who is this jester man? why do you see them everywhere? please gather around for this twitter thread, in which i talk about everything that ashiya douman from fate/grand order is, and why they should deserve your attention

please feel free to mute this thread if you want because it Will be long. for the purposes of this thread, i will refer to douman as they/them, and though i will be vague about f/go story, i will have to spoil some of lostbelt 5.5 heian-kyo for some key character points!

First off, Ashiya Douman is an Servant (basically a magical being) of the Alter Ego class in the game Fate/Grand Order. They are a character who has been in the game for literal years, appearing here and there as an antagonist before eventually being summonable as the MC's ally.

A bit of historical background: Douman is an omyouji from Heian Era Japan. Onmyouji were practitioners of onmyōdō, ("the way of yin and yang"), a collection of Japanese magic spellcasting involving the five elements, divination, and the creation of familiars called shikigami.

Onmyouji in Heian Era Japan were considered equivalent to civil servants who worked for the Imperial Government, doing duties such as divining fortunes and keeping the government safe from evil spirits. (YES THEY WERE LITERALLY GOVERNMENT-ORDAINED WIZARDS, THIS WAS A THING)

Before we begin discussing Douman's role in history, we have to discuss a man who was integral to their story: a man named Abe no Seimei, the most famous onmyouji in history who is considered "the Merlin of Japan", and was Ashiya Douman's greatest rival.

Abe no Seimei's history is well-documented, and he lived a long life helping the government with his abilities of astrology and divination, and became such a legendary figure that tales about him even claimed his powers were because he was the son of a kitsune.

Of course, every hero must have their villain, and Seimei's "villain" was none other than Ashiya Douman, a fellow onmyouji who apparently was jealous of Seimei's great status and natural magical talents and tried multiple times to win over him and usurp his position.

In one of the most famous tales surrounding Seimei, Douman challenged Seimei to a series of magical battles to show who was the better of the two, but every time was defeated by Seimei's prowess. Their last "battle"was a divination duel to guess what was within a certain box.

Douman, wanting to win by any means possible, had paid off someone to put 15 oranges into the box. However Seimei saw through the ruse, and claimed there were 15 rats instead-and lo and behold, when the box was opened, the oranges had all been changed into rats by Seimei's power.

Of course anyone would feel upset over a orange-turned-rat fiasco, but Douman, holding a grudge against Seimei, decided to bring him down once and for all - approaching Seimei's wife, Douman seduced her to gain access to Hoki Naiden, a famous book of secrets and spells.

Douman later approached Seimei, boasting that he had his book. Seimei scoffed. That was impossible - so impossible, in fact that if Douman really had the book, he could cut Seimei's throat. When Douman presented the book, Seimei realized in horror the betrayal that had happened.

And so, Douman gleefully cut the throat of his rival. Which would be a pretty bad way to end a story, but luckily, a Chinese wizard named Saint Hokudō traveled to Japan and using his powers of resurrection, brought Seimei back to life.

Seimei tracked down his rival and his ex-wife (who had married Douman in the meantime) and took his revenge on the both of them, slitting their throats. The vicious rivalry was at its end...or was it? For even in F/GO, Douman seems to always come back from death.

For being such a great rival of the "Merlin of Japan", though, ironically not much is known about the historical Ashiya Douman. While Seimei's life is well known, Douman's history is obscure. Even his year of birth and death are unknown.

Who was Douman really? A Buddhist monk, as F/GO portrays them? Its unclear. Even "Ashiya Douman" is technically only a title, not a name. Apparently we do know that Douman was from Kishi village in Harima Province, and several burial mounds for the man are found around Japan.

There are a few other tales, however, involving Douman, and those tales help to explain why the figure of Ashiya Douman has been popularized as someone of great evil in multiple stories, for Douman is well known for one thing in particular - curses.

In Fate/GO, Douman's character is specifically listed as an Anti-Hero, and they even state this - because in their time, Douman was a terrifying figure who cast curses...but specifically for the sake of others, clients, who sought their terrible powers for their own needs.

Douman's clients were not people happy with their circumstances. They were people cast out of society, people maligned by the cruelty of others, people seeking revenge. And nobody was unhappier than a certain man named Fujiwara no Akimitsu.

