Touhou and Slavic Mythology

[Shiina Tamai]

OK, this was mostly taken from Wikipedia and Touhoupedia articles, but I've noticed some similarities between certain Touhou characters and characters in Slavic Mythology. Perun was a god of war, wind, rain, and mountains and is associated with agriculture; he would correspond to the trigran Qian (Like Kanako). Veles is Suwako, the wet god associated with low-lying areas (Frogs live in swamps) and both correspond the the trigram Kun. Finally, Perun (Kanako) is always accompanied by Veles (Suwako). Utsuho Reiuji is Svarog, the fiery smith god who lives underground. In Russia he is equated with the Sun (Utsuho IIRC calls herself the "underground sun"). He is also associated with fire, as is Utsuho. He (Svarog) was a smith and elements are forged in nuclear reactors and stars. Of course, in Serbia, he is associated with the underworld as is Utsuho. There are some problems with this though (For example Kanako is also a god of commerce and her symbol is a snake, like Veles). Thoughts or comments?

[Sagus]

Those are some interesting coincidences, but I'm pretty certain that's all they are, considering Kanako and Suwako's more clear connection to Japanese myths.

Also, Utsuho isn't actually a god; she's basically a living shrine to Yatagarasu. Her powers come from him.

But these really are interesting coincidences, though. Pretty cool.

[TresserT]

I don't think it's so much touhou as what touhou is based off. "Religion essentially involves different countries copying from each other".

[Raikaria]

Actually it is entirely possible for a story to be related to two different religions. Islam, Judaism and Christianity all have similar points, it is just the importance of those events that differ, one of the major ones being Jesus.

So it is entirely possible for the overarching story of Kanako and Suwako to have references to both Shinto and Slavic. Especially given the various references ZUN has made to cultures or religions all around the world. I mean, if even before Touhou was big ZUN was referencing obscure western myths such as the Ankou; it's entirely possible that ZUN would draw inspiration at some point from Slavic mythology.

I mean, there's quite a few western myth references in Touhou. From the obvious [Shinki = Lucifer; Remilia directly references Dracula; PC-98 Alice is clearly heavily based on Alice in Wonderland] to the slightly less obvious [Mai [Betrayal and Ice; and her theme is even Judas Kiss. Judas is in the 9th circle of Hell.]; and possibly to a lesser extent Yuki [This one needs some stretching; it would be an easy fit if Anger was Fire; but it's not; Herasy is. But Unlike Mai Yuki seems to be a human/magician, not a demon; yet she serves Shinki; hence Heresy, where the punishment is flaming tombs.], are references to the Divine Comedy; as well as the two main depictions of Hell]; to the downright obscure [Elly is an Ankou].

Admittedly most the Western stuff is PC-98 however. But still; if Touhou makes references like this; I ain't putting it past ZUN tying together Shinto and Slavic.

[Tengukami]

Here's a crazy idea: maybe myths and religions around the world evoke certain common archetypes that are elemental to the human experience, and eluding to one myth in a video game inadvertently references many others in turn.