So, Buddhist Two Face?

So, Buddhist Two Face?

So when I first saw Batman Ninja, of all the crazy-ass shit that they show us in this film, I was very confused by Two-Face's castle mech. Because like... Unlike the other castles, it looks more like a Buddhist temple/statue than a palace...? So like... What the heck is going on here!??? I'm all for the crazy shit going on in this film, but just... Why have this be Two-Face's palace...?

I figured that maybe at least part of the answer would lie with the name. Because all of the castles have names that they didn't really translate back into English (With the exception of Arkham Castle which is... You know... They took Arkham Asylum and turned it into a castle... Somehow... >.>), including Two-Face's castle!

So Two-Face's castle in the Batman Ninja movie is called, "Fudo Omote Two-Face Castle". Now obviously, the last two bits are just saying who owns it and the fact that it's a castle. And since I don't speak any Japanese, I needed to look up what "Fudo Omote" could possibly mean.

So from the looks of it, "Fudo" means "inmovable" and seems to be a Buddhist principle of sorts. Like... It seems to represent a kind of mental state that is unflinching and unwavering- inmovable, while also being fully aware of and focusing on everything. [Longer explanation and definition here.] I really think that this must be an idea that doesn't translate into English very easily. In this context, Fudo is likely also being used in reference to Fudo Myo-o who is a Japanese Buddhist god (primarily in Esoteric Buddhism) and a protector of Buddhism itself. Fudo Myo-o seems to be a kind of wrathful deity who is very unflinching in his faith, which is interesting when you try to relate that to Two-Face and what it might imply about his character in this particular situation. [There are a few things about this Buddhist deity that I really think would appeal to Two-Face as a character specifically, but I don't want to get into it. Regardless, you can read more about it here.] So with this in mind, Two-Face's palace likely is a Buddhist temple, and the influence shows. Personally it makes me think that Two-Face REALLY got into Buddhism while in feudal Japan, and that idea just tickles me and I think it's neat! :D

Meanwhile "Omote" means "outer", "surface", or "front" but is more likely referencing the idea of having an "outer face" or a "pubic face". In Japan, the idea of having a face that you show to the public that is wholly different from who you are privately is a common idea. It is expected that your "outer face" (omote) and your "inner face" (ura) are separate. And just... Oh yes... HELL YES! I can ABSOLUTELY see why Two-Face would have latched onto this idea! This concept is just... So... HIM! I absolutely love what this says and implies about this iteration of Two-Face! Omote and ura are the ideas of being two-faced, but divorced from the negative connotation that the phrase has in English! The idea that the person that you are in public and the person you are in private being different is seen as being deceitful in western cultures. But in Japan, this is seen as just how people are! It also implies that Harvey Dent isn't gone. He just went from being the "outer face" to becoming the "inner face." He and Two-Face just switched, and so now Two-Face is who you see out there in the public, and Harvey Dent is who you only see once he's comfortable with you, he lets down his guard, and drops the pretext. I just LOVE how this one little word being here implies so much about this iteration of Two-Face! It's a whole reading on his character that is deeply Japanese and just wouldn't happen in an English-speaking mindset! To be honest, it's kinda brilliant and I love it! [You can read more about the concept of "Omote" and how it relates to "Ura" here.]

So together I guess that the name of Two-Face's castle is something like, "Inmovable Outside (Face) Two-Face Castle"... Sounds pretty clunky to me, but hey! That's anime for you! I guess that "Inmovable Outside Face" kinda describes bravery...? You know, the idea of being inmovable on the outside in the face of danger, even if you're scared on the inside...? I don't know if that was what they were going for with this, but it sure is interesting at the very least! And I certainly understand what they were going for with this castle design a lot better now at the very least! :D