Peacock King#Video games

{{Short description|Media franchise directed by Katsuhito Akiyama}}

{{Infobox animanga/Header

|image = Kujaku Ō 1.png

|caption = Cover of the first tankōbon volume, featuring Kujaku

|ja_kanji = 孔雀王

|ja_romaji = Kujaku Ō

|genre = Action, fantasy{{cite web|author=Jake L Godek|title=Peacock King|url=https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=910|website=THEM Anime Reviews|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508155320/http://themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=910|url-status=live}}

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

|type = manga

|author = Makoto Ogino

|publisher = {{ubl|Shueisha (parts 1–3)|Leed (part 4)}}

|publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Manga Planet (digital){{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Manga Planet Licenses Salary Man Kintaro, Charge!! Men's School, Peacock King More Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-29/manga-planet-licenses-salary-man-kintaro-charge-men-school-peacock-king-more-manga/.162367|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=July 30, 2020|date=July 29, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803012246/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-29/manga-planet-licenses-salary-man-kintaro-charge-men-school-peacock-king-more-manga/.162367|url-status=live}}}}

|demographic = Seinen

|magazine = {{ubl|Weekly Young Jump {{noitalic|(1985–2009)}}|Monthly Young Jump {{noitalic|(2009–2010)}}|Comic Ran Twins {{noitalic|(2012–2016)}}|Comic Ran {{noitalic|(2016–2019)}}}}

|first = 1985

|last = 2019

|volumes = 45

|volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Other

|title = Series titles

|content =

Kujaku Ō (1985–1989, 17 volumes)
Taimaseiden (1990–1992, 11 volumes)
Magarigamiki (2006–2010, 12 volumes)
Sengoku Tensei (2012–2019, 5 volumes)

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

|title = Spirit Warrior

|type = ova

|director = {{ubl|Katsuhito Akiyama (#1, #3)|Ichirō Itano (#2)|Rintaro (#4–5)}}

|producer =

|writer = {{ubl|Shō Aikawa (#1–3)|Leo Natsuki (#1–3)|Kazuhiro Inaba (#4–5)|Tatsuhiko Urahata (#4–5)}}

|music = {{ubl|Yas Kaz (#1–3)|Toshiyuki Honda (#4–5)}}

|studio = {{ubl|AIC ({{nowrap|#1, 3}})|Studio 88 (#2)|Madhouse (#4–5)}}

|licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=U.S. Manga Corps (expired)}}

|first = 1988

|last = 1994

|runtime = 50 minutes

|episodes = 5

|episode_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

|type = live film

|director = Lam Ngai Kai

|producer =

|writer = {{ubl|Izō Hashimoto|Kazuki Sekizumi}}

|music = Micky Yoshino

|studio = {{ubl|Toho|Golden Harvest}}

|released = December 10, 1988

|runtime = 96 minutes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

|type = live film

|title = Saga of the Phoenix

|director = Lam Ngai Kai

|producer =

|writer = Hirohisa Soda

|music = Philip Chan Fei-Lit

|studio = {{ubl|Toho|Orange Sky Golden Harvest|Golden Harvest}}

|released = 1990

|runtime = 93 minutes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

|type = manga

|title = Kujaku Ō: Rising

|author = Makoto Ogino

|publisher = Shogakukan

|demographic = Seinen

|magazine = Monthly Big Comic Spirits

|first = October 30, 2012

|last = July 30, 2019

|volumes = 10

|volume_list =

}}

{{Nihongo|Peacock King|孔雀王|Kujaku Ō|lead=yes}} is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Ogino. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from 1985 to 1989, with its chapters collected in 17 tankōbon volumes. It spawned four other manga series. The original manga was licensed in North America in 2020 by Manga Planet.

Peacock King was adapted into a five-episode original video animation (OVA), released from 1988 to 1994, and licensed in North America by U.S. Manga Corps, under the title Spirit Warrior. Two live-action films were released, in 1988 and 1990.

