Thread: Another religious ref: Sennin Mode

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennin

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Japanese Sennin is a loanword from Chinese xiānrén 仙人 "immortal person", namely the Xian "immortal; transcendent; genie; mage; jdinn; sage; hermit" in Daoism...
The Japanese legend of Gama Sennin (蝦蟇仙人 "Toad Immortal") is based upon Chinese Liu Hai (劉海), a fabled 10th-century alchemist who learned the secret of immortality from the Chan Chu ("Three-legged Money Toad"). Gama Sennin is also a name for Jiraiya in Naruto..

Jiraiya's sennin mode seems to be a 3-headed toad rather than a 3 legged toad, but its pretty clear who they're referencing here...

If Jiraiya is immortal(Gama Sennin (蝦蟇仙人 "Toad Immortal")), then Pein is at the verge of his defeat... ;p

Well its just my opinion.. ;p

sannin is almost like Xian-rin or Xian-Yin
from the character under the elder toad

which means Holly-man or immortal or even maybe Hermit

Originally Posted by Urameshi-sama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennin
Jiraiya's sennin mode seems to be a 3-headed toad rather than a 3 legged toad, but its pretty clear who they're referencing here...

Only little flaw is that, Jiraya should be able to use "Hermit" mode on his own, but since he does not very often do, he can't control very well.. Thats why he summoned the two elder toads..

Why would you say he can't control it well? If its so powerful and he can't control it wouldn't it be reckless of him using it so early in battle?

Originally Posted by irecinius

Only little flaw is that, Jiraya should be able to use "Hermit" mode on his own, but since he does not very often do, he can't control very well.. Thats why he summoned the two elder toads..

You're assuming that the hermit mode is just the beard + makeup + whatever powers that he gets. It seems to me that the summons are definitely a part of hermit mode though, not just accessories that Jiraiya needs to access it. Those two toads are powerful enough that sacrificing a bit of speed to summon them should be worth it.

Originally Posted by StealDragon

Why would you say he can't control it well? If its so powerful and he can't control it wouldn't it be reckless of him using it so early in battle?

Ch 376 Pg.1, 3rd frame:
Left frog: "You really need to learn to use hermit mode on yer own jiraia"
Jiraya: "I wish I could but I'm a tadpole compared to you two"
This made me belive that Hermit mode should be something that he could use himself, but since he can not he had to summon thoses to help him control the power..

Originally Posted by adonai

You're assuming that the hermit mode is just the beard + makeup + whatever powers that he gets. It seems to me that the summons are definitely a part of hermit mode though, not just accessories that Jiraiya needs to access it. Those two toads are powerful enough that sacrificing a bit of speed to summon them should be worth it.

I don't think the summons are "part" of the mode, but its a workaround his "inexperience" with the mode itself.

Kishi seems to have based his entire manga on religion, lore, myth, legend, culture and mystical stuff.. the entire tailed creatures are also from myth and legend surrounding some religious stuff..

I think "hermit" is a terrible translation for the word "sennin" or 仙人. In Chinese folklore, 仙人 are immortals who have transcended humanity. They don't need to eat, drink and possess superhuman powers like flight. But since there's no Western equivalent, I guess "hermit" will have to do (even though the term conjures up the image of some old crusty bearded guy living in seclusion). Even "sage" would be a closer translation but I guess "hermit" sound cooler.

sennin is japanese for hermit/wizard...