Piccolo Meditates

The Full Lotus position is a seated cross legged position employed in meditation practices throughout the world. In anime and manga it is often depicted incorrectly. But so far nobody on the internet has seemed to notice.

The Full Lotus position has a rich cultural background, many purposes and benefits, and is sometimes depicted in anime and manga… Though rarely in the traditional way. This is especially true in the Shonen (Young Boys) genre, such as in Dragon Ball.

In Dragon Ball there are martial artists and individual styles of martial arts based cultivation practices. Some of the practices involve meditation. For example, there are scenes where Piccolo meditates in a cross legged position as he levitates above the ground using his own internal energy. Meditation is the primary way in which Piccolo increases his power level. In this practice he strengthens and refines his supernormal abilities. While Yamcha, Tenshinhan and Chaozu engaged in North Kaio’s special training methods during the Saiyan Saga, Piccolo only sat in meditation. Yet in this simple process he became more powerful than all of them.

But the seated position that Piccolo maintains is not the proper Full Lotus. Instead it is a general cross legged position, with one ankle loosely crossed in front of the other. He supposedly sits like this for hours at a time.

However, it is nearly impossible to sit like this for extended periods of time. The body is too tense and a practitioner cannot enter into tranquility. The Full Lotus is a remedy to this problem.

What is the Full Lotus?

What exactly is the Full Lotus position and what makes it different from a regular cross legged sit?

The Full Lotus Position is a special way of sitting that is taught primarily in spiritual or meditative practices, and is historically attributed to practices in India. From India, the practice of Buddhism spread into China (and elsewhere), then Korea and finally Japan, where it took root and became distinctively Japanese.

There are different terms for this practice. In Indian Sanskrit the yogic practice of seated meditation is called Asana (to sit down), while in Chinese meditation it is called Da Zou (Big Sit), and in Japanese meditation it is called Zazen (seated wordless).

Full Lotus position brings both legs up in a cross so that the ankles of both legs are turned over and the soles of both feet are turned up. This allows for all “Five Centers to Face Heaven” (so that the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, and the top of the head each face up).

Another traditional seated position for cultivation exercises in meditation is the Half Lotus.

Half Lotus involves bringing one leg up in a crossed position so that the sole of the foot faces up and rests in a straight line across the other leg. For males the left leg will be on top while for females the right leg will be on top, though this can vary among practices, and is sometimes performed in such a way in order to bring balance to the different amounts of yin and yang between the genders.

Why Full Lotus?

Falun Dafa's Fifth Exercise in Full Lotus

There are several benefits for and reasons behind the Full Lotus seated position.

The first is stability. Having both ankles above the lower legs causes the upper legs to make more surface contact with the ground. This prevents the practitioner from swaying back and forth in uncomfortable states that might be found in the general cross legged position. It also removes stress from the hip-flexors, pelvis and lower back, and allows the practitioner to fully relax their body, a state that is necessary to achieve in practices of both mind and body.

I’ve also heard it said that because of the increased stability of the Full Lotus, a monk who falls asleep during the practice will not tip over. While this may be true, it is also misleading as the true purpose is to allow the monks to enter into a trance or transcendental state of heightened awareness where they leave the body. The Full Lotus position ensures that the practitioner’s body will remain upright upon their return.

On another level, the Full Lotus position promotes the full rotation of energy through the practitioners’ energy channels, from the entire yin side of the body to the entire yang side of the body. This position is necessary for a practitioner to fully refine and transform their innate body in all dimensions.

So Then, Why Not Full Lotus?

Naruto's Shadow Clone training

With all of the cultural, physical and metaphysical rationale and meaning within the Full Lotus, why do Japanese comic books and cartoons almost always depict this practice inaccurately? Even in the case of deliberately spiritual or martial arts based characters, they still don’t perform Full Lotus.

I scoured the web for an answer and it seems nobody has talked about this (at least not in English.) Therefore, I have a few theories.

The first is that Full Lotus is a difficult position to enter into for those without special training or with a relatively inflexible body. It’s possible there was concern in the Japanese manga and anime sectors that young children would emulate their favorite hero’s and hurt themselves in the process. For this reason, such depictions were changed to the general cross legged position, with the same basic understanding implied that the person sitting down was spiritually inclined.

