| Hoshin Engi | |
 Firsttankōbon volume cover, featuring Taikobo | |
| 封神演義 (Hōshin Engi) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Ryu Fujisaki |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Jump Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
| Original run | June 24, 1996 –November 6, 2000 |
| Volumes | 23(List of volumes) |
| Anime television series | |
| Soul Hunter | |
| Directed by | Junji Nishimura |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Junji Nishimura |
| Music by | Ryo Sakai |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| English network | |
| Original run | July 3, 1999 – December 25, 1999 |
| Episodes | 26 |
| Anime television series | |
| Hakyu Hoshin Engi | |
| Directed by | Masahiro Aizawa |
| Written by | Natsuko Takahashi |
| Music by | Maiko Iuchi |
| Studio | C-Station |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | Tokyo MX,Sun TV,KBS Kyoto,BS11,AT-X |
| Original run | January 12, 2018 – June 29, 2018 |
| Episodes | 23 |
| Manga | |
| Hoshin Engi Gaiden: Senkai Dōsho | |
| Written by | Ryu Fujisaki |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| Imprint | Young Jump Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Young Jump |
| Original run | April 26, 2018 –June 14, 2018 |
| Volumes | 1 |
 Anime and manga portal | |
Hoshin Engi (Japanese:封神演義,Hepburn:Hōshin Engi; 'Investiture of the Gods') is a Japanesemanga series written and illustrated byRyu Fujisaki, inspired by theChinese literary classicInvestiture of the Gods, ashenmo novel. The manga was serialized inShueisha'sshōnen manga magazineWeekly Shōnen Jump from June 1996 to November 2000, with its chapters collected in 23tankōbon volumes. The story involvesChinese mythology and history of China, in particular the last members of theYin dynasty, and the plot to overthrow them. In North America, the manga was licensed for English release byViz Media. Fujisaki also wrote a shortgaiden manga, titledHoshin Engi Gaiden: Senkai Dōsho, serialized inWeekly Young Jump from April to June 2018.
A 26-episodeanime television series, released in English under the titleSoul Hunter, was broadcast onTV Tokyo from July to December 1999. A second 23-episode anime television series adaptation, titledHakyu Hoshin Engi, was broadcast from January to June 2018. The first anime series was first licensed in North America byADV Films in 2001; it was later acquired byDiscotek Media in 2016.
TheHoshin Engi manga has had over22 million copies in circulation.
Set in a fictional ancient China, during theYin dynasty, thefantastic world ofHoshin Engi encompass both the pre-historical world—in which primitive human society coexist with the revered divine gods and goddesses—and the futuristic world—in which highly technological weaponry, combat strategy, as well as futuristic visions, are employed. TheSennin (仙人,Sen'nin)[a] are a group of powerful immortals or hermits with extraordinary abilities and knowledge, who have gained immortality through various means. They possess great wisdom, longevity, and often exhibit exceptional magical or supernatural powers. Each Sennin has their unique skills and abilities, which they use to navigate the world and influence events. The humans who undergo training to become Sennin are known as Doshi (道士,Dōshi). Both Sennin and Doshi use the sacred weapons paope (宝貝,Paopee), versatile instruments that absorb the spiritual energy of their beholders and from their surroundings to amplify their power.
A femalefox spirit namedDakki exerts control over KingChu and the Yin dynasty, manipulating him to spread corruption and suffering throughout the land. A Doshi namedTaikobo is tasked by his mentor,Genshi Tenson, leader of the Sennin World (仙人界,Sennin Kai), with executing the Hoshin Project (封神計画,Hōshin Keikaku). This mission involves sealing Dakki and her followers in the Shinkai (神界; 'Realm of the Gods'), a liminal space between the Sennin World and the Human World. To achieve this, Taikobo must locate and defeat 365 individuals whose names appear on the Hoshin List, with their souls subsequently imprisoned on the Hoshindai (封神台,Hōshindai), a floating island designed to contain them until the ritual is complete. Accompanied by his loyal reiju (霊獣,reijū; 'Spirit Beast' or 'Sacred Beast'), Supushan, Taikobo navigates a world of shifting alliances and conflicts among immortals, uncovering the extent of Dakki's influence over both King Chu and the Human World.
As Taikobo delves deeper into his mission, he uncovers the celestial struggle between gods and immortals, realizing its profound impact on mortal affairs. Caught between his duty as an immortal and his empathy for humanity, he becomes entangled in the conflict. The war culminates in the devastation of both the Sennin and Human Worlds, with countless souls confined to the Hoshindai. Following King Chu's defeat and the fall of the Yin dynasty, Taikobo prepares to return to the remnants of the Sennin World, only to discover the existence of a third realm—Dakki's hidden domain, where she and her remaining followers have retreated.
The true purpose of the Hoshin Project is ultimately revealed to extend beyond Dakki, targeting the primordial entityJoka, one of the First Persons (最初の人,Saisho no Hito)—ancient extraterrestrial beings who arrived on Earth eons ago. Joka, seeking to reshape the world in the image of her lost home, repeatedly annihilates civilizations that deviate from her vision. After forming an alliance with Dakki, she orchestrates history's course until the Sennin intervene. When thwarted, Joka resolves to destroy Earth entirely. In the ensuing battle, Taikobo, recently deceased, reappears, disclosed as one of the First Persons. Drawing upon the energies of his allies and the souls within the Hoshindai, he reawakens asFukki and defeats Joka, ending her tyranny.
Prior to this, Dakki briefly usurps Joka's form, merging with Earth's life force to become a primordial mother figure. In Joka's final moments, she implores Taikobo to accompany her into oblivion, fearing solitude. Though he initially consents, Dakki intervenes to preserve his existence. In the aftermath, Supushan ventures into the Human World to recount these events, only to find Taikobo alive yet elusive, deliberately avoiding contact while discreetly observing his companions. After a period of wandering, Taikobo embarks on a new journey, his destination unknown.
Written and illustrated byRyu Fujisaki,Hoshin Engi is inspired by the novel of the same title byTsutomu Ano [ja], which is a Japanese translation of theChinese literary classicInvestiture of the Gods,[3][4] published byKodansha between 1988 and 1989.[5][6] The manga was serialized inShueisha'sshōnen manga magazineWeekly Shōnen Jump from June 24, 1996, to November 6, 2000.[7] Shueisha collected its 204 individual chapters in 23tankōbon volumes, released from November 1, 1996,[8] to December 22, 2000.[9] The manga was re-released in a 18-volumekanzenban edition from July 4, 2005,[10] to April 4, 2006.[11]
In North America,Viz Media announced at theNew York Comic Con 2007 that they had licensed the manga.[12] The 23 volumes were published from June 5, 2007,[13] to June 7, 2011.[14]
Fujisaki wrote a shortgaiden manga, titledHoshin Engi Gaiden: Senkai Dōsho (封神演義外伝～仙界導書～), serialized Shueishaseinen manga magazineWeekly Young Jump from April 26 to June 14, 2018.[15][16][17] Atankōbon volume was released on July 19, 2018.[18]
Hoshin Engi was adapted into ananime television series, titledSenkaiden Hōshin Engi (仙界伝 封神演義), produced byStudio Deen and directed byJunji Nishimura.[19] The 26-episodes series was broadcast onTV Tokyo between July 3 and December 25, 1999.[20]
In North America, the series was first licensed byADV Films in 2001 under the nameSoul Hunter.[21][22] In the United States, the series was broadcast onInternational Channel.[23] In 2016,Discotek Media re-licensed the series for a single DVD collection release on June 28.[24][25]
A 23-episode anime television series adaptation titledHakyu Hoshin Engi (覇穹 封神演義), produced byC-Station and featuring a new cast aired from January 12 to June 29, 2018.[26][27][28] The series was directed by Masahiro Aizawa, withNatsuko Takahashi in charge of the series scripts, characters design by Yoshimitsu Yamashita and music composed byMaiko Iuchi.[29]Crunchyroll streamed the series, whileFunimation produced a simuldub.[30][31]
Four video games published byBandai have been released: two for theWonderSwan on February 24[32] and December 21, 2000,[33] respectively; and two for thePlayStation on June 29, 2000,[34] and March 29, 2001.[35] respectively. A video game published byBanpresto was released for theGame Boy Color on November 24, 2000.[36] Characters from the series were also featured in theWeekly Shōnen Jumpcrossover gameJump Ultimate Stars, released for theNintendo DS on November 23, 2006.[37]
A stage play musical adaptation titledMusical Hoshin Engi: Mezame no Toki (ミュージカル 封神演義-目覚めの刻-;lit. "Musical Hoshin Engi: Time of Awakening") was performed in EX Theater Roppongi in Tokyo and ran from January 13–20, 2019. The play, directed by Kōtarō Yoshitani, included casts such asShōhei Hashimoto playing as Taikobo,Yuya Asato as Yozen, and Ryū Kiyama as Nataku.[38]
By May 2018, the manga had over 22 million copies in circulation.[39] OnTV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150.000 people voted for their top 100 manga series,Hoshin Engi ranked 68th.[40]
Ryu Fujisaki'sHoshin Engi (1996), a sci-fi/fantasy title with all the nonstop slugfests and occasional comedy associated withWeekly Shônen Jump, was based on Tsutomu Ano's fantasy novels, which were in turn based on the ancient Chinese novelFengshen Yangyi ("Creation of the Gods"). Fusing fantasy, history, martial arts battles, and science fiction,Hoshin Engi represents the new wave of fantasy manga that resist categorization into a single genre.
| Television series |
|
|---|---|
| Films |
|
| OVAs/ONAs |
|
