In Japanese mythology and fantasy, mazoku (魔族) are supernatural beings, normally evil ones such as devils or demons.[1] A maō (魔王) or maou is a ruler of mazoku, or in fiction more generically a dark lord or powerful monster.[2]
The name ma (魔 – devil) suggests that they are meant to threaten human existence or defy the gods, while -zoku (族 – tribe, clan, family) indicates that they are a family.[3]
Maō (魔王) is a term derived from mazoku, suggesting a king (王Ō – king, ruler) that rules the mazoku.[2]
In mythology and legendedit
The term "mazoku" was used to describe the asura and yaksha in Hindu mythology, as well as Zoroastrianism's daeva. It is a general term for devils, demons and evil beings. In Japanese polytheism, it is an antonym of 神族 (shinzoku), "the tribe of gods".
A maō is a king or ruler over mazoku. For instance, in Bible translations, Satan is a maō. In polytheism, the counterpart of maō is 神王 (shin'ō), "the king of gods".
The Japanese feudal lord Oda Nobunaga also called himself a maō in a letter to Takeda Shingen, signing it with 第六天魔王 ("the demon king of the sixth heaven").
In fictionedit
In Japanese fantasy, the meaning of "mazoku" differs from work to work. Some works use the term for all evil beings that are enemies of humans or good beings, while others use it to specify a certain group of beings (not necessarily evil). The term 悪魔族 (akumazoku) may be used to designate evil mazoku specifically (the word 悪, aku, means "evil").[citation needed]
A maō may be a king of the mazoku, or more generally a king of demons, overlord, dark lord, archenemy of the hero or video game boss. The term is not gender-specific.[2] For instance, "Erlkönig", by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, widely translated as "Elf King" in English, was translated as "maō" in Japanese. The term daimaō or daimaou (大魔王 – great demon king) is sometimes used to describe a very high-ranking or powerful maō.[2] An example is Piccolo Daimaō, a villain from the Dragon Ball manga.
Referencesedit
^"Demon Guide". Kanzenshuu. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ abcdMandelin, Clyde (13 April 2018). "Legends of Localization: Tricky Translations #1: Maou & Daimaou". Legends of Localization. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
^"Zoku". The Origin of Zoku. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
April 08, 2024
mazoku, maō, redirects, here, series, devil, series, japanese, mythology, fantasy, mazoku, 魔族, supernatural, beings, normally, evil, ones, such, devils, demons, maō, 魔王, maou, ruler, mazoku, fiction, more, generically, dark, lord, powerful, monster, contents, . Maō redirects here For the TV series see Devil TV series In Japanese mythology and fantasy mazoku 魔族 are supernatural beings normally evil ones such as devils or demons 1 A maō 魔王 or maou is a ruler of mazoku or in fiction more generically a dark lord or powerful monster 2 Contents 1 Etymology 2 In mythology and legend 3 In fiction 4 ReferencesEtymology editThe name ma 魔 devil suggests that they are meant to threaten human existence or defy the gods while zoku 族 tribe clan family indicates that they are a family 3 Maō 魔王 is a term derived from mazoku suggesting a king 王 Ō king ruler that rules the mazoku 2 In mythology and legend editThe term mazoku was used to describe the asura and yaksha in Hindu mythology as well as Zoroastrianism s daeva It is a general term for devils demons and evil beings In Japanese polytheism it is an antonym of 神族 shinzoku the tribe of gods A maō is a king or ruler over mazoku For instance in Bible translations Satan is a maō In polytheism the counterpart of maō is 神王 shin ō the king of gods The Japanese feudal lord Oda Nobunaga also called himself a maō in a letter to Takeda Shingen signing it with 第六天魔王 the demon king of the sixth heaven In fiction editIn Japanese fantasy the meaning of mazoku differs from work to work Some works use the term for all evil beings that are enemies of humans or good beings while others use it to specify a certain group of beings not necessarily evil The term 悪魔族 akumazoku may be used to designate evil mazoku specifically the word 悪 aku means evil citation needed A maō may be a king of the mazoku or more generally a king of demons overlord dark lord archenemy of the hero or video game boss The term is not gender specific 2 For instance Erlkonig by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe widely translated as Elf King in English was translated as maō in Japanese The term daimaō or daimaou 大魔王 great demon king is sometimes used to describe a very high ranking or powerful maō 2 An example is Piccolo Daimaō a villain from the Dragon Ball manga References edit Demon Guide Kanzenshuu Retrieved 7 June 2015 a b c d Mandelin Clyde 13 April 2018 Legends of Localization Tricky Translations 1 Maou amp Daimaou Legends of Localization Retrieved 14 April 2018 Zoku The Origin of Zoku Retrieved 7 June 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mazoku amp oldid 1190401401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
