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Special Illustration 6

The monsters of Kotaku.

Monsters (化物, Bakemono) are what humans refer to the experimental creatures created by Jofuku on Kotaku in his attempts to unlock the secrets to immortality.

History[]

Over 1,000 years ago while serving the emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Jofuku sailed to an island to conduct research on achieving immortality. Using Taoism as the foundation to his research, Jofuku experimented with the Tao of organisms by fusing them together and created fabricated creatures as a result.

Types[]

Paradise Butterflies[]

Human Butterfly

A Paradise Butterfly.

The butterflies of Kotaku have human faces and stingers to infect their victims with Arborification. They can also release powder from their scales, causing whoever inhales it to feel lightheaded.

Paradise Centipedes[]

Paradise Centipedes

Paradise Centipedes.

The centipedes of Kotaku have human faces and are much larger than ordinary centipedes. They have human fingers in their mouths.

Wadatsumi[]

Wadatsumi

Wadatsumi.

The Wadatsumi (海神, Viz: Kaishin Sea-Gods) are large under sea monsters that prevents anything from leaving Kotaku if it has not come from Hōrai's floodgates. They have a body of an eel, tentacles with deformed faces and sharp claws, and have the head of a human.

Sōshin[]

Further information: Sōshin
Chobei and Toma encounter the Soshin

Sōshin.

The Sōshin (竈神) are lower-class monsters who serve as guardians in Eishū by killing any humans that trespass on the island. They have low intellect but are capable of speech on rare occasions. They live in a nest deep within the valley of Hōjō and are forbidden from stepping foot in Hōrai.

Monshin[]

Further information: Monshin
Gantetsusai encounters a Monshin

Monshin.

The Monshin (門神) are another type of lower-class monster guardians but are much more stronger than the Sōshin.

Dōshi[]

Further information: Dōshi
Doshi Portrait

Dōshi.

The Dōshi (道士) are monsters of a higher-class. Unlike the Sōshin and Monshin, the Dōshi possess intelligence and are much stronger. They reside in Hōrai where they undergo training in the ways of Tao as students and servants of Lord Tensen.

Tensen[]

Further information: Tensen
Tensen

Tensen.

Tensens (天仙, Literally meaning: Heavenly Immortals) are synthetic humans created from Human and Flower Tao. They are the supreme beings of Kotaku who rule over all the monsters inhabiting the island. The Tao of each Tensen are greatly refined and goes beyond human limitations, being comparable to that of the gods. They benefit from an elixir known as Tan where their lifespans are extended with large amounts of Tao robbed from humans. They are also able to regenerate their bodies from any form of injuries they receive in an instant and are able to unleash a transformation known as a Kishikai.

Others[]

Banko Monsters[]

Banko Monsters

The monsters created by the Zhu Jin-fused Banko.

After fusing with the Banko, Zhu Jin created gigantic monsters resembling Buddha but with flowers as faces to collect Tao for the Rite of Just Consumption. The bodies of the monsters are made from vegetation and have bodies that are either male or female. If come into contact with anything living, the monsters would drain the victim's Tao and cause their body to sprout flowers and die.

Trivia[]

  • The concept of the monsters on Kotaku references the experimental Beast Folk in The Island of Doctor Moreau from which the manga took inspiration from.