To get closer to the truth I asked an expert in anime and manga for their opinion – Jason Thompson, the once head editor at VIZ Media in charge of Dragon Ball’s North American comic release. On May 9^th, 2010 via email Jason said “I don’t know much about the subject, but I’ve never heard of any restriction or taboo’s about depicting the lotus position, either for religious reasons or bad for children reasons. Perhaps the cross legged position is just easier to draw.”

The easier to draw theory might be the case, but I can’t help but think that the mangaka are well versed in human anatomy and clearly have no trouble depicting advanced martial arts techniques. Why would this position pose a problem?

In that same train of thought, the reason may be one of religious tolerance or concern for the actual forthright depictions of spiritual cultivators in meditation practice in a cartoon based medium. Jason suggested that perhaps Buddhists in Japan might find it offensive, though he followed the hypothetical with “But it seems unlikely, considering that manga and anime make fun of Buddhism as often as they make fun of Christianity, which is a lot.” I could not find examples of this type of humor in English to confirm if this is true, though I figure if modern jokes that deal with Buddhism were commonly approved by the producers and directors that green light a series, then a seated leg position would not be an issue as it is rather minor in comparison.

There could also be fears of fringe spiritual practices becoming popular in Japanese society at large, in recoil from such movements as Aum Shinrikyo and their 1995 sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo subways. This event changed the perception of any practice that involves Full Lotus meditation, though not as much in regards to the generally accepted religions of Japan, which includes Buddhism.

Naruto trains in sennin mode

This stigma still exists in Japan and may explain the post 1995 depictions of the seated position, as even today we see the general cross legged form in new episodes of anime.

In Naruto Shippudden episode 156 (Surpassing the Master, April 15^th 2010) we see Naruto endure his training in the sennin arts (aka hermit arts, or sage arts). In this episode he learns how to still his body and mind in order to draw in the nature chakra that surrounds all living beings. Naruto sits on top of a piece of stone tile which is carefully balanced on top of a large stone spire hundreds of feet in the air. Of course he does not sit in Full Lotus, even though this would provide him with the most balance and stability.

Likewise, in Naruto Shippudden episode 159 (Kakashi vs. Pain, May 5^th, 2010) we see Lady Tsunade in this same position as she uses her Katsuya summon to help heal the villagers inside Konoha and to protect them from further devastation.

In other series, even characters that are blatantly supposed to be Buddhist monks don’t sit in Full Lotus, such as Chichiri from Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play (1995-1996).

However, this stigma would not explain the pre 1995 incidents, such as in Dragon Ball Z episode 208 (Welcome Back Goku! The Whole Z Team is Gathered!, November 24, 1993) where we see Goku train in deep meditation on top of a mountain in preparation for his oncoming fights in the Tenkaichi Budokai tournament.

Another possibility is that a decision maker at TOEI (TV), Shueisha (comics), or some other large publishing house made a decision to not depict Full Lotus in its traditional form (for whatever reason), and this is how it has been ever since.

Lady Tsunade sits cross legged

The final explanation, and the one that I believe is most likely, is that the mangaka simply don’t understand true cultivation practices of mind and body. They have a basic understanding of the principles or physical positions as well as the philosophy behind them, but not the actual reasons or rationale of how they work.

Maybe somebody in the creative community knew that people were supposed to sit in meditation in order to develop supernormal abilities or superhuman strength, but they didn’t actually know how it was done. Then the next artist came along and copied the first person.

There are exceptions of course, such as L, from Death Note.

In any case, this appears to still be the trend and has been for over 20 years.

A Rising Lotus

Goku Meditates atop a mountain

There are running gags and themes that surround the Full Lotus position in anime and manga and the physical posture is symbolic of a character’s personality.

In some cases you’ll see the character sitting there with legs slightly crossed and then they will levitate into the air. This is supposed to show that they are spiritually inclined characters or serve as a joke that they are holier than the other characters.

Though as mentioned, the general legs crossed position would be incredibly difficult to maintain, especially while suspended because all of the pressure would be on the hip-flexors. There would be no way to attain a meditative state.

So in conclusion I’m not really sure why the Full Lotus position isn’t depicted correctly, even when the situation calls for it or the character in question is a professional martial artist or spiritualist.

It’s also possible I’ve put way too much thought into this, as I tend to do. But why hasn’t anybody else out there noticed? Don’t you think it’s interesting?

