Princess Mononoke Revealed: The Real Mythology & History Explained

The Studio Ghibli classic, Princess Mononoke changed the way I saw the world and inspired my interest in Japanese Mythology. In this video, I will break down and explain the real mythology, folklore & history referenced by this Anime masterpiece.

Please let me know what references you noticed and what the film means to you in the comments below.

Instrumentals in this video in order of appearance:

#studioghibli #miyazaki #princessmononoke #anime #mythology

[angelkingsley]

Princess Mononoke is a pro-female masterpiece that tells a story and that doesn’t try to appeal to audiences.
Lady Eboshi hires sex workers and lepers. She also is very well rounded character. She cares for her people, and she treats her people like her equals.
The wise women is a venerated member of the community. She has clairvoyance and powers of divination and gives the community leaders advice.
The ladies of Iron Town treat themselves as equals and doesn’t let men treat them like trash. They are independent and actively defend themselves and their way of life.
Moro is a mother who defends her land and treats all of her children the same(she shows no favoritism only love). She protects her children even when she is dying.
San is a warrior princess who doesn’t let her feelings of love cloud her judgment of Askitaka and the other humans. She fights for her home and she doesn’t force herself to forgive Askitaka at the end of the movie.
Honestly Princess Mononoke has some of the most well rounded characters both male and female In any story ever.

[hindsightpov]

When we see plants springing to life wherever the Forest Spirit walked on earth, it reminded me of the mythology of Aphrodite that said flowers bloomed wherever she walked.

[TheMaryWriter]

The worm curses referenced at the beginning are also similar to the slug curse used by Yubaba to control Haku and the worm thing that Madame Suliman uses to infect Calcifer (via the Witch of the Waste) in Howl's Moving Castle. It seems to be a bit of a staple for Miyazaki.

[Leafy_]

The point you made at 6:20 about the wolves guiding you through the mountains but ripping you to shreds when you lose your footing was also shown during the scene when Ashitaka is walking with the wolves and one of them immediately attacks him when he passes out.

[chronofactor]

Everyone needs to see this wonderful movie. It's a long one but it's quality never decreases at any time.

[kirbymarchbarcena]

Somehow, Japanese animé movies are more entertaining to me than anything Hollywood had made...yes, even reading subtitles unconsciously taught me to speed read.

[SunshineInMyTears]

In Japan if you lost your way in the woods, the wolf leads you to the right track. In Germany, it will eat your grandma, takes her clothes, tricks you to eat you, will be cut off in sleep by a huntsman saving you and your grandma before filling the wolf's stomach with stones...

Japanese wolf wins I would say 😅✊🏼

[tommynobaka]

When I saw this as a kid, it blew me away. It didn't have the friendliness of Disney movies. It had grit, adventure, and a sense of mysterious realism that captured my captivation. Another family film that did this was Coraline and Monster House

[westb]

In Shinto thought, kami (deities) have four aspects or parts of their being called mitama. Usually when worshipping, it's believed that you are calling out to their nigimitama, the calm, harmonious side which is usually accepting and helpful. The other main side we see is aramitama, the rough, dangerous, and more passionate or vengeful side.

When Shishigami is shot, he doesn't die, but you can see his normal form, nigimitama, fall away. From that point on his aramitama rules and wreaks havoc and destruction until appeased by the return of his head.

In Shinto, kami may die or travel from realm to realm, but death is never a permanent thing for them. I think this is one of the big reasons why Shishigami never really died.

Source: am a Shinto practitioner

[ValkyrieTiara]

I clicked because it's my favourite movie of all time, fully expecting some kinda low-effort click baity video by someone who has never had any significant interaction with Japanese history, culture, or folklore. But this was really good! As good as can probably be done by anyone who isn't native Japanese or specifically a scholar of Japanese legends. Far, far better than I expected. Well done!

[superfuriousroy]

"So you say you're cursed? So what? So is the whole damned world!"

[RobertoBlake]

This is one of the best video essays on Mononoke

[bignasty]

I think what makes it equally sad is when viewed as a tribute to the passing of an Age. Namely Japan's transformation into a land of industry, the loss of something magical, and the shock of sudden and permanent loneliness.

[JDazell]

In the opening expositioning scenes on the way to iron town that give us a feeling for the world we are in, Ashitaka goes from the Emishi or hunter gatherers, then to the agricultural land, then the village, then to iron town, is itself a journey of human history's relationship with nature in itself

[averymartin]

Is it just me or does it always feels like the Forest Spirit's face has this constant smirk like he's laughing at a joke he won't share.

[swilson]

This story was culturally significant in humanizing, affirming, and celebrating the indigenous people of Japan to the Japanese and modern world at large. There is a long history of these groups being mistreated like many indigenous people groups in the world unfortunately.

[MeredithHagan]

I love that the “villain” Lady Eboshi really isn’t a villain at all. Yes she’s causing harm to nature but she just wants to create a world that is safe for her people who have been rejected by larger society. She’s ruthless but she also has a very honorable motivation.

The TRUE villain is the monk who just wants a payout from the Emperor for the Forest Spirit’s head.

[cathleenmoyle]

"Even if the tress do return, they'll no longer be his. The forest spirit is dead."-San
"The forest spirit is never dead. He is the spirit of life and death itself. He's here..."-Ashitaka

[MattO]

The forest spirit was based off a real spirit, a giant that hid in mountains

[--Paws--]

7:55 My country also has a superstition in tree/forest gods/spirits. It is still common to say: "passing through" or "pardon the intrusion" when entering an unknown place, usually a forest or even a garden to not walk in somewhere you shouldn't be.