The reason why Akimitsu is a figure that must be mentioned is because he makes an appearance in F/GO -when Douman activates their Noble Phantasm, the most powerful form of their abilities, Akimitsu himself appears in the form of a terrifying skeleton-like corpse in the sky

Akimitsu was a court noble and father. En-shi, his daughter, was betrothed to the Emperor's son, Prince Atsuakira. However, when Atsuakira decided to marry the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga to become Crown Prince, En-shi passed away in grief, and poor Akimitsu sought revenge.

And who better to go to for revenge than the local curse onmyouji? Douman agreed to Akimitsu's request to curse Michinaga and his family for En-shi's sake, and historically, several of Michinaga's daughters died suddenly, one by one, over the years.

These deaths were seen as proof of the power of Douman's curse. Akimitsu himself became known as Akuryō-safu - "The Minister of the Left With Evil Spirits". Sometimes out of revenge you get cast in history forever associated with evil spirits which is kind of metal honestly.

Knowing the story, now you can appreciate Douman's Noble Phantasm, which is a literal conceptualization of Akimitsu's curse, brought forth to curse Michinaga and his loved ones forevermore.

"Okay, so what", you say. "This explains nothing about why Douman is like. A clown? And why everyone loves them especially if they're this big evil curse wizard?" To which I say. Haha. Yes. I'm getting to that.

So! Just to summarize. Seimei is a force of good in the original legends. Douman's legend only persists piggybacking on Seimei's legend as a rival. And Douman in pop culture has been shown, again and again, as a figure of evil! Here are some other Doumans for you as example.

(These Doumans are specifically from Sousei no Onmyouji, Dragalia Lost, and Tokyo Ravens if you want to know.)

However, Douman is not ALWAYS shown as a force of evil, which ties into why their character in Fate/GO is more complicated than they seem. In their character profile, a specific kabuki play called Ashiya Dōman Ōuchi Kagami, written in 1734, is mentioned.

Personally, I haven't found a translation of the play, but I've confirmed with others that the play portrays Douman in a sympathetic light. The play mostly focuses on Seimei's life and kitsune heritage, but does show Douman as a good, hardworking man, not some harbinger of evil.

Barring everything that happened after their magical battles, Douman's only major sin was wanting to be better than Seimei by any means possible. Douman was an underdog, a hard worker who saw someone surpass everything he had done like it was nothing. Keep this thought in mind.

So now, we finally come to Ashiya Douman in Fate/GO. Right off the bat, as they are so often portrayed, Douman is. Well. Evil! Dramatic! Delighting in suffering! As one would expect a curse-creating wizard to be. I mean, look at them! Evil, I tell you!

In their initial appearance, Douman is part of a small crew of "Heroic Spirit Swordmasters" in an offshoot timeline of the Shimousa province in Japan. The Swordmaster titles seem to hail mostly from levels of Dante's Inferno - Purgatorio, Paraiso, Inferno...and Limbo.

This is INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. Douman in their initial appearance does not introduce themselves as Douman. In fact, they try to pass themselves off as Seimei initially, but mostly go by the title of "Caster of Limbo" or simply just "Limbo", their True Name "not worthy to mention".

And here in Shimousa, we already start to see hints of foreshadowing as to what Douman's story in F/GO really is. Limbo in their appearance makes dramatic speeches, talking about the things like the darkness in people's souls. Its easy to think its the ravings of an evil madman.

I will not go into details of Shimousa here, but will briefly describe Douman's role - in this chapter, Douman (or rather, "Limbo") acts as a loyal right-hand advisor of the chapter's main villain, and this is a role that they play time and time again through F/GO's story.

Limbo (as I will refer to them from now on for Certain Reasons) is a character who never acts at the forefront, but always attaches themselves to a higher power, a greater evil, and prods them into becoming the worst form of themselves while gleefully spreading the seeds of evil.

So, you know how kings back then could have a jester that could act as wild as they want, but was brave enough to say things bluntly to the king's face without fear? This is exactly what Limbo is. This part is paraphrased from a translation, but Limbo states what they are clearly

Can I also just say that "I may act the jester for my god, but you are all nothing but mere clowns" is an unbelievably good insult like, my god would I die instantly on hearing that.

Anyways, this is why Douman is, well, a clown. They are specifically a character who dances on the edge with delight and laughs in the faces of heroes and friends and rulers alike, a beast who is quite literally labeled as "the All-Ridiculing".

