>Gregory Matteson said:
>>
>>         Yes, Funaho is Yosho's ship, (named after his mother B-)), she is
>> also the tree of the Masaki shrine, a sentient being, and Ryoko's jailor/
>> confidant for 700 years.
>
>    Are Jurai trees sentient beings?  If they are, then they have a
>    *long* way to go with regard to personality and individuality.

Being sentient and having a personality and individuality are different
from each other.  Tsunami would have to be a major exception to this
because of her merger with Sasami.  Tsunami personality is an extension of
Sasami's.

>> If you look in OVA #1, near the end of the scene
>> in Ryoko's cave, just as Tenchi bolted; in freeze-frame you will discover
>> that the true way that Ryoko was held is that Funaho set up a hyperspace
>> pocket to hold her,
>
>    Not sure about this.  Evidence?

This would be the only way to hold Ryouko captive.  With Ryouko's ability
to phase through objects, anything else would be a waste of time.  Ryouko
was COMPLETELY sealed off.  Nothing could get to her, not even energy.
This is why she had to consume her own mass in order to create the gem
which was almost finished when Tenchi released her.

>> and then grew her roots into Ryoko.
>
>    Not sure about this either, unless Funaho (the tree) has
>    hyperdimensional roots (shades of Yggdrasil? :) and has
>    lots of power to spare.  The cave itself was located
>    beneath a ledge, and goes very far into the earth, so
>    perhaps the roots outside of the seal were just from
>    ordinary trees above?

All the space trees, if I remember rightly, have hyperdimensional roots.
This is where they normally get their power from.  Funaho's power at that
time would have come from Ryouko's gems which were embedded in the
Tenchi-ken.

>>         In OVA #9 it is revealed that Ryoko is half human,
>
>    We don't know about the "human" part, either.

Ryouko would be as human as Washuu (which isn't really saying much ^_^)

>> half Masu.  The
>> Masu, we are told, will obey the strongest mind they are in contact with.
>> Without her jewels, Ryoko was simply taken over by Funaho.  Ryoko makes
>> several side remarks , especially in #6 that may be interpreted as stemming
>> from her relationship with Funaho. Ryoko sings about her lessons in the cave
>> on the CDs, in particular in the song "Imasara", and it is mentioned in
>> published notes. Though I grant you that is not strictly cannonical to the
>> pure OVA story, the elaboration I am suggesting makes sense.
>
>    Haven't listened to the song yet, so I can't say myself.  Then
>    again, if OVA 5 was any indication, much of her learning process
>    involved Tenchi, observing him as he grew.

Funaho could have simply directed Ryouko's attention toward Tenchi and let
the rest take its course.

>>         The fact that Ryoko grew up knowing nothing about being human,
>> and first began to learn to be and want to be human while in the cave is
>> consistantly carried through in her and Washu's remarks, and has a lot to
>> do with their not getting along too well. (The ethical problems raised by
>> Washu's conduct in the whole matter are of great(almost obsessive)interest
>> to me, but should be discussed elsewhen).
>
>    I guess even Washuu couldn't handle being the greatest scientist in
>    the galaxy AND the role of "Mom" at the same time.  ^_^;

I wouldn't say that.  During Ep 8 she seems to handle motherhood quite well.


+-------------------------------------------+
|James Budworth                             |
|Technical Services Curtin University       |
|budworth@cage.curtin.edu.au                |
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