Masashi Kishimoto’s manga Naruto is a prime example of a typical Japanese fantasy. The story begins with a very typical mischievous boy: Naruto, a severely ostracised and hated kid by the village. His pranks are a product of his desire to gain attention. Kishimoto implants another akin character called Sasuke, portrayed as a foil to Naruto. Though he was all on his own (alike Naruto), he was skilled, smart and likeable. But as we read further, a lot more on each of the characters and their lives is revealed. The story effuses a spectra of convoluted cultural and religious references borrowed from Buddhism, Chinese and Japanese folk tales and culture.
Not singularly the story, but the character incorporated are also influenced by these references: from their names to the way they dress, it’s a complete absorption of those aspects. Moreover, their lives and their purpose to exist are defined by these aspects. This further extends to the ability to use Chakra and perform respective Jutsus. The various Jutsus and potential one possesses is directly bridged by the mythical connotation disembarked by Kishimoto.
This essay dwells on the traditional edifices and complex cultural ideologies that influence the story and are made inferable by the writer. The major ones include: The character of Jiraya – he is an alluded character altogether, along with the others from the “legendary Sannin" team (Orochimaru and Tsunade). Secondly, the usage of Japanese Zodiac signs, they’re turned into hand-seals to pull of jutsus. They can be studied as a reference of mudras as well. Thirdly, the 5 great elements from the Zen theory have been transmuted into the names of the Ninja countries and Chakra types. Fourth, the eye Jutsus (Dojutsu) – a reference from the third eye of enlightenment. Fifth, the game of Koi-Koi – The InoShikaCho formation is actually alluded from the game called Koi-Koi. One of the winning combination in this game of cards was known as InoShikaCho, which translates into boar-deer-butterfly (Ino, Shikamaru and Choji possess corresponding powers), and finally the names of the major characters.
The character of Jiraya
The story features Naruto’s new teacher Master Jiraya, who he rather prefers calling the “pervy sage” as Jiraya is well known for his predilection for young women. The character of Master Jiraya itself is an allusion from an old Japanese folk tale that originates from a novel in 1839. Jiraya, the lead character in Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari (児雷也豪傑物語) (The tale of the Gallant Jiraya), possesses similar powers: toad magic (he was capable of shapeshifting and riding toads). Later in the tale, Jiraya falls in love with Tsunade, who practiced slug magic. They later end up fighting the snakes that rampaged their clan by defeating the snake magic practitioner: Orochimaru (Jiraya’s former friend: Yashagoro). This folk tale works on the bases on a triangle theory, where A+B surpass C. The folk tale is also responsible for the origination of the villain Orochimaru and the strong 5th Hokage: lady Tsunade in Kishimoto’s Naruto. Whilst Orochimaru rampages the hidden leaf village, the third Hokage seals away Orochimaru’s hands, at the sacrifice of his own life, in order to block him from performing any Jutsus. The leaf needed a new leader, Jiraya declines to take over which is why a long quest for Tsunade begins. When they locate Tsunade and persuade her to become the Hokage, Orochimaru intervenes, and is later defeated by Jiraya and Tsunade together. By doing this, Kishimoto makes us readers relive the era and invokes a liking for the Japanese culture and folk tales. It creates the effect of history repeating itself, and good taking over bad.
The hand signs
For a Ninja to use his/her Chakra and perform a Jutsu, he/she needs to weave certain hand signs. The different combination of these hand seals trigger the chakra to act in certain manner, resulting in a Jutsu. The names of each hand sign is borrowed from the names of Japanese Zodiac signs: Ox, Rabbit, Monkey, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Bird, Dog, Boar. These hand signs are routed in the buddhism culture as well, they indirectly embody the Mudras from Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Mudras are meant to aid one to concentrate and meditate, they symbolise either the nature or the images of Hindu and Buddhist deities. Kishimoto uses this religious undertone to make the modern audience (especially the adolescents) in Japan appreciate their religion or cultural forms of arts such as Mudras and learn their significance.
