#oshichi

[vinnigami]

Also available on Wallpaper Engine!

[art-soboro]

an assortment of various mischievous beasts for @ferretwanted <3

[purseowner4thequalityanimation]

[Oshichi is an edit of Basilisk. No, really. Look at the legs and the wings and it makes sense.]

[cake-apostate]

Besides the 'princess' and the 'bird in the cage' motifs, I was thinking there might be another inspiration for Shadow Yukiko: Oshichi.

This gal. This is her concept art for Shin Megami Tensei I, where she was a random encounter.

Oshichi was a real person, although her story was adapted into countless plays and stories. During a fire, she evacuated to a temple, where she fell in love with a temple page. She couldn't be with him (apparently due to differences in social standing), but she wanted to see him again. The best way she could think of was starting another fire. In at least one version, the fire started with her own house.

She was caught, and executed by being burned at the stake. Legend has it that her ghost appears whenever there's going to be a fire, which gels with how she's a random encounter in early SMT1, right before Tokyo is nuked.

Like Oshichi, Shadow Yukiko is a human-headed bird associated with fire. Where Oshichi burned her home to be with her love, Shadow Yukiko wants a prince so she can leave her home behind.

[faceclxims]

[giganticbuddha]

[majesticprints]

The Young Maiden Oshichi 1867

This Ukiyo-e print by Utagawa features the likeness of Yaoya Oshichi (1666–83) who met her tragic fate after falling in love. Oshichi’s story is recounted in Kabuki theater dramas, where her character is portrayed in a kimono bearing the distinctive starburst-like design associated with her.

Use coupon code TUMBLR for 10% off and free shipping in the U.S.

[ghostlarva]