Dokugakuji

Dokugakuji (独角兕) is one of the reoccurring antagonist that challenge the Sanzo Ikkou. He is Kougaiji's bodyguard and the muscle of Kougaiji's group.

Appearance
Dokugakuji had short dark brown hair that he normally spikes and blue eyes. Like most demons he has pointed ear and a demonic birthmark. His are to marks are on his face: One is stretched over the bridge of his nose and the other is on his forehead. They are both arrow shaped with. Besides being a demon, Dokugakuji is tan, tall and very well build which makes him stick out amount the other skinny and lanky males of the series.

He had several costume changes throughout the series. In the beginning he wore a tunic with a large necklace. Later and during his first battle with the Sanzo Party he was wearing brown pants and a noticeable shoulder strapped on one shoulder. His latest wardrobe change finds in him a long white Chinese style jacket with purple or maroon accents. Under it he wears black pants and boots.

Personality
Dokugakuji has an older brother mentality. He watches out for the others around him. He's a strong warrior, always ready to use the sword to prove his strength and a faithful servant and good friend of Kougaiji (his devotion is admirable). He's willing to bring harm upon himself if it can help others. He seems to be very laid-back and easy going, referring to Kougaiji by the nickname 'Kou'. He stills harbors a lot of guilt over killing his mother.

Weapons/Abilities
Dokugakuji's weapon is a long curved sword with a eye in the hilt. He is able to summon his weapon in the same way Goku can with Nyoibo, or Gojyo with his Shakujo. He handles the sword very well and with it he is a formidable foe. He usually fights Gojyo when the two groups clash. He is also noticeably the muscle in the group. He has something of a leadership position among the militant youkai at Houtou Castle, as shown in the latest chapter of Sai R. Blast, shot 4. “Kouten” ch. 5.

Background
Originally named Sha Jien, he lived with this youkai parents. His father then took a human mistress and Sha Gojyo was conceived through the affair. After his half-brother's birth, his father and the mistress died. It is unknown whether or not these deaths were related. In the end, Gojyo was taken in by Jien and his mother. The brotherly bond between Jien and Gojyo was strong and they cared deeply about one another, but the same could not be said for Jien's mother.

She was driven mad over time and she started to physically and verbally abuse Gojyo as an outlet for her frustration and sadness. Jien did his best to sedate and his mother, even going to far as to take his father's place in her bed. Meanwhile, Gojyo began to blame himself for his mother's tears and the strained relationships in the family. One day she lost it completely, attacking Gojyo with the intent to kill. She scratched at his face with her demonic claws and left the scars that are visible to this day. As she cornered him, Gojyo had resigned himself to his death and thought if it could stop his mother from experiencing so much pain, he wouldn't mind dying. Jien refused to let that happen and intervened by killing his mother before she could do the same to Gojyo. But in the end, Jien could not take what he had done and abandoned Gojyo. Roughly six years before the beginning of the manga, Jien was taken in by Kougaiji.

Saiyuki
When he entered Kougaiji's services, he relinquished the name Sha Jien and took up the name Dokugakuji. He was still in Kougaiji's services when he was unintentionally reunited with Gojyo again--On the battlefield. Gojyo was part of the infamous Sanzo Ikkou. The brothers exchanged witty banter and each stated that they had both chosen their paths and weren't planning on turning back. The reunion ended after the two groups temporarily banded together to defeat a gaint Shikigami that was attacking a village.

Dokugakuji returned with Kougaiji, his sister Lirin, and Yaone to Houtou Castle, their home. Lady Gyokumen Koushu, Kougaiji's step mother told Kougaiji to not confront the Sanzo Ikkou, but to focus his energies on finding the other remaining 'Heaven and Earth Scriptures'. Dokugaukiji and the others were upset with the change of orders, but did as they were told.

Eventually Dokugakuji heard about a scripture that was in possession of a scorpion demon in the desert that had eaten the Sanzo Priest that was governed with protecting it. The two of them set out to find it, but not before having a run in with one of the leading scientist working on the revival project to awaken Gyumaoh, Kougaiji's father. The scientist, Dr. Ni, gave Kougaiji a warning before they left about hold what you cherish most close to you. He also pushed some of Dokugakuji's buttons, bringing up his younger brothers and Gojyo's half-demonic/half-human lineage.

The two made it to the desert only to find that the scorpions demon, Ren ri, was dead and he castle under the sand buried, all the work of the Sanzo-ikkou. But the Sanzo party had not made it out unscathed and Genjo Sanzo, their leader, was greatly injured. Son Goku, another member of the Sanzo-ikkou asked Kougaiji for help. Kaougaiji made a reckless deal with him that if Goku could kill him, Kougaiji would give him one of their flying dragons. Dokugakuji tried to stop him, but Kougaiji insisted. Goku, who saw few opsions given Sanzo's state, agree and took off his Demon limiter taking his true form, Seiten Taisei.

Seiten Taisei beat Kougaiji to a bloody pulp and might had killed him if Dokugakuji had not stepped in. But the demonic teenager defeated Dokugakuji quickly as well. After Seiten Taisei was taken out by a barely conscious Sanzo, Dokugakuji retreated taking Kougaiji with him, claiming that he could never forgive the Sanzo-ikkou for this.

