Juuni Kokuki (12 kingdoms)

The Twelve Kingdoms (Japanese: 十二国記 Hepburn: Jūni Kokuki^?, also known as "Record of 12 Countries" or "Jūni Kokki," a common alternate reading) is a Japanese series of light novels written by Fuyumi Ono and illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. The first entry in the series ("The Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow") was published by Kodanshain Japan in 1992; the last Kodansha volume was released in 2001. In 2012 the series was resumed under the Shinchō Bunko line fromShinchosha. Shinchosha has also begun reprinting the older volumes with new cover and interior art from Akihiro Yamada.^[1]

The Chinese mythology-influenced books were adapted into ananimated television series in 2002. The Studio Pierrot production aired on Japan's NHK from April 9, 2002 to August 30, 2003, totaling 45 episodes.

The Twelve Kingdoms is a series of novels that focus on a world inspired by Chinese mythology, where twelve different kingdoms exist under the rule of an individual chosen by the Tians. The series does not exclusively focus on one character, though the stories of Youko Nakajima, the protagonist of the first novel, and Taiki, the protagonist of the second book, are most prevalent in the series.

Characters[edit]

Main article: List of Twelve Kingdoms characters

One of the major stories of the series centers around a red-haired girl named Youko Nakajima from Japan who is suddenly transported to the world of the Twelve Kingdoms and searches for her destiny. However, neither the series nor the anime concentrates solely on Youko and they do tell stories of other characters. The anime uses Youko as a framing device for telling other stories while the novels do not.

The novels focus on several characters other than Youko, including Taiki, a timid rare black Kirin who serves the ruler of Tai, and Enki and Shouryuu, the Kirin and King of En respectively. Other major characters include Keiki, the Kirin, of Kei who brings Youko to the Twelve Kingdoms; Gyousou, a general chosen by Taiki to become King of Tai; Shushou, the Queen of Kyou; Shoukei, the disposed princess of Hou, and Suzu, a peasant girl who is unexpectedly transported from Japan to the Twelve Kingdoms.

Each of the Twelve Kingdoms has a monarch and a kirin, a mythological beast who first selects, and then serves, the monarch of his or her kingdom, and can assume human form. Though only a few rulers and Kirin are in the main focus of the story, many are encountered in the series and play a significant role.

Setting[edit]

The Twelve Kingdoms tells several stories from the world of the Twelve Kingdoms, located on several islands in another dimension accessible from our world through magic (though the other way around is normally impossible). On the islands, magic works and societies similar to classical China exist. While the inhabitants of the Twelve Kingdoms are aware of the existence of our world as the lands of Hourai (Japan) and Kunlun (China), the reverse is not true. The inhabitants of the kingdoms speak a different language than the language of our world, both of which can be learned by either side. Only extraordinary circumstances can enable the two worlds to affect each other for certain periods of time.

In this world, there are a total of thirteen lands. At the center of the world lies the Koukai (the Yellow Sea) and Mt. Hou, where the Gods communicate their will to the Twelve Kingdoms of the world. Each of the Twelve Kingdoms possess their own ruler and its own Kirin, a divine creature which embodies the will of heaven and is entrusted to choose a kingdom's ruler. The ruler will have immortal life as long as he keeps the kingdom healthy and their heads are not severed from their body.

The Koukai, known as the Yellow Sea, is surrounded by four inland seas: the Black Sea in the north, the Blue Sea to the east, the Red Sea in the south, and the White Sea to the west. Eight of the Twelve Kingdoms (Kei, En, Ryu, Kyou, Han, Sai, Sou, and Kou) border at least one of these four seas, extending from the center like the petals of a flower. The remaining four kingdoms (Tai, Hou, Ren, and Shun) are not part of the central mainland and are isolated by the Kyokai (虚海^?) (Void Sea) which surrounds the lands of the Twelve Kingdoms.

Known Locations[edit]

Black Sea - A body of water that is north of the Yellow Sea and borders the kingdoms of En, Kyou, and Ryuu.
Blue Sea - A body of water that is east of the Yellow Sea and borders the kingdoms of En, Kei, and Kou.
Five Mountains - A group of mountains that is located on an island in the center of the Yellow Sea.
- Mount Hou - A mountain in the eastern part of the Five Mountains where the Kirin are raised.
- Mount Ka - A mountain in the western part of the Five Mountains, said to be the residence of Seioubo.
- Mount Kaku - A mountain in the southern part of the Five Mountains.
- Mount Kou - A mountain the northern part of the Five Mountains. It is said to be a good place to hunt for Youjyuu.
- Suukou - The highest of the Five Mountains which is said to be where Tentei resides.
Kongou Mountains - A series of mountain ranges that surrounds the Yellow Sea and separates it from the other four inland seas. Each of its four ranges is between the four major gates.
Void Sea - Also known as the Kyokai, the Void Sea is a large sea that surrounds the Twelve Kingdoms. A shoku is the only way to cross the Kyokai. Kyokai separates the outer kingdoms of Hou, Ren, Shun, and Tai from the eight mainland kingdoms.
Red Sea - A body of water that is south of the Yellow Sea and borders the kingdoms of Kou, Sai, and Sou.
White Sea - A body of water that is west of the Yellow Sea and borders the kingdoms of Han, Kyou, and Sai.
Yellow Sea - A location in the middle of the Twelve Kingdoms that is surrounded by the Kongou Mountains.

Twelve Kingdoms[edit]

Map of the Twelve Kingdoms.

En - The Kingdom of En is a flourishing kingdom of the Twelve Kingdoms that is between Kei and Ryuu and is one of the four "middle" kingdoms. It is ruled by Shoryu who has reigned for 500 years.
Han - The Kingdom of Han is the westernmost kingdom, known for its artisans and craftsman. It is ruled by Ranjou.
Hou - The Kingdom of Hou is the northwestern outland kingdom that is separated from the eight mainland kingdoms by the Kyokai. It was ruled by Chuutatsu until he was killed by Gekkei.
Kei - The Kingdom of Kei is the most eastern kingdom of the Twelve Kingdoms. It is ruled by Youko Nakajima.
Kou - The Kingdom of Kou is the first kingdom that Youko Nakajima sets foot in and is one of the four "middle" kingdoms. It was formerly ruled by the unnamed King of Kou.
Kyou - The Kingdom of Kyou is one of the four "middle" kingdoms of the Twelve Kingdoms. It is ruled by Shushou.
Ren - The Kingdom of Ren is the southwestern outland kingdom that is separated from the eight mainland kingdoms by the Kyokai. It is currently ruled by Seitaku.
Ryuu - The Kingdom of Ryuu is the northernmost kingdom of the Twelve Kingdoms. It is currently ruled by Rohou.
Sai - The Kingdom of Sai is one of the four "middle" kingdoms the Twelve Kingdoms. It is currently ruled by Kouko.
Shun - The Kingdom of Shun is the southeastern outland kingdom that is separated from the eight mainland kingdoms by the Kyokai. It is known for its precious stones and medicinal springs.
Sou - The Kingdom of Sou is the southernmost kingdom of the Twelve Kingdoms. It is currently ruled by Senshin, whose 600-year reign is longest of the current rulers of the Twelve Kingdoms.
Tai - The Kingdom of Tai is the northeastern outland kingdom that is separated from the eight mainland kingdoms by the Kyokai. Known for its harsh winters, the kingdom was ruled by Gyousou until his disappearance.