"Onahole?"
No silly, it's a real word. It means studying names based on culture, grammer and so forth. I'll probably end up forgetting all this if I don't write it down.
So where does Surshana's name come from?
Well the most popular belief is Surshana, one of the first Players to touch down in this region 600 years ago adopted a name that symbolized this. The name he chose was 盧舎那仏, a shortend version of 昆盧遮那, in theory. It's a Buddhist term, but basically you can translate it as Rushana and the Buddha suffix.
Fun Fact, the Buddha suffix can also mean Dead Person or Spirit of the Dead, so Surshana could have accidentally created his own religion because auto translate botched what he meant. Though the Japanese guys I talk to think that was more the reason Maru named his similar undead Player rather than a plot reason. IT's written spriit because remember pre Buddhism, shinto was the new hotness so hence they tried to use a form of respect drawing on Shinto ideas.
So what the fuck is a Rushana?
It's a Japanese Buddhist term in particular. He was also known as 大日如来 or the "The Perfect one from the Great Sun". This was also read as a metaphor for the Supreme Deity (see where this is going)? It was supposed to be the Buddha of Buddhas in Japan a long time ago.
Since Buddhism is imported, it's originally called Vairocana. As a figure, he's meant to teach the truth of the world and enlighten everyone. Ironically his name originally meant 'Great Illuminator' hence the great sun connection in Japan.
It's worth noting Vairocana is meant to be one of five Great Buddhas, each represented by certain colors, elements, symbols and so on. It varies by nation but you have 5 Big Name Buddas, Dhyani-Buddha. One's Red (fire), Blue(water), Green(air), Yellow(Earth), and White(). Vairocana is supposed to be the light Buddha. So why is Surshana the God of Darkness and Death?
Well see sometimes there's 4 Buddas, sometimes 6. The 6th is supposed to be the Buddha of origin or the first one. 執金剛 or Vajradhara is considered the purest of the Buddahs, the one most closely linked to enlightenment. So some people see the 5 Great Gods as peopel driven by lust for their harems, thus Surshana being an undead would be beyond that if the Six Great Gods really followed that idea.
Surshana probably didn't intend to be worshipped in fear given the name he used. Also they as a group were not even referred to as Buddhas. Additionally, for some reaosn they had Baptismal names, a Japanese Christian idea since middle names aren't a thing there. They also have various Miko and priest titles that complicates matters, suggesting a Shinto inspiration. Light was called Alah Alaf which could suggest a Islam influence too.
One conjecture is each Great God or Sect tried to teach values associated with an Earth religion.
Dark - Buddhism
Light - Islam
??? - Shinto
??? - Japanese Christian
??? -
??? -
The joke being Surshana tried to teach about enlightenment and reincarnation but instead got saddled with being a God of Death.
All we know for sure is Light and Dark are considered higher order Gods than Fire, Water, Earth and Wind and other nations rejected them. If Scriptures reflect each sect's beliefs, then Light and Dark are very militant and aggressive compared to the other four. I only know Nigun didn't take kindly to Lakyus despite her worshipping a God related to his own pantheon.
Theres not much to go on using just names but it's interesting to ponder why they decided on names. The Six Great Gods are probably a different reference anyway Maru stole.
Onomastics isn't meant to be a serious series or anything just a way to talk about names and speculation using said names. I don't know if I'll do another or not. We'll see.
No silly, it's a real word. It means studying names based on culture, grammer and so forth. I'll probably end up forgetting all this if I don't write it down.
So where does Surshana's name come from?
Well the most popular belief is Surshana, one of the first Players to touch down in this region 600 years ago adopted a name that symbolized this. The name he chose was 盧舎那仏, a shortend version of 昆盧遮那, in theory. It's a Buddhist term, but basically you can translate it as Rushana and the Buddha suffix.
Fun Fact, the Buddha suffix can also mean Dead Person or Spirit of the Dead, so Surshana could have accidentally created his own religion because auto translate botched what he meant. Though the Japanese guys I talk to think that was more the reason Maru named his similar undead Player rather than a plot reason. IT's written spriit because remember pre Buddhism, shinto was the new hotness so hence they tried to use a form of respect drawing on Shinto ideas.
So what the fuck is a Rushana?
It's a Japanese Buddhist term in particular. He was also known as 大日如来 or the "The Perfect one from the Great Sun". This was also read as a metaphor for the Supreme Deity (see where this is going)? It was supposed to be the Buddha of Buddhas in Japan a long time ago.
Since Buddhism is imported, it's originally called Vairocana. As a figure, he's meant to teach the truth of the world and enlighten everyone. Ironically his name originally meant 'Great Illuminator' hence the great sun connection in Japan.
It's worth noting Vairocana is meant to be one of five Great Buddhas, each represented by certain colors, elements, symbols and so on. It varies by nation but you have 5 Big Name Buddas, Dhyani-Buddha. One's Red (fire), Blue(water), Green(air), Yellow(Earth), and White(). Vairocana is supposed to be the light Buddha. So why is Surshana the God of Darkness and Death?
Well see sometimes there's 4 Buddas, sometimes 6. The 6th is supposed to be the Buddha of origin or the first one. 執金剛 or Vajradhara is considered the purest of the Buddahs, the one most closely linked to enlightenment. So some people see the 5 Great Gods as peopel driven by lust for their harems, thus Surshana being an undead would be beyond that if the Six Great Gods really followed that idea.
Surshana probably didn't intend to be worshipped in fear given the name he used. Also they as a group were not even referred to as Buddhas. Additionally, for some reaosn they had Baptismal names, a Japanese Christian idea since middle names aren't a thing there. They also have various Miko and priest titles that complicates matters, suggesting a Shinto inspiration. Light was called Alah Alaf which could suggest a Islam influence too.
One conjecture is each Great God or Sect tried to teach values associated with an Earth religion.
Dark - Buddhism
Light - Islam
??? - Shinto
??? - Japanese Christian
??? -
??? -
The joke being Surshana tried to teach about enlightenment and reincarnation but instead got saddled with being a God of Death.
All we know for sure is Light and Dark are considered higher order Gods than Fire, Water, Earth and Wind and other nations rejected them. If Scriptures reflect each sect's beliefs, then Light and Dark are very militant and aggressive compared to the other four. I only know Nigun didn't take kindly to Lakyus despite her worshipping a God related to his own pantheon.
Theres not much to go on using just names but it's interesting to ponder why they decided on names. The Six Great Gods are probably a different reference anyway Maru stole.
Onomastics isn't meant to be a serious series or anything just a way to talk about names and speculation using said names. I don't know if I'll do another or not. We'll see.
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