Back home, Dokugakuji searched for Yaone. Kougaiji was in need of medical care immediately. Unable to find her, Dr. Ni offered his services. With little options, Dokugakuji handed Kougaiji over to the mad scientist. Later Dokugakuji learned from Yaone that they had taken Lirin away to experiment on her. By then it was too late and the scientist had already messed with Kougaiji's head. After taking a few more painful jabs on Dokugakuji, Dr. Ni returned their prince to them, no longer the man he was before.

Saiyuki Reload
Dokugakuji blamed himself for not being able to protect yet another person that he saw as his "little brother". Kougaiji was commanded to find the Sanzo-ikkou again and this time annihilate them. Dokugakuji and Yaone followed after him, but lost him temporarily. They ran into the Sanzo-ikkou while looking for kougaiji. They kind of rescued the three remaining members from a river, only to be later confronted by a hired assassin named Zakuro who trapped the Sanzo-ikkou in an illusion. Zakuro tortured Gojyo to prove a point to Dokugakuji that the Sanzo party were their enemies.

When Sanzo broke out of the illusion himself, they all went looking for Kougaiji who was already fighting in the fourth member of the Sanzo-ikkou, Goku. Goku, tired from fighting a small army of demons before Kougaiji showed up, passed out when his teammates arrived. Gojyo, Hakkai, and Sanzo picked up where their monkey had left off.

When Dokugakuji and Yaone tried to step in Kougaiji threatened that if they got in his way, he would kill them. The two stood back watching until they couldn't take it anymore and step into to protect their prince. This was the first thing to crack the control that the Lady Gyokumen. When Dokugakuji was in danger, Kougaiji finally snapped out of it and returned to himself. The three of them returned to Houtou Castle and rescued Lirin. The four of them are currently training, determined to beat the Sanzo-ikkou under their own terms next time they meet.

Saiyuki Reload Blast
The next time we see Dokugakuji is with Kougaiji as they are sent to attack and invade Sharak Sanzo 's temple. The two split up with Kougaiji running into Sanzo and Dokugakuji taking on Hassan. During the fight, he can sense the demon prince is in trouble and runs to his aid, shielding him from a devastating blast from the war god bent on destroying all Youkai, Nataku. Dokugakuji pays the ultimate price for his sacrifice as Kougaiji cries out in despair.

Anime and Manga Difference
To be updated...

Other Appearance
Dokugakuji and Lirin both made their appearance in the first OVA. However, they didn’t speak even one word. The two were seen always beside Kougaiji attempting to find/rescue Yaone.

Relationships
Kougaiji - When Sha Jien had runaway from his previous and had nothing, he arrived at Houtou Castle. There, the young lord Kougaiji took him in and gave him a job as his bodyguard, no questions asked. Since that day, Dokugakuji, the name he took when he started work for Kougaiji, has been extremely faithful to him.

Though at first it appears that Kougaiji and Dokugakuji had a fairly close "bros" relationship, it was revealed after the Desert Arc, Sai. Vol 8, ch. 45 (In the anime series it's Sai R. Gunlock Ep. 02) that Dokugakuji doesn't see it as simply. After Kougaiji has been taken by Dr. Ni because he has sustained substantial injuries and been brainwashed, Dokugakuji admits to Yaone the truth. He suffers from a lot of self-hate because of his in ability to save his brother and to make he mother happy, and in the end having to kill her to stop her from hurt Gojyo. When he first met Kougaiji he saw his brother in him due to their similar appearances, and has since been trying to, in a way, make up for his past mistakes and protect Kougaiji like he should have protected Gojyo. But due to recent events he feels that he's been selfishly forcing his love (brotherly-love) on Kougaiji. With some "encouraging" words from Yaone, the two strength their resolve and decide to put their everything into saving Kougaiji and Lirin.

Dokugakuji seems to have a closer relationship with Kougaiji then anyone else, Lirin aside. Besides Lirin, he's the one that address Kougaiji the most casually, referring to him as "Kou". It also appears that even after the Against the Stream Arc Dokugakuji still think of Kougaiji as something of a little brother, which makes sense, since Kougaiji comes to him for advice occasionally like a real little brother.

Yaone - Yaone and Dokugakuji have a very supportive relationship. Since the two of them had both been taken in by Kougaiji they both have devoted themselves to him. When Kougaiji is taken by Dr. Ni because he has sustained substantial injuries, the relationship between the two of them deepens a bit. Both feeling guilty because they could protect neither Kougaiji nor Lirin, they lick each others wounds and strength each other, determined to save Kougaiji and eventually Lirin.

Sha Gojyo - He is his younger half-brother. He took care of him when they were still living with their mother (Jien's mother). Jien's mother doesn't have any love for Gojyo so he makes sure that Gojyo is alright and always protects him from danger. Jien seemed to be having fun too teasing his younger brother while looking after him. Gojyo even complaints about Jien stealing his pocket money when they were younger. Until now, even though they got older, the two seems to be the same when it comes to brotherly love like before. Despite the fact that they are enemies, the two seems to hold some fondness for the memories they have.

Quotes
To be updated...

Gallery

 *  Main article: Dokugakuji gallery

Trivia

 * In Saiyuki Reload Volume 1 Chapter 4.1, Dr. Ni gave Kougaiji's team (excluding Lirin) a bunny costume which made Dokugakuji really upset without knowing that they were wearing it.