Saiyuuki Gaiden
translated by Jeanne
J note: The Saiyuuki Gaiden is the 'back story' to Minekura's main long-running series, Saiyuuki. She includes an afterword to the volume explaining some of the differences between both her main and Gaiden series and the Chinese original on which they're based. I've moved this up to the start of my translation. Those wishing to avoid basic spoilers are advised not to read the last paragraph.At the moment there's only one volume of the Gaiden out, and events in the monthly manga lead us to suspect that it will stop at vol. 2, if and when. A pity. Many people have expressed a sneaking preference for the Gaiden characters even over their main series counterparts. As for why this translation is being included on a webpage devoted to BL, well- all of Minekura's work is a source of much yaoi dj fodder, with the mangaka's wholehearted co-operation. As is common with her, it's not the overt events of the manga which give it its homoerotic flavor so much as the relationships and, above all, the artist's own style. Look at these guys and you'll know that if there's not something going on, there should be.
A story of 'once upon a time'
As you know, this story tells the events that happened in Heaven 500 years before the main series of Saiyuuki. Think of the characters who appear here, Konzen, Kenren and Tenpou, as being different people from Sanzou's group in the main series.
Those who have read the original Chinese version of Saiyuuki or a translation will already know this, but that work is basically divided into two sections. There's the first half where Gokuu is born and creates havoc in Heaven and is imprisoned under Mt. Gokyou by the Buddha, and the second where he's freed by Sanzou and becomes his disciple, meets Hakkai and Gojou and the rest and goes on his journey with them. In Japan it's the second half that's most familiar, but in China, the land of its birth, if you had to choose, there's reasons for picking the first half as the more well-known.
From the start my Saiyuuki was pretty much outside the story and characters of the original and had an original setting of my own. This Gaiden too is entirely different from the original Saiyuuki
The original Saiyuuki characters keep the memories of their previous lives when they reincarnate, but my Saiyuuki characters don't. On the contrary- in line with the views down here, they're the kinds who'd think the very idea of 'former lives' and 'reincarnation' is ridiculous and simply refuse to believe it. With that in mind, I drew my characters with the idea that the Sanzou-tachi and the Konzen-tachi are definitely not the same people. The humans surrounding Gokuu are, in Buddhist terms, 'all Creation, the universe'- that's the sense I get.
...and those of you who have read the main series will know this as well. What awaits Konzen, Kenren, and Tenpou is Death. What awaits Gokuu is Separation. The main series exists to prove that this ending is not a meaningless one. I present this Gaiden as a background to the existence of our present day Gokuu.
(Winter 2000)