If anyone in the anime or manga fan community has an idea of why this is or has a comment on the situation, then please let us know.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_position

http://japanese-religions.jp/publications/assets/JR31_2_a_Repp2.pdf

http://www.onemanga.com/Death_Note/4/03/

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LotusPosition

Post from: The Dao of Dragonball Blog

The Lotus Position in Anime And Manga

Welcome to the "Bloody Pond" from DBZ's Hell

Have you been to the Bloody Pond of Hell?  It’s a great place to visit… They have row boats.

Many fans of Dragon Ball may be aware of the Bloody Pond in Dragon Ball’s Hell, but how many of them know that you can actually visit it?

It turns out that there is a real Bloody Pond in a city of Japan, and that it was the most likely source for Dragon Ball’s version.

This Bloody Pond also has an interesting part to play in traditional Japanese culture and society.

What is the Bloody Pond and why does this matter in Dragon Ball?  And where exactly did Toriyama receive the inspiration for his Bloody Pond?

The Red Hot Boiling Blood of Hell

Sign post for "Bloody Pond Hell" in Beppu, Japan (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Chinoike Jigoku (Bloody Pond Hell) is a hot spring located in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan, and is one of Japan’s oldest, dating from as early as 700. A.D.

The Chinoike Jigoku’s (pronounced “Chee-no-eekay Jee-goh-ku”) most notable feature is its blood red water that boils at over 200 °C.

The blood red water appears to have led the Japanese people to believe it was a type of Hell erupting forth from down below.  Their version of Hell in this case is one derived from the Buddhist belief system, which believes in multiple layers of Hell’s, each with a different nature.

In Beppu City there are 8 other hot spring attractions, each with a distinct nature, such as boiling grey mud, hot blue water, milky water, or a hot geyser that erupts every 25-30 minutes.

The "Bloody Pond Hell" of Beppu, Japan. (Source: Panoramio.com)

Why is this one blood red?  The pond is blood red because of the high iron oxide (hematite) content in the sediment deposited at the bottom of the pool.  (Interestingly the word hematite is derived from the Greek word for blood.)  In this case, the red color of the iron fills the water and makes it change color, and when you combine this with boiling temperatures it looks like a scene from Hell.

The Bloody Pond has been a famous tourist spot for centuries.  It was also a place where they tortured and executed people.

Yep, moving on…

Bloody Pond in DBZ, Oni!

Gozu and Mezu from DBZ's Hell in episode 13

The Bloody Pond in Dragon Ball is first seen in the Saiya-jin Saga of DBZ.  It is shown in a pair of filler episodes (Japanese DBZ episode’s 12 and 13 (aired July 19, 1989 and July 26, 1989 respectively)) when Goku falls off the back of the heavenly street cleaner’s “zamboni” while traveling along Snake Way.  He becomes tired, rests on the zamboni, falls asleep and poetically falls from the way and lands in Hell.

When Goku lands he comes face to face with some Oni.

In Toriyama’s version of Hell the spirits are watched over (and tortured) by the Oni, demonic humanoid creatures with giant iron clubs and super strength.

The Oni in Dragon Ball are Toriyama’s representation of the Japanese version of demon’s found in Buddhist Hell’s.  It’s believed that within each Buddhist Hell are Oni to enact punishment on those who have accrued karma and must pay back their debts.  Each Hell has a different set of punishments.

Oni that stands near the "Bloody Pond Hell" in Buppa, Japan (Source: Webshots.com)

The same concept is depicted in Dragon Ball, only a little more comical and lighter in tone.

Oni are traditionally depicted with red, blue, or green skin, with one or two horns on the top of their heads.  They will also carry their club or torture instrument and wear a tiger skin (or other animal based) loincloth around their waist.  This is the traditional (and expected) version of an Oni in Japanese culture.

The two Oni that Goku runs into pretty much fit this description, except they are wearing modern clothes of T-shirts, shorts and sneakers.  The T-shirts have the words “HELL” written on them in giant letters, and one of them has a pair of black rimmed glasses.

But to meet our expectations we also get to see Goku run past a cardboard cut-out of a traditional Oni dressed in a tiger skin loincloth.  And this Oni looks almost exactly like the cardboard cut-out of an Oni that stands next to the real Bloody Pond in Buppa.  Red skin, loincloth, iron club, two horns and shaggy hair to match.

Unfortunately I’m not sure how old the cut-out next to the real Bloody Pond is, or which of these came first.

