- Shugenja
Shugenja (修験者) were the
7th century practitioners of the Japanesereligion ofShugendo . They were sometimes known as "yamabushi ", often mistakenly rendered as "mountain warriors", "warrior priests", "bandit monks", etc. Warrior priests are correctly termed Sohei.Legend of the Five Rings
In the
Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game , "shugenja" are magic-users, similar to wizards. Their spells are given power by the five different varieties ofkami that can be found inRokugan . Their magic is referred to as Elemental Magic, as opposed to Bloodspeakers who use Blood Magic. In the role-playing game, being a "shugenja" is one of the main alternatives in character creation (the others are to become a "bushi" or warrior, or to become a "courtier" or politician). Shugenja in L5R are considered priests more than "wizards."Dungeons & Dragons
A version of this class (also called shugenja) was incorporated into
Dungeons & Dragons in the third edition "Oriental Adventures "sourcebook , and revised in the 3.5 edition sourcebook "Complete Divine ".Bushido
In
Bushido (role-playing game) , a role-playing game published in 1981 byFantasy Games Unlimited , Shugenja are portrayed as wizards. Bushido was the first role-playing game to portray Shugenja at all and it can be assumed that portrayal of Shugenja in role-playing games is initially influenced by their portrayal in Bushido just as it might be stated that role-playing games with character classes are initially influenced by Dungeons and Dragons.References
External links
[1] - Web site on Shugendo & Yamabushi * http://shugendo.fr/
[2] - Web site on Shugendo video http://www.dailymotion.com/Ken_Jaku
[3] - Web site on a shugenja http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gyoja/
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