Fūrinkazan (Japanese: 風林火山, "Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain"), is a popularized version of the battle standard used by the Sengoku perioddaimyōTakeda Shingen. The banner quoted four phrases from Sun Tzu's The Art of War: "as swift as wind, as gentle as forest, as fierce as fire, as unshakable as mountain."
The original version of the banner is mentioned in the Kōyō Gunkan, a record of the military exploits of the Takeda clan. It is based on four phrases from Sun Tzu, which in the original Chinese appear in two consecutive passages:
Chapter 7, passage 17: "故其疾如風，其徐如林" Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your gentleness that of the forest.
Chapter 7, passage 18: "侵掠如火，不動如山" In raiding and plundering be like fire, be immovable like a mountain.
Four-character version[]
The four-character version (yojijukugo) appears to be a later invention. Historian Masaya Suzuki, citing the work of an authority on the military insignia of the time, argues that there is no evidence in the historical record for the four-character phrase, and that it became popular with the publication of a historical novel of the same name by Yasushi Inoue in 1953.[1]
Use in popular culture[]
Ryu (Street Fighter)[]
The character Ryu from the video game series Street Fighter has the Furinkazan on his belt as well as highly stylised versions of the Japanese symbols on his gloves.[2] The symbols can also be seen to the left of the character's stage in the game Street Fighter II.[3]
Sword Art Online[]
The samurai-themed guild in Sword Art Online lead by Klein is named Fuurinkazan. Its symbol can be seen on the armor of several guild members in Episode 3, and when Kirito glances at Klein in Episode 9.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)[]
In the episode “Vision Quest” (Season 3, Episode 8), the turtles have the Full Fuurinkazan battle standard on their flag, but they each represent one of the symbols during their training. Leonardo representing the Wind, Michelangelo representing the Forest, Raphael representing the Fire, and Donatello representing the Mountain.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance[]
In the song "Red Sun", the first two lines of the chorus 'When the wind is slow, And the fire’s hot' is referential to the Fuurinkazan. Similarly the song is named after the imperial flag of Japan.
Final Fantasy XI[]
The four-character version is present on a battle standard that can be displayed by the Samurai player class in the online game.
See also[]
Fūrin Kazan (TV series)
Notes[]
↑鈴木眞哉 (2009). "「風林火山」の旗印の怪しさ" (in Japanese). Tokyo: PHP. ISBN978-4569709550.
