Fri. Nov 8th, 2024

Introduction

Land of the Lustrous is one such manga series by Haruko Ichikawa that takes place in a far-off future where Earth has become devastated by unknown forces, leaving behind only nonorganic life forms. The story is about these crystal-like beings called “Lustrous,” who are always at risk from their old enemies, the Lunarians—creepy moon creatures that want to trap them.

In a fanciful universe, Kongo, their leader, protects the Lustrous, gem-like creatures and teaches them combat skills to fight against the enigmatic Lunarians. The manga explores identity, purpose, and the desire for significance despite the inevitable changes and destruction that life brings through its unique environment and character relationships. The existential themes explored force the characters and readers to address concerns of identity and existence in a continuously changing world.

The themes of Land of the Lustrous align closely with Lovecraftian theory, which centers on the idea of cosmic horror—the notion that humanity is insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. H. P. Lovecraft’s stories often show life as meaningless and mechanical, where trying to find purpose feels pointless because the universe is uncaring or even hostile. In Lovecraftian horror, the fear comes from realizing how fragile humans are and how vast and indifferent the universe is.

Buddhism is an Indian tradition that seeks enlightenment. It presents a complementary yet opposing viewpoint with its central ideas of impermanence (Anicca), suffering (Dukkha), and the cycle of reincarnation (Samsara). These ideas emphasize that everything is in constant change, suffering is inherent in life, and existence is cyclical until one achieves Nirvana, or liberation.

As the protagonists struggle with existential dread and the fleeting essence of existence, these Buddhist themes converge with Lovecraftian horror. The synthesis of these philosophies reflects a universe where the search for meaning intertwines with the acceptance of impermanence and the cycle of suffering.

The Lunarians, also known as Moon People, are a species residing on the Moon who continuously attack the Lustrous for their gemstone bodies. Under Aechmea’s (or Yama’s) command, they’ve beaten and taken over the Admirabilis, now using them like livestock. The Lunarians, humanoid in appearance, wear Buddhist-inspired clothing and possess colorful, ageless bodies. They are immortal and can recover quickly on the Moon.

For thousands of years, they have been attacking and kidnapping Gems, treating them as mere objects for their purposes. The Lunarians have conducted experiments on the abducted Gems, creating synthetic versions but never releasing them. Their ultimate plan is to cover the Moon with the shards of captured Gems, grinding them to dust.

Phosphophyllite, or Phos, was the first Gem to enter the Moon successfully and cooperate with the Lunarians. Following the Battle of The Land, all the Lustrous and Admirabilis were transformed into Lunarians, living on the Moon for ten thousand years. The Moon is bare, covered in gray dust or sand mixed with the ground shards of abducted Gems.

It contains homes, factories, and facilities, possibly remnants of the planet’s original Moon. The Lunarians live in a town-like structure made of special metals and mineral oils that rise from the depths of the Moon, where large Admirabilis graze.

Occasionally, the enigmatic and malevolent Lunarians visit Earth to steal the Lustrous. The Lunarians continue to be mysterious, with the Lustrous viewing them as an incomprehensible and ever-present threat due to their uncertain goals. The portrayal makes them similar to Lovecraftian cosmic entities—beings beyond human comprehension and embodying vast, indifferent, ungraspable forces.

Lovecraft defines cosmic horrors by their vastness and the terror they inspire due to their unknowable nature. Similarly, the Lunarians in Land of the Lustrous embody these qualities. Their mere existence poses an existential threat to the Lustrous, who struggle to comprehend what these entities are and why they persist. The relentless assaults of the Lunarians point to a cosmic struggle in which the Lustrous are but small pieces in an endless game. It aligns with Lovecraft’s concept of cosmicism, which posits that humanity (or the Lustrous, in such cases) is insignificant in the face of incomprehensible forces beyond one’s control.

The constant dread of the Lustrous experience due to the Lunarians’ cyclic invasions mirrors Lovecraftian existential horror. The perpetual threat creates ongoing anxiety and anticipation, underscoring the Lovecraftian theme of existential dread. It emphasizes the frailty of beings when faced with incomprehensible and inescapable forces.

The Lunarians’ continuous attacks prevent the Lustrous from ever finding peace or safety, illustrating the theme of insignificance seen in Lovecraft’s writings. Despite the Lustrous’ strength, they remain vulnerable to the Lunarians, highlighting that, regardless of one’s efforts to understand or control life, the universe remains indifferent. It reflects the idea that enormous and enigmatic forces persist beyond our comprehension, much like the themes found in Lovecraft’s work.

