Genjo Sanzo

"I'll live enough for all you bastards!"

**Genjo Sanzo** (玄げん奘じょう三さん蔵ぞう, *Genjō Sanzō*?), the 31st of China is a main character in the fan-made series **Universal Warriors**.

Sanzo is one of the main characters of Saiyuki. A Buddhist priest/monk, he is the one who brought the four together to travel to the west under command of the Three Aspects and the Goddess of Mercy. From his leadership derives the group's common nickname of Sanzo Party ("Sanzo's group" or "Sanzo-ikkou").

## Personality

Sanzo is not very open to anyone, and sees even the most trifling thing as something annoying. He takes the guardian role after releasing Goku and has been responsible for his upbringing.  He is not overly fond of children or animals, but seems to be fine around Goku and Hakuryuu. He even indulges Lirin either by giving her a treat or letting her hang on his shoulders without much complaint. He is indifferent, short-tempered, and a rational thinker; most of the time he won't fight unless absolutely necessary, even if the others are. He is most easily annoyed by Gojyo and Goku's constant bickering. Most of the time, he solves this problem by threatening to punish them by hitting their heads with his paper fan or firing his gun at them to get them to shut up. When they're resting, he usually reads the newspaper and drinks a beer or tea. Though the rest of the ikkou are his only friends, he refuses to admit it. He typically describes them as his servants, and is never grateful no matter how many times they rescue him from death. In particular, he hates being pressed to defend his unusual position as a human traveling with youkai companions.

Despite his gruff and impersonal attitude, he cares deeply for his companions - though he'd loath to acknowledge it - and is quick to defend others in need. He and Goku spend the most time together, owing to the fact that they've known each other for so long.

Though he never actually took Buddhist vows and seems to hold all divinities in contempt, he maintains a few monastic habits. He eats very sparingly and his favorite dish continues to be *chazuke* (茶漬け) which is basically rice steeped in green tea - a typical monk's meal. He refuses to lecture on religious teachings when asked, but often delivers philosophical points with blunt and direct insight when people need advice. The one teaching of his master's that he continues to hold in high regard is *muichimotsu*, [Mu (none, nothing), Ichi (one) Motsu (to hold); so "hold not one (thing)", "hold nothing"], a precept that forbids forming any attachments in the material world. He does become aware that he has used *muichimotsu* as a defense against forming friendships or emotional attachments, for fear of losing them as he did his master, but it is uncertain whether or not this awareness changes his opinion of the teaching.

## Character Design

Genjo Sanzo is of relatively average height and athletically wiry, although he's usually enveloped in his very loose beige robe. He has bright golden blond hair kept vaguely short and violet eyes, and is considered to be strikingly attractive. Draped over the shoulders of the robe is a green-bordered scroll covered in Tibetan calligraphy, the Maten Sutra, one of the five Tenshi Kaigen or "Sutras of Heaven and Earth". The sacred sutra's powers protect it from accumulating any signs of damage or wear, despite its being worn in all sorts of weather every day for years.

It is has been mentioned more than once that he is fair looking, once a villager even tried to make a move on him, but was immediately greeted with a gun to his forehead before he could touch him.

Underneath the robes, he's usually wearing simple blue-jeans and a thin, tight-fitting sleeveless mock-turtleneck, with black fingerless gloves connecting to slave-rings on each hand. He's got a decent handful of scars, mostly not visible in his normal dress, all of which are fairly old. He originally (in the first manga and anime series) wore black tabi socks and straw sandals on his feet, but later switched to black boots. It was also hinted that Sanzo may be farsighted as he's always seen wearing reading glasses when he reads the newspaper or scriptures.

In both *Saiyuki Reload* and *Saiyuki Reload Gunlock*, Sanzo's primary attire has minor changes. His robes became white instead of beige and his jeans appears hipster and the color of his jeans was gray. In one occassion he shows his sleeveless turtleneck shirt beneath his white robe while the sleeves from his robe are hanging loose in each sides.

In some occassions throughout the anime series' run when both Sha Gojyo and Son Goku are always bickering and makes Sanzo became angrily annoyed from their constant bickering. He wields his infamous large *harisen* to slap both of their heads while he threatens them to get punished. It was unknown how he keeps both his paper fan along with his gun.

## Abilities and Equipment

Sanzo has two main weapons that he uses periodically; those being his Maten Sutra and the gun he's carried with him since he first became a Sanzo priest. He hardly ever fights without his gun and the Sutra on his shoulders, and is seen as a very formidable foe when forced to fight.

Another interesting in the manga, Sanzo seems to have an idea how to use a katana.

### Equipment

* Banishing Gun

*see main article : S&W-M10*
* Maten Sutra: Translated as the 'scripture of darkness', it is the Sutra that Genjyo Sanzo carries. All Sanzo are required to protect one of the five Sutras. Most of the time, it sits on Sanzo's shoulders, and it is mentioned in passing. Kougaiji has tried many times to take the Sutra but has failed. It has been said that with the five Sutras collected, Gyumaoh can be resurrected.

