Editing Kensei (section)

=====Celestial Creatures=====
Celestials are the beings of Ten-Do and inhabitants of Ama, and are either Kami or the servants of Kami. 

* Raiju

A level 1 Celestial. Raiju have the appearance of a horned canine with traits of foxes or dogs mainly, and appear to be partially made out of or bathed in electrically-charged clouds. . 

Their name means "Lightning beast" or "Roaring animal". They are entirely made of light, and leap from cloud tops with a bellow on their foes making them seem as if they were sentient lightning. 

The Japanese origin is the animal companion of the Shinto god of lightning Raijin. Raiju is a singular creature but appears as different animals such as cats, dogs, foxes, weasels, and wolves, all made of pure lightning and while flying resembles a lightning ball. Thunder cracks accompany his appearances. Strangely enough he likes to sleep in the navel of humans who sleep outdoors, and the irritated Raijin attempts to electrocute humans he sees from the sky when Raiju can't be found; to avoid getting electrocuted because a god's pet thunderweasel is sleeping in your belly button you apparently must sleep on your stomach. The [[Pokemon]] Raikou, and the three legendary dogs in general, were based on Raiju (much of second generation Pokemon was based on Japanese mythology). 

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* Basan

A level 1 Celestial that looks like a large hen, and can grow to be as big as a mountain. 

Rather than clucking, their noise is an onomatopoeia sounding like "Basaibaba". Each time they exhale they shoot flames, although these flames only burn what the Basan wants it to and can never harm a being who is pure of heart. They are nocturnal. 

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* Komainu

A level 2 Celestial, resembling a giant dog with the head of a lion. 

Komainu are guardians of the Celestial realm, and always come in pairs which stand guard at attention on the sides of doorways or gates. They can be found made of stone, metal, flesh, or even as spirits. 
Shrines often put statues of Komainu at their entrances, and its believed they will come to life and defend the temple if besieged. 

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* Tennyo

A level 2 Celestial. Tennyo are four-armed angelic women bearing bows and katanas. 

The female servants uplifted by the Kami, they spend their time in Ama pursuing the tender arts of music, poetry, art, and love. They do not hesitate to do battle with the corrupt, and will fight without fear. 

The mythological origin of Tennyo is divine beings that are similar to angels and fairies that inhabit the heavenly realms in Japanese Buddhism serving the important heavenly entities such as Buddhas and Bodhisattva (ascended mortals), themselves inspired by similar beings in Chinese Buddhism which in turn are inspired by similar beings in Indian Buddhism. Japanese Tennyo sometimes visit the realm of mankind and remove their magical feathered kimono called Hagoromo which allow them to fly. In both legends and in Noh plays there is a story of a fisherman who finds a Hagoromo on the ground near the shore and is then confronted by a naked Tennyo. Depending on the version he either took it intentionally without her knowing and married her then giving it back and allowing her to return to heaven after a long life together, or he took it by mistake and simply asks her to perform a heavenly dance for him in exchange for it back, said dance teaching the human race about the phases of the moon and tides. 
Male Tennyo are called Tennin and are functionally the exact same, only they (presumably) don't marry fishermen. 

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* Byakko

Level 3 Celestial. The spirit of the west, Byakko is a singular entity that appears as a bipedal white tiger. 

He is a being of great power who summons the powers of the sky including wind and electricity in defense of the balance of the world. When not in war, Byakko serves as an advisor to rulers by dispensing his thousands of years of wisdom to them. 

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* Kirin

A level 3 Celestial, Kirin combine the roles of Angels and Unicorns in Hymukai myth. 

Kirin have the head of a deer, body of a lion, and dragon scales with an elongated giraffe-like neck. Kirin are beings of utmost purity who avoid the mortal world and its earthly impurities whenever possible. Despite this they acts as messengers for the Kami, and when in need the Kami will call on a Kirin to command their subordinates in battle like a divine Taisho. 

The origin of the Kirin myth lies in China where an emperor sent an expedition to Africa and returned with animals for his zoo. He told the story that his giraffe was a magical being that only appeared for wise leaders and that having his own was proof of this. Its debated whether he believed this story or told it for amusement. Artistic representations combined the Chinese dragon with a deer and an ox tail, the giraffe spots appearing as scales. Buddhists reinvented it as the supreme celestial creature, only below dragons and phoenixes in power, who dwells in the homes or kingdoms of pure beings and will immolate any evil that threatens them while itself walking on clouds out of fear of harming innocent grass. 
The Japanese version is actually the most powerful mythological creature, surpassing dragons and phoenixes. It also lost most of the dragon features, appearing instead as a deer with large horns and a body that glows with small (unless angry when it is surrounded by) flames. 

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* Suzako

A level 4 Celestial, also called "Suzaku". Is essentially a Phoenix, although it is immortal rather than dying and being reborn. They appear so radiant, all other beings look common beside them. 

Suzako inhabit and protect the southern prairies of the southern Ten-Do. Their fire not only brings great comfort and warmth to the residents of Ten-Do, but their heat causes seeds to grow more plentiful in the mortal world as well. They are believed to be the servants of the first Empress, Jingu, and guard Umi, the sacred fire of Hymukai. When they appear in the mortal world, either great prosperity or great misery will come. 

Its a Phoenix, Japanese-style. Like Byakko and Genbu, the Suzako (which is its real Japanese name) is one of four beings who rule nature (in this case birds) and represent the four Cardinal Directions, in this case south, and one of the four seasons, summer, as well as the color red, fire, and is important to the concept of balance in Taoism as well as representing 7/28 of the constellations in the night sky. The Chinese version is Zhū Què, or "Vermilion Bird". Early Shinto heavily used the Taoist approach and Kyoto, the traditional capital of Japan, was built to correspond to many of its principles while Suzako adorned gates throughout the city as its protector. 

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* Baku

Level 4 Celestial. Baku have lion-like bodies and elephant/tapir-like heads. They are very large, and come in many colors including black and pink. 

Baku eat dreams (again, the Pokemon Drowzee and Hypno were based on them), magic, and curses. They can be invoked as a healer or guardian for the spiritually afflicted. 
They are perhaps the most ardent enemies of evil, causing any Infernal being great fear. Baku normally dwell in the Celestial prairies. 

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