User:1261915008405868587
Template:Infobox Character Template:Quote2 Template:Nihongo is a shikaisen who was formerly a hermit practicing Taoism that resurrected by placing her soul into a plate. Futo is a loyal vassal of Toyosatomimi no Miko who originates from the Asuka era and possesses the ability to manipulate feng shui. Futo first appeared as the Stage 5 boss and briefly as a supporting enemy during the Stage 6 boss fight in Ten Desires. She then became a playable character, and possible opponent, in multiple fighting games since Hopeless Masquerade.
General Information
Personality
Futo is described as being gentle at heart, but unable to adapt to modern times along with modern Gensokyo in general. Hieda no Akyuu points out in Symposium of Post-mysticism that because of it, she has an extremely "hermit-like" personality. Even in ancient times, she clung to Taoism rather than Buddhism, indicating a dislike of change and a favoring of old ways. She is friendly towards humans, even going so far as to save them on occasion, but hostile towards youkai for some reason. Toyosatomimi no Miko describes her as being a scaredy-cat, though her "fear" of Buddhist statues led to her burning them (and temples) down to the ground (as the head of the Mononobe clan). She's described by Sumireko Usami as being gentle and eager to please, but as also being an airhead who does not know the meaning of moderation.[1]
In speech, she speaks with in an archaic Japanese language. In first person, she uses Template:Nihongo and in second person, Template:Nihongo. In her speech and conduct, she attaches Template:Nihongo to the end of her sentences for emphasis, which is a little old-fashioned. Based on this, it would be no problem to think that she was probably born a long time ago and that she has a certain aura of nobility, never saying anything wild or off-beat.
She says things which indicate that she might have a tendency to misunderstand others a little, for example she automatically thought that the heroine of Ten Desires had come to her for a blessing in order to recover. Thus she is a manifestation of the "idiot child", this may relate to how well she takes her defeat in general, sometimes praising the heroine. After battles, she always makes the excuse that she has not shown her true strength.
Abilities
- Manipulating feng shui
Futo is apparently able to manipulate feng shui. This ability is mentioned in Symposium of Post-mysticism, where it is said that it's a power Futo acquired before studying Taoism and that due to the similarities in terms of worshiping nature, it's something almost identical to Shinto. Feng shui is the flow of qi, particularly the flow of qi according to the environment. To manipulate feng shui is to apply some treatment to the surrounding environment and artificially change the flow of qi and it is something that manipulates fate and fortune. Although it has a high effect on fixed things like towns and houses, its effect is thin on things that busily move, like people and animals.
In terms of practical applications, Futo seems able to manipulate dragon veins to change the nearby ground,[2] controlling fire,[3] wind,[4] and water,[5] teleporting,[6] lowering the amount of fortune in a determinated area[7] or even altering the flow of fortune from other people to canalize it to another person. [8]
- Seal Creation
Futo was capable of creating a "Oni-Sealing Circle", which was used to keep Suika imprisoned in a cell. Suika also expressed concern, as the cells's kimon[9] were "perfectly sealed", according to her own words.[10]
Occupation
Futo currently serves Toyosatomimi no Miko and resides in the Hall of Dreams' Great Mausoleum while practicing Taoism.
Possessions
A plate is mentioned as the object Futo used to transfer her soul into in order to become a shikaisen and she carries several plates in Hopeless Masquerade. In addition, she is seen riding a boat during some of her spell cards in Ten Desires, Hopeless Masquerade and Impossible Spell Card, and uses a bow as a weapon in the fighting games.[11]
Official Profiles
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Skills
Template:Hidden begin {{#lsth:List of Skills|Mononobe no Futo}} Template:Hidden end
Spell Cards
Template:Hidden begin {{#lsth:List_of Spell Cards/Touhou Project 2|Mononobe no Futo}} Template:Hidden end
Backstory
Futo originated in the Mononobe clan, widely known to be a Shinto-worshipping clan. However, she was actually a worshipper of Taoism. She decided to practice her Taoism in secret, as it lacked political power due to the fact that anyone can undergo the training required to become a hermit. Toyosatomimi no Miko eventually approached her and proposed a plan: Miko would pacify the nation under Buddhism, but she and Futo would die and be reborn as shikaisen. Futo agreed, and managed to ally herself with the Soga clan to get them to follow Buddhism blindly.
After the Mononobe clan caught wind of this, a religious war ensued between them and the Soga clan. The Mononobe clan was eventually defeated after numerous harsh battles that left many Buddhist temples and artifacts destroyed; and thus the nation was united under Buddhism.
Once the battles ended, Futo finally attempted the process of becoming a shikaisen by "dying". Miko soon followed suit and they both ended up in Gensokyo.
Character Design
Origin
The Mononobe clan was a family who waged a fierce political battle with the Soga clan over Buddhism. In particular, Soga no Umako and Mononobe no Moriya were two very influential courtiers to Emperor Bidatsu and his brother, Emperor Youmei, who was the father of Prince Shoutoku. Both Youmei and Shoutoku were proponents of Buddhism, which led to victory for Umako, whose forces killed Moriya and his allies in the Battle of Shigisan in 587.