Dojutsu (eye Jutsu)
The different eyes in the book provide the possessor with different capabilities. A Sharingan for example, provides the possessor with the ability to judge, anticipate and replicate all the moves of the opponents unless they’re hereditary. Similarly Byakugan, another Dojutsu eye, singularly possessed by the Huga clan, allows one to analyse Chakra points and flows around the opponent’s body. The concept of a different eye or a third eye originates from Hindu and Buddhist mythology where it symbolises enlightenment and the ability ascribed to build Chakra in imagination, visualisation and being self dependant.
Godai
Referring to the Zen Philosophy, which describes the five great elements (also known as the godai 五大) is portrayed in the book as five great nations: Water, Earth, Wind, Fire and Lightning. These five elements are also shown as types of Chakra that a Ninja possesses, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. A ninja can master 3 types at the most. This signifies the importance of unity in the world of ninja. If all the nations unite to fight for peace and humanity, there’s no stopping.
The InoShikaCho formation
This reference actually makes the readers relive the olden days, when smartphones or technology did not exist and people spent time with each other by playing games like Koi-Koi. The team 10 in the book Naruto present a special formation called InoShikaCho, which is an abbreviation of Ino, Shikamaru and Choji (all the three teammates). This formation speaks of the Japanese Koi-Koi game, wherein InoShikaCho was one of the triumphant moves. InoShikaCho translates roughly into Boar-Deer-Butterfly. These names likewise decided the qualities every character had.
The names of the characters
By developing almost every character through religious or cultural undertones, Kishimoto reminds the readers of the significance of the legends and folk tales in their religion.
As mentioned earlier, Jiraya and Tsunade are mirrored from the original folk tale. Jiraya in there folk tale use to be a toad magician who could shape shift into toads. Who later falls in love with a princess known as Tsunade, a strong practitioner of slug magic. They later become comrades to battle Jiraya's former friend Orochimaru, who’s snake magic has rampaged their clan. Naruto Uzumaki is another example. The name Naruto is derived from a place in Japan distinguished for it’s whirlpools. Whereas the surname Uzumaki is actually a pun that deciphers into a spiral or a vortex The name demonstrates Naruto's identity, he holds very notorious qualities and a disorderly and mischievous character.
Kakashi Hatake is another major character, his first name transcribes into a ‘scarecrow’. This reflects upon his disposition as a ‘copy ninja’, with the Sharingan he possesses. he manifests the ability to impersonate other ninjas and their Jutsus until and unless they’re Kekkei Genkai (hereditary Jutsus) like Kimimaro’s bone release Jutsu. Whereas, on the other side, Kakashi also possesses a straightforward and a sluggish personality, this can be seen as a double-folded symbolism. He’s also painted as a debonair character, with a strong wit, through which he copiously uses the Sharingan even more profitably than any other Uchiha Sharingan user. He uses transformations, clones and other doltish Jutsus in order to deceive the opponent and use his sharingan effectively. The last important character to consider is Orochimaru. The character is not only reflected from the Tale of Gallant Jiraya, his name does hold more magnitude. Beyond the tale, Orochimaru translates into a ‘legendary snake’, a plethora of Japanese legends and stories are bridged with the concept of a great snake. Orochimaru’s research was directed to re-birth and immortality, alike a snake shedding it’s skin. Which reasons out the possibility of Orochimaru to live for a longer period of time and portray the sly and selfish character of him.
The concept of Chakra
At last the concept of chakra is referred from Hindu or Buddhist mythology. In hindu mythology it refers to the spiritual energy present in the human body, divided in seven different places. Chakra provides the ability to perform powerful attacks, symbolising the enlightenment a person achieves.
Conclusion
The use of religious and cultural symbols in the Manga Naruto, Kishimoto mainly tries to spread awareness about the beauty of the olden days when people use to spend time with each other, play games and learn about the myths and culture of Japan. Due to modernisation, the youth has almost forgotten about the beautiful religious aspects and cultural aspects of Japan. Kishimoto’s efforts in this Manga manifest his will to invoke the love and influence of the beautiful religion, culture and folk takes in the modern times. And for the international readers, it helps them develop an interest in the fascinating Japanese culture and mythology, therefore making Japanese literature more known around the world.
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