Saiyuki Burial OVA 1

[louiselux]

I got to watch part one of the Saiyuki Burial OVA the other day, and I have many tiny pink hearts for Koumyou Sanzo. Note the lovely icon by moshesque.

Also, the animation is pretty! Far more pretty than any other Saiyuki animation I've seen. Well, apart from that bit with Gojyo in the shower in Requiem. Where was I? Oh yeah ...

One of the things I love most about Ukoku's Burial arc is the feeling of destiny when Koumyou and Kenyuu meet, and that Koumyou twigs almost straight away why Goudai asked him to visit.

Koumyou is a special sanzo, even among sanzos. He seems very of the moment, reacting to things as they happen, moving from amusement to confusion to calculation as the world around him changes, while he seems to stay still. Except when he has to step in and display his awesome arse-kicking strength. I do love that contrast very much.

He doesn't step in to stop Kenyuu attacking Goudai until it's obvious that Goudai can't do it himself and he treats Kenyuu like the novice he is, challenging his basic assumptions about himself. Kenyuu genuinely doesn't see why a devious, lonely, angry and secretive person like himself shouldn't inherit one of the most powerful scriptures in the world. ♥

Koumyou doesn't have enough time to change Kenyuu's mind, even though he tries. He doesn't try to stop Kenyuu attacking Goudai for the final time though, and I've always found that interesting. Maybe he sees it as necessary, or it's pointless to stop Kenyuu trying.

Also, the fact that Genjyo Sanzo's beloved master was such a fruitcake just makes me happy.

Comments

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

Also, the fact that Genjyo Sanzo's beloved master was such a fruitcake just makes me happy.

It has taken me the longest time to warm to Koumyou. Mostly I've wanted to slap him for being so irritatingly gnomic and inscrutable. But I feel I've got a hook on him at last - and yes, he is a fruit cake, but a fruit cake with a deep understanding of the meaning of life. Gotta admire a man who (to semi-quote Malcolm Reynolds) can look into the darkness and not become it.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I think you make a good point there and I love the wisdom of the Mal.

I do wonder what it was he taught Kouryuu that made him love Koumyou so much. Perhaps it was simply that he was a good father.

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

I wonder a lot about that too. The best I can come up with was that Koumyou always treated Kouryuu as an individual, rather than a child. He never patronized him. I should think he was always gentle in his guidance too. I suppose there was some hero worship and gratitude in the mix too - and the fact that Koumyou died protecting Kouryuu (apparently) magnified Kouryuu's attachment.