Story

Kujaku is a Buddhist monk who specializes in exorcism and devil hunting. He is a member of Ura-Kōya, a secret organization in Japan that specializes in demon hunting. Kujaku confronts {{Nihongo|Rikudoshu|六道衆}}, a secret evil organization led by the {{Nihongo|Teachers of Eight Leaves|八葉の老師}}. The goal of the Teachers of Eight Leaves is to revive Peacock King and Snake Queen, and allow them to fight each other to give birth to the ultimate {{Nihongo|Dark Vairocana|闇の大日如来}}. During the story, the Teachers of Eight Leaves tried various methods to achieve their goal, but were ultimately defeated by Kujaku and his friends.

Characters

;{{Nihongo|Kujaku|孔雀}}

:{{Anime voice|Toshihiko Seki (1st OVA), Kōji Tsujitani (2nd OVA)|Edward Morrisson Garland}}

:{{Portrayed by|Hiroshi Mikami (1st film)|Hiroshi Abe (2nd film)|Yuen Biao (as Monk Peacock)}}

:A Kōya Hijiri monk in his twenties and the hero of the story. His real name is {{Nihongo|Akira|明}}, the son of a monk named Jikaku and a female pilgrim or {{Nihongo|Ksitigarbha|地蔵菩薩|Jizō Bosatsu}}. He is the reincarnation of {{Nihongo|Mahamayuri|孔雀明王|Kujaku Myō-ō}}, Lucifer, and Melek Taus, which grants him an immense spiritual power. Most of the time, however, Kujaku behaves like the young man he is, being carefree, lecherous and a glutton. He uses a vajra in exorcisms.

;{{Nihongo|Ashura|阿修羅}}

:{{Anime voice|Arisa Andō (1st OVA), Miki Itō (2nd OVA)|Alissa Stein}}

:{{Portrayed by|Gloria Yip}}

:A girl chosen by the god {{Nihongo|Asura King|阿修羅王|Ashura Ou}}. She was found by Ura-Kouya in a village, where she was hated and feared by her spiritual powers. Being 12 to 15 years old through the story, Ashura is usually rebellious and feisty, and also has a crush on Kujaku, which makes her jealous in several instances. She also loves fashion and often changes her appearance from her natural blond hair. She has pyrokinetic abilities and can generate a great amount of spiritual energy to transfer to her allies.

;{{Nihongo|Tarōja Onimaru|王仁丸太郎邪|Onimaru Tarōja}}

:{{Anime voice|Hiroya Ishimaru (1st OVA, episode #1), Tesshō Genda (1st OVA, episodes #2–3), Yūsaku Yara (2nd OVA)|Michael Schwartz}}

:Kujaku's greatest rival, a half-demon half-human Jukondō master who works as a mercenary. He is superhumanly strong and has regenerative abilities, and specializes in controlling evil spirits. Although he and Kujaku were enemies in their first encounter, they quickly became friends, which turned Onimaru into somewhat of a recurrent reinforcement ally for Kujaku and his friends. His guardian god is {{Nihongo|Mahakala|大暗黒天|Daiankokuten}}.

;{{Nihongo|Kō Kaihō|黄海峰}}

:{{Anime voice|Kazuhiko Inoue (1st OVA), Norio Wakamoto (2nd OVA)|Dan Truman}}

:Kujaku's second rival, the young heir of a Chinese clan of sorcerers named Hakka Sendo. He is a master of {{Nihongo|Huáng-jiā Xiān dào|黄家仙道|}} and uses the sword {{nihongo|Shikoken|獅咬剣}}. Like Onimaru, he started as an enemy to Kujaku before joining forces with him and developing an uneasy friendship with him. He later falls in love with Kujaku's sister Tomoko, which causes him to give in to darkness in order to try to save her from her fate. After being saved by Kujaku, he marries Tomoko and has a son with her.

;{{Nihongo|Jikū Ajari|慈空阿闍梨}}

:{{Anime voice|Gorō Naya (1st OVA), Ichirō Nagai (2nd OVA)|Matthew Harrington}}

:{{Portrayed by|Ken Ogata (1st film), Shintaro Katsu (2nd film)}}

:Kujaku's old master. He knew Kujaku's father and was entrusted with him. Despite his wisdom and age, he is a bit of an alcoholic and as perverted as his apprentice.

;{{Nihongo|Nikkō|日光}}

:{{Anime voice|Akira Kamiya (1st OVA), Ken Yamaguchi (2nd OVA)|Ed Kissel}}

:Head priest of Ura-Kōya and Kujaku's senpai. He tries to be much more serious about their work. His guardian god is {{Nihongo|Mahāvairocana|大日如来|Dainichi Nyorai}}.

;{{Nihongo|Tomoko|朋子}}

:{{Anime voice|Noriko Hidaka}}

:Kujaku's sister, an incarnation of the {{Nihongo|Rahu|天蛇王|Tenjaō}}. She became separated from Kujaku as a child and was brought up by a Neo-Nazi cult, which tried to wake up her spiritual power to use her as a weapon.

;{{Nihongo|Tsukuyomi|月読}}

:{{Anime voice|Miina Tominaga (1st OVA), Hiromi Tsuru (2nd OVA)|Denise Gottwald}}

:The mistress of the women's prayer room at Ura-Kōya. She is in love with Kujaku. Her guardian god is {{Nihongo|Candraprabha|月光菩薩|Gakkou Bosatsu}}

Publication

Peacock King, written and illustrated by Makoto Ogino, was first serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from 1985 to 1989.{{cite web|script-title=ja:荻野真「孔雀王」最終決戦を原稿サイズで単行本化、「独鈷杵」付きセットも|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/392519|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=August 18, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429183218/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/392519|url-status=live}} Its chapters were collected in seventeen tankōbon volumes, released from July 1, 1986,{{cite book|script-title=ja:孔雀王 1|id={{ASIN|4088615417|country=jp}}|language=ja}} to May 1, 1990.{{cite book|script-title=ja:孔雀王 17|id={{ASIN|4088615573|country=jp}}|language=ja}}

A sequel, {{nihongo|Kujaku Ō: Taimaseiden|孔雀王退魔聖伝}}, was serialized in Weekly Young Jump from 1990 to 1992.{{cite web|script-title=ja:神々の戦いは歴史や時空までも歪めてしまう！「孔雀王」の世界に迫る！|url=https://music-book.jp/comic/news/column/116033|website=music.jp|access-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530040605/https://music-book.jp/comic/news/column/116033|archive-date=May 30, 2016|language=ja|date=April 12, 2016|url-status=live}} Shueisha collected its chapters in eleven tankōbon volumes, released from February 1, 1991,{{cite book|script-title=ja:孔雀王:退魔聖伝 1|id={{ASIN|408861271X|country=jp}}|language=ja}} to December 1, 1993.{{cite book|script-title=ja:孔雀王:退魔聖伝 11|id={{ASIN|4088617959|country=jp}}|language=ja}}

A second sequel, {{nihongo|Kujaku Ō: Magarigamiki|孔雀王曲神紀}}, was serialized in Weekly Young Jump from March 23, 2006, to October 22, 2009,{{efn|Issues: #17 2006–#47, 2009, (dates of each issue:{{cite web|script-title=ja:バックナンバー 2006年|url=http://youngjump.jp/history/2006.html|website=youngjump.jp|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=July 22, 2019|language=ja|archive-date=May 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528135530/https://youngjump.jp/history/2006.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:バックナンバー 2009年|url=http://youngjump.jp/history/2009.html|website=youngjump.jp|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215031319/https://youngjump.jp/history/2009.html|url-status=live}})}} and later in Monthly Young Jump from November 17, 2009, to February 16, 2010.{{efn|Issues: December 2009–March 2010, (dates of each issue:{{cite web|script-title=ja:連載化決定済み読み切り「鬼童子」序章、月刊YJに掲載|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/23883|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=November 17, 2009|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430183411/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/23883|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:月刊YJ、「EVIL HEART」武富智2年ぶりの新作「Yell」掲載|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/27784|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=February 16, 2010|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429183214/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/27784|url-status=live}})}} Shueisha collected its chapters in twelve tankōbon volumes, released from August 18, 2006, to March 19, 2010.{{cite book|script-title=ja:孔雀王曲神紀 1|id={{ASIN|4088771303|country=jp}}|language=ja}}{{cite book|script-title=ja:孔雀王曲神紀 12|id={{ASIN|4088778200|country=jp}}|language=ja}}

