Abe no Seimei Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Abe no Seimei (安倍 晴明 921?-1005?) was a leading specialist of onmyo-do during the middle of Heian Period. His legend has been portrayed in a number of stories and films.Abe no Seimei worked as a Onmyoji, practicioner of onmyo-do, working for emperors and the Heian government. His job was making a calendar and advised on spiritually correct way to deal with issues. He prayed for a well being of emperors and government as well as advising on various issues. He was also an astrologist and predicted astorogical events. He enjoyed an extremely long life, free from any major illness and this is one of the reason that caused Abe no Seimei to have a mystical powers.
In Fiction
His life is well recorded and there is a little question about his life. But almost after his death, he gained legends and myths much like that of Merlin. Many fictions were written in Edo period that focused on Abe no Seimei's heroic acts.
According to most prevailing myths, Abe no Seimei is not entirely human. He was born between a human father and a mother who is a Yokai, a fox spirit. In a very early age, no later than five, he was able to command weak Oni to do bidding for him. His mother entrusted Abe no Seimei to a master of Onmyo-do, which is an art of commanding Oni, casting spells, and breaking spells in the myth, so that he would live a proper human life and not become an evil himself.
Heian period was a time of peace, especially the time Seimei lived, and much of his myths revolve around series of magical battles with an antagonist, Ashina Doman. Ashina Doman is a powerful onmyoji who tries to embarass Abe no Seimei so that he can take his position. In one of a match before the emperor, Doman dares Seimei to see what is in a box he has. He have hidden a mandarin orange and is surprised and amused when Seimei answers that a frog is in a box. Certain that Seimei is joking, Doman opens and to his surprise, find a frog. Seimei had transformed a mandarin orange into a frog without even casting a spell.
In 1994, Yumemakura Baku started a series named Onmyoji with Abe no Seimei casted as a beautiful young adult male who lived the world of Heian period infested with mysterious beings. This was turned into a manga by Okano Reiko and became popular within teenage girls.
His name appears in many works of fiction often as a helpful wise man and rarely as an enemy.
The movie "Onmyouji", starring Abe no Seimei was released in 2003/2004 in the U.S. by Geneon/Pioneer.
Abe no Seimei can also be seen in the anime "Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi" which was released in 2004 in the U.S. by ADV Films.
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