In order to use the scripture he must recite a mantra, ending in the command Makai Tenjo, at which point, the scripture is activated. The only time Sanzo really uses the Sutra is when he can't use his gun or Goku's diadem has been broken/removed. He has also used this during an attack in one the villages that Sharak Sanzo has been protecting. They both realized that using two sutras at the same time causes it to resonate, creating incredible power. He is the only non-divine character so far to be able to reconstruct Goku's diadem. He is also somewhat of a match to the Sage, as seen when he fights him in the anime. It is speculated this is due to him retaining some of his godlike power from his previous incarnation as Konzen Doji.

Though Sanzo prefers to use his guns, he is also good in hand-to-hand combats. It is both shown in the manga and novel that Sanzo is able to beat a bunch of people who look much taller and stronger into pulps.

## Story

### Original

Little is known about his past. However, it was stated he knew the other four Great Generals, as all five of them were friends in childhood.

During the Awaji Island Recapture, he was stated to have honed his sword skills in order to defeat Shiro Inukai. Naotora remembers seeing Shiro around 10 years ago, saying that he recalled a warrior surrounded by a white aura reveling in the massacre of his brothers being feasted on by hoards of demons. After creating an elemental blade and breaking Shiro's Kitetsuto, Naotora gets an injury on his arm that he calls a "Dark Depravity Curse". He believes it's because he was fighting a bit recklessly.

## Relationships

### Universal Warriors

#### The Universes

* Jennifer Amantea
* Natsu Dragneel
* Lucy Heartfilia
* Gray Fullbuster
* Erza Scarlet
* Wendy Marvell
* Aladdin
* Alibaba Saluja
* Morgiana
* Hakuryuu Ren
* Kouha Ren
* Sinbad
* Kougyoku Ren
* Gingka Hagane
* Kenta Yumiya
* Madoka Amano
* Yu Tendo
* Masamune Kadoya
* Benkei Hanawa
* Kyoya Tategami

#### The Another World

* Juvia Lockser
* Cana Alberona
* Mirajane Strauss
* Levy McGarden
* Zeref Dragneel
* Mard Geer Tartaros
* Seilah
* Sonya
* Animus
* Suzaku
* Koumei Ren
* Towa Higurashi
* Elie
* Lucia Raregroove
* Rebecca Bluegarden
* Weisz Steiner
* Sister Ivry
* Amira
* Poseidon Shura
* Eraser
* Feather
* Mashima Heroes
* Yoh Asakura
* Tao Ren
* Horokeu Usui
* Silva
* Hao Asakura
* Yue Ayase
* Makie Sasaki
* Snow
* Nanashi
* Keisuke Baji
* Chifuyu Matsuno
* Kazutora Hanemiya
* Seishu Inui
* Hajime Kokonoi
* Eren Yeager
* Mikasa Ackerman
* Annie Leonhart
* Reiner Braun
* Sasha Blouse
* Hange Zoë
* Zeke Yeager
* Pieck Finger
* Colt Grice
* Yelena
* Cecily Fairchild
* Anavel Gato
* Aina Sahalin
* Gym Ghingham
* Cagalli Yula Athha
* Full Frontal
* Akihiro Altland
* Gaelio Bauduin
* Zoltan Akkanen
* Lane Aim
* Yukimura Sanada
* Nobunaga Oda
* Ieyasu Tokugawa
* Shiemi Moriyama
* Cheng-Long Liu
* Duke Hyou
* Kan Ki
* Mou Ten
* Ri Boku
* Slaine Troyard
* Elizabeth Liones
* Derieri
* Ikoma
* Mumei
* Biba Amatori
* Hikayu Hoshikawa
* Vladilena Milizé
* Anju Emma
* Sakura Li
* Kurogane
* Kaolan Wongsawat
* Brunhilde
* Lü Bu
* Kojiro Sasaki
* Poseidon
* Raiden Tameemon
* Qin Shi Huang
* Kei Mizusawa
* Naotora Takeda
* Tatsuomi Uesugi
* Tsubasa Tokugawa
* Soma Date
* Seiroku Inukawa
* Aijiro Inue
* Imari Inuyama
* Anya Alstreim
* Lenalee Lee
* Akira Renbokoji
* A-drei
* H-neun
* Susumu Kodai
* Adeltrud Walter
* Shion Shishibe
* Germán Luís
* Raikou
* Tughril Mahmut
* Lelederik of Ellvaldez
* Al-Kaplan Balaban
* Nancy Schaal Bancroft
* Mischa
* Alisha Diphda
* Noelle Silva
* Adele von Ascham
* Fena Houtman
* Atlee Ariel
* Zetsu Daidan
* Ren Sin
* Kyo Meiketsu
* Fine Forte
* Prax Conrad
* Virgo Fudō
* Torque
* Mora Chester

## Trivia

* According to his Character Profile:

* Sanzo's favorite subject is national language, while his least favorite subject is physical education.
* His favorite food is mayonaise and disliked food is cheese.
* Sanzo prefers and he doesn't like weird people and a person who is not compassionate .
* The people he respects or admires are Askeladd.
* The people he dislikes or fears are Naotora Takeda.
* His special skill is unknown.
* His hobby is swordmanships.
* He weaknesses is cat.

