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00:00:00 – 00:15:40
The video delves into the rich tapestry of mythology, folklore, and historical references embedded in Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 film "Princess Mononoke." It explores how Miyazaki masterfully blends elements from Japanese mythology and folklore with his original storytelling to create a compelling narrative set during the Muromachi period. Key highlights include the depiction of Japanese wolves (Okami), the significance of the cursed Tatari boar, and the cultural importance of boars and wolves in Japanese folklore. The discussion extends to the mythical creatures like forest spirits (Ishigami) and tree spirits (Kodama), with detailed inspirations from both local and international sources, such as the Asaro Mudmen of Papua New Guinea and Yakushima Island's forests. The film's core conflict between nature and technology is epitomized by Iron Town and its advanced, nature-estranging technology. Noteworthy historical influences include the skilled archery of the ancient Amesha people and the use of traditional Japanese furnaces ("tatata"). The narrative underlines the loss of magic and the transition from mythical to mundane, a poignant theme reflected in the story’s conclusion. Finally, the video acknowledges the profound impact of "Princess Mononoke" on its creator, inspiring travel to Japan and further exploration of mythology in popular culture.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the narrator discusses the film “Princess Mononoke” by Hayao Miyazaki, highlighting its impact and significance upon its release in 1997. The film, which broke box office records in Japan before being surpassed by “Titanic” and later Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” introduced Western audiences to a story steeped in Japanese mythology, folklore, and history, despite being an original creation by Miyazaki. The narrator emphasizes Miyazaki’s storytelling prowess and his method of drawing inspiration from real mythology and folklore while making significant changes to craft a fictional tale. They proceed to explain the film’s title, “Mononoke Hime,” translating to “Princess of the Spirit of Vengeance,” and describe the opening sequence where Prince Ashitaka’s village is attacked by a demonized boar god named Naga, who is corrupted by an iron bullet and black worm spells rooted in Japanese and Chinese folklore. The worms symbolize a curse called “Tatari,” associated with vengeful spirits known as “Onryo.”
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the discussion covers the similarities between the Tatari creatures and serpentine spirits from Japanese folklore, specifically Tsuchinoko and no Zhu Qi XI. It introduces the Amesha, a historical ethnic group from Japan’s northeastern regions known for their archery skills from horseback. The video also confirms that Princess Mononoke is set during the Muromachi period (1336-1573) and explores the historical context and possible inspirations for elements in the story, such as the firearms used by the characters and the wolves referred to as Inugami. The Japanese wolves, called Okami, are described as larger spirit creatures in the film, with their real-life counterparts having gone extinct around 1905. The cultural significance of wolves in Japanese mythology, especially as divine messengers and guides, is also highlighted through the story of Prince Yamato Takeda and the veneration of wolves by the Ainu people.
00:06:00
In this segment, the video explores various influences and folklore elements in “Princess Mononoke.” It discusses the Ainu creation myth about descent from a white wolf and goddess, then contrasts the wolf’s mixed benevolence and malevolence in Japanese folklore and the film. The dual-tailed mother wolf Moro’s design aligns with folklore about tails symbolizing age and wisdom, suggesting Moro is over a century old. San’s adoption by Moro is compared to myths like Romulus and Remus and the Shinto goddess Kanna Yago, who shares visual and thematic traits with San. The video also delves into the depiction of Kodama, or tree spirits, in the film, attributed to influences from the Asaro Mudmen of Papua New Guinea. The forest in the story was inspired by Yakushima Island, which Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli visited, enhancing the realism of the depiction.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the forest spirit and various elements from Japanese folklore depicted in “Princess Mononoke.” Iron Town is compared to “tatata,” a traditional Japanese furnace, symbolizing advanced technology and the resulting separation from nature, reflecting the film’s core conflict. The ape tribe, resembling mythical macaques, embody peaceful mediators in traditional folklore, though they show traits of malevolent spirits in later tales. The nightwalker, termed “daidara bocchi” in Japanese folklore, is a massive youkai, while the forest spirit, or “ishigami,” resembles deer, seen as divine messengers in Shintoism. Miyazaki’s depiction combines these traditional elements with inspiration from historical artworks like the Kasuga Deer Mandala, showing creativity in interpreting folklore.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the mythical creatures and folklore that inspire the characters and elements in the story. The tree spirit named Haku resembles a tailless black dog with a human face, which is compared to a red shoujo mask from Japanese noh theatre. The forest spirit, akin to a Shinigami, represents both life and death, reflecting the ancient perception of forests as places of mystery, wonder, and danger.
The segment also introduces the boar army led by Okoto, highlighting the symbolic significance of boars in Japanese and Asian folklore. Boars, revered by hunters for their bravery, are also seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity. The speaker recounts several legends involving boars, emphasizing their dual nature as both fearsome and benevolent beings.
The discussion then shifts to the idea of immortality in mythology, noting that while there are many legends about objects or elixirs granting eternal life, there isn’t one specifically about the forest spirit’s head providing immortality. The story mentions a Japanese legend where a girl gains immortality by consuming the flesh of a mermaid. Ultimately, San and Ashitaka manage to return the forest spirit’s head, restoring life to the forest, but it is no longer a magical place of gods and mythic creatures—just nature as we know it today. This underlying sadness reflects the film’s theme of the transition from mythical to mundane.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the creator discusses the various references to mythology, folklore, and history found in “Princess Mononoke” that they found most interesting. They encourage viewers to comment on references they noticed or mention any that might have been missed. The creator also asks for suggestions on what movie or show to review next. They mention that the film had a significant impact on their perspective and inspired them to travel to Japan and create the video. The creator extends special thanks to Desmond Hickson for his assistance and invites viewers to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and check out their other content on the mythology behind popular movies and shows.