Bunrei

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Bunrei is a concept in the Shin Megami Tensei series.

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Bunrei is a technical term in the Shinto religion, which refers to a divided portion of a kami's spirit to be enshrined in a separate location. This process does not diminish the authority of the deity, and the newly established branch shrine can perform the same function as the original.[1][2]

In the Megami Tensei franchise, the term bunrei is used broadly to refer to gods who act as extensions of other deities, and on occasion, gods who represent the same concepts. For example, the angels can be considered bunrei to YHVH, because they act on his behalf as messengers.[3][4][5] A bunrei relationship between gods is sometimes considered analogous to a familial relationship between humans, such as siblings or parent and child.[6] In the book Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Kōshiki Settei Shiryōshū + Shinwa Sekai e no Tabi, it is stated that all Demons can be considered bunrei of the Axiom.[7]

Game Appearances

Shin Megami Tensei II

YHVH refers to Sabaoth, Shaddai, and Elohim as his bunrei.[8]

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

In the Japanese version of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, the Zoa race is instead titled Bunrei, implying that Luvah, Tharmas, Urizen, and Urthona are bunrei of Albion.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

The Mothers are bunrei of Mem Aleph. Ouroboros Maia, Tiamat, and Maya are concrete incarnations of regional mother goddesses influenced by human perception, while Mem Aleph is the abstract concept of the great mother goddess.[9]

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

After his loss to Nanashi, Odin questions whether it was possible for him to defeat Dagda as one of his bunrei. However, Dagda tells Odin that he didn't lose because he was a bunrei, he lost because he challenged him and his Godslayer.[10] Odin also states that Dagda should have known whether he was truly alive or dead, because he is his bunrei.[11]

Danu is a bunrei of the mother goddess Inanna.[6] Inanna demands that Danu relinquish her power so she can regain her former status.[12][13]

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Satan, and by extension, Jonathan and Walter as Merkabah and Lucifer, are bunrei of YHVH. After his defeat at the hands of Nanashi, all of his bunrei return to the Axiom.[14][15][16]

End of spoilers.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

In Shinjuku, Agrat uses bunrei, localized as projections, in order to attack the Nahobino.[17][18] The projection Mastema uses to communicate with the Nahobino in Shinjuku is also referred to as a bunrei.[19]

A Bethel researcher states that the existence of Essences proves that bunrei actually exist and compares the concept to a serial number for Proto-fiends.[20]

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Yoko Hiromine's human form is referred to by Mastema as a bunrei of her true form as a Goddess of Creation.[21]

End of spoilers.

Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Bunrei is a concept that is first mentioned by Archangel Gabriel in Shibuya, she says that Bael's soul was fragmented into many beings and that Ayato Katsuragi is one of those beings, that he carries that fragment of Bael within him and if he dies that fragment will go back to Bael, making him even more powerful. She also tells Katsuragi that was Bael was once known as Baal and that he was defeated by God and that he tore his soul apart. Baal in hell devoured those fragments of his soul, regaining his power and returning to earth.

Bunrei is also mentioned by Marduk the Deity. Marduk was once Yoshio Nishino and that when he escaped from Hatsudai Shelter he was killed by a demon and that was when Marduk met Nishino, he accepted being his Bunrei and revived him, but Nishino was killed once again by Astarte the Tyrant at Gokokuji Temple and that he now could only be revived by fusing soul and mind with him, so Nishino was now revived by Marduk, but not as Nishino, but as Marduk.

End of spoilers.

