At 07:15 PM 6/6/96 -0700, you wrote:
>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.

You've got that right, but after all, they aren't human.  As to
individuality, they are all intimately connected to Tsunami.

>> 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?
>
Absolutely!  The water in those maze-like channels is flowing very slowly if
at all, though Tenchi slips and moves like the entry shaft is at about a 45
degree angle.  Space, gravity and perspective are grossly distorted inside
the cave. 

>> and then grew her roots into Ryoko. 
>
This is a simple matter of looking at the still frames.

>    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?

Roots that start moving around all over the place when Tenchi unplugs the sword?
        Anyway, in OVA #6, when Sasami, back on Earth, runs to Funaho and
recites her chant to the tree ancestors, she is transported into Tsunami, in
deep space.  The Royal trees are "Higher-diminsionally" connected to one
another (mostly to Tsunami, I suspect) 
        The Jurains are very ignorant of the realities of Tsunami and the
trees: whether she's getting the power from Ryoko's jewels, or wherever,
Funaho is clearly not reduced to impotence by being planted.
>
>>         In OVA #9 it is revealed that Ryoko is half human,
>
>    We don't know about the "human" part, either.
>
If Washu's genetic makeup is not human, she couldn't have had a baby by the
usual method by her Jurian husband.  We know the Jurians are genetically
compatable with Earth humans because Funaho Ojosama had Yosho, fathered by
Azusa, presumably by ordinary means.  So we don't even have to take the word
of notes or non-cannonical materials.  Biologically, this should remove any
question of their humanity.

>> 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.
>
She also doubtless observed a great deal of other human activity aroung the
shrine in 700 earth years. (A medieval shrine would be an ideal place to
observe extreme expressions of human ethical, emotional, and religious
stress, B-)).

>>         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.  ^_^;
>
Ha!  I maintain that Washu is 100% responsible for Ryoko's falling into
Kagato's hands.  First of all, she has a well established ethical flaw (the
classic mad-scientist one of Dr. Frankenstein), which led her to fall to
Kagato.  Secondly, the creation of Ryoko was a cruel and unethical act in
persuit of the Frankenstein vision.  She took no care of the consequences of
inflicting Chimera status on sentient beings (Ryoko and Ryo-ohki), and thus
is responsible for the persecution Ryoko suffers from kagato and Aeka, and
is also responsible for Ryoko's past history of not having a suitable mate
available.
        If another powerful, freakish Chimera, like Tenchi apparently is,
won't have her(hmm...throws Tsunami in a bad ethical light; but Tsunami was
desperate for a weapon that could destroy Kagato), what hope does Ryoko
have, even though she has chosen to be human?
        I think the above reasoning is a lot of why Ryoko doesn't like
Washu: Besides, imagine how she feels as a biological teenager, in love,
having 20000(galactic)year old Washu peeping in on her mental life.

                                Greg M.

BTW: I would still like to hear something about Japanese rabbit lore.