats" her just by tossing her a meat bun which she focuses on instead of fighting. Kougaiji is also used to this tactic, diverting her from her assistance by promising to bring her back food from his trip. When Kougaiji's group fights Sanzo's group, she's usually seen on Sanzo's shoulders. Sanzo views her as another monkey, like Son Goku.

[edit] Dokugakuji

Dokugakuji: Gojyo's full-yōkai half-brother, formerly known as Sha Jien. When he was younger he was very close to his little brother, and attempted to protect him from his emotionally unstable mother by having an incestuous affair with her. She attempted to kill Gojyo anyway, and Jien was forced to kill his mother to keep her from killing Gojyo; after this he left his home and brother, and pledged himself to Kougaiji's service. He's extremely loyal to Kougaiji, Dokugakuji himself believes he may have become attached to Kougaiji in this way for his vague resemblance of Gojyo, though he still seems to love his baby brother. He fights with a sword. He generally serves as Gojyo's opponent.

[edit] Yaone

Yaone: An apothecary, alchemist, and Lirin's "babysitter". Her first appearance seems to show a relation to Kanaan, but it is not mentioned again later in the series. She is deeply devoted to Kougaiji, who saved her from being sacrificed to the Centipede Demon, and has rashly taken on dangerous missions to prove her loyalty to him. However, her primary role in the group is that of healer. She seems to be friendly enemies with Hakkai; she always addresses him with great respect, and on occasions they work together. Hakkai regards her as a fellow-healer and colleague, and seems to have platonic feelings for her.

[edit] Gyukumen Koushou

Gyokumen Koushou: Gyumaoh's concubine and the mastermind of the plan to revive him. She's extremely cruel and selfish, and has shown to be willing to sacrifice anything to get what she wants, and is shown to enjoy her cruel acts. Has told Kougaiji that she'll only restore his mother to life if he helps her obtain the Five Sacred Scriptures (or Sutras). Despite being Lirin's biological mother she cares nothing about her own daughter and only sees her and Kougaiji as tools.

[edit] Ni Jianyi

Dr. Ni Jianyi: A wild card, mystery man, mad scientist, and Koushou's human lover. He owns a plushie bunny that he carries with him as his pet (which is also revealed to contain his Muten Sutra). He was also once a Sanzo priest (known as Ukoku Sanzo, he was the youngest to attain the rank before Sanzo) and was considered a heretic because he fought and killed his master (Goudai Sanzo) to attain his title instead of inheriting his chakra from the gods along with the Muten sutra. During his time before becoming a priest he easily mastered all material arts and spiritual powers, growing strong enough that he could literally kill others with a wave of his arm. His pupil, a man whose name is never revealed and is known simply as "God" (Kami-sama), appears in Reload anime, as someone that Ni gave all the power he gained to since he no longer had any use for it, though at some points Ni is hinted to retain his power. Although he's extremely eccentric, he's also intelligent and ruthless. His reasons for aiding in reviving Gyumaoh are a mystery. Mysteriously, he knows of Sanzo's origins.

[edit] Hazel

Hazel Grouse: A bishop from the West with a hatred for youkai, he, like Sanzo, was taken in at a young age by a master who was killed by a youkai, having been abandoned by his parents. He has sworn to wipe all youkai off of the planet and create a peaceful world for humans alone and has even stated that the lives of 1000 youkai are not worth one human life to him. He makes no exceptions when it comes to the youkai he kills: he sees them all as mindless beasts, berserk or sane, adult or child. He typically relies on his companion, Gato, to fight, but has proven himself as an exorcist able to fall many youkai at once. The pendant he wears around his neck (resembling a hexagram) is able to store up to 13 souls (one in each opening), taken from dead or dying youkai, that he then transfers into dead humans reviving them. This causes a side effect in the revived humans that causes them to mindlessly attack youkai. He is shown in a flashback as being a great student and good at sports.