Of the Mononobe, there existed Template:Nihongo, who was the little sister of Mononobe no Moriya. In the Nihon Shoki, she was Soga no Umako's wife, although her name was never mentioned there. But according to the book, Umako "gratuitously killed Moriya by carrying out his wife's plot". So, according to this account, Futsuhime was a collaborator to Soga clan and a traitor to the Mononobe, despite her lineage. Furthermore, Umako and his wife are thought to have given birth to Tojiko no Iratsume. Other historical documents tell different accounts. For example, in the Sendai Kuji Hongi, she was married to Emperor Sushun and later to Mononobe no Nieko no Muraji, who was Mononobe no Moriya's little brother and Futsuhime's half brother.
Name
Her full name is Template:Nihongo. She takes the name Template:Nihongo as a member of the Mononobe clan. Her given name, Template:Nihongo, is derived from the name Template:Nihongo, whom her name was based off on.
Design
In Ten Desires's official art, Mononobe no Futo has grey eyes, grey hair and is dressed in a uniform which resembles Heian Era clothing such as a Template:Nihongo or a Template:Nihongo, modified with the addition of a purple skirt, with an Template:Nihongo atop her head. Kariginu or suikan were worn for everyday clothes by the male Template:Nihongo in the Heian Era. The ribbons wrapped around various parts of her outfit (i.e. her neck, shoes, hat, and sleeves) all correspond to the five colors of Feng Shui. [12]
Appearances
<tabber> |-|Games=
When the heroine reaches the Hall of Dreams' Great Mausoleum in stage 5, Futo appears to them, having been reborn as a shikaisen. She challenges the heroine, thinking that she is the final trial to be overcome in her resurrection. After she is defeated, however, she realizes that the spirits of desire are actually flooding into the mausoleum in anticipation of Toyosatomimi no Miko's resurrection rather than her own.
|-|Spin-offs=
Futo initially approaches the Hakurei Shrine after Miko defeated Reimu Hakurei in combat, and she wants an explanation. However, Reimu has shut herself in, and Futo ends up battling Marisa Kirisame first. After emerging victorious, she approaches Koishi Komeiji for the same reason. She then travels to the Myouren Temple, where she reveals her goal to Ichirin Kumoi - that their respective religions unite for the common good of the suffering people. Ichirin insists that Byakuren Hijiri has it under control, and that they need no help from the likes of a taoist. After Futo defeats her, she is impressed and invites her to convert; Ichirin refuses, prompting Futo to mention the fact that she drinks alcohol.
Futo then wanders to the Youkai Mountain, having realized that Miko already resolved the incident. There, she runs into Nitori Kawashiro, who is taking down her stall. Futo inquires as to the details of Nitori's battle with Miko, but Nitori couldn't care less about the religious war. This prompts her to attempt to convert Nitori, but after she defeats the kappa, Nitori decides that if she were to become a religious believer, she'd probably go to Shinto rather than Taoism, much to Futo's dismay. As Futo returns to the Human Village, she encounters Miko herself, and they engage in battle. However, it was actually Mamizou Futatsuiwa in disguise, and after Futo loses all her popularity in the process of defeating her, she battles Mamizou in her true form. After defeating her again, Mamizou explains that she was only looking out for the humans, and that someone is behind all this.
Futo encounters Hata no Kokoro that night, who is trying to figure out what to do with her time until Miko creates a new Mask of Hope for her. Unfortunately, the two end up fighting each other. After defeating her, Futo returns to the Mausoleum, where Miko explains that she's making a new mask. Futo is doubtful.
After apparently reading the newspaper by the tengu about a mischief-making amanojaku, she becomes one of the many strong youkai and humans to try and stop Seija Kijin. She uses spell cards that are considered impossible to dodge.
Futo decides to gather the Occult Balls as her master does, but leaving the strong people to Miko. After encountering Ichirin Kumoi and Reimu Hakurei, Futo defeats Fujiwara no Mokou and obtains six of the balls. She bumps into Byakuren Hijiri, who claims wanting to prove that the ongoing rumors about the balls are just lies.
In Antinomy of Common Flowers, Futo, alongside Ichirin Kumoi, assists Toyosatomimi no Miko and Byakuren Hijiri in their investigation of Perfect Possession. Unlike most tag teams, Futo takes turns with Ichirin at being the master of the possession. After a couple of fights, Futo gets tired and nods off while Ichirin is possessing her, and as a result the two share the same dream in the Dream World.
At sundown when they return to the Myouren Temple, they challenge their leaders for a chance to take over the investigation and vanquish the culprits of the incident themselves.
|-|Literature=
She was one of the contestants during the Hakurei Fireworks Festival and showcased some of her danmaku. She took a temporary break between her spell cards to let childrens from the audience ride on her boat.
