Knowledge

Jump to navigation Jump to search
This Shin Megami Tensei series page is a stub. You can help Megami Tensei Wiki by expanding it.
No reason provided.

Knowledge, also known as the Knowledge of Good and Evil, is one of two parts that compose a Nahobino in Shin Megami Tensei V.

Game Appearances

Shin Megami Tensei V

Originally, gods from across the world were engaged in an endless battle for the right to control the Throne of Creation, an object that allows the user to control the metaphysical laws of the world.[1][2] These deities, known as Nahobino, were empowered by both the Knowledge of Good and Evil and Eternal Life. This status quo lasted until the God of Law claimed the Throne. In order to solidify his rule, the new Creator instituted the Condemnation, which sealed the Knowledge of his fellow deities within the Garden of Eden. Without their Knowledge, the other gods were debased and transformed into Demons who no longer had the authority to access the Empyrean or the Throne held within.[3][4] With no one able to contest the Creator's claim to the Throne, all of demonkind was forced into a period of peace under the watchful eyes of his angels.[5] However, the Creator's plan was disrupted when the serpent tempted the humans living within the Garden to eat the fruit of the tree of Knowledge. In doing this, the lost power of the gods was bound to the souls of humankind for generations to come, attracting the attention of the fallen demons who would attempt to regain their true form in spite of the Condemnation.[6][7] Ultimately, the Creator was defeated by Lucifer in the war of Armageddon and the Throne was left without an owner.[8][9][10][11] This led some demons to begin seeking out the souls of humans in order to regain their true forms, most notably, the Babylonian demon Lahmu who had located his Knowledge bearer Sahori Itsukishima.[12] However, the angels did not believe that the Creator could be defeated and declined to announce the news to the rest of Bethel, leaving many demons totally unaware that the God of Law's rules were no longer being enforced.

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

This status quo lasted until the power of the Nahobino resurfaced 18 years after the death of the Creator. After Bethel had defeated their common enemy in the army of Chaos, the representatives of each branch realized that the appearance of the Nahobino meant that the God of Law was gone. Following this, Bethel was immediately disbanded so that the chief gods could attempt to take the Throne.[13][14] To this end, Director Koshimizu reveals his true identity as the god Tsukuyomi and his goal to restore Tokyo to it's former glory with his Knowledge bearer Yuzuru Atsuta.[15][16] With Bethel disbanded, Abdiel sulks over it's dissolution until her own Knowledge bearer, Ichiro Dazai, convinces her to forsake the Creator's laws and become a Nahobino in order to maintain his order.[17] This conflict comes to a head in the Empyrean, where all of the Nahobino, including the duo Shohei Yakumo and Nuwa convene for a battle royale, where only the victor may survive and claim the Throne. In the end, the protagonist is the last one standing, but before he can take the Throne, Lucifer stops him to explain the true nature of the universe. Lucifer reveals that a "spatial governing phenomenon" known as the Mandala System has caused the world to be stuck in a cycle of recreation where Nahobino will perpetually rise and fall in pursuit of the Throne's power. He learned all of this when he consumed the Creator's Knowledge, and tells the Nahobino that by consuming his Knowledge in turn, he will be able to free the universe from this cycle.[18]

End of spoilers.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

This section is a stub. You can help Megami Tensei Wiki by expanding it.
No reason provided.

List of Knowledge Bearers

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)
End of spoilers.