The Lustrous’ ability to defend themselves against the Lunarians introduces a dynamic where they exert control over their circumstances, redefining Lovecraftian themes of helplessness and insignificance. The power does not negate such themes but reframes them. The struggle against the Lunarians reflects a continuous cycle of conflict, not a definitive triumph over cosmic indifference. On one hand, it might blend elements of empowerment with existential dread. It also explores how characters navigate vulnerability while exercising agency. Their development throughout the story represents a dynamic interplay between their empowerment and the ever-present existential challenges they face.

Even though they appear eternally unchanging and abiding, the Lustrous is not immune to an identity crisis that echoes Lovecraftian themes of fragility and the insignificance of life. Each Lustrous has a distinct physical feature from a specific type of gemstone linked to its social function. However, the uniqueness does not shield them from threats posed by the Lunarians. If someone captures or breaks the Lustrous, they could lose their fragments forever, underscoring their vulnerability.

The Lustrous face numerous existential challenges, including their ongoing struggle with their existential dread, the nature of conflict, and the philosophical reflection of the series. It shows how their existence is always on the edge, and they’re always at risk of being wiped out, capturing the Lovecraftian horror of dealing with a universe that doesn’t care. The Lunarians represent an external force of destruction, but their actions mirror internal conflicts and philosophical questions. While integrating Buddhist philosophy, it emphasizes the transient nature of all things, highlighting the futility and persistence of their existential struggle.

The struggle affects their sense of purpose. Phos, for instance, begins as a weak and lost character but evolves into a complex being. However, they remain disconnected from their kin. Frequent encounters with Lunarians intensify their confusion about their identity and place. The existential struggle mirrors Lovecraftian themes, where individual beings grapple with life’s inherent absurdity, suggesting that life might be meaningless in a larger context and thus provoking profound anguish about our existence.

Character Analysis

Phos is a weak and brittle character who initially aimed to create a natural history encyclopedia. Throughout the narrative, they experience severe physical and psychological transformations. For example, they lose their natural head, legs, and arms to the Lunarians and have a synthetic pearl placed in place of their left eye. Phos wears a standard winter uniform and black shoes, and their alloy changes into spikes around their neck and spine, a hood resembling a slitted bodhi leaf, and a one-piece Lunarian outfit. They resemble Kongo after being doused with Cinnabar’s mercury, giving them a human look.

Kongo’s role as a protector and mentor introduces a dynamic that counteracts cosmic horror and insignificance. Instead, it’s a story about characters navigating these contradictory feelings, reflecting the complex yet constantly shifting natural fleeting universe. In a world of existential threats, Kongo’s presence stabilizes and an of identity and belonging. His role underscores the importance of relationships and shared experiences in obtaining meaning and significance.

The manga’s narrative complexity highlights how characters cope with and find meaning in an otherwise indifferent universe. By adapting Lovecraftian themes, Land of the Lustrous creates a unique narrative where cosmic horror and personal significance coexist. The integration of themes allows it to explore existential dread and the search for meaning within an impermanent and indifferent universe.

They have six fingers on each hand and a white, flowing gown-like look after the 10,000-year wait. After the sun swallows the Earth, Phos’s heart piece is “reborn” as a small cubic gem shard. Their transformations are a testament to their resilience and adaptability in adversity.

Phos experiences a metamorphosis consistent with Lovecraftian themes of identity loss after things beyond comprehension. Phos is initially curious and driven to determine their place in the universe. Nevertheless, Phos starts to change—both emotionally and physically—as a result of their growing fear of the outside world and their unease about Lunarians and themselves.

Phos’ change implies a slowly dwindling naivety along with increasing disconnection from other Lustrous. With every new skill acquired and each enigmatic revelation made, they also create more distance between themselves and their fellow gemstones, attempting in vain to reconcile the person they have become with whom they used to be. The process evokes how humans can succumb to madness or lose themselves when confronted with the frightening expanse of space, as reflected in Lovecraft’s works.

Phos’ metamorphosis in Land of the Lustrous investigates the Lovecraftian notion that understanding the unknown leads to losses of identity and selfhood. They navigate a world without purpose, and their identity is unstable and difficult to define, leaving them susceptible to existential discomfort.