Goku stands in front of a traditional looking Oni cardboard cut out. From DBZ episode 13.

And that’s not the end of the story.  The two Oni he encounters are named Gozu and Mezu.

“Gozu-Mezu” is a Japanese term for the succinct version of Gozu Rasetsu and Mezu Rasetsu, the ox face and horse face demons that guard the gate of Hell and torture and feast upon the living.  They are typically depicted as red and blue counterparts, as they are also seen in DBZ.

We can see here how Toriyama took a classic Buddhist belief and made it modern and comical.

To make matters even more interesting, they were about to be outclassed by a “monkey” that fell from Heaven and ran amok in Hell, just like in the classic legend Journey to the West.

Escape from Hell

Goku asks for a way out of Hell so he can continue along Snake Way and journey to North Kaio’s planet for special martial arts training.  In response, One of the Oni challenges him to a race around Hell.  If Goku can catch the Oni he’ll be shown the way out.  If he loses, then he’ll have to stay in Hell… forever!  Goku agrees to the conditions.  Only thing is, nobody has ever won.

Goku and the Oni run around Hell and we get to see to the Bloody Pond in various scenes.

Spirits play on the pond aboard row boats! From DBZ episode 13

Strangely it turns out that some of the spirits in Hell (or at least in these couple of episodes) are allowed to roam around freely, as we see a pair of them on a rowboat out on Bloody Pond and others enjoying the Ferris wheel.

The main difference between the real Bloody Pond and the DBZ version is that the DBZ pond appears to be made of real blood.   And it has a nice fountain.

The similarities are that it boils just like the other one, has arched fences around certain sections of the perimeter, is guarded by Oni and is a “scene” from Hell.

They both have signs that say “Bloody Pond” on them, labeled “Chinoike.”  Since DBZ’s Blood pond is already in Hell, there is no reason to call it “Chinoike Jigoku” (Bloody Pond Hell).

Essentially, Toriyama takes the idea of the Bloody Pond Hell, a famous tourist attraction in Japan, and places it into his own artistic version of Hell seen in Dragon Ball.

Bloody Hell

The demon warped version of the "Bloody Pond." From DBZ Movie 12, Fusion Reborn

The Bloody Pond also makes a few other appearances in the series.

One of these is in DBZ Movie 12 (Fusion Reborn, Japanese:  Rebirth of Fusion, Goku and Vegeta).  In this movie a demon named Janemba runs loose in Hell and Goku has to travel from the Other World dimension to defeat it and re-establish order in the afterlife.

While fighting the demon Goku escapes to the Bloody Pond, which is now transformed into a solid cone of floating blood because of the demon’s powers.  He hides inside the pond to take a rest from the battle but the demon finds him anyway and starts carving it up with his sword.

We see the Pond once again at the end of the film as Vegeta’s body is turned back into a spirit, where he awaits further punishment in Hell to pay for his crimes.

The Bloody Pond also appears during the Freeza saga for a brief moment when the Ginyu Force members are summoned to North Kaio’s planet to assist Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Piccolo and Chaotzu with their training.  The four beat the Ginyu Force off of the planet and send them into Hell, where they land in the Bloody Pond and drown in hot blood.

So how exactly did the real Bloody Pond end up as the Dragon Ball Bloody Pond?

My guess is that Toriyama either heard of or visited the Bloody Pond in Buppa and used it as inspiration for his Bloody Pond in Dragon Ball’s Hell.

The 9 Hell’s of Buppa have been a famous tourist attraction for centuries before the creation of DBZ, so it’s quite possible that he didn’t have to go there directly to be inspired by it, but in any case, this seems the most likely source of the Blood Pond in Dragon Ball.

Akira Toriyama was inspired by or borrowed from a large amount of traditional Japanese and Chinese culture, so it makes sense that this particular feature of his Hell would also be derived from these cultures.

The Bloody Pond’s history as a well known tourist attraction and depiction of Hell makes it a prime candidate for source material in the Hell of Dragon Ball.

More Information and Resources:

http://www.chinoike.com/en.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4702.html

http://www.beppu-jigoku.com/ (Japanese)

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3054780

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beppu_Chinoike-jigoku01n4272.jpg

Post from: The Dao of Dragonball Blog

Dragon Ball’s Bloody Pond of Hell

Post from: The Dao of Dragonball Blog

Dragonball Book Site Turns Japanese