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'''Orochi''' (オロチ) or Yamata no Orochi is a monster in [[Japan|Japanese]] [[Shinto]] [[mythology]].
'''Orochi''' (大蛇) or Yamata no Orochi (八岐大蛇) is a monster in [[Japanese mythology]].


Orochi is more widely known as an eight-headed demonic snake. One of the legendary creatures most famous in Japan, the dragon fought with the warrior-god [[Susanowo]]. Stories told about Orochi all seem to agree that it was truly magnificent and terrible, and that it had multiple heads and a gigantic body that was said to stretch across eight hills and valleys. Some sources offer that the number eight may be indicative of simply an indiscriminate large number, and that Orochi might be much more massive than some may think. Some also believe that it may have possessed only seven heads and may have been smaller; whatever is believed, it was truly fearsome!
Orochi is more widely known as an eight-headed demonic [[snake]]. One of the legendary creatures most famous in Japan, the dragon fought with the god [[Susanowo]]. Stories told about Orochi all seem to agree that it was truly magnificent and terrible, and that it had multiple heads and a gigantic body that was said to stretch across eight hills and valleys. Some sources offer that the number eight may be indicative of simply an indiscriminate large number, and that Orochi might be much more massive than some may think. Some also believe that it may have possessed only seven heads and may have been smaller.


The sinister Orochi dominated a region in Japan, which some say was the Izumo province, and demanded virgin sacrifices. When the warrior-god Susano-Oh came upon this area travelling through it, he met a couple in hysterics: their daughter was to be sacrificed to Orochi. Some versions of this story say that they had already sacrificed seven other girls to the creature. The daughter in question here was named Kushinada, and Susano-Oh told the couple that he would rescue her from that fate if he was able to marry her. Naturally the couple agreed at once.
The sinister Orochi is said to have dominated the [[Izumo province]] in Japan, and to have demanded virgin sacrifices. When Susanowo came upon this area travelling through it, he met a couple in hysterics: their daughter was to be sacrificed to Orochi. Some versions of this story say that they had already sacrificed seven other girls to the creature. The daughter in question here was named Kushinada, and Susano-Oh told the couple that he would rescue her from that fate if he was able to marry her. Naturally the couple agreed at once.


Susano-Oh, in some versions of the story, turned Kushinada into a comb and put her in his hair. He then put out eight barrels of either pears or sake (depending on the version) which the dragon drank with relish, making it clumsier and less quick. Susano-Oh and Orochi engaged in a truly world-shaking battle which ended in Orochi's heads being cut off and Susano-Oh finding the enchanted blade Kusanagi in one of its two tails. In some versions Kusanagi is called [[Kusanagi]]-no-Tsunegi, 'The Grass-Cutting Sword', and this sword was given to [[Amaterasu]], Susano-Oh's sister, who is the Japanese Goddess of the Sun. She then gave it to her descendant on Earth, the Emperor; from that point on it is said that it has been kept as one of the Three Sacred Treasures of [[Yamato]].
Susanowo turned Kushinada into a comb and put her in his hair. He then put out eight barrels of either pears or sake (depending on the version) which the dragon drank with relish, making it fall asleep, and Susanowo proceeded to cut off all of Orochi's heads. He found the sword, [[Kusanagi]], in one of the serpent's many tails. In some versions, Kusanagi is called Kusanagi-no-Tsunegi, 'The Grass-Cutting Sword', and this sword was given to [[Amaterasu]], Susanowo's sister, the Sun Goddess. She then gave it to her descendant on Earth, [[Ninigi-no-Mikoto]]; from that point on it is said that it has been kept as one of the Three Sacred Treasures of [[Yamato]].
For more information, see [[Japanese mythology]].


== Orochi in Video Games ==
== Orochi in Pop Culture ==


The demon Orochi makes frequent appearances in Japanese [[video games|games]] and [[anime]], especially RPGs. There are variations on the original legend: 8-headed snake, rampaging swordsman, etc. (Yasakani, Hasshaku, Yagami, Yata, and some other names are [[SNK]]'s spin on their adaption to the legend.)
The demon Orochi makes frequent appearances in Japanese [[video games|games]] and [[anime]], especially RPGs. There are variations on the original legend: 8-headed snake, rampaging swordsman, etc. (Yasakani, Hasshaku, Yagami, Yata, and some other names are [[SNK]]'s spin on their adaption to the legend.)
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===Dragon Quest===
===Dragon Quest===


The Orochi is a boss moster in the RPG Dragon Quest III (known as Dragon Warrior III in the US), originally for the NES, later rereleased on the Gameboy Color. In the game Orochi is a five-headed fire-breathing dragon, who was terrorizing the island of [[Zipangu]]. You as the hero of the game had to defeat him in order to save the village and proceed in the game.
The Orochi is a boss moster in the RPG Dragon Quest III (known as Dragon Warrior III in the US), originally for the NES, later re-released on the Gameboy Color. In the game Orochi is a five-headed fire-breathing dragon, who was terrorizing the island of [[Zipangu]]. You as the hero of the game had to defeat him in order to save the village and proceed in the game.


