He calls this power “Mandala System,” a real political concept for the traditional decentralized political system in East Asia.
This is also a reference to Buddhism, which is also represented in the game by Goko, a monk who observes the battle among gods but is detached from it.
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Thread 🧵:
This game is about Japan, as represented by the protagonist and his mentor, Susano-o, reasserting itself spiritually and politically in a world of dwindling American influence, symbolized in the game by Yahweh, who has vanished, leaving the world in a state of chaos.
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Yahweh was allegedly slain by Lucifer, who in this video game series represents the “alignment” (one of three paths or endings for the player) of Chaos.
The old gods have thus returned to prominence, and they rule again over their former homelands: Odin, Zeus, Shiva and Khonsu…
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They all meet at the “Council of Bethel,” where they try to elucidate the way to rule this new world.
In this council, there is also a representative of Yahweh, the angel Abdiel, who believes that a multiplicity of gods will lead humanity astray and wishes for Yahweh’s return.
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The protagonist attends in representation of Japan and is accompanied by the Prime Minister himself, who is actually Tsukoyomi, the Japanese moon god and a twin of Susano-o, the protagonist’s mentor and one of the most important kami.
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There is a third party of great importance and power in the game, which is Nüwa, the Chinese goddess of creation, who stands for an atheist rejection of all gods and who can guide you to the “neutral” ending of the game. The comparison with the Chinese cannot be more obvious…
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Here is the most interesting twist: in this game Japan represents the chaos or luciferian ending, because the aim of the Prime Minister is to reach the Empyrean and take over the Throne of God for Japan, allowing a multiplicity of powers or gods in the world.
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Whoever the protagonist chooses, he has to defeat all other contenders and then face Lucifer, who, as the victor during Armageddon and the slayer of God, has full possession of the power of creation.
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I don’t agree with the diagnosis that this game makes of western decadence, but I think that, as a piece of storytelling, it says a lot about the current worries of many Japanese.
I’ve played many games in this franchise, and I’ve never seen this narrative told in such a way.
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Overall, this is one of the most nationalistic stories I’ve seen come out of Japan.
The art and music are also superb. Atlus is one of the few genuine studios remaining (although this is rapidly changing).
By the way, I like their design of Cleopatra.
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@BorealBaron
Another day another Indian concept hijacked by foreigners😑
Mandala system is not from East Asia, but India. It was devised by Acharya Chanakya. It was adopted by Indianized South East Asian Kingdoms.
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Mandala system is not from East Asia, but India. It was devised by Acharya Chanakya. It was adopted by Indianized South East Asian Kingdoms.
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@BorealBaron
Mandala system was founded by Acharya Chanakya of India and India is not in East asia.
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