A scary Junko.
She is such an interesting character, but very hard to understand what she is. Even WHO she is, as her identity can be traced to two different figures from arguably different stories, that have in common the death of their children from the hand of someone named Hoù Yì.
Theres one, more historically grounded, about a figure named Xuán Qī, who was also know with the name of Chún Hú ("pure fox" much like Junko name meaning) who was married to Hòu Kuí, a leader of the Xia dynasty, and who had a son from their union. The Hoù Yì in this story was someone that overtook Hòu Kui role and banished him, killing Chún Hú son and taking her as her own wife. This did not last long, as however Chún Hú took revenge, killing the man who murdered her son with the help of another figure from Hoù Yì court.
Then there is the mythological story, about the Legendary Archer named Hoù Yì, who was the husband of Chang'é. He was famous for saving the world from the Ten sun (originally in the myths there were ten suns) who rose together at the same time, risking the world to go up in flame. Hoù Yì shot all but one of them. In this tale, Junko seems to me linked more to figure of the ten suns mother, Xihe.
Now, in Touhou these two stories seem to conflate together, creating a Hoù Yì that has traits of both, and also paints Junko as a fusion of both Xuán Qī and Xihe, with a mix of traits of both, being both a divine spirit and someone seeking vengeance for the death of her son(s?), but her rage seems to be directed towards Chang'é, who is imprisoned in the moon, and for some reason spread to Lunarians as a whole.
Junko character is focused around her rage and her determination to seek revenge to the point of Purifying (read more as an "enhancing through refining" in this context) into being pure Rage, losing even her identity if we take the fact that she has no title or family name. This is why i decided to depict her like this. Many indulge in the idea of her being linked to foxes due to her name, picturing her having foxlike features (helped by her aura in the shape of many tails), but i feel that that is somewhat unfit to her persona.
Junko is rage. A looming shadow of the person she used to be before the events of LoLK, moved by sheer wish for revenge. Tranquil fury with a calm demeanor that barely hides the sheer anger, bursting from her seams in the shapes of fiery jets. An adversary to the moon and whoever stays in her path.
"Lillies of murderous intent", Pure Sign "A Pristine Danmaku Hell", "Simple Danmaku for Cornering a Trapped Rat", "Pristine Danmaku for Killing a Person" are just few of her spellcards and I JUST CAN'T WAIT to reach her in my LoLK playthrough. She is such a cool and charismatic figure i am honestly obsessed with her. God.
Too bad i am still fighting for my life against her tiny flag-wearing fairy daughter. Help me.