A spin-off series, {{nihongo|Kujaku Ō: Rising|孔雀王ライジング}}, was serialized in Shogakukan's Monthly Big Comic Spirits from March 27, 2012,{{cite web|script-title=ja:「孔雀王」新シリーズ、孔雀の修行時代を月スピで描く|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/66799|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=March 27, 2012|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429183216/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/66799|url-status=live}} to June 27, 2019.{{cite web|script-title=ja:精神科が舞台の新連載が月スピで開幕、荻野真「孔雀王ライジング」最終回も|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/337396|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=June 27, 2019|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104105822/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/337396|url-status=live}} Shogakukan collected its chapters in ten tankōbon volumes, released from October 30, 2012,{{cite web|script-title=ja:孔雀王ライジング１|url=https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091847300|publisher=Shogakukan|access-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210429181908/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091847300|archive-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live}} to July 30, 2019.{{cite web|script-title=ja:孔雀王ライジング１０|url=https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784098603664|publisher=Shogakukan|access-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210429181722/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784098603664|archive-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live}}

A third sequel, {{nihongo|Kujaku Ō: Sengoku Tensei|孔雀王～戦国転生～}} was published in Leed's Comic Ran Twins from October 26, 2012,{{cite web|script-title=ja:「孔雀王」新作が戦国武将列伝で連載、転生した孔雀の戦い|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/78922|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=October 26, 2012|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429183216/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/78922|url-status=live}} to June 27, 2016,{{cite web|script-title=ja:戦国を題材にした時代劇誌「戦国武将列伝」が休刊、「セキガハラ」など完結|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/192339|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=June 27, 2016|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429183218/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/192339|url-status=live}} and later in Comic Ran from October 27, 2016,{{cite web|script-title=ja:コミック乱（２０１６年１２月号）|url=https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/f/dsg-04-4910138271264|publisher=Books Kinokuniya|access-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210429183307/https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/f/dsg-04-4910138271264|archive-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|url-status=live}} to June 27, 2019.{{cite web|script-title=ja:高浜寛「ニュクスの角灯」が完結、荻野真「孔雀王～戦国転生～」の最終回も|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/337335|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2021|language=ja|date=June 27, 2019|archive-date=November 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125091114/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/337335|url-status=live}} Leed collected the chapters in five tankōbon volumes, released from December 27, 2013,{{cite web|script-title=ja:【12月27日付】本日発売の単行本リスト|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/106634|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 14, 2021|language=ja|date=December 27, 2013|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024011621/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/106634|url-status=live}} to July 30, 2019.{{cite web|script-title=ja:【7月30日付】本日発売の単行本リスト|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/341496|website=Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=November 14, 2021|language=ja|date=July 30, 2019|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025160654/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/341496|url-status=live}}

Adaptations

=Films=

The manga has been adapted into two Hong Kong live action films, Peacock King and Saga of the Phoenix, both directed by Lam Ngai Kai. The former, released in 1988, stars Hiroshi Mikami and Yuen Biao as the two monks (Kujaku and a new character Kǒngquè, respectively), and Gloria Yip as Ashura. Gordon Liu, Kara Wai and Philip Kwok appear in supporting roles.

=Video games {{anchor|Games}}=

==Family Computer==

{{Nihongo|Kujaku Ō|孔雀王|Peacock King}}

:The first of two Family Computer (Famicom) adventure games. In it the player takes the role of a band of heroes fighting against evil demons. The player interacts with the story by selecting actions from a list of options on screen (look, take, talk etc) and by a simple 'point-and-click interface. The game was released only in Japan for the Famicom on September 21, 1988 by Pony Canyon.

{{Nihongo|Kujaku Ō II|孔雀王II|Peacock King II}}

:A graphic/point-and-click adventure. The player interacts with the story by selecting actions from a list of options on screen (look, take, talk etc) and by a simple 'point-and-click interface. The graphics have been improved over its predecessor. It is also available on the MSX Japanese computer. Released on the Nintendo Famicom by Pony Canyon in Japan on August 21, 1990.