List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms

The following are a list of the terms used in the anime "The Twelve Kingdoms". The world in Twelve Kingdoms is rich of culture and mysticism, with its own beliefs and language. There are several terms used in "The Twelve Kingdoms" that are unique to this world.

Daigaku
The highest level of education which can only be achieved at the national university.

Fuukan
Shouryuu's pseudonym, which he uses when he goes to public places. 'Fuu' means wind and 'Kan' means a man.

Genbu
A holy creature, which resembles a turtle and is as big as a small island.

Gyoutei
God of the harvest.

Hakuchi
Hakuchi is a bird that is kept in each kindom's Gotou palace. it is also called a Nisei (two cries) because it cries only twice in its lifetime. The First cry happens when a new ruler is crowned and the second time when the kingdoms falls. After the second cry, it dies and its leg is used as an offical seal until a new ruler takes the throne.

Hanjyuu
A half-beast, like Rakushun. A Hanjyuu can turn into a human form.

Hekisojou
The crystal attached to Suiguu. It has the power to heal wounds and ease hunger.

Hinman
A type of Youman. It can get inside a person and control his/her movements.

Horai
The name used in the Twelve Kingdoms for Japan. It is also referred to as Wa.

Hou-Ou
Hou-Ou are a pair of birds where each kingdom has Hou-Ou. Hou is male and Ou is female. An Ou can communicate with the Ou in other kingdoms. A Hou cries when an Ou receives news of series matter from other kingdoms.

Jyogaku
Village School.

Jyoushou
City Academy.

Kaikyaku
People who have been caught in a Shoku and blown to the world of the Twelve Kingdoms.

Kijyuu
Youjyuu that are trained to carry people.

Kirin
A holy creature that chooses the ruler of a kingdom. It has the body of a horse and a horn on its forehead. Kirin can change into a human form and posses mysterious powers. There is only one Kirin for each Kingdom and the only ones that can recognize the rulers of their respective kingdoms. A Kirin obeys only its ruler and never prostrates itself to anyone else. A male Kirin is called "Ki" and a female Kirin is called "Rin".

Koutei
A god that protects people from Youman.

Kyokai
A large sea that seperates Horai from the twelve kingdoms. It is impossible to sail across it.

Mount Hou
A holy land where the Kirin is born and cared for, and where the new ruler of a Kingdom is crowned.

Nyokia
A speical Youma born to protect and serve a Kirin. Nyokai are born before the Kirin to ensure the young creature's safety.

Ranka
The enchanted fruit that all life is born from. Ranka grow on speical trees called Ribokus and Yabokus.

Riboku
Trees bearing Ranka that give life to humans and Kirins.

Saiho
The governmental rank held by a Kirin. A Kirin is second in command in a Kingdom.

Seioubo
The superior godess who lives in the Gozan.

Sekishi
Youko's nickname which means "Red Child". She is given this name because of her scarlet hair.

Sennin
Sennin refers to gods that live in the mountains. However, in the world of twelve kingdoms, the king or queen can register normal people (usually officals) as Sennin. Also people can become Sennin by fasting and praying for Seioubo. Sennin can undestand and speak many different languages other than the language of the twelve kingdoms. Sennin have eternal live, as long as they have not beheaded.

Shinki
The play that tells the legend about how the world was created.

Shirei
The Youma that are contracted to protect and serve a Kirin.

Shinsen
A collective noun for gods and sennin.

Shitsudou
A sickness, which a Kirin suffers when the ruler of a kingdom loses his reason and fails to govern properly. Shitsudou is almost incurable, (because once the ruler loses his sense, it is unlikely that he will reform) and if a Kirin dies, the ruler will be dethroned and eventually die.

Shoku
A phenomenon similar to a storm that connects the world of the twelve kingdoms to the real world. The people of Kou believe a Shoku brings misfortune to the world. Kirin are capable of creating artificial Shoku to travel to Horai.

Shougaku Preliminary
Hamlet School.

Shougaku University
Municipal schools where only qualified students who graduate from Shoujyo can go.

Shoujyo
Town school in the Kingdom of En. It is also known as Shougaku Academy in other kingdoms.

Shouzan
A pilgramage done by the people of a kingdom to Mt Hou in hopes of being selected by the Kirin to become the new ruler.

Shusei
Shushei are people who do not belong to any particular country and travel around the world. They make their living by performing plays and entertaining the village folk.

Shuukou
The Leader of a province.

Suiguu
The sword Suiguu is the national treasure of the Kingdom of Kei. Only a ruler of Kei may wield it.

Taiho
The formal title used by the common people for a Kirin.

Taika
People who get blown to a different world by a Shoki when they're still a Ranka.

Tentei
A god, which is believe to be the creator of the world of the Tweleve Kingdoms. Tentei is also believed to grant a Ranka (a child) to a married couple. It is said that Tentei selects the next ruler through a Kirin.

Wa
Another term for Horai.

Yaboku
Trees bearing Ranka that give life to all plants, animals, and Youma.

Yo-Ou
The postumous name of the previous ruler of Kei.

Youjyuu
It's not clear what is the difference between Youjyuu and Youma or why they exists; however, it is believed that people can tame a Youjyuu, but only a Kirin can tame a Youma.

Youma
Evil creatures with supernatural powers.

Zuiun
The long line of clouds that can be seen in the sky when a new ruler is crowned. It is the trail that Genbu leaves when it carries the new ruler and the Kirin to their Royal Palace from Mt. Hou.