History UsefulNotes / Onmyodo

* Onmyodo is the magic system in GirlsLove VisualNovel ''VisualNovel/AkaiIto'' and its sequel ''VisualNovel/AoiShiro''. Pretty much anyone capable of supernatural feat use Onmyodo to some degree, but Sakuya tops everyone by [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu using it to kill an evil god]].

* The villain in the [[ComicBook/TheSandman Sandman]] story ''The Dream Hunters'' is an onmyoji.

* '''"Kyu-Kyu Nyo Ritsu Ryo"''': The Japanese reading of [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%80%A5%E6%80%A5%E5%A6%82%E5%BE%8B%E4%BB%A4 a phrase once appended to Chinese government edicts]], translating roughly as "With Most Haste, In Accordance With the Law" - since the government was regarded as an earthly extension of the CelestialBureaucracy, it became adopted into Taoism as a way to imbue commands with divine authority. In modern depictions it is generally used as a trigger phrase at the end of a MagicalIncantation.

* [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Saito Hiraga]] is a practitioner of this in ''Fanfic/ZeroNoTsukaimaSaitoTheOnmyoji''.

* [[spoiler:Tsuchimikado Motoharu]] of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' is a highly-skilled onmyoji, and is even descended from a famous clan of them. However, having undergone the Power Development Curriculum, using these abilities causes a backlash in his body, and is potentially fatal for him. Luckily, his ability, Level 0 Auto-Rebirth, allows him to bypass this for a limited number of times.

** One of the main party members in the first game, Zhuzhen Li, is well versed in this. As a Taoist sage his magic takes effect by manipulating the primal forces of yin and yang to create all sorts of phenomena, from spontaneously starting fires, to rejuvenating the body, to raising the dead to conjuring storms.
** Recurring antagonist Garan the Oracle in the second half of ''Covenant'' is explicitly stated to be the "16th in direct succession" of Abe no Seimei. He's shown to be powerful enough to create pocket dimensions where he traps Yuri an Co. and in battle, he's able to skillfully exploit the elemental weaknesses of the playable characters by casting spells on whoever is weak against them.

* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' has Creator/MurasakiShikibu of ''Literature/TheTaleOfGenji'' fame as a secret onmyodo practitioner taught by Abe no Seimei himself, which she primarily uses in her magic writing.

* The films ''Film/{{Onmyoji}}'' (I & II) are a fictitious account of Abe no Seimei based on the novel series of the same name (which also inspired a manga adaptation, also of the same name).

* The mobile RPG ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}'' developed by [=NetEase=] Games is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.

!!Sub-tropes:

:'''Gobosei (pentagram)''': In Japanese culture, this is a symbol of magical power, a diagram of the "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxing_(Chinese_philosophy)#Overacting overcoming cycle]]" of the [[ElementalPowers five Chinese elements]] (Wu Xing). A five-pointed star variant (leaving out the outside pentagon) is known as a ''Seiman'', the personal crest of Abe no Seimei.

:'''[[PaperTalisman [=Ofuda=]]]''': In modern Japanese literature, [=ofuda=] are always rectangles of paper with holy or magical symbols/spells written on them. They may be used to create a protective ward, seal a building, dispel evil influences, or even as a weapon against those of malign intent.

:'''Shikigami''': Shikigami are spirits called forth to act as servants for the summoner, similar to a {{familiar}} in Western mythology. "Shiki", as they are sometimes known, literally means "equation", "formula" or "style" - a shikigami usually isn't bargained with so much as pulled from the aether and [[FormulaicMagic given exact commands to govern its behaviour akin to programming]], with [[AIIsACrapshoot a misplaced command or drop in power causing it to go berserk and turn on its creator]].\\

:'''KujiIn and Kuji-kiri''':[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuji-in The Nine Syllable Seals]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuji-kiri the Nine Symbolic Cuts]] are also among Onmyōdō techniques, though they were never unique to Onmyōdō.

:'''EasternZodiac''': One of the divination means ''onmyōji'' employed. During the Heian era, ''onmyōji'' were also responsible for making calendars. [[note]]Japan used the Chinese calendar until after the opening of Japan.[[/note]] As part of that system, TheFourGods were thus also incorporated into ''onmyōdō''.

:'''Feng Shui''': Another Chinese influence amalgamated into ''onmyōdō''.

:'''Twelve Heavenly Commanders''': A group of shikigami attributed to Abe no Seimei, sometimes referred to as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Heavenly_Generals Twelve Divine Commanders]] (a title of the protectors of Yakushi Buddha) or the Twelve Devas (another unrelated group of deities), who appear as a popular {{motif}} in onmyō-themed works. They consist of, in order:

:'''"Kyu-Kyu Nyo Ritsu Ryo"''': The Japanese reading of [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%80%A5%E6%80%A5%E5%A6%82%E5%BE%8B%E4%BB%A4 a phrase once appended to Chinese government edicts]], translating roughly as "With Most Haste, In Accordance With the Law" - since the government was regarded as an earthly extension of the CelestialBureaucracy, it became adopted into Taoism as a way to imbue commands with divine authority. In modern depictions it is generally used as a trigger phrase at the end of a MagicalIncantation.

* Wiki/SCPFoundation: in [[BroadStrokes at least one possible continuity]], the Bureau of Onmyou was one of thirteen occult organisations from around the world that [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/wrong-proposal merged to create the Foundation]], and the head of the Bureau at the time currently serves as a member of [[CosmopolitanCouncil its shadowy "O5 Council"]].

* In ''Fanfic/TheMoonsFlashPrincess'' [[Franchise/SailorMoon Rei Hino]] is naturally a practitioner of this, as is her grandfather. They are also teaching [[LightNovel/SwordArtOnline Silica]] some aspects of this art as a way to train her in magic and to serve as a compliment to her other skills.

* ''LightNovel/ShonenOnmyouji'' chronicles the life of Abe no Seimei's youngest grandson and his journey in becoming an onmyouji. There is also an anime adaptation.
* ''LightNovel/TokyoRavens'' is set in a world where [[UrbanFantasy Japan reactivated the Onmyo Bureau back in World War 2]], with the entire cast being onmyoji, [[{{Familiar}} shikigami]] or both. Apart from featuring just about every traditional depiction of onmyodo, {{Magitek}} is available such as mass-produced {{Ofuda}}, robotic shikigami, and even [[AbnormalAmmo ofuda missile pods]].

The most famous ''onmyōji'' is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_no_Seimei Abe no Seimei,]] a figure roughly analogous to the Merlin of Myth/ArthurianLegend. Like Merlin, it is said that he was not entirely human, but the offspring of a nobleman and a female {{Kitsune}} deity. Abe no Seimei is a documented historical personage who lived from about 921 CE to around 1005 CE, the middle of the [[JidaiGeki Heian Period]]. A shrine dedicated to him was built in Kyoto soon after his death, and still exists today. His descendants, the [[http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=366 Tsuchimikado]] clan, were responsible for managing the Bureau of Onmyō for most of its existence.