Reimu Hakurei writes a fortune slip about Futo as a way of cleaning up in the aftermath of an incident. </tabber>
Relationships
Toyosatomimi no Miko
Futo has been Toyosatomimi no Miko's faithful servant since before the religious war between Shinto and Buddhism. After they died to become shikaisen together and reappeared in Gensokyo, they remain together. Symposium of Post-mysticism says that they usually act in unison.
Soga no Tojiko
Their official profiles state that Futo and Soga no Tojiko get along with each other for the most part, despite their origins as enemies in the religious war. They seem to be united under the fact that they both hate Buddhism. In Symposium of Post-mysticism, it's revealed that the reason Tojiko is a ghost is because Futo tricked her when they became shikaisen, having held a grudge against her during the religious wars. Tojiko, however, does not seem to have a problem with being a ghost.
Ichirin and Futo have a rivalry with each other thanks to their clashing religious beliefs. Despite this, the two work shockingly well together, able to prove themselves to both Byakuren Hijiri and Toyosatomimi no Miko. Futo holds a notable level of respect to Ichirin, inviting her to practice Taoism along with her. The two got along rather well, but had a falling out after being defeated by Joon Yorigami.[13]
Other Characters
Due to her automatically misunderstanding others, she quickly came to conclusions the first time she met Reimu, Marisa, Sanae and Youmu. For instance: with Reimu, she thought that she has come to be an experimental subject for complete recovery; with Sanae, she thinks Sanae has come to deliver her to heaven; and with Youmu, she thought she was a shikaisen (dead nirvana hermit), and therefore continues to think Youmu is a hermit even after the battle.
Gallery
Artworks
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Futo artwork from Ten Desires
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Futo artwork from Hopeless Masquerade
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Futo artwork from Urban Legend in Limbo
Sprites
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Futo's different color palettes from Antinomy of Common Flowers, Urban Legend in Limbo, and Hopeless Masquerade, the last two were added in Antinomy of Common Flowers v1.10
Illustrations
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Futo with Tojiko from Who's Who of Humans & Youkai - Dusk Edition
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Futo's fortune slip in Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine
Screenshots
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Futo in Lotus Eaters
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Futo's cameo in Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine
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Futo in Foul Detective Satori
Additional Information
- Her clothing – a kariginu-like outfit with the upper part in white – resembles typical Heian Era clothing, or a stereotypical onmyouji uniform in Japanese pop culture. SinGyoku's "male" form wears similar clothing.
- Due to localization of the fangames that are part of Play, Doujin!, she is internationally known as Futo Mononobe.
- In some articles in gaming sites about the Touhou Genso Wanderer fangame, Futo's name was misspelled as Ruto.
- In her official profile, ZUN lists her as a "Taoist self-identifying as a shikaisen", but it can be inferred from her backstory as well as her article in Symposium of Post-mysticism that she is a bona-fide shikaisen.
- Futo's spellcard in the fighting games, Fate "Gate Opening for Catastrophe", when charged at the highest misfortune level, drops a UFO from Undefined Fantastic Object on the enemy.
Fandom
Official Sources
- 2011/08/12 Ten Desires - Stage 5 dialogue; Settings and Extra Story.txt (official profile, Miko's profile, Tojiko's profile)
- 2012/04/27 Symposium of Post-mysticism - Mononobe no Futo
- 2013/05/26 - Hopeless Masquerade - Playable character
See Also
References
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- ↑ The Grimoire of Usami - Futo's Section
- ↑ Hopeless Masquerade - Mononobe no Futo's Spell Cards: Standing Mountain skill
- ↑ Hopeless Masquerade - Mononobe no Futo's Spell Cards: Liuren Holy Fire skill, Blaze Sign "Taiyi True Fire" Inferno Reformation Spell Cards
- ↑ Hopeless Masquerade - Mononobe no Futo's Spell Cards: Combination Wind and Wind's Ominous Hole skills Wind Sign "Miwa Plate Storm" Spell Card
- ↑ Hopeless Masquerade - Mononobe no Futo's Spell Cards: Water-Embracing Plates
- ↑ Hopeless Masquerade - Wind's Ominous Hole skill
- ↑ Hopeless Masquerade - Mononobe no Futo's Spell Cards: Fate "Gate Opening for Catastrophe"
- ↑ Lotus Eaters - Chapter 53
- ↑ Template:Nihongo, "Demon Gate". The northeast location of a place in Japanese geomancy, said to be a unlucky direction, and where Oni and Devils could enter freely.
- ↑ Lotus Eaters - Chapter 54
- ↑ Hopeless Masquerade - Mononobe no Futo's Spell Cards: Royal Dragon's Arrow skill and Bow Sign "Star Dragon Bow"
- ↑ Who's Who of Humans and Youkai in Gensokyo - Mononobe no Futo and Soga no Tojiko
- ↑ Antinomy of Common Flowers - Futo's Ending