05-07-2015, 04:56 PM
I was doing some reading up on the spiritual and religious beliefs surrounding turtles...and the more I read the more I began to think of Gamera 3: Revenge Of Iris. (Bear with me here)
Throughout the course of the film, it is believed by a group of cultists that Gamera himself is an evil spirit, and that when Heaven and Earth are face to face, the result is destruction.
Then I read this little bit of information concerning the spiritual aspect of which the turtle is regarded in Eastern cultures, concerning the fact that film is steeped with a supernatural aspect most kaiju films do not have.
"In the Far East, the shell was a symbol of heaven, and the square underside was a symbol of earth. The turtle was an animal whose magic united heaven and earth."
Towards the end of the film, the closing title that appears as Gamera roars in anticipation of battling the Gyaos, it states:
GAMERA: 1999
The Absolute Guardian Of The Universe
The term "Absolute" in this context indicates a deity status, as spiritual creatures of significance like the turtle are often regarded as. In fact Shusuke Kaneko stated that Gamera is DESTINED to defeat the Gyaos, you must believe he will win.
And then of course is Gamera's connection to the legend of The Black Tortoise Of The North, one of four guardians that protects Kyoto (from the north obviously). And where does the final fight of the film take place? Kyoto. The city itself being steeped with ancient spiritual Buddhist temples and gardens, Shinto shrines, and palaces.
In closing, I felt as though this writing about the spiritual aspect of the turtle fit hand in hand with Gamera and the hope he brings.
"Turtles remind us that the way to heaven is through the earth. In Mother Earth is all that we need. She will care for us, protect us, and nurture us, as long as we do the same for her. For that to happen, we must slow down and heighten our sensibilities. We must see the connection to all things. Just as the turtle cannot separate itself from its shell, neither can we separate ourselves from what we do to the earth."
Gamera's existence in the trilogy is undoubtedly a spiritual one. And of goodness and hope.
Throughout the course of the film, it is believed by a group of cultists that Gamera himself is an evil spirit, and that when Heaven and Earth are face to face, the result is destruction.
Then I read this little bit of information concerning the spiritual aspect of which the turtle is regarded in Eastern cultures, concerning the fact that film is steeped with a supernatural aspect most kaiju films do not have.
"In the Far East, the shell was a symbol of heaven, and the square underside was a symbol of earth. The turtle was an animal whose magic united heaven and earth."
Towards the end of the film, the closing title that appears as Gamera roars in anticipation of battling the Gyaos, it states:
GAMERA: 1999
The Absolute Guardian Of The Universe
The term "Absolute" in this context indicates a deity status, as spiritual creatures of significance like the turtle are often regarded as. In fact Shusuke Kaneko stated that Gamera is DESTINED to defeat the Gyaos, you must believe he will win.
And then of course is Gamera's connection to the legend of The Black Tortoise Of The North, one of four guardians that protects Kyoto (from the north obviously). And where does the final fight of the film take place? Kyoto. The city itself being steeped with ancient spiritual Buddhist temples and gardens, Shinto shrines, and palaces.
In closing, I felt as though this writing about the spiritual aspect of the turtle fit hand in hand with Gamera and the hope he brings.
"Turtles remind us that the way to heaven is through the earth. In Mother Earth is all that we need. She will care for us, protect us, and nurture us, as long as we do the same for her. For that to happen, we must slow down and heighten our sensibilities. We must see the connection to all things. Just as the turtle cannot separate itself from its shell, neither can we separate ourselves from what we do to the earth."
Gamera's existence in the trilogy is undoubtedly a spiritual one. And of goodness and hope.