Baku Yumemakura, Onmyōji [Yin-Yang Master]

Amy Lee (The Open University)

Ed. by Mats Arne Karlsson, University of Sydney
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 10.2.2: Japanese Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Mats Arne Karlsson (University of Sydney), Roy Anthony Starrs (University of Otago)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. Sep 1986

Places

Japan (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Historical
Science Fiction
Story Collection

Resources

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Onmyōji

is the title of a popular fiction series authored by Japanese writer Yumemakura Baku, whose real name is Mineo Yoneyama (1951–). The very first short story of this series, simply called “Onmyōji”, was published in the popular magazine

All Yomimono

in 1986. Later stories appeared in other magazines and Yumemakura began to make a name as a science fiction writer. The series features an

onmyōji

, a government official in the Bureau of Divination in ancient Japan, and a courtier friend who is also a highly skilled musician. The two main protagonists are based on the historical figures of Abe no Seimei (921-1005), a renowned

onmyōji

, and Minamoto no Hiromasa (918-980), a nobleman of the Heian imperial court. The two characters embark on mysterious adventures set in Heian Japan…

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2752 words

Citation: Lee, Amy. "Onmyōji". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 August 2021 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=40576, accessed 19 April 2024.]

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