Sha Gojyo (Saiyuki)

Infobox animanga character
name = Sha Gojyo
series = Saiyuki
caption = Sha Gojyo by Minekura Kazuya
Past Life = Kenren Taisho
creator = Minekura Kazuya
voiced by = Kōichi Yamadera(Japanese, OVA)
Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese, original series)
Illich Guardiola (English)
Tony Oliver (English, Reload and Gunlock)


allies = Genjo Sanzo, Son Goku, and Cho Hakkai
age = 22
gender = Male
species = half-yōkai
Birthdate = November 9
Zodiac = Scorpio
Blood type = B
born = November 9

nihongo|Sha Gojyo|沙悟浄|Sha Gojyois the third main protagonist in the manga and anime, Saiyūki, created by Minekura Kazuya. He is the hanyou (half-yōkai) companion of the Sanzo-ikkō ("Sanzo's party"), armed with a shakujō (which is the incorrect name given for a yuèyáchǎn). Its crescent blade is attached to a chain and he can control it for a mortally-accurate long-distance attack.

Background

His blood-red hair and eyes express his status as a half-blood, and he's often labeled taboo and unclean in general society. Part kappa (a water imp) and wholly a ladies' man, he can be friendly and easy-going until someone or something offends his innate sense of justice. As he was an abused child, he's quick to defend and fight for lost or wayward children because they remind him of his youth, often without concern for his own well-being.

Also, on this line, Gojyo does not like to see a woman cry, for they remind him of his mother, often telling them that pretty girls shouldn't cry because he feels he should comfort them, returning those memories to him of his abusive step mother, who always cried. Gojyo wanted to make things better for her, and never succeeded. Though his step mother always abused him, his older half brother, Sha Jein (Who changes his name to Dokugakuji) would always be there for him.

That’s when his step mother wanted to kill him once and for all, and Jein ended up killing his mother in order to save his little brother.

Personality

He is the only person who smokes more than Sanzo and is almost always seen with a cigarette hanging from his lips. If Sanzo smokes one, Gojyo smokes three. Although he fights constantly with Goku, he looks upon him as an elder brother would. He is a self-admitted "lady-killer" and, before the "Journey to the West", he made his living through gambling and passed his time with the ladies.

Gojyo's elder half-brother, Sha Jein (who has renamed himself Dokugakuji, and who is currently in the service of Kougaiji, the Demon Prince) killed their demon mother while she was attempting to kill Gojyo for being a the child of her husbands human mistress. It is from this incident that Gojyo has two scars on his cheek. It was also suggested that Jien and his mother were having a sexual relationship. Jien and Gojyo had a very close relationship.

He is very loyal to the group. No matter how much may protest he is immensely fond of all of them, even Goku, with whom he is always seen to be arguing with. Though out of everyone in the group, he is closest to Hakkai. He helped to heal Hakkai after Hakkai turned into a youkai (by killing over a thousand demons), and even stuffed Hakkai's entrails back into him by himself. Also, he is the only man ever been permitted to 'sleep in' Gojyo's bed. In addition, his and Hakkai's (Kenren and Tenpu respectively) former incarnates were very good friends in Heaven.

Weapon

He carries a weapon that is incorrectly referred to as a Shakujō, a modified version of a yuèyáchǎn. The main modification is a chain stored in the pole attached to the crecent moon shaped blade allowing him to attack enemies at a distance.The Shakujo is a weapon that he 'inherited' by breaking a vase within Sanzo's home temple, durin a fight with Goku, each obtaining the Shakujo and Nyoi-bo respectively. The weapon is said to stay with its master until death.

Original Legend

Sha Gojyo(Shā Wùjìng in the original legend) (literally meaning "Sand Awakened to Purity"), given the name Friar Sand or Sandy in English, was once the Curtain Raising General, who stood in attendance by the imperial chariot in the Hall of Miraculous Mist. He was exiled to the mortal world and made to look like a monster because he accidentally smashed a crystal goblet belonging to the Heavenly Queen Mother during the Peach Banquet. The now-hideous immortal took up residence in the Flowing Sands River, terrorizing the surrounding villages and travelers trying to cross the river. However, he was subdued by Sūn Wùkōng and Zhū Bājiè when the Xuānzàng party came across him. They consequently took him in to be a part of the pilgrimage to the West.