This same Orochi is also found as a breedable, tameable, and playable monster in the monster-raising RPG Dragon Quest Monsters 1 and 2 (Dragon Warrior Monsters in the US) for the Gameboy Color
This same Orochi is also found as a breedable, tameable, and playable monster in the monster-raising RPG Dragon Quest Monsters 1 and 2 (Dragon Warrior Monsters in the US) for the Gameboy Color

Revision as of 13:24, 6 May 2005

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Orochi (大蛇) or Yamata no Orochi (八岐大蛇) is a monster in Japanese mythology.

Orochi is more widely known as an eight-headed demonic snake. One of the legendary creatures most famous in Japan, the dragon fought with the god Susanowo. Stories told about Orochi all seem to agree that it was truly magnificent and terrible, and that it had multiple heads and a gigantic body that was said to stretch across eight hills and valleys. Some sources offer that the number eight may be indicative of simply an indiscriminate large number, and that Orochi might be much more massive than some may think. Some also believe that it may have possessed only seven heads and may have been smaller.

The sinister Orochi is said to have dominated the Izumo province in Japan, and to have demanded virgin sacrifices. When Susanowo came upon this area travelling through it, he met a couple in hysterics: their daughter was to be sacrificed to Orochi. Some versions of this story say that they had already sacrificed seven other girls to the creature. The daughter in question here was named Kushinada, and Susano-Oh told the couple that he would rescue her from that fate if he was able to marry her. Naturally the couple agreed at once.

Susanowo turned Kushinada into a comb and put her in his hair. He then put out eight barrels of either pears or sake (depending on the version) which the dragon drank with relish, making it fall asleep, and Susanowo proceeded to cut off all of Orochi's heads. He found the sword, Kusanagi, in one of the serpent's many tails. In some versions, Kusanagi is called Kusanagi-no-Tsunegi, 'The Grass-Cutting Sword', and this sword was given to Amaterasu, Susanowo's sister, the Sun Goddess. She then gave it to her descendant on Earth, Ninigi-no-Mikoto; from that point on it is said that it has been kept as one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Yamato.

Orochi in Pop Culture

The demon Orochi makes frequent appearances in Japanese games and anime, especially RPGs. There are variations on the original legend: 8-headed snake, rampaging swordsman, etc. (Yasakani, Hasshaku, Yagami, Yata, and some other names are SNK's spin on their adaption to the legend.)

Dragon Quest

The Orochi is a boss moster in the RPG Dragon Quest III (known as Dragon Warrior III in the US), originally for the NES, later re-released on the Gameboy Color. In the game Orochi is a five-headed fire-breathing dragon, who was terrorizing the island of Zipangu. You as the hero of the game had to defeat him in order to save the village and proceed in the game.

This same Orochi is also found as a breedable, tameable, and playable monster in the monster-raising RPG Dragon Quest Monsters 1 and 2 (Dragon Warrior Monsters in the US) for the Gameboy Color

King of the Fighters

The Orochi saga in The King of Fighters is a version of the Kusanagi legend. He is the final boss of The King of Fighters '97. His voice is provided by Rio Ogata. He has white hair, white pants, and a tattoo across his chest.

In the version presented in KOF, Orochi, a being that could cause incredible amounts of destruction and death, was originally defeated 1800 years ago by the members of the Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans. The Yasakani held Orochi in place, the Kusanagi deal the final blow, and the Yata sealed it off.

However, some 250 years later, when the Kusanagi clan was considered to be the strongest of the three clans and the Yasakani the weakest of the three, the Yasakani clan made a blood pact that allowed the Yasakani to use the power of Orochi. Such power came at a cost: the Yasakani, now Yagami, wielded purple flames and were doomed to live very short lives. This action led to a violent feud between the Kusanagi and the Yagami, and many members of both clans lost their lives.

The murder of the leader of the Yata clan in the present day released the seal that had sealed Orochi away. Hearing of this, the heiress to the Yata, Chizuru Kagura, organized the 1996 King of Fighters tournament in order to unite the two warring clans, represented by Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami. Together, they manage to seal off Orochi once again.

Related Characters

See also

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