Religious symbolism and references in Fates

[Ottservia]

You know I’ve been thinking and there is a lot of religious symbolism in fates and I mean a lot. Most if it coming from Norse, Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism, and Hinduism. Hell the themes of the game itself hinge on a lot of buddhist ideas like the idea of water symbolizing a false truth by only reflecting its image and not revealing the truth itself. More blunt symbolism can be seen on the Yato itself. Its hilt resembles a Vajra or Anankos’s mask resembling that of a buddha statue.

https://imgur.com/gallery/rwLjLml

there’s also the very clear daoist symbolism in Nohr and Hoshido being representative of Yin and Yang respectively and how Valla is the representation of Wuji which is the absence of Yin and Yang. And how Takumi’s possesion by Anankos is darkness within light while characters like Elise represent a light within darkness. Corrin representing the balance of light and dark. You also have Corrin’s Japanese name, Kamui, which is a reference to Kana Kamuy a storm dragon of ainu myth which fits into a storm god trio with Ryoma and Takumi who wield the Fujin Yumi and Rajinto. Two weapons named after shinto storm gods those being Raijin and Fujin. And going back to buddhism, Corrin’s character kind of parallels the story of the original buddha who was once a sheltered prince who upon going outside for the first time witnessed the truth of human suffering and decided to try and find an escape from it. 
 

And even all of that isn’t everything. There’s still a lot more symbolism and subtle references that I haven’t even touched on like the kitsune and I’ve only just scratched the surface of the water symbolism. There’s probably even more that I have yet to even figure out. I haven’t touched on any of the norse stuff present in Nohr either. There is a lot here to dig into.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Ottservia