[Seongchan Eol's Comic Book] Capture the 'Yokai' Beauty that Destroys the Country and Establish a New Dynasty 「Fengshen Yanyi」

※ The images included below are all copyrighted by the author Fujisaki Ryu and publishers from various countries.

Recently, I traveled to Japan. The purpose of my visit was to attend the original art exhibition of the animation 〈Look Back〉, so it’s easy to guess what I did throughout the trip. While browsing stores to indulge in my 'otaku' side, I discovered merchandise from a work I had read at least seven times but had completely forgotten about. It was 「Fengshen Yanyi」, serialized from 1996 to 2000.

Fujisaki Ryu's 「Fengshen Yanyi」 is based on the classic Chinese novel of the same name. To be precise, it is based on the Japanese translation of that work. To put it metaphorically, just as one might think of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' rather than the historical text, in Japan, the version newly written by Ano Tsutomu is famous, and this work also starts from that.

The content of 「Fengshen Yanyi」 is as follows. (Including the Chinese classic novel) When the Shang Dynasty shows signs of decline due to the tyranny of King Zhou, the celestial realm directly dispatches Taigong Wang. He is to defeat the fairy Daji, who has enchanted King Zhou, and collect the souls of the yokai that have thrown the human realm into chaos. Furthermore, he will establish a dynasty to succeed the fallen Shang Dynasty. Taigong Wang is assisted by the most loyal and upright minister, Xichang.

Set against the backdrop of ancient China, one might easily think of martial arts stories, but 「Fengshen Yanyi」 is closer to fantasy or sci-fi. Each immortal possesses their own weapon, 'treasure,' which are products of over-technology that surpasses contemporary technology, controlling humans or weather. In some ways, it seems like a standard battle story, but this is the distinguishing feature of 「Fengshen Yanyi」. Armed with a wealth of scientific imagination, 「Fengshen Yanyi」 goes beyond presenting extraordinary strategies and battle scenes using treasures, constructing foreshadowing that runs throughout the entire work. For the sake of fun, I will avoid specific explanations, but for this reason, it cleverly avoids the so-called 'power inflation' problem often encountered in battle stories.

Also, since 「Fengshen Yanyi」 is based on a classic novel, the narratives of various characters are intensely compelling. This story features almost all human relationships: kings and subjects, masters and disciples, families, beloved lovers, creators and creations, and so on. Their relationships change within the grand movement of 'the declining dynasty and the revolutionary group.' Starting cheerfully like an adventure story, 「Fengshen Yanyi」 gradually weaves the brutality of war and political circumstances into the narratives of the characters. Unlike recent shonen manga that focus on twisting clichés to the point of collapsing character integrity, 「Fengshen Yanyi」 successfully draws out plot twists based on character personalities. Thus, it manages to maintain both the quality of the development and the charm of the characters.

Having come across 「Fengshen Yanyi」 after quite a while, I think that the vitality of each work is slightly different. Undoubtedly, 「Fengshen Yanyi」 is superior even when compared to most manga currently being released. If I were to add my personal opinion, I would say that it is a work that, like 「Fullmetal Alchemist」, has philosophical depth, beautiful artwork, impressive character traits, and a depiction of humanity, all based on the format of an adventure drama.

However, considering the current popularity of 「Fengshen Yanyi」, it’s disappointing to think about how it has not enjoyed the same level of recognition as before. It feels like a work that is only known to those who know it, and only sold to those who buy it. Even I, who have seen it at least seven times from start to finish, can only reminisce, saying, 'Oh right, there was this masterpiece.' Perhaps it’s because this comic is so well-closed, or maybe it’s because the serialization period was short compared to its popularity, or perhaps Fujisaki Ryu's art style no longer fits the times (I wonder if it’s because of the difficult-to-adapt costumes and art style for merchandise).

Even if it’s not as popular as before, I hope everyone reads 「Fengshen Yanyi」 at least once. The charm of the work, with its diverse characters that are bound to suit your taste, the conflict between loyalty and public sentiment, the delicate yet bold depiction of madness, and above all, the development that expands from the change of dynasties to unimaginable scales, still breathes through time. Fujisaki Ryu's sense of humor is a bonus. It was completed in 23 volumes during its serialization, but now Daewon C.I. has published an 18-volume collector's edition. Enjoy the epic that travels between the human realm and the celestial realm while appreciating the cover that forms a single illustration when laid out.

※ For reference, it has been adapted into animation twice, but I do not recommend it. Both adaptations failed to capture the original story due to rapid developments.