Gensokyo

Land of Fantasy

### Inhabitants

Humans, youkai, spirits, fairies, gods, angels, demons, celestials, hermits, moon rabbits

## Original

Original Wiki link is here. https://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Gensokyo
(Also, Locations/Important people will be added as they are introduced in MROU)

## Backstory

Gensokyo was originally a desolate, haunted region of Japan ages ago. The youkai that lived there began to terrorize the surrounding lands, and thus powerful, heroic humans were sent to exorcise and exterminate them. The off and on battle between humans and youkai continued on until 1885 A.D., when Gensokyo was sealed off from this increasingly scientific and skeptical world with the creation of the Great Hakurei Barrier. There has been little contact between those societies ever since. Today, the only known gateway between Gensokyo and this world is the Hakurei Shrine, which stands in isolation along the border on distant mountains of the far east. It's known that the local language spoken in Gensokyo is modern Japanese.

## Hakurei Barrier

The Great Hakurei Barrier is the border between Gensokyo and the Outside World, which allows youkai to survive within Gensokyo even when outside humans no longer believe in them.

The Hakurei Shrine, which exists on both sides of the border, is supposed to be its only gateway. However, the phenomenon of "spiriting away" can also cause objects and even living beings to slip through the border at random, particularly if they have started to be forgotten by the outside world. For instance, the crested ibis started to become more common in Gensokyo after the Japanese variety were recognised as extinct, and paper started showing up more frequently with the rise of digital storage. Outside humans are not protected by the Spell Card rules and thus can be freely preyed on by youkai, but they may choose to become citizens of the Human Village or request for the Hakurei shrine maiden to send them home.

As a "boundary of common sense" the barrier is designed to affect only living things and their creations, while allowing natural forces to pass through (hence the barrier is permeable to sunlight, and Gensokyo's rivers are connected to those of the Outside World). The space on the edges of the barrier is non-Euclidean - those who attempt to leave the barrier will find themselves encountering the same landmarks over and over, without ever getting any further from where they started.

## Locations

### **Hakurei Shrine**

The Hakurei Shrine is a small, run-down Shinto shrine located on the Great Hakurei Barrier on the east side of Gensokyo. The very existence of both Reimu Hakurei and her shrine ensures the continued existence of Gensokyo by protecting and maintaining the Barrier, thus making it one of the most important locations around. However, even with its high status, the shrine has been attacked and destroyed by youkai several times. Because it's located on the barrier, items from the outside world are known to sometimes appear nearby. Their use and purpose cannot usually be understood by the residents, yet these items are still wondrous to both youkai and humans.

### **Human Village**

The Human Village is where most of Gensokyo's humans live. Even though some youkai also visit here to shop, this is the safest place in all of Gensokyo to live. Humans from the outside world that stumble into Gensokyo and decide to stay often have no choice but to live here as they would be unable to handle the youkai outside the village.

### **Bamboo Forest of the Lost**

The Bamboo Forest of the Lost is located in the opposite direction to the Youkai Mountain when looking out from the Human Village. Given by the name of the forest, it is very easy to get lost. There are no clearings, the ground is mostly flat & indistinguishable, and the bamboos grow quickly resulting in a constant change of scenery, even the most experienced beings have trouble navigating. Eientei, a well known mansion for its medical services, is located deep in the forest, and can be reached via a guide.

### **Youkai Mountain**

Youkai Mountain is the largest mountain in all of Gensokyo. As its name implies, it is inhabited almost exclusively by youkai, primarily kappa and tengu, and where most humans are generally not welcome. However, several notable areas are on this mountain such as the Giant Toad's Pond, the Waterfall of Nine Heavens, and the Moriya Shrine. Heaven itself can also be accessed from the top of the mountain, but the trail is extremely dangerous.

### **Netherworld**

The Netherworld is the land where ghosts and phantoms reside after death. Encounterable beings include phantoms, ghosts and other types of spirits. The Netherworld is calm, though it has various seasons. It is filled with cherry blossoms in spring, and dyed with red leaves in autumn. Notable places include the large mansion, where the ghost princess, Yuyuko lives, and the Saigyou Ayakashi, a sealed youkai tree known for having drained the life of those who rested under it.