Xiezhai
Xiezhai is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.
Profile
Origin
Xiezhai is a misspelling of Xiezhi,[a] a one-horned sheep-beast[1] from Chinese culture said to be able to tell a righteous person from an unrighteous person, appearing when the argument is settled.[2] It is said to have been born in 733 B.C.,[b] during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, in Fuping, Jingzhao (modern-day Xi'an).[3]
It was prominently mentioned in the Book of Gods and Strange Things,[c] where it is said to enter arguments and criticise or laugh at those who are in the wrong.[4] In Shuowen Jiezi,[d] however, it is described as going far as to charge people with its horn, particularly under the command of Gao Yao.[5][1] Playing on these sources, Xiezhi is sometimes even mentioned as devouring those in the wrong. Among Xiezhi's most prominent and vivid descriptions was in the Taiping Yulan,[e][6] a 10th century encyclopedia which compiled and quoted numerous historical sources. Here, it is said to live in northeastern meadows. In it, a story is told of a deity leaving a Xiezhi to Huang Di. Huang Di first asks what it eats, to which it replies "荐", which likely meant grass, but could also be self-referential.[7]
Xiezhi is usually described as having a long, fleshy horn, bright eyes, and a dark blue fur coat,[8] though some statues may present it as having more horns. This imagery was, and still is, common in legal settings, with judges of old wearing hats bearing Xiezhi's visage. Indeed, to this day, Xiezhi is a symbol of justice in Chinese and arguably moreso in Korean culture.
Design
Xiezhai's design debuting in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner appears as a sheep-like creature with swirled wool, blue fur and skin, and a singular long horn coming out of its forehead. This perfectly matches the description given in Book of Gods and Strange Things.
Gameplay
- For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Xiezhai.
Compendium
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| Compendium Entries | |
|---|---|
| Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne |
It is said that this mythical creature of Chinese mythology can see through lies and, with its horn, gore a liar. |
| Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster |
It is said that this mythical creature of Chinese mythology can see through lies and, with its horn, gores a liar. |
| Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance |
A sacred beast resembling a sheep in Chinese legend. Its eyes are said to have the power to see through any lie. Often appearing in the human world, it is said to punish the wicked with the power of its sharp horn. |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner(Akuma Zensho; PSP) |
出身地：中国 中国の江西省に棲むといわれる、羊に似た獣。頭に1本の角を持っている。 カイチは夏は涼しさをもとめて水辺で過ごし、冬は風雪を避け松柏の森に棲んだとされる。 邪悪に反応するという不思議な性質を持った獣で、裁判が公平に行われればその姿をあらわしたという。 古代中国では法官のかぶる帽子のことを「カイチ」と呼び、罪の疑わしい者はこれに触れさせたと伝わっている。Translation: |
| Persona 4 |
A spirit from Chinese legend, shaped like a sheep, that can see through any lie. It occasionally appears in the human world to punish evildoers with the power stored in its sharp horn. |
| Persona 4 Golden | |
| Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth |
A spirit from Chinese legend, shaped like a sheep, that can see through any lie. It occasionally appears in the human world to punish evildoers with the power stored in its sharp horn. |
| Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth |
A spirit from Chinese legend, shaped like a sheep, that can see through any lie. It occasionally appears in the human world to punish evildoers with the power stored in its sharp horn. |
| Devil Children Black Book and Red Book | GBC: ヒツジのすがたを したデビル いいこととわるい ことをみぬく ふしぎなちからを もっているPS: ヒツジのすがたを したデビル いい事と悪い 事を見抜く ふしぎな力を 持っているTranslation: |
| Devil Children White Book | ヒツジのすがたを したデビル いいこととわるい ことをみぬく ふしぎなちからを もっているTranslation: |
| Devil Children Light Book and Dark Book | ひつじに にた 姿をしている １本角の デビル 悪い事を した 人間を ひと目で 見やぶるTranslation: |
| DemiKids Light Version and Dark Version |
A cross between a lamb and a unicorn, this demon can sense the intentions of others. |
| Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book | ヒツジに にた 姿をしている １本角の デビル 悪い事を した 人間を ひと目で 見やぶるTranslation: |
| Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker |
A mythical creature of Chinese lore that looks like a sheep with a single horn on its head. It can see through lies and is said to appear on Earth periodically to punish the guilty. Xiezhai is currently the official symbol of gavels in Chinese courts. |
Nomenclature
Gallery
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Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner -
Artwork from Devil Children Black Book and Red Book -
Artwork from Devil Children White Book -
Render from Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance -
Render from Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Akuma Zensho -
Sprite from the Sega Saturn version of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner -
Sprite from the Game Boy Color version of Devil Children Black Book and Red Book and Devil Children White Book -
Sprite from the PlayStation version of Devil Children Black Book and Red Book -
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Sprite from Devil Survivor 2 -
Sprite from Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker -
Sprite from Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner -
Icon from Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance -
Card graphic from Persona 4 -
Graphic from Persona 4 Golden -
Graphic from Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth -
Graphic from Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth -
Icon from Devil Survivor 2 -
Graphic from Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker -
Icon from Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker -
Model from Persona 4 -
Card N-291 from Shin Megami Tensei Card Game: Nocturne Ver. Part 2 -
Card FW-057 from Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children Card Game: Byakusei no Monshou
Videos
Notes
- ↑ Simplified Chinese: 獬豸, Traditional Chinese: 獬豸, romanized xièzhì, can also be written interchangeably with 解廌. Also known as 任法獸 rènfǎshòu in Shenjijing.
- ↑ Specifically, on the 21st year of 开元 Kaiyuan, as said in The Book of Tang
- ↑ Simplified Chinese: 神异经, Traditional Chinese: 神異經, romanized Shényìjīng
- ↑ Simplified Chinese: 说文解字, Traditional Chinese: 說文解字, romanized Shuōwén Jiězì
- ↑ Simplified Chinese: 太平御览, Traditional Chinese: 太平御覽, romanized Tàipíng Yùlǎn
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 《述異記》：獬豸者，一角之羊也，性知人。有罪。皋陶治獄，其罪疑 者，令羊觸之。
- ↑ 《符瑞志》：獬豸知曲直，獄訟平則至。
- ↑ 《太平御览》：《唐书》曰：开玄二十一年，有一角神羊产于京兆之富平县，肉角当顶，白毛上捧。识者以獬豸名之。Note: 京兆 would be modern-day 西安 Xi'an
- ↑ 《神異經》：獬豸忠直，見人鬥則觸不直，聞人論則咋不正。一名任法獸。
- ↑ 《说文解字》：解𢊁，獸也，似山牛，一角。古者決訟，令觸不直。
- ↑ Ctext
- ↑ 《太平御览》：《说文》曰：獬豸，似牛，一角。古者决讼，命触不直。黄帝时有遗帝獬豸者，帝问何食何处，曰：“食荐。春夏处水泽，秋冬处竹箭松筠。”
- ↑ 《太平御览》：《神异经》曰：东北荒中有兽，如牛，一角，毛青，四足，似熊。忠直，见人斗则触不直，闻人论则咋不正。名曰獬豸，一名任法兽。张华曰：今御史法冠曰獬豸。
- Pages needing translations
- Demons from Chinese Culture
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
- Personas in Persona 4
- Personas in Persona 4 Golden
- Personas in Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
- Personas in Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
- Demons in Devil Children Black Book and Red Book
- Demons in Devil Children White Book
- Demons in Devil Children Light Book and Dark Book
- Demons in Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book
- Demons in Devil Children: Messiah Riser
- Demons in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner
- Demons in Devil Survivor 2
- Demons in Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner