What is Onmyoji?
An onmyoji is a wizard who masters the way of yin and yang, knows how to observe stars, read people's faces, measure directions, recognize disasters, draw talismans, recite incantations, and perform illusions.
Onmyoji originated in China and is widely popular in Japan. Its unique magic "Onmyodo" is part of Japanese Shinto. People are also well aware of the invisible forces, such as fate, souls, and ghosts, and have the ability to control these things. The fields of activity are sacrifices, divination, calendar repair, and misfortune (assistant government). Representative figures include Abe Seimei, Ashiya Doman, Kanle Sengzheng and others.
Onmyoji was a popular profession for an era in Japan. The Emperor of Japan obtained spiritual peace and social security from Onmyoji, while the Japanese people obtained comfort from their hard life. During the period of ignorance, Onmyoji was the spiritual pillar of the entire country.
Although Japan is the representative of the prosperity of Onmyoji, while it gradually declined in China, the real origin of Japanese Onmyoji comes from the Chinese Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory. Yin-Yang theory is a branch of ancient Chinese philosophy. It represents a concept that is divided into two, everything has two sides, one ebbs and flows, and the other restrains each other. It is also a recognized law for the generation of all things in the world.
During the Warring States Period in China, there was a school of thought that advocated the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theories, called the "Yin-Yang School". At that time, Zou Yan and Zou Shi from Qi State were the main representatives. The "Yin-Yang theory" regards "Yin" and "Yang" as two coordinating forces of mutual growth and decline within things, and believes that they are the laws of generation that give birth to all things in the world.
Although Onmyodo was introduced to Japan from China, the name "Onmyodo" does not actually exist in China. The term "Onmyodo" really appeared in Japanese historical materials in the tenth century. At this time, Yin and Yang Dao already had applications such as divination, sacrifice, astronomy, etc., which was different from the original Chinese Yin and Yang thought. Generally speaking, Yin Yang Tao is based on the theory of Yin Yang and Five Elements in ancient China. It combines astronomy, calendar, divination and other disciplines, and is developed with the idea of the unity of nature and man as its axis. It is used to predict auspiciousness, good fortune, bad luck, and curses. A profound spiritual system that includes a series of matters such as magic, sacrifice, and so on.