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Onmyoujitsu (or onmyoudo) is a craft that uses the elements of yin and yang (fire, water, earth, wood, gold) for the purpose of fortune-telling or combating supernatural forces. Originating from China, it was introduced into Japan in the 7th century by Buddhist priests and used extensively in ancient Japan. An onmyouji is thus a person who masters and practises this art. In the Heian Period, the onmyouji was heavily relied upon to protect the emperor and kingdom from misfortune. The most well-known onmyouji was Abeno Seimei who served the Heian emperor in Kyoto from 921 to 1005 AD.
>> The Sumeragi Clan
The Sumeragi clan doesn't exist in real life, but in Tokyo Babylon, it's a family of spiritual mediums whose influence and strong reputation in Japan dates back to ancient history. They are a wealthy family and commands the respect of everyone well-informed on the art of onmyoujitsu, especially those to whom they have been of service. The name
"Sumeragi" is a single kanji which means "emperor" in Japanese. The clan spans roughly three hundred years of history, with Subaru being the thirteenth head, and has long been a trusted source of protection for emperors, politicians and nobles. Before a Sumeragi can officially assume the title of the clan's head, he must live out the day of his apprenticeship and undergo strict physical and spiritual training. He must also be disciplined and well-schooled in the art of onmyoujitsu before he can properly carry out his duties. Owing to the untimely death of the twins' parents, the responsibilities of the clan were passed onto their grandmother, a wise and respected matriarch who lives in Sagano, Kyoto.
>> The Sakurazukamori Clan
The word sakurazukamori translates to "guardian of the cherry barrow", which is precisely what Seishirou is. The Sakurazukamori is actually not a proper clan but a single assasin whose task is to prey on mortal souls and feed their blood to the cherry tree in the center of Ueno Park. The Sakurazukamori assasin also practises onmyoujitsu, but just as Westerners believe in the use of "dark magic" to do evil, the Sakurazukamori uses onmyoujitsu to to kill. Their usual methods of attack are either by spearing them through the chest or engulfing their victims in a funnel of cherry blossom petals. Seishirou is seen to be using the latter method in the first OVA to defeat the bad guy Shinji Nagumo. In such a case, the victim is gripped by a fatal pain similar to that of a heart attack. Legend has it that cherry blossoms were not pink but pure white - the color of snow. Underneath each tree there is a corpse buried there and at the time of the year when they drink the corpse bloods, the blossoms bloom and turn a pale crimson shade. The Sakurazukamori is the one responsible for "feeding" the tree with human souls. All those born into the Sakurazuka family have a tradition of becoming the next assasin by killing their predecessor. In line with this tradition, Seishirou became the clan's last head by killing her mother Setsuka under a camellia tree.