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Chichiri

Name: (Warrior Name) Chichiri

Birth Name: (Chinese) Li Fang-Zhun (Japanese) Ri Houjun

Character:  Sho, or "Well", located on one of his kneecaps

Constellation: Taurus 

Birthday: 20 May

Age: 24 (throughout main series & OVA1), 21(throughout OVA2), 34 (throughout OVA3)

Hair: Anime: Blue/ Manga: blonde

Eyes: Brown

Height: 5'9"

Blood Type: Unknown

Family: Parents and a younger sister (deceased)

Birthplace: A village along the Shoryu (Rising Dragon) River, near the northern Konan-Kutou border 

Status: Suzaku Warrior

Quote: "Ya know" (or... "no da" if you prefer...)

Anime: Fushigi Yugi

Voice: (English) Jim Taggart, Sean Mitchell (Japanese) Tomokazu Seki

History and Personality:

Chichiri is a Suzaku celestial warrior in Yuu Watase's Fushigi Yugi. He is a wandering monk who has trained for several years with Taijitsu-kun, the creator. When he first appears, he appears to be always smiling, but this is later explained as a magical mask whose features he can move by reflex, making it resemble a natural face. Underneath, most of his face does not look so different from the mask, but one of his eyes is scarred by an old injury across his forehead.

He received this scar at the age of eighteen, when he was engaged to be married. After his best friend stole a kiss from Chichiri's fiancée, she called off their betrothal. Chichiri became enraged at this betrayal and the two men began to fight. While they were fighting, a heavy rainstorm blew in, causing the Shoryuu (Rising Dragon) River to flood their home village. Most of the inhabitants were drowned, including Chichiri's family and his fiancée. (It should also be noted that this same storm hit the neighboring village where Mitsukake lived and his father died attempting to save those closest to the river.) His friend fell into the rushing water and Chichiri attempted to rescue him, but a nearby log smashed into Chichiri's eye and gouged it out.  Chichiri has always felt guilty for this, believing that he is no better than a murderer.

Chichiri is the oldest and wisest of all of the Suzaku warriors and thus thinks of himself as the older brother who looks after them all. He habitually ends many sentences with the emphatic phrase "no da", translated as "ya know" in the anime's English version (mainly the subtitles, as the English dub of the anime tends to omit this quirk). At the end of the series, he and Tasuki are the only Suzaku seishi still alive in The Universe of the Four Gods.

In the first set of OVA Chichiri's best friend is resurrected and given the powers of a demon god. He holds the resentful belief that he had been deliberately abandoned to die. When the two men meet again, this mistaken resentment causes him to resume the old battle.  The shock hurts Chichiri deeply, and, unable to bring himself to kill Hikou a second time, he tells the other Taka and Tasuki (who are with him) of his tragic past. Together they defeat Hikou, but as he lays dying Chichiri will not let go of Hikou's hand.  Hikou forgives Chichiri and then admits the truth of Chichiri's fiancée's rejection.  He had kissed her against her will and she believed that made her unworthy of Chichiri. As Hikou returns to the water, Chichiri cries over his friend's second death, vowing that he will be reunited with his friend and fiancée in heaven one day.

A superficially lighthearted character with a tragic past. With equal ease, he can put on super deformed 'chibi' frivolity or suddenly be very serious and grim. He is the most neutral character of the Seven Celestial Warriors of Suzaku. While Tamahome and Hotohori are the obvious leaders, Chichiri is the ever-staunch advisor and supporter from behind the scenes, always willing to help when needed. Unconcerned with his own mortality or with earthly desires, he has a Zen master's detached attitude and can use many techniques Taiitsukun taught him.

Relationships: Chichiri acts as an advisor and older brother figure to most of the Suzaku seven, and he cares for each deeply.  Because he and Mitsukake are older than the others and have both suffered great loss they are quite close.  Later Chichiri is close to Tasuki because they are the only two surviving Suzaku Warriors.

Techniques: Chichiru uses a staff (shakujo), hat (kasa), and mantle (kesa) to fight as well as wards and spells.  The hat and cloak can both be used to "transport" from one place to another. Chichiri trained under Taiitsukun (Various magical techniques); his first power that awakened was the ability to form a barrier around himself.

Trivia: Chichiri's hobby is fishing.

            Has anyone noticed that monk's with tragic pasts who smile through their pain are quite popular in anime?  Hmmm?

Why we love him: Why ever not? Wise, skillful, always ready to comfort, rarely concerned for himself.  Sounds like a great catch to me...

 

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