Houshin Engi - Terms and Cosmology

Sennin. Doshi. Sendo. Paopei.

If you've been watching Houshin Engi so far, you have heard these terms thrown at you with little explanation as to what they mean.

Since the anime has barely explained its terminology by the third episode, I might as well take a stab at it for the few anime-only watchers.

Let's start!

What's a Sennin? 

If you watch a lot of anime, you have probably encountered the term before. For example, there's Naruto's Sennin Mode (Sage Mode). In Dragon Ball, Master Roshi is sometimes called Kame-Sennin (Turtle Hermit).

Sennin is a word that can be translated as Hermit or Sage. In Houshin Engi, however, the most appropriate translation would be Immortal.

Houshin Engi is based on a classical Chinese novel, The Investiture of the Gods or Fengshen Yanyi. As such, it borrows a lot from classical Chinese myths and folklore. Fans of the Xianxia genre should already be familiar with the concept of Taoist immortals. Those who aren't, just know that Immortals are a thing in many old Chinese stories.

In Houshin Engi's take on the concept, one among hundreds of thousands of people can be born with special Sennin Bones. Only those people can be taken to the Sennin World and be trained to become Sennin.

In addition to being extraordinary long-lived (duh), Sennin have a bunch of advantages over regular humans. However, before someone becomes a Sennin, he must first be a Doshi.

What's a Doshi then? A Sendo?

Doshi are those who are training to become Sennin. Basically, they are apprentices. At least, in theory. Those who become officially recognized as Sennin have to take apprentices. Some Doshi would prefer to not take apprentices thus they stay as Doshi instead of becoming Sennin.

In other words, while Doshi are apprentices in rank, it is entirely possible for there to be Doshi who are stronger than some Sennin. 

Taikoubou, the protagonist, is a Doshi. His master, the dude with the very large head, is one of the strongest Sennin there is. 

Sendo is a catch-all term for Sennin and Doshi.

What's a Paopei?

Paopei are magical weapons that only Sennin and Doshi can use. Each one has a special power. Some control the elements. Some trap people into tiny balls. Others create entirely different dimensions.

So yeah, business as usual for shounen manga.

What happens to those who are born with Sennin bones but aren't taken to the Sennin World?

Sennin scout the human world looking for those born with Sennin bones in order to train them, but they aren't perfect. Certain people just slip through the cracks and end up growing in the Human World.

Those people become Tennen Doshi.

Sennin and Doshi learn how to focus their power into their Paopei. Tennen Doshi don't. Their power runs wild through their body resulting in increased physical abilities compared to others.

What's Dakki then?

Good question. So far we have covered how humans become Sennin. However, anything can become a Sennin.

Not anyone. Anything. Foxes. Flowers. Musical Instruments. Anything.

Humans have to be born with special bones. However, animals and objects that receive enough sunlight and moonlight can gain intelligence. With enough practice, they can take human form. Those who are able to remain in human form all the time become Sennin.

Those who become Sennin through this process are known as Youkai Sennin.

So basically, they are demons.

What's the Sennin World?

I've been throwing the term around throughout this post, so I might as well explain it to finish things. In Houshin Engi, there's the Human World and the Sennin World. The Human World is where most of the story takes place. It's pretty much fantasy ancient China.

The Sennin World, contrary to what it may sound, is not actually a separate dimension.

The Sennin World consists of two giant floating locations. A giant floating mountain where human Sennin live, Kun Lun Mountain, and a giant floating island where Youkai Sennin live, Kingo Island.

Thus the Sennin World is, quite literally, above the Human World.

Anyway, this is all stuff that should have been slowly introduced to the viewers over the first 3-4 episodes, but I have little faith the anime will pull it off successfully at this point. I hope this helps someone.