Back in my university days, I decided to major in Chinese literature because, well, I’ve always had a thing for ancient texts and kung fu movies. Recently, I was dusting off one of my old books when I stumbled upon something that’s got me about 90% sure it holds the secret to the powers of those enigmatic Gorosei. You know, the bigwigs pulling the strings in the world of One Piece.
In traditional Chinese literature, they’re all about the five elements – earth, fire, wood, metal, and water. It’s like their Confucian jam, and they even use this cool pentagram symbol to represent it. Now, check this out: there’s this connection between the lower left corner of the pentagram and our boy St. Saturn, the mysterious fifth Gorosei member.
Now, for some extra flavor, Eiichiro Oda, the mastermind behind One Piece, loves to take inspiration from musicians, and it’s not too far-fetched to think that St. Saturn could be a nod to Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead.
I mean, if I were creating undead demon gods, I’d totally consider the famous lead singer of a band known for hits like “St. Stephen” and “Friend of the Devil,” along with some Chinese pentagram qi magic – that’s a recipe for something epic, right?
But hold on a second, I can hear you thinking: “One Piece is Japanese, not Chinese, dude!” Fair point, but remember, this could just be a massive coincidence. So, why am I so sure about this? Well, here’s the kicker: The Ox, Saturn, and maybe Earth all seem to connect to St. Garcia Saturn and that whole Confucian pentagram thing.
Plus, if you’re a One Piece fan, you know that the story is inspired by the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, and our beloved Monkey D. Luffy is the king of pirates – it’s like destiny. Oda, the master himself, learned from the legendary Akira Toriyama, who was also inspired by the Monkey King. But here’s the twist: Sun Wukong’s story isn’t from Japan, it’s from China! This tale, people, is ancient China’s equivalent of a superhero origin story, and it’s the stuff of legends.
And guess what? The Monkey King was all about shaking things up in the heavenly realms, taking on the Confucian Gods, who were like the bureaucrats of their time. These gods represented, you guessed it, Confucianism, and that pentagram of qi, which was their jam, was at the core of it all. It’s like Oda’s paying homage to this ancient showdown between Confucianism and the Monkey King’s rebel spirit.
So, this is more than just a coincidence, my fellow pirates. It’s the heart and soul of Oda’s storytelling, themes, and inspirations. Now, as we ponder the powers of the other “Five Elder Stars,” let’s dive deep into the world of Chinese Confucianism, its five elements, and its mystical qi forces. Who knows, this might just unlock the secrets of the Gorosei’s powers.
Alright, folks, that’s a wrap for my TED Talk today. And for those of you eager to dig deeper, here’s a little visual treat from an academic book to get your gears turning.
Originally posted by cocobeanso on reddit