Trivia

  • It's implied that Knowledge is what caused Humanity to evolve from the animals "homo sapiens" into thinking "human beings" in a philosophical sense, granting them divine abilities.[6][19] This idea is furthered in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, where human society is said to have utilized its collective Knowledge to exert power over the Mandala System.[20]
    • Goko suggests that the serpent granted humankind Knowledge because it's saw humanity's potential to perform a task that not even the gods before them could because they were too divided.[20]
  • Demons can sense whether a human has Knowledge, but can only recognize their own.[21][22]
  • Zeus and Odin attempted to regain their Knowledge, but Odin was unable to find his Knowledge bearer and Zeus' was murdered by demons before he could reach them.[23][24]
  • The angels are implied to have been murdering any Knowledge bearers they perceived as a potential threat to the Creator's order.[25][26]
  • Sophia refers to herself as "a spirit of Knowledge".[27]
  • It is unclear which serpent is responsible for manipulating humanity into consuming the Fruit of Knowledge as both Samael and Lucifer makes multiple references to being responsible for this act.[30][31]
  • The Egyptian branch of Bethel refer to human Knowledge Bearers as a "Ba" in reference to one of the aspects of the soul that carries an individuals personality.[32][33]

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language Name Meaning
Japanese 知恵 Chie Knowledge
善悪の知恵 Zen'aku no chie Knowledge of Good and Evil

