![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
A Koumyou thought
I am a slow thinker. This morning I had a fragment or two of thought about the Koumyou bit of the Reload Burial arc,
the bit where Koumyou meets Kenyuu for the first time. I'm sure this occured to everyone ages ago.
Kenyuu listens to the students gossiping about Koumyou and his pretty young boy. Kenyuu is bored by them, but he's listening anyway because I'm sure he doesn't like to miss out on things.
Later, with this in mind, when Koumyou says that Kenyuu reminds him of his Kouryuu it strikes me that initially Kenyuu might consider this to be a chat-up line, if he thinks that Koumyou likes boys.
Plus, randomly, I always think it's so sweet that Koumyou says 'I'm 39' when Kenyuu then asks 'How old?
And another thing. The Ukoku Burial arc appears to show that sanzos are chosen by seeing which of the students can kill (is this right, or have I misread it?) the old sanzo. So a sanzo has to die before another can be made. Does this mean then that Kouryuu would have had to kill Koumyou or just wait until Kouryuu died of natural causes? And is Kouryuu being unconventional when he simply passes on the sutra. Either way, Koumyou dies on the night that Kouryuu is crowned Sanzo thus carrying on the tradition. So either Koumyou was breaking with tradition, or more likely he knew he was going to die that night, or soon. How or why did he think that? I think this must be a vital plot point.
I should probably stop thinking now. It's not helping.
the bit where Koumyou meets Kenyuu for the first time. I'm sure this occured to everyone ages ago.
Kenyuu listens to the students gossiping about Koumyou and his pretty young boy. Kenyuu is bored by them, but he's listening anyway because I'm sure he doesn't like to miss out on things.
Later, with this in mind, when Koumyou says that Kenyuu reminds him of his Kouryuu it strikes me that initially Kenyuu might consider this to be a chat-up line, if he thinks that Koumyou likes boys.
Plus, randomly, I always think it's so sweet that Koumyou says 'I'm 39' when Kenyuu then asks 'How old?
And another thing. The Ukoku Burial arc appears to show that sanzos are chosen by seeing which of the students can kill (is this right, or have I misread it?) the old sanzo. So a sanzo has to die before another can be made. Does this mean then that Kouryuu would have had to kill Koumyou or just wait until Kouryuu died of natural causes? And is Kouryuu being unconventional when he simply passes on the sutra. Either way, Koumyou dies on the night that Kouryuu is crowned Sanzo thus carrying on the tradition. So either Koumyou was breaking with tradition, or more likely he knew he was going to die that night, or soon. How or why did he think that? I think this must be a vital plot point.
I should probably stop thinking now. It's not helping.
no subject
Co-incidently, I was just thinking last night about whether the previous Sanzo must die in order for the new one to inherit the scripture -- thoughts mostly triggered by the scans and translation/summary of the latest Zero Sum, where (minor spoilers)...
Sanzo is explaining the sutra to the rest of the ikkou and suddenly breaks off after beginning to say how the sutra is inherited, as if something just occured to him. Perhaps he was realizing that Koumyou must have known he was going to die when he named Kouryuu a Sanzo -- not just naming him his intended successor.
Also, though, Sanzo's also been just explaining that when two or more sutras are gathered in one place, their power increases exponentially, which is why there are supposed to be five Sanzos scattered far apart so that the sutras don't get too close to each other (and why the plan to gather all 5 sutras in one place for the resurrection is earth-threateningly dangerous even without he resurrection aspect). But Koumyou had two. So maybe he was trying to give just one to Kouryuu -- and then would have sent him away?
Don't stop thinking, your thoughts are interesting!
no subject
And doesn't that open up a whole new can of worms, if that's what he's realised. Because why would he know? I cn't help thinking of Ukoku's last visit as some kind of harbinger, especially because we find out Ukoku visited Hazels' master just before he died, too.
I've just been over to Jttr to read the summary of the new issue, btw, and I can't wait to see it in translation.
I really like the things you say about sutras and the relationship they have with their sanzo. I've never considered it much before but what you say is absolutely fascinating. I don't think Mouyou would have given a sutra to Kouryuu at such a young age unless it had been absolutely necessary. And it's interesting that Koumyou, who has a sutra and is very very strong (a s Kenyuu's reaction to his bruises shows), is killed by what appear to be fairlyt standard looking youkai. But of course that could be because he puts all his energy into protecting Kouryuu rather than saving himself.
no subject
And according to the one of the recent flashbacks (I can't remember where, in Burial or after it though), it seems Koumyou sealed Kouryuu's movement (to keep Kouryuu from trying to fight?) -- why not seal the movement of the youkai attacking him? There's definitely something strange going on there with how Koumyou chose to react. And I really need to go back and reread things.
I posted more thoughts on sanzos and sutras in my journal here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/kintail/27011.html).
no subject
There's defintely something odd going on there with how Koumyou almost chooses to die. I'm glad you think so too.
ps, sorry for the typos in my earlier replies- can I blame my hangover, please?
no subject
no subject
no subject
Let's hope none of them wear contacts :D
Ow ow ow *cringe*