Maidens of the Kaleidoscope

~Hakurei Shrine~ => Touhou Addict Recovery Center => Topic started by: Imosa on September 18, 2013, 06:45:47 PM

Title: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Imosa on September 18, 2013, 06:45:47 PM
I've always wondered this. Is there a unifying symbol for Touhou? Something like a logo, but more of like a touch stone for the entire series. 
I don't think there is and so I was wondering, What should such a symbol be? For a while I've been thinking it would be a torii but just now I started thinking of a shrine maiden and how she could be represented cleanly. Reimu's bow also seems like a good option. Any opinions?
This doesn't really have a purpose, its just an element that I always thought was missing from the series.

On a slightly different note. I heard (probably from cuc) that ZUN has a stamp that was made by a fan and now appears on every game as ZUN's signature. I was wondering if anyone had a clean version of this image, perhaps a vector image.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Prime32 on September 18, 2013, 07:01:01 PM
Well the logo for every mainline Windows game (and Shoot the Bullet) is a pic of Marisa's face... :V
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: CyberAngel on September 18, 2013, 07:08:32 PM
What should such a symbol be?

(http://i41.tinypic.com/jh305w.png)

Seriously, I don't know written Japanese at all, but I instantly recognize these two symbols. If that would be a banner I'd stand by it.

Well, failing that, Reimu's Ying-Yang orb seems to be something easily recognizable.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Failure McFailFace on September 18, 2013, 07:10:32 PM
Perhaps the Kanji for Touhou, but the rectangle with a line in it in the 1st kanji should be replace by one of Reimu's Yin-Yang Orbs. As for the other character, I have no idea.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Tengukami on September 18, 2013, 07:12:31 PM
Well, failing that, Reimu's Ying-Yang orb seems to be something easily recognizable.
Was going to post the same thing - like, a ying-yang orb in either side of 東方 or something.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: NekoNekoRex on September 18, 2013, 07:19:16 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/IdgoVKy.png)
Closest to the official thing you'd get to a logo.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: MaStErSpArK94 on September 18, 2013, 07:21:39 PM
Well the logo for every mainline Windows game (and Shoot the Bullet) is a pic of Marisa's face... :V

Voting for this :V
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Imosa on September 18, 2013, 07:31:14 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/IdgoVKy.png)
Closest to the official thing you'd get to a logo.
That's like the logo of Team Shanghai Alice though.

About the kanji for Touhou. I know combining kanji is a thing in japan, could this be done with those two kanji?
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Raikaria on September 18, 2013, 08:49:57 PM
Agreeing with 'Team shanghai Alice'. Touhou is, after all, the only thing ZUN produces.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: aListers on September 18, 2013, 09:14:19 PM
I've been trying to figure out how to represent touhou when I'm customizing things but I've found nothing. The kanji for touhou is the closest thing to it and it's pretty much the only thing I can use. Anything else people use is more representive of 1 character rather than the game.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Quwanti on September 18, 2013, 10:02:52 PM
Every splash screen has Touhou Project written on it (either in white or black). I see that as the logo of Touhou.  :V
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Tengukami on September 18, 2013, 10:15:44 PM
*~<☯東‿方☯ >~*

(http://i.imgur.com/IdgoVKy.png)
Closest to the official thing you'd get to a logo.
Or this.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Imosa on September 19, 2013, 07:42:14 AM
Agreeing with 'Team shanghai Alice'. Touhou is, after all, the only thing ZUN produces.
That's a bit of a cop out. The two are separate things, otherwise there wouldn't be a distinction. I don't think I'm playing a game by Team Shanghai Alice, and I don't think I'm playing a game made by ZUN. I think I'm playing Touhou. Perhaps its a bit of a philosophical point but I think its an important one.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Kirnis on September 19, 2013, 08:55:06 PM
(http://i41.tinypic.com/jh305w.png)

Seriously, I don't know written Japanese at all, but I instantly recognize these two symbols. If that would be a banner I'd stand by it.

I feel the same about that

Quote
Well, failing that, Reimu's Ying-Yang orb seems to be something easily recognizable.
Or the blue power up (http://moriyashrine.weebly.com/uploads/8/3/5/4/835411/5024953_orig.png)
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: commandercool on September 19, 2013, 10:49:27 PM
Or the blue power up (http://moriyashrine.weebly.com/uploads/8/3/5/4/835411/5024953_orig.png)

That's what I was gonna suggest. Or maybe a bomb item.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: DX7.EP on September 20, 2013, 12:29:51 AM
*Touhou kanji*
Seriously, I don't know written Japanese at all, but I instantly recognize these two symbols. If that would be a banner I'd stand by it.
I've seen it used quite a bit in non-Touhou Project discussions in both Japanese and Korean (albeit often as 동방 on the latter), so this won't work too well.

Or the blue power up (http://moriyashrine.weebly.com/uploads/8/3/5/4/835411/5024953_orig.png)
I like this idea, bomb, or power-up items, actually.

Alternate idea - Yin-yang orb with Reimu's bow behind it.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: CyberAngel on September 20, 2013, 04:08:35 PM
I've seen it used quite a bit in non-Touhou Project discussions in both Japanese and Korean (albeit often as 동방 on the latter), so this won't work too well.

I know those kanji just mean "east" and are used as such, but there's nothing wrong with using usual words as an emblem. For example, one of the most recognized symbols of Doom games, both new and old, is, well, a stylized word "DOOM". Given that 東方 is a part of a name of each game (and most other official material), and is seen on every title screen and ingame GUI, I think it's something that is common enough for the series and is worthy to be its symbol.
Title: Re: A Unifying Symbol for Touhou
Post by: Tengukami on September 20, 2013, 04:12:02 PM
Or take the words TIME and LIFE for example. They are the logos of their respective publications.