Soul Hackers 2

Flamma is referred to as a bunrei of Aion. Unlike Ringo and Figue who are closer to humans, Flamma has no material body and is genderless.[22]

Trivia

  • The term bunrei is occasionally used by Demons to refer to duplicate versions of themselves, e.g., when the player successfully negotiates with a demon already within their party.[23][24][25]

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language Name Meaning
Japanese 分霊 Bunrei Literally "divided spirit" or "division of (one's) spirit"

Gallery

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: 具現化Manifestation, romanized Gugen-ka

References

  1. ↑ "A branch of the soul of a kami separately enshrined to create a new place of worship. A bunrei is normally enshrined in a bunsha, or branch or subordinate shrine (jinja)." Historical Dictionary of Shinto (2010), Stuart D. B. Picken. Published by Scarecrow Press Inc.. (2 ed.) 57. ISBN-13: 978-0-8108-7172-4.
  2. ↑ "The splitting of the mitama, the soul of the kami, in no way diminishes it; rather; it enhances its greatness." Historical Dictionary of Shinto (2010), Stuart D. B. Picken. Published by Scarecrow Press Inc.. (2 ed.) 58. ISBN-13: 978-0-8108-7172-4.
  3. ↑ "Yamai: 輪廻転生していくことで魂が不滅という考え方は仏教的ですし、 YHVHの立場から見ても、ちょっとグノーシス主義っぽくなりますが、 輪廻転生があったほうがいいでしょうから、「大いなる理」 がそのシステムを作ってYHVHもそれに乗っかっているのかもしれません。" Translation: "Yamai: I think we can explain the existence of ‘bunrei’ through polytheism resulted from human perception. In the Celtic world, the druids saw Dagda as the forefather of sorcerers, but this was different for the Norse people or the Germanic culture. The people of each civilisation would see things as it fit them, so we got Odin instead. ‘Bunrei’ are born like this, but then again, treating Dagda and Odin as identical is wrong. Their powers and responsibilities are different, so it’s better for them to be thought of as different entities. Let’s have a look at YHVH: when he was born, humans perhaps observed YHVH himself, but once the scriptures were written, Uriel would be the one to be noticed and maybe that’s why he made so many appearances in their pages. Uriel frequently appearing as YHVH’s messenger also kind of feels like an accessory that comes to the front in order to preserve YHVH’s solemnity. But that is the result of the perception of later people, so we can also say that Uriel is a part [bunrei] of YHVH." Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Kōshiki Settei Shiryōshū + Shinwa Sekai e no Tabi (2016), Nobuyuki Shioda. Published by Ichijinsha. 103. Translation by Dijeh. ISBN-13: 978-4758014953.
  4. ↑ "天地を創造し、人間を自らに似せて作り出した全能なる存在だが、それはすな。わち分霊としての 「天使」 とともに 「悪魔」 をも生み出したことを意味する。" Translation: "He is the omnipotent existence that created heaven and earth and made man in his own image, but this also means that together with the angels, his bunrei [subparts], he also gave birth to demons." Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Kōshiki Settei Shiryōshū + Shinwa Sekai e no Tabi (2016), Nobuyuki Shioda. Published by Ichijinsha. 57. Translation by Dijeh. ISBN-13: 978-4758014953.
