#waku waku

[lilystargazerwhite]

Touhou style myths! The Ninmenju is a yokai that has a very murky origin, but is thought to be from somewhere in the Middle East, that then traveled to China and then to Japan. In the Japanese account, the Ninmenju is a tree of human (baby) heads, who will laugh and cry and such. When they laugh too hard, they fall from the tree. Arabian and African tellings range from the tree eating animals and taking their heads, to growing full grown women who fall with a “waq waq” sound. These trees produced fruit in autumn and had a very sweet sour taste. 

WaqWaq is the name of the alleged island or island chain this tree is native to. This island, said to be inhabited by a kingdom of entirely women, resided “east of China” and was incredibly plentiful in precious metals.

The connection of the WaqWaq tree to the Ninmenju is a direct but somewhat complicated trail. The Ninmenju originates from a transcription of a 1600s Chinese text, which site the tree as coming from Daishi-koku, taken from the Ming distantly name for the Islamic world which came from the Persian word for Muslim. And while the Smith can be traced to Arabic origins under the name Al-waqwaq, the Arabic claim its origin as “Zanj” which is modern day Zanzibar. Whole lot of he said she said.

The real life equivalent of this tree is thought to be the pandanus, which is grown in Indonesia and Madagascar, referred to as “Bakkuwan” and “Vakwa” respectively. The real life equivalent of this island’s location is very murky and heavily debated, ranging from Polynesian to being somewhere near Madagascar, due to the old Arabic word for an area near Zanzibar being used to describe the location.

What’s an interesting tidbit is that records of Africans exist in Javanese writings as early as the 15th century, while bantu writings recall a failed invasion by island people by the name of Wakwak, who sought their metals and to enslave. These accounts, along with the pandanus fruit being found in both (modern) countries, meaning it’s not outlandish to conclude that the WaqWaq island is a combination of middle ages Polynesia and Zanj, the name and origin of the tree coming from the islands, while the stories of riches and location from Africa. This is just what I think, of course, and no one will ever truly know. Maybe there is an island of waqwaq out there, and people just sucked really really bad at making maps in the Middle Ages.

I wanted to do this one because it’s the only Yokai I’ve seen that is thought to originate from as far as Africa. I think it’s really cool when myths travel this far but still retain a traceable identity.

[ansatsu-sha]

Anya / Spy × Family Code: White (2023)

[kookie-doodles]

SEGA when they pulled off the most impressive troll title in Sonic history.

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Originally Uploaded on:

Twitter’s Art Account on February 01st, 2024

Instagram’s Art Account on February 01st, 2024

[katy-pawz]

♡ filipino anya! 🇵🇭🥜 ♡

filo anya for an art contest!!

[genrexforever2006]

Waku waku! 😯💞

[xtinedancefit]

I’ve been watching anime since 2007, and I finally did my first cosplay. I’m the Handler from SpyxFamily. I’m going to my first anime convention this weekend, and I’m super excited!!!

[naomiichan]

It's Anya time!! 😋

Did you see the new film "code white"?

(Cuz i didn't- 😶)

Anyways you can use it as a wallpaper

[sugar-miss1]

Anya Forger 💕 🩷🥜

From ( Spy X Family )

Drawing

[nyeh555]

Anya it's a bean. I'm doing some stikers for a little comics convention in september, hoping to get a table!

[sanjixmom]

Anya Forger icon

[a-preferable-alternative]

Why does the fact that nobody will ever love me keep me up at night? Like come onnnnn bitch u should be used to it at this point

[artoflumeria]

more anya fanart because why not?

[w-ich-u-blog]

;D

[emu-otori-official]

yokoso! kira kira doki doki mochi mochi puyo puyo waku waku washoi! na wonderstage e!

YOKOSO!! KIRA KIRA DOKI DOKI MOCHI MOCHI PUYO PUYO WAKU WAKU WASHOI! NA WONDERSTAGE!!!!

SO WONDERHOY☆ OF YOU TO QUOTE ME!!! THANK YOU!!!

[rainytumble]

Anya from Spy X Family

missed the dark bottom part on her head thingie on the right... whoops

[jane-lafurry]

Día 7:Anya como Bluey