Integration

Anicca refers to the Buddhist doctrine regarding transience. The ti-lakkhana or three “marks” (general characteristics of all phenomenal existence) include Anicca, Anatta (no abiding self), and Dukkha. Take note of how the human body develops. For instance—a person can grow from a newborn to an elderly adult. Various mental occurrences develop and then fade away again. The realization that everything has Anicca is a significant step on the Buddhist path towards enlightenment.

In Land of the Lustrous, Anicca is an essential part that has physical and psychological dimensions within the characters. At first, the Lustrous is eternal and unchanging. However, they eventually undergo mental and physical changes that indicate their temporary state. Gems cannot escape change, even though they are always challenging and radiant. They may break into pieces, lose some portions, and be put back together again (sometimes differently that means something). These shifts serve as a reminder of how transient everything is and that everyone, no matter how permanent, will eventually go through changes.

The Lustrous, in a psychological way, are forever developing as their encounters with the Lunarians and their internal battles compel them to face the changeability of their identities. Their mental states, feelings, and interactions exhibit an understanding found in Buddhism that nothing lasts forever. Phos, who have undergone numerous changes throughout their life, each its identity and purpose, best exemplifies this particular theme.

The fact that Phos is perpetually changing and losing its original shape is a moving symbol for the Buddhist idea that it is an illusion to cling to a permanent self. There are various significant transformations of Phos throughout the manga, where they have lost parts of their original body and added new materials. It impacts not only Phos’s look but also their capabilities and character. As Phos acquires more nitrate body parts, they constantly struggle with issues surrounding personal identity, including asking who one is when becoming such a different individual from oneself.

While it resembles the Buddhist concept of the self’s capacity for transformation, the perception of the self as fixed or permanent is false. It implies that nothing stays forever, and thus, it requires us to let go of our previous selves (static) even though such changes are unavoidable in the world. As they grow, we see them becoming Anicca—showing how identity changes like everything in the universe.

In fundamental Buddhist thought, Dukkha refers to the state of all life. Suffering is one of the foundations of many Buddhist doctrines; His reality, its origin, and means to prevent it formed the topics for the first sermon by Buddha. People recognize these three (along with Anicca and Anatta) as “the right knowledge.” There are three types of suffering: physical suffering from aging, disease, and death, the change of joy into suffering, and the impermanence of vulnerability to suffering at any time.

Lustrous are known to exist in the arena of Dukkha. Their interactions with their environment, where danger is constant, result in their constantly being assaulted or taken prisoner by Lunarians. They fight with memories that bring up pain from things lost and dread of destruction all the time, so they never feel safe.

There’s a specific journey of Phos, which is a journey of Dukkha: they lose a lot, suffer, and search for meaning. From losing friends and companions to going through physical and mental changes, they are always suffering. Their need for meaning and to defend the people they care about drives their mission, making things firm for them when they encounter the harsh realities of their surroundings. Additionally, Phos becomes aware that everyone and everything is changing, including them. Such understanding deepens their existential pain while trying to find sense in an ever-evolving world.

Phos’ experiences are consistent with the Buddhist view that suffering arises from both the dread of change and the desire for permanence. It becomes clear from their travels that Phos prefers to look for security or long-lasting happiness in an impermanent environment. It validates the Buddhist teaching that accepting one’s impermanence is the only path to ultimate calm.

Samsara in Buddhism and Hinduism is the cycle of births, worldly lives, and deaths that has no beginning. Desire, ignorance, and the resulting karma cause the cycle of Samsara (known as Dukkha) to lead to suffering and unhappiness. There are six kinds of reincarnation: three good standards of existence (gods, semi-gods, and humans) and three evil ones (animals, ghosts, and hellish beings). Reaching Nirvana (which entails “blowing out” cravings while realizing the impermanence and non-selfhood of reality) is the only way to stop being a part of Samsara.

Their recurring traumas and ongoing conflicts with the Lunarians are the cyclical nature of the Lustrous life, consistent with the Buddhist concept of Samsara. In such a way, they may view themselves as caught in a never-ending heroic cycle, constantly falling apart, reassembling, and then returning to battle. The cycle is similar to Samsara.

The cycle is portrayed in Phos’s journey, characterized by loss, metamorphosis, and rebirth, all happening within the same underlying existential problems. Even though every new experience takes Phos closer to realizing their temporariness and mortality, they still can’t shake off the cycle of pain that haunts them. The constant struggle with Lunarians and the never-ending pursuit of meaning represents the Samsaric cycle. As a result, they are trapped on the spinning wheel of existence until libidinal constraints release them.