  5. ↑ "天使は神が自身の分霊として作り出した存在とされ、ある意味、神と同じ、 あるいはその一部ということになるが、その天使がなぜ堕落するのか。 天使は驕り、人間に情を移し、嫉妬もする人間的な存在であるが、それを堕天させる神もまた人間的な狭量さを持った存在であるのかもしれない。 天使たちが人間的なパーソナリティを持つ存在であるのならば、 そのパーソナリティも神が持っていたもののコピーであるという推論が可能となる。" Shin Megami Tensei IV World Analyze (2014), Nobuyuki Shioda. Published by Ichijinsha. 103. ISBN-13: 978-4-7580-1356-7.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "ノゾミ: 私は妖精の女王としてダヌーの力を受け継いでいる。そのダヌーは、イナンナの≪分霊≫なのよ。分霊同士の関係って、ちょっと説明し難いんだけど、言わば≪血を分けた親族≫、ってところかしらね。まあ、イナンナが≪母親≫でダヌーが≪娘≫… あるいはイナンナが≪姉≫でダヌーが≪妹≫か。…やっぱり人間の関係で言うと、なんか変な感じね。" Translation: "Nozomi: As the fairy queen, I inherited Danu's power. Danu and Inanna used to be the same god. It's... hard to explain in human terms. You can sorta think of them as mother and daughter, or maybe like Inanna is the older sister and Danu the younger one." Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  7. ↑ "Shioda: 個人的に、 ゲームの中で神を表現するときによく使われる「分霊」 という言葉が、 今作ではとても重要ではないかと思っています。 根源に「大いなる理」があって、 YHVHや他の神々が生まれていくのも分霊ということになりますか? / Yamai: そうですね。" Translation: "Shioda: I personally think that the term ‘bunrei’ [spirit divisions] often used to name gods in the story is extremely important in this game. The Great Reason is the origin. Does that make YHVH and all the other gods ‘bunrei’? / Yamai: Yes, it does." Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Kōshiki Settei Shiryōshū + Shinwa Sekai e no Tabi (2016), Nobuyuki Shioda. Published by Ichijinsha. 103. Translation by Dijeh. ISBN-13: 978-4758014953.
  8. ↑ "声: 誰だ！？　サタンを倒したのは？ 我が元へ来て　姿を見せよ / 声： 我が使い　サタンを倒し... / 声： 我が分霊たる ツァバト　シャダイ　エロヒムを倒し... / 声： 数え切れぬほどの　命を もて遊びたる　呪われし者どもよ..." Translation: "Voice: Who was it? Who was the one who defeated Satan? Come forth and show thyself. / Voice: Defeated my messenger Satan... / Voice: Defeated my avatars, Sabaoth, Shaddai, Elohim... / Voice: Ye accursed beings, who have toyed with countless lives..." Shin Megami Tensei II. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by Dijeh.
  9. ↑ "ガイア思想というと、ジェームズ・ラブロックが提唱した「地球全体を1個の生命体として捉える」というものですね。まさに母なる地球、母なる大地の象徴といえます。ゲーム中にはメムアレフ以外にも、マーヤーやアシェラトなど「母たち」と呼ばれる悪魔たちが登場していますが? / 磯貝 正吾: 今作においては「メムアレフの分霊」といってもいいかもしれません。彼女らは、メムアレフより流出してなっています。 同じように地球に創造をもたらす力です。 メムアレフが「抽象的」な存在であることにくらべると、彼女らはいくらか「具体的」な存在です(「太母」と「どこ地方の太母」の差異)。それは彼女らが、メムアレフよりも人間意識の干渉を余計に受けているからです。 シュバルツバースは現実世界に近いほど人間意識に強く干渉されている、ということです。 奥地/中心ほど、人間臭さがない。このあたりは、神というものが、それを奉じる人間文明の進化とともに社会化されるプロセスを参照しています(汎神論→ … →多神、一神の流れ)。" Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey: Schwarzwelt Reminiscences (2010), Daisuke Narisawa (et al.). Published by Enterbrain. 115. ISBN-13: 978-4047265578.
  10. ↑ "オーディン: ぐぬ…まさか ここまでの成長を… 人間に我が負けるなど…あり得ぬ…ッ クソ…やはり分霊である我では ダグザには…及ばない のか… / ダグザ: 違うぞ オーディン… 貴様が負けたのは分霊だからではない オレとオレの≪神殺し≫を 敵に回したからだ" Translation: "Odin: Gah... How could you have grown so much? How you could a human defeat me!? Am I simply incapable of overcoming Dagda? / Dagda: No, Odin. That's not it. You lost because you made an enemy out of me and my Godslayer." Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  11. ↑ "オーディン: 我らが死んだフリをしていたことは ダグザ様…貴方なら分かっていたはずです 我は貴方より派生した分霊… 根源である貴方が分からぬはずがない" Translation: "Odin: You of all beings should have known that I did not truly perish. We were once the same god. There is no way you could not have known." Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  12. ↑ "イナンナの残滓: ワラ…は万物の母イナンナ 欲…中で東京中に四散し…いた 我が分霊ダヌーよ …ラワは復活…る 汝の力を…こせ その力の源流…ワラワのだ カエ… …エせ返せ…エせ返せ返せ返せ…" Translation: "Inanna's Remnants: I am Inanna, Mother of All. My essence has been cast adrift within the Aether. Danu, my kin... My resurrection nears... Return to me your power! Your power belongs to me... Give it back... Give it back give it back..." Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  13. ↑ "イナンナ: 分霊の分際で ワラワを哀れむか… 苦しみが分かる…？ ならば返せッ 失っていたものが 目の前にあるのだ それを求めて…手を伸ばして何が悪いッ" Translation: "Inanna: You, my kin, pity me? If you know my pain, then give me what I want! How can you not expect me to yearn for what I've lost when it stands right before me!?" Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  14. ↑ "YHVH: サタン…我から流れ出た分霊の分際で この我を試そうとは なんと罪深い… ならば 我はすべての加護を取り払おう もはや汝らに安息の時は訪れぬ…" Translation: "YHVH: Does your sinful arrogance know no bounds that would dare defy me, Satan? Very well. You shall no longer be under my protection. You will find no rest." Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  15. ↑ "サタンの声: 汝は神を討ち 宇宙に新しき祖を もたらした ＹＨＶＨが消えた今 私の役割も終わりを迎える… ＹＨＶＨの分霊である私も 大いなる理の元へと還ることとなる 新たな神の歩む道に祝福を…" Translation: "Satan's Voice: You have dethroned YHVH as God and defeated him. This marks my end as well, as I am but an aspect of YHVH. I shall now return to the Axiom. You have my blessings, new God..." Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  16. ↑ "ヨナタンの声: 驚くことはないよ イザボー 僕らはそちらへ戻ることができないのだ / ワルターの声: ＹＨＶＨも言ってたが サタンも所詮はヤツの分霊… / ヨナタンの声: 彼を討った今 僕らもまた 大いなる理の元へ還らねばならない" Translation: "Jonathan's voice: Come now, Isabeau. You should have known we cannot return to your world. / Walter's voice: YHVH said it, Satan was a part of him. / Jonathan's voice: Since you defeated him, we must return to the Axiom." Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  17. ↑ "アグラト: ふふふ……この道には 数多の私の分霊を潜ませています 際限のない苦しみの中で あなたはいつまで正気を 保っていられるでしょうか……" Translation: "Agrat: Hahaha... I have placed several projections of myself hidden along the path ahead. How long do you suppose you will last before the unending torment drives you to madness?" Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  18. ↑ "アグラト: 私の分霊を切り抜けるとは ナホビノの力は想像した以上のようです" Translation: "Agrat: So you've overcome my spiritual projection... The Nahobino's power is greater than I anticipated." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  19. ↑ "マンセマット: あなたが不思議がるのも当然です 私はあなたの知る大天使の分霊なのですから" Translation: "Mastema: I suppose it is not an illogical response. However, I am but a projection of the actual archangel you are familiar with." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  20. ↑ "Bethel Researcher: 「写せ身」の存在が確認されたことで 各地の神話や信仰に見られる「分霊」という概念が 科学的に実証されたのよ まあ、神造魔人であるアオガミに関しては 分霊というより別ロットって感じかしらね" Translation: "Bethel Researcher: The existence of essences proves the concept of the "division of spirit," which has been found in various belief systems and mythologies around the world. Though in the case of a Proto-fiend like Aogami, I guess it's more like different serial numbers than it is offshoots of the spirit." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  21. ↑ "マンセマット: つまり、あなたの前に現れた尋峯ヨーコは 封印された女神ヨーコの分霊のような 存在だったと解釈できますね 女神の力を取り戻した彼女は すべてを滅ぼそうとしています" Translation: "Mastema: In other words, the Yoko Hiromine you met could be seen as a manifestation of the goddess Yoko who was sealed away. ...Now that she has attained her apotheosis, her true goal is utter annihilation." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  22. ↑ "Aionが生み出した分霊。人間の思想様式を持つリンゴとフィグにAionの演算を伝えるなど、二人のサポートのために生まれた存在。リンゴたちのように肉体は保持しておらず、そのため性別もない。" [1]. Published Jun 22, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2024. Twitter.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "威厳に満ちた声: しかし、汝は既に我が分霊を 従えているな。ならば、問題ない。その者と共に、異端どもを 地に伏せ往くがよい。" Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. Developed by ATLUS.
  24. ↑ "Fionn: ……どうやら、すでに俺の分霊が王の仲魔にいるようだなそいつのことをよろしく頼みます" Translation: "Fionn: ...It looks like a piece of my spirit is already in your service, my king. I pray you will watch over him." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  25. ↑ "アブディエル: それが良い　そうすれば、敦田とやらも 創世という無謀な行為を諦めるであろう そのために、ベテルの力を授けよう 神の秩序のため役立ててくれ / イチロウ: それじゃあ、行こうか アブディエル / アブディエル: ああ、ではよろしく頼むぞ / 大天使アブディエルの分霊を 使役する力を得た" Translation: "Abdiel: To that end, I grant you the full might of Bethel. In His holy name, may it serve you well. / Ichiro: Now, we better move, Abdiel. / Abdiel: Indeed. I pray for your success. / You are now able to command a copy of Herald Abdiel." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  26. ↑ "機動班クルー: 私は、聖なる霊の分散された一部。" Translation: "Strike Team: I am part of the sacred spirit..." Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  27. ↑ "悪魔: これは、小さき神の似姿。神霊の一部とでも申しましょうか。" Translation: "Demon (Metatron): This is the visage of a lesser deity... an aspect of the Holy Spirit, if you will." Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  28. ↑ "???: 人の子が･･･。なんという力を得たというのだ･･･。神の一部まで 倒してしまうとは･･･。ですが、 感謝します。今のうちであれば･･･ 造物主たる神霊よ! 我の元へ還ってくるのです!" Translation: "??? (Metatron): What power... this son of man has gained... He has even defeated a part of God... But I thank you. Now I can... Holy spirit of our creator! Return to me!" Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  29. ↑ "アキラ: 奴は自らを神の一部 『日の老いたる者』 と名乗った" Translation: "It calls itself Ancient of Days, saying it is a part of God." Shin Megami Tensei IV. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  30. ↑ "エンシェントデイ: 我はエンシェントデイ･･･ 神の一部であり 神の代行者" Translation: "My name is the Ancient of Days... I am a part of the Lord, as well as His messenger." Shin Megami Tensei IV. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  31. ↑ "神霊 - 唯一神の分身たる存在であり、唯一神のある一面を表現する。 古くからその存在は認められており、ユダヤ教の文献にはその名を散見することができよう。" Shin Megami Tensei II Akuma Dai Jiten (1994). Published by Takarajima. 14. ISBN-13: 4-7966-0841-9.
  32. ↑ "フランマ: 言うなれば、Aionの一時的かつ限定的な具現化です。" Translation: "Flamma: More specifically, you are temporary and limited manifestations of Aion." Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  33. ↑ "天使たちは神の意思を代行する者だが、 四大天使が行った人間世界への介入について、 神が実際にその意思を明示したとは考えにくい。 ギャビーは人間の中に紛れて観察することで、 新たな千年紀を作り上げるための粛清を心に決めたと語っている。四大天使をはじめとする上位の天使たちは、悪魔化現象で人間から変化したわけはなく、この世界に人間が生まれる前から存在していたと考えられる。 “理の神” が自身の分霊として生み出した存在であるなら、誕生した時点から神の意思を文字通り身のうちに感じ、それに従って行動してきたのだろう。" Shin Megami Tensei IV World Analyze (2014), Nobuyuki Shioda. Published by Ichijinsha. 103. ISBN-13: 978-4-7580-1356-7.
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