* Sanzo is based off his *Journey to the West* counterpart, Xuanzang, AKA Tang Sanzang.
* His origin bares similarities to Xuanzang.  Both have fathers with high government rankings, later killed.  For Xuanzang, this led to Guanyin  warning his mother, Yin Wenqiao, to take care good care of him as a baby, for he would grow to be a great man, and was soon to be killed as soon as her husand's murderer and her current husband learnt of his birth.  In response, Yin abandoned him in a river, much like Sanzo's mother.
* Further, Sanzo and Xuanzang shared a similar discovery by the temple's head.  Both Komyou and  Jinshan Temple's abbot heard a voice calling for them (in the abbot's case, Xuanzang's infant cries), however Xuanzang was accompanied by a letter written in blood elaborating his circumstances.  Both characters were also named after the river they were discovered in.  Whilst growing up, both displayed stricter attitudes toward their conducts as monks, this mixed with their close relationships with the temple's head led to other monks ridiculing and alienating them.
* Another major connection between the two characters is their contribution to freeing and taking in Sun Wukong , freeing him from his five-century imprisonment.
* A running gag in the series is characters' reference to Sanzo as an old man due to his habit of going to bed early and wearing glasses whenever reading the newspaper. He is easily annoyed by this, especially when it is Gojyo who points this out.
* So far, Sanzo is always second when it comes to card games. The first being Hakkai and third and fourth belonging to Gojyo and Goku respectively.
* Sanzo has been referred to as "Droopy eyes" and "Baldy" (mostly by Gojyo and Lirin). "Baldy" is a common insult to monks, who typically shave their heads (another way in which Sanzo is far from being a typical monk). "Namagusa bouzo", or 'stinking monk', is another typical insult of Gojyo's; this specifically refers to a monk who breaks his vows, such as not eating meat, which makes one's breath smell bad.

* A small number of characters in the series tend to take note of his droopy eyes being one of his most distinctive traits, humans and demons alike.

* The story of his origin is quite similar to the original version (Chinese Novel - Journey to the West) where Ukoku (Saiyuki Reload) stated that his father holds a position in the government but was killed.
* His preferred cigarette brand is filtered Marlboro Red, as seen in Saiyuki manga vol. 9. He buys disposable lighters, rather than owning a refillable one like Gojyo's, which is possibly an expression of *muichimotsu*.
* Sanzo really likes mayonaise, which is something common in Japanese culture. He even places it on ramen. He also is partial to red pickled ginger. In "Anniversary" chapter at the end of Reload volume 3, Sanzo also puts mayonaise on his sashimi.
* In Episode 07 of Saiyuki Reload it is revealed that *Sanzo-sama* is allergic to cats. Despite this Sanzo seems to have an crippling weakness for small animals like kittens, puppies, occasionally Hakuryuu, and as we are all very much aware: monkeys. In a Drama CD entitled "Cat Returns", it is also shown that Sanzo has a fear of cats. They scare him to the point where he'll cry, scream and run away from them.
* As revealed in Saiyuki Reload Gunlock in Episode 11, Sanzo sleeps with earplugs. This is completely understandable given Goku's incessant snoring at night. In Saiyuki Gensoumaden (Anime) it was also shown that Sanzo shout in his sleep.
* In chapter 12 of Saiyuki Reload Blast, Sanzo admits to Hassan that aside from the mantras to use the Maten he can't use other Buddhist spells and mantras, ones meant for attacks. This is really regrettable given that his master, Koumyou Sanzo was such as genius with them.
* Kazuya Minekura drew one of her original characters, Kubota Makoto cosplaying as Genjo Sanzo.
* Sanzo's waist line is 22 inches. He is an ambidextrous person; he can shoot, eat or write with either his left or right hand.
* In the original Japanese version, Sanzo and his master share the same voice actors of Aleister Crowley and Aiwass from *Toaru Majutsu no Index* series.
* In the original Japanese version of Saiyuki, Kouryuu was voiced by Yūko Kobayashi, but later he was voiced by Kahoru Sasajima in Sai R. & Sai R Gun.  Just the same, Kouryuu was voiced by Kevin Corn in the English version Saiyuki and Mela Lee in Sai R. & Sai R Gun.

## Gallery

*Main article: Genjo Sanzo/Image Gallery*
## References

1. ↑ [[Saiyuki Reload Vol 6, Ch. 025: Even a Worm [12]
2. ↑ Saiyuki Reload Episode 7