References

  1. ↑ "Koshimizu: Regarding the war of the gods, the Empyrean, the throne, or perhaps creation itself, I will explain in full detail. Ever since time out of mind, the gods would do battle for the right to rule the world." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  2. ↑ "Koshimizu: Before the Creator, many other gods fought viciously over the throne, and hence the right to rule the world." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  3. ↑ "Narrator: Long, long ago, before these creatures known as “humans” gained Knowledge… The God of Law seated Himself upon the throne of creation. He seized all Knowledge from the other gods, rebuking them, so they could never dare to approach the throne… …reducing them to mere ‘demons.’" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  4. ↑ "Koshimizu: Eons ago, the gods were gifted with both Eternal Life and the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In those days, they were known as Nahobino. However, the Creator ordered the forfeiture of Nahobino’s Knowledge. Thenceforth, they regressed into demons." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  5. ↑ "Zeus: How dim are you? You realize with the Creator done, we might as well drop the pretense of an alliance altogether. / Vasuki: True, I see no merit in joining forces any further. Lord Shiva has in fact expected this, and is already preparing our next move. / Khonsu: See for yourself the Creator’s ‘almighty’ handiwork. See how the earth’s inhabitants lament their injustices and buckle misfortune. Had we the authority, we would create a world of gladness, where all are treated with equity and compassion. / Zeus: If the Creator’s dead, his throne ought to be free for the taking. At least, that’s how it should work… Bah! I’m sick of hearing babble from that winged wench and her automatons. / Odin: Long ago, the Creator, in his boundless arrogance, issued an edict of Condemnation, damning all gods to primitivity. This Condemnation forbade the existence of Nahobino outright, thus preventing any challenge to his reign. Oh, how I long to break free of this curse… But wait, are you not a Nahobino? How could you have broken the shackles that bind us? / Vasuki: The time of great undoing is upon us. The word of Lord Shiva has been spoken. I must say, this world of flaws and contradictions, fashioned by an absentee ruler, is long overdue for renovation." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Narrator: Oblivious to the serpent’s machinations, the mortals of each realm ate the fruit… …one after another, without fail. The Knowledge they devoured then bound to their souls, birthing ‘humans’ closer to gods." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  7. ↑ "Koshimizu: Well you see, the Creator sealed the demons’ Knowledge within the Garden of Paradise, inside a forbidden tree. But then came a serpent, who tempted the garden’s inhabitants to eat of the tree’s fruit and thus consume its Knowledge. From then on, that Knowledge was bound to the human soul, and is still passed down throughout the generations. Or so the tale is told. Thus, we can conclude Itsukishima had inherited such Knowledge. / Yuzuru: Does this mean the Knowledge of all those lost gods is flowing through us, too? / Koshimizu: It is very well possible. In any case, the demons of then and now yearn to reclaim what was lost, and so seek human souls. Yet the union of man and demon remains prohibited." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  8. ↑ "Arioch: Very soon, what divine spark may be left in this world will heave its final cry. The throne is now godless. The time to claim Knowledge and reform is at hand!" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  9. ↑ "Tao: One side desires the throne for a land reborn anew, while the other pines for the world of old. Such a position of power cannot remain vacant for eternity. A leader must rise and take it. You must take it." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  10. ↑ "Zeus: If the Creator’s dead, his throne ought to be free for the taking. At least, that’s how it should work…" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  11. ↑ "Koshimizu: The Throne of Creation lies at the pinnacle of Empyrean Heaven or simply the Empyrean, as it has become known. That is where the Creator would be now, were he not ousted by Lucifer, as was claimed. Only Nahobino are allowed in the Empyrean’s sacred space. As such, none have entered thus far." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  12. ↑ "Goko: Upon investigation, I discovered that the demon Lahmu was a Babylonian god, and he witnessed, first-hand, the fall of the previous ruler Baal, at the hands of the Creator. Naturally, this means he was very old, which would explain how he knew of the Nahobino. Having learned that the Creator was defeated by the Lord of Chaos, he must have started preparing his return." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  13. ↑ "Odin: On whose authority? If any being is to decide this world's fate, it will be me. / Abdiel: Not while the Condemnation stands, it won't. It is undeniable proof that the Most High still sits upon the throne. / Khonsu: Does He? Then, how do you explain the Nahobino standing here before us?" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  14. ↑ "Abdiel: Impossible... How could I have fallen? / Odin: So this is the power meant for us... Not bad, Nahobino. God was right to be afraid. Perhaps I, too, will seek out my old Knowledge. / Khonsu: And so were our ties to Bethel severed. When we next meet, it shall be as adversaries. May none be so foolish as to cross me. / Vasuki: I must inform Lord Shiva of this new... development. / Zeus: Well, I'm done." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  15. ↑ "Koshimizu: I am Tsukuyomi, of the Amatsukami. One of Japan's eldest guardians. / Ichiro: What!? / Koshimizu: Bethel's cooperation did help us protect Japan. And I am grateful to God for saving Tokyo. However... With the Creator dead, we are no longer bound to Bethel's will. Instead, we will fight to protect our home, even if they refuse to." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  16. ↑ "Koshimizu: It is my personal mission to become a Nahobino and rescue Tokyo from the mouth of danger. But to do that, I require your aid. / Yuzuru: Understood. So, will Protagonist be the one to create the world, being that only the Nahobino can do it? / Koshimizu: It could very well end up being Protagonist. But what if I were to say that you, Yuzuru Atsuta, also have that potential? / Yuzuru: I do? / Koshimizu: After my time spent observing you, I am all but certain you are the one holding my Knowledge." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  17. ↑ "Ichiro: The only way to maintain order in this world is to give it all to God, everything... that includes even our own lives. / Abdiel: Ichiro Dazai... Why do you show yourself here? / Ichiro: I'm here to do what needs to be done, even if I stray from the path. I'll do whatever I have to do! It doesn't matter, so long as we win! / Abdiel: God's word remains unchanging. As Archangel, I am sworn to defend it. And if I must taint myself as a Nahobino to do so... Then we shall carry out His will! As one!" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  18. ↑ "Lucifer: As the Lord of Chaos, I defeated the Creator, consumed his Knowledge, and became more than He could possibly imagine. It was then I came to understand this world. Allow me to share what I'd learned. Following the world's recreation, a new Da'at will eventually appear, and soon after the gods will rise up to claim the throne. Battle after battle, you sought to purge demons from this world. But they will come slithering back, as they always do. This endless cycle is the result of a spatial governing phenomenon known as the "Mandala System." Do you not wish to be free of such restrictions? Do you not wish to be free from Mandala's eternal machinations? Long have I searched for a way to truly be free. At last, I have found but one possibility. End me. Consume my Knowledge. And with it, wrest this world from the Mandala's endless eons. This is the reason for my transcendence." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  19. ↑ "知恵の樹: いわゆる「失楽園」のエピソードで知られる、知恵の実を生らす天の楽園の樹。 その 「知恵」とは至高天の王の座についた法の神が、 他の神々が自らを脅かすことがないように奪い取った ≪知恵≫であり、 恒久の世界のために厳重に管理されていくべきものであった。 だが、 蛇にそそのかされた「ヒト」が知恵の実を食べてしまい、 楽園を追放されたことが 「人間」 の始まりとされる。" Shin Megami Tensei V Official Perfect Guide (2021). Published by Famitsu. 408.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Many humans so combined their Knowledge, granting them not only divinity, but power over the system that governed their world. The primordial gods, as divided as they were with their own personal goals and visions, never could have achieved this. Could it be that the one called the serpent granted Knowledge to humanity after seeing the potential they possessed?" Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
  21. ↑ "Yuzuru: Understood. So, will Protagonist be the one to create the world, being that only the Nahobino can do it? / Koshimizu: It could very well end up being Protagonist. But what if I were to say that you, Yuzuru Atsuta, also have that potential? / Yuzuru: I do? / Koshimizu: After my time spent observing you, I am all but certain you are the one holding my Knowledge." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  22. ↑ "Ichiro: Hey, uh, guys... You think I could be a Nahobino too? / Koshimizu: My condolences, Dazai, but you do not appear to bear the Knowledge of an Amatsukami. / Ichiro: Oh... / Koshimizu: Don't be disheartened. I sense yet another's Knowledge resting within you. / Ichiro: No way. / Koshimizu: However, only its owner can identify it. So I suggest you stay on guard—a demon may be lying in wait for you." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  23. ↑ "Odin: Need you even ask? I will take my true form as a Nahobino, like you. But in order to do that, I'll need the human who bears my Knowledge. Even as we speak, my Valkyries scour the world for them." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  24. ↑ "Zeus: I've had enough nasty surprises! I looked for the human with my Knowledge, and you know what I found!? The demons already killed them! Now I'm stuck wasting time until ANOTHER human with my Knowledge comes down the proverbial pipe." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  25. ↑ "Angel: The students who manage to escape, I will keep safe. You, however, must venture inside and rescue those held captive by the demons. Should things take a turn for the worse, if rescuing the students does not seem possible, then you are to eradicate them along with the demons. A Nahobino such as yourself should have no trouble understanding why..." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  26. ↑ "Abdiel: Atum, Baal… The Knowledge of rulers past are no longer… And yet there is already an unexpected nuisance. I cannot afford to be hindered any more." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  27. ↑ "Sophia: I am Sophia. I am the original matriarch, as well as a spirit of Knowledge. And you are the master of the forbidden arts..." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  28. ↑ "Koshimizu: An investigation into the matter revealed that a mysterious power worked to transform Amaterasu's Knowledge into a unique being. That Knowledge became too strong, forcing its demon counterpart out of existence." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
  29. ↑ "Dagda: In the end, this place is no different than the world I left behind. Humans and Knowledge bind gods and demons alike. But you... there's something about you... Hah! So that's it? It's plain from the look of you. All the Knowledge here-it once belonged to demons." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
  30. ↑ "Samael: I am to credit for bringing Knowledge to the mortals, who had been forbidden from consuming it. Know that it is the serpent, not the horned god, who truly cares for humanity." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
  31. ↑ "Lucifer: Wisdom represents freedom. I therefore sought it to bestow it to all of you. Yet the more we perceive, the more we learn of our shackles. Boundless torment, a prison that shall never perish... Is this too a curse of His doing?" Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
  32. ↑ "Anubis: It would appear Khonsu has found his "Ba." The human that carries his soul, so to speak." Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch). Developed by ATLUS.
  33. ↑ "We now turn to the concept of the Ba as reflected by the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead. This Ba is the personification of the vital forces, physical as well as psychic, of the deceased, his alter ego, one of the modes of being in which and as which he continues to live after death." "Conclusions", A STUDY OF THE BA CONCEPT IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TEXTS, LOUIS V. ZABKAR. Published by THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS. English. 162.
Retrieved from "https://megatenwiki.com/index.php?title=Knowledge&oldid=210170"