In the Reloaded Gunlock anime, Hazel has a different origin. He would often kill youkai, and was eventually punished for it by being turned into one himself, which resulted in him killing the priest who raised him. He continued killing youkai but was eventually killed by Gatti, under the orders of the Great Spirit. Gato chose to give his life so Hazel could live again, so the spirit then inhabited Hazel's body, and gives his mirror gained the power to revive humans with youkai souls (in the anime, the mirror appears to be able to hold an infinite number of souls). However, the spirit altered Gatti's memories to make him believe that he killed and revived Gatti. In the finale of the series, Hazel attempts to kill Sanzo and revive to get him to join him in wiping out all demons, but Goyjo, Hakkai and Goku intervene and Gatti is fatally injured. Before dieing, he reveals the truth to Hazel, resulting in him regaining his true memores, who is then defeated in his youkai form by the Sanzo party. Hazel, feeling he's wasted his life and wanting the spirit to die. Sanzo complies with his request, though before shooting Hazel he comforts him somewhat by telling him that nobody wastes their life.

[edit] Gato

Gatti "Gat" Nenehawk: Hazel's large bodyguard/traveling companion, he wields two pistols. He fights recklessly for Hazel because he can be instantly brought back to life or healed as long as Hazel has a soul stored in his pendant or there is a corpse nearby to take a soul from. His past is largely unknown except that he met Hazel several years before, was injured by him, but spared. He believes that being with and protecting Hazel is his destiny. He appears to be of Native American descent, and doesn't require sleep. He is said by Ukoku Sanzo to have been a young man of a tribe that worships nature. When the demons they had forged peace with attacked, Hazel tried to help. Gat originally opposed him and became the first human Hazel had ever mistakenly killed. He immediately was brought back, but his tribe saw him as an abomination against nature and shunned him.

In the Reloaded Gunlock anime, Gatti's origin is different. He lived in a native tribe (not stated where) that worshiped a being they called the Great Spirit. A group of hunters eventually came and started killing a large amount of the wildlife. Gatti and his tribe tried to stop the hunters but were powerless against their guns. Gatti, fatally wounded by a bullet, is revived by the Great Spirit and kills the hunters. He is then taken to Europe where Hazel is killing numerous demons and under the Great Spirits orders reluctantly kills hims (since Hazel was just a boy). Guilty of his actions, Gatti asks the Great Spirit to revive Hazel with his life, which does so, giving Hazel's mirror the ability to revive humans with youkai souls. Gatti willing goes along with the charade the Great Spirit created until the finale of the series, where he decides to fight the Sanzo party without Hazel using any souls to revive him. As a result, they kill Gato, but before he dies he reveals the trust about Hazel's memories being altered.

[edit] Minor characters

[edit] Zakuro

Zakuro is a minor youkai villain who works for Ni Jianyi. His main power is illusions, in which he has the enemy look into his eyes and manipulates their mind using sound. He first encountered Sanzo, Hakkai, and Gojyo and proceeded to battle them until eventually being overpowered. Later, after being lost and suffering from lack of food and water, he is found by Goku, who strikes up a friendship with him. After a short battle with territorial youkai, Zakuro discovers that Goku is part of the Sanzo party. The defeated youkai, thinking that he has partnered with the Sanzo party, run off to rally the news of Zakuro's 'betrayal' with Zakuro chasing them and trying to clear up the confusion.

[edit] Nataku

Toushin Nataku Taishi only appears in Saiyuki Gaiden and in the anime and briefly in the manga*War Prince Nataku: Nataku is based on the Taoist deity Nezha. He is a half-mortal war god who won the then-divine Son Goku (Sun Wukong)'s friendship, since both golden-eyed boys were branded as "heretical" beings due to their birth. Unfortunately, Nataku falls into a catatonic state (the reasons for this are not disclosed in the anime) and sits in the divine garden of heaven with only the Goddess of Mercy to keep him company, staring blankly ahead for all time (it is implied by Kanzeon Bosatsu that he waiting for Goku to return). In the series, Nataku is decidedly more somber than Goku and is resigned to being a puppet to the Gods, He was 'given the honor' of being the War Prince, a role which is later passed onto Homura. The title of "war prince" is more of a curse then an honor, since whoever has the title repeatedly sent into battle without any regard for their well being. Furthermore, Nataku goes by a different title, but his background is still very much the same - right down to a Commander father and spear weapon. (However, it is glaringly obvious as the series goes on that the Commander is exploiting his son for fame and recognition from the Gods, reversing the roles that Nataku is to blame for misfortune) Nataku's father however, is then lectured by the past reincarnation of Cho Hakkai (Field Marshal Tenpou) and further mistreatment of his son is then yet to be seen in the series.

