Onmyoji Techniques

The 5 elements

Potentially called **Onmyōdō** (**陰陽道**) or **Onmyoji work** (**陰陽師の業**), are magical and spiritual techniques of the Onmyoji.

These anti demon techniques are the toolkit of Onmyoji just like Ninja Techniques are for Taimanin. The source of these techniques is Spiritual Energy, which allows the casting of Magic. Ideologically, Onmyoji reject the idea that their magic shares any similarity or source with demonic magic.

## Application

Unlike, Taimanin abilities, a **catalyst** (**神札＜カタリスト＞**) is needed to use any techniques. This means typically Onmoyji require more preparation time for a fight and are helpless without it. Because of that, often Onmyoji are viewed as more defensive.

Onmyoji cast "magical formulas" (Jutsu-shikiinto) with the help of a catalyst card. Alternatively, they can also use the stronger summoning of a Shikigami Spirit with their paper doll catalyst and summon spell (サモン・スペル). Some can even create large scale spells, which require more time and money for ritual items to be even possible.

There are typically 5 schools of Onmyouji mastery, which gives them a high degree of versatility. More unique abilities are also often part of a clan/family secret, which is taught in secret or in Gogyo Academy. Like with Taimanin, a connection to demonic blood also seems to be connected to some families natural talent.

## Main Techniques

The "Gogyo" (五行) the theory of the 5 elements. Each school of element contains multiple spells and techniques.

* **Wood Path/School** (**木行**) strengthening techniques such as protection from demons and physical strengthening of the body.
* **Fire Path/School** (**火行**) effective attack techniques to purify demons. It can also destroy people and objects.
* **Earth Path/School** (**土行**) summoning techniques that can bring demons and shikigami back to the present world.
* **Metal Path/School** (**土行**) an alchemical formula that changes the nature of all things and manipulates the soul.
* **Water Path/School** (**水行**) a technique that uses the power of life to weaken demons and heal people.

### Sub Techniques

Belong to one of the schools, not everybody has talent and some techniques are more secretive.

* **Elemental Magic**: Long range or short range spells of fire, lighting, water, light, darkness and so on.
	+ Futaba Lily Ramses, Morino Yuuko
* **Barriers**: Weaken demons or people that enter, make entry impossible, seal objects or act as cover and disguise. Can cover rooms or entire buildings.
	+ Uehara Kitae, Kurahashi Hokuto, Kibino Miki
* **Seals**: Typically seal the power of a demon, or parts of their personality. Can also fully put a demon into a stasis.
	+ Abe Yumei
* **Familiars**: Binds lesser being like animals, humans or demons shortly to the summoner to perform light tasks.
	+ Morino Yuuko
* **Soul Embodiment**: Able to control and create living machines/golems, by giving them a soul.
	+ Shinganji Sakyo
* **Shikigami Summon**: Uses a lesser or divine being from the demon realm or other realm to fight.
	+ Yagyuu Towako, Shiki Reika
* **Detection**: Feels demonic beings and life energy.
	+ Kamimura Azuma, Rodrico Nakatomi
* **Life Magic**: Controls "life" itself, grows plants and heals. Can also be infused into an object.
	+ Tachibana Ichiro/Witch of the Ocean
* **Body Transfiguration**: Turns the body into metal or other hard material.
	+ Abe Koso
* **Prediction and luck manipulation**: Uses the older origins of Gogyo, in the Chinese spiritualism and Feng Shui, to predict and control fate and luck.
	+ Danyang Hua
* **Mind Eye/God Eye**: Don't require a catalyst, taught in the Shinganji clan. Allows user to see, if only vaguely, the emotion and subconscious of another person. Allows to see weaknesses or intention in movements.
	+ Kichi Azusa, Shinganji Kurenai, Shinganji Kaede
* **Soul Exchange**: Forbidden, allows the Onmyoji to trade their own soul with their Shikigami for power.
	+ Yuyami

## Tools

Minor everyday tools for Taimanin.

* Ofuda/Catalyst

## Trivia

* Taimanin are also able to learn some of these techniques, but it is a matter of talent. Certain Taimanin which do not awaken to a Ninja Art, instead become Onmyoji as well.
* Most of the elements of Onmoyji magic, are found in *Wuxing* (Chinese philosophy). The Japanese term is *gogyo* (Japanese:五行, romanized: gogyō). During the 5th and 6th centuries (Kofun period), Japan adopted various philosophical disciplines such as Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism through monks and physicians from China. In particular, *wuxing* was adapted into gogyo. These theories have been extensively practiced in Japanese acupuncture and traditional Kampo medicine.