The portrayal of the Lustrous cyclical existence explains the Buddhist notion of Samsara, where impermanence and suffering dominate reality. The only way to truly discover freedom is to break away from the cycle, something Phos is gradually coming to terms with as they come to terms with who they are.

Although the story’s characters always grip us with fear and anxiety due to the melding of Buddhist precepts with Lovecraftian horror, the Lovecraftian elements envelop us in a global cosmic dread personified by Lunarians and other monsters. The Lustrous are forever troubled by terrible sublayers amidst which their ephemeral lives hang with uncertainty through mysteriousness like flies caught in spider webs.

Worry and anxiety directly oppose Buddhist philosophy, which teaches that one must understand suffering as a necessary part of life and accept impermanence. In Lovecraftian horror, however, it is depicted as an indifferent and spiteful universe where humanity holds no significance whatsoever. Buddhist thought provides a means of attaining enlightenment via acceptance of the transience plus letting go of attachment towards ourselves.

Phos’s journey represents a path toward understanding the true meaning of existence, even though they live in a collapsing, terrifying cosmos. Throughout the pages of the manga, Phos has had many different body forms and mentality changes that have compelled them to contemplate how fleeting they are as individuals and the pain attached to that. Phos had a strong desire to find something in their life at first. As a result of interactions with mysterious Lunarians and persistent terrors, they gradually began to see the world in a different light.

Phos’ adventure can be understood as a symbolical route towards illumination because every difficulty and metamorphosis leads them closer to comprehending the Buddhist ideas of transience and misery. Gradually, Phos learn to relinquish their grasp on static selfhood against the background of cosmic terror; they must accept the transitory essence of their existence with all its drawbacks, even though these can sometimes be disheartening to their diary.

Land of the Lustrous is a blend of Buddhist philosophy and Lovecraftian horror that explores the tension between accepting impermanence as a part of life and believing that nothing matters. The Lovecraftian pieces show how ridiculous it is to try to give any sense to the unimaginable extent, unknownness or aloofness towards a person’s problems. What do concepts like death, loss of friends, and the destruction of lustrousness in Lunarians’ ideal conduct remind us of? They make the point that life is incredibly fleeting and difficult to find any purpose in such circumstances.

So, even though you can try to fight reality or look for meaning outside yourself, Buddhists believe we’ll only find true inner peace when we accept that everything is temporary. Most people’s experiences are defined by their quest for meaning and fear of change. We can only bridge our need for stability with life’s contradictions by accepting that everything changes over time.

Thus, the manga has become a contemplation on human life in which characters’ lives reflect the strain between the search for meaning and embracing transience. The tale implies that although the cosmos might not care or could be frightening at times, it is only inside ourselves that we can find tranquility by coming to terms with such circumstances instead of looking for confirmation from the outside or fleeing from transformation.

The unresolved resolution or lack thereof is unclear, making it hard to fit the characters into either Buddhist acceptance of impermanence or Lovecraftian existential despair. It’s only a horizontal shift. Even though Phos and the others in Lustrous constantly confront the horrors of their world and lose themselves trying to find internalized meaning in perception, they still advance because they experience constant moments of comprehension and surrender (even when hints of casualness start popping out from the depths).

Rather than offering a definitive resolution, the signs of unresolved tension illustrate the ongoing pursuit of peace in an insensitive universe. Consequently, the characters’ lives mirror the arduous task of entirely digesting transiency and battling their existential angst. Even though there are signs of Buddhist acceptance in which some people loosen their bondages and attain some degree of serenity, these aspects never allow such acceptance to be total.

Resolution

As a result, Land of the Lustrous presents the characters and the audience with a situation where the two ideas coexist, as it does not offer a definitive response to how to use the peace from Buddhist philosophy to deal with cosmic horror and anxiety. Instead, it’s a story about characters navigating these contradictory feelings. It reflects human existence’s complex yet constantly shifting nature.

Land of the Lustrous is an intriguing manga that harmoniously blends Lovecraftian horror with Buddhist philosophy to delve into one’s essence. The characters live in perpetual fear of the unknown and question the significance of their existence. It also explores Buddhist ideas such as Anicca, Dukkha, and Samsara.

It demonstrates the tension between accepting that everything in life is temporary and searching for meaning in a world where gods or anybody else cares nothing. To accomplish it, we must go from anxiety and clinging to a fixed self to acceptance of identity fluidity and the idea that nothing endures forever.

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