[edit] Anime-only characters

[edit] Homura

Toushin Homura Taishi, a character added into the anime version of Saiyuki GensoMaden mid way into the series and becomes the main antagonist. Homura was born between the humans and the warriors of the Upper heavens. Although he succeeded Nataku Taishi who destroyed Gyumaoh-Bull Satan 500 years ago, he is fed up with utter tranquility and lazy life in the Upper Heavens. He had some relationship with Sanzo and his comrades. He calls them by their names from a previous existence. He loathes the gods in the Upper Heavens since he was once romantically involved with a pureblood goddess, but the union between them was forbidden she was reincarnated on Earth to prevent a union between her and Homura (since she died of old age while he would continue living). He is eager to get Sanzo's Sutra of Dark Power. His ultimate ambition seemed to be the creation of a perfect world with Son Goku as a tool, and overthrowing the heavens, but it is shown near the end of Saiyuki Gensomaden, that he was looking to be defeated by somebody who is worthy of him, Son Goku--the "perfect world" was only a place where he could obtain the most honorable and worthy death. His motivation for this is that because he's half god, he would eventually die of old age, and because was born a warrior god he felt is was most fitting to die fighting. He constantly observes the Sanzo party's movements, sometimes sending his underlings to fight them to push them to grow stronger or going to meet them in person (along with his two companions, Shion and Zenion) to do so, which always resulted in him brutally thrashing Goku. Though not truly evil at heart, Homura is none the less very ruthless and isn't bothered by sending others out to die, though he doesn't actively seek to kill others. Ultimately he doesn't believe in the existence of good or evil. He considered Zenion and Shion friends and was deeply affected by the deaths. His weapon is a flaming long sword possessing tremendous power. He can wipe out a troop of monsters at one swing. He uses the Power of Spirit, better known as Chi, like Cho Hakkai. He's always seen wearing a pair of handcuffs which serve as his power-limiters, and becomes far stronger when he takes them off. He's killed in the finale the Saiyuki Gensomaden anime by Goku, and at his request his left to die in his own world.

[edit] Zenon

Zenon comes down with Prince Homura only because he dislikes the evil monsters and spirits. Like Sanzo and Gojyo, he frequently smokes. His revolving 'Demon Blaster' destroys dozen of monsters. His right eye is covered by the patch. It is revealed that the eyepatch is his demon limiter, and he goes berserk without it. His power in his true form is so great that if he stays in it too long he starts to lose control of it. Zenon agrees to follow Homura for multiple reasons. One being he is sick of his life in the heavens, and is sick of living in general, another is that he wants to find the demon who killed the mother of his son. Years ago, Zenon went freely between earth and heaven (the year was not specified in the anime). He had relations with a woman who became pregnant with his son. The gods found out about this, and Zenon agreed to give up his immortality and live as a human, since he preferred live on earth instead. However, one of his subordinates (who was a demon), was told to bring her to the heavens, and killed her instead. He kills the demon two episodes after his first appearance, but decides to stick with Homura to the end. He wields a banishing gun like Sanzo, only his has the form of an assault rifle. He dies in battle against Goyjo and Hakkai towards the end of Saiyuki Gensomaden.

[edit] Shien

Shien comes down with Prince Homura for exciting adventures. He never harms anyone unless he has to defend himself. However, once getting in a battle, he is fierce, slaying the opponent with his twin 'Light Whips.' Despite that he nearly always lets the Sanzo party live when he fights them. He previously worked under War Prince Nataku, and wonders what Nataku saw in the human world, after the fight with Gyumaoh, as Nataku told him he wanted to stay longer. A celebration is held every year when he descends to view the scenery Nataku seemed to be most fond of. Despite his calm exterior, he's racked by the guilt that he followed the orders to not help Nataku against Gyumaoh. He wears a hair which later turns out to be a power limiter in his final fight against Hakkai in Saiyuki Gensomaden, where despite Shien's power he's killed by Hakkai when he was aided by Hakuryuu after Hakkai causes Shien to lose focus by playing on the fake that he hides his guilt.

[edit] Reception

[edit] References