As shown here for example, the official artist depicts Limbo as a jack-in-the-box with a harlequin-style hat, heavily suggesting their design directly references commedia dell'arte designs and archetypes. https://hasendow.jp/post/643550023309737984#notes

So who is Ashiya Douman? What is Ashiya Douman? These are questions that persist for years as the man who calls themselves Limbo appears here and there in the story. We do get this blurb at the end of Shimousa which. Raises a lot of questions. (Yes, this clown has eaten gods.)

However, we finally get answers in the conclusion of their character arc in Lostbelt 5.5 Heian-Kyo - a final showdown in Heian Era Japan. An attempt for Limbo to trap the MC once and for all, and pursue their grand schemes of evil. And it is here we learn what truly lies beneath.

[LOSTBELT HEIAN-KYO 5.5 SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT IN THIS THREAD JUST A HEADS UP]

I will not go into details, but the Gist of Heian-Kyo - the MC wants to find Limbo to finally beat them up for their many clown crimes. Limbo has absconded to an offshoot timeline of Heian Era Japan, and so MC and their crew follow to track them down.

They find that there's a Grail War going on, and the Overseer of that Grail War is none other than...Ashiya Douman! They go to the main Imperial building where Michinaga (remember that guy?) and they are staying, except...the Douman they meet is nothing like Limbo at all.

Instead of the dramatically evil man they know, the MC meets a quiet, somewhat awkward, withdrawn man who cleanses them of impurities after a battle. When they notice MC looking at them funny, this man states that they're used to it, since they're not as well regarded as Seimei.

Of course, MC and the crew are confused. But scans and other methods of identifying don't seem to point out that this is the Limbo they know. Learning other information, they can only conclude that this man is the real Ashiya Douman, not the Servant they've been chasing down.

As it turns out, Abe no Seimei is in this era too, and although he is out on some duties (which is why Ashiya Douman is the Overseer of the Grail War, not him), he sends messages throughout the chapter to the MC, giving them advice and such to help them in their quest.

Seimei reveals that the Douman that they met was actually Limbo...but rather, Limbo who possessed the Ashiya Douman of that era. Acting on being found out, Limbo has no choice but to reveal themselves, but what they say next is startling and illuminating.

Limbo explains to the surprised Michinaga about how the possession occurred - Limbo was summoned as a Servant for "the pitiful onmyouji" Ashiya Douman, and instantly used that opportunity to drive the real Douman into insanity to combine their very being with...themselves.

Take a quick note here about WHAT, exactly, Limbo uses to break the real Douman's mind. Not torture, or magic...apparently, just telling Douman that they'll "never surpass Seimei" was enough. Just giving them the reality that they'll never succeed. They're not worth anything.

Limbo is forced to reveal themselves, and has to move to the next stage of their evil plan-use the Grail War to gain power for themselves, enough to even surpass the Big Bad they work for. Specifically, they want to become a Beast of Humanity, which in Fate/verse is a HUGE deal.

In Fate/ a Beast of Humanity are beings that are giant calamities, specifically fueled by the evils of humanity itself. Limbo wants to destroy the world! And not only that, but they want to FINALLY become something that can make the great onmyouji Seimei quake in his boots.

Limbo does everything, eats gods, gains power, and waits to become a Beast...
But nothing happens.
And Seimei never shows up to this grand final battle.

Instead, Seimei basically sends the equivalent of a magical post-it note basically telling Limbo that "LOL, you can't become a Beast of Humanity, idiot, you need to love humanity and you don't have that qualification".

This pisses off Limbo like nothing else.
Like, just imagine it. You do everything to become a LITERAL CALAMITY to beat up your grand nemesis, except it doesn't work and your grand nemesis DOESN'T EVEN BOTHER SHOWING UP?? Its a huge slap in the face. Its an insult beyond measure.

Limbo decides to fight their final battle, things happen, but basically through the power of friendship and a giant robot mecha (not kidding, really), Limbo is defeated. The evil clown dies. And that's it, right? The end of Limbo...except...
That's not the end of Ashiya Douman.

The epilogue opens up on a man crying, overlooking a town that is now free of Limbo's evil. And yet, the man weeps and weeps and weeps in eternal sorrow.

This man is the real Ashiya Douman. Even though they are now freed from Limbo's influence, having miraculously survived, this Douman refuses to live on knowing that they will become such a monster in the future.

But before they can do anything...Abe no Seimei shows up IN PERSON to stop their hand, telling them off for considering such a thing. When Douman asks why he didn't come sooner, why he didn't stop Limbo from possessing them, from enacting their evil, Seimei says this:

And this scene, this single scene, is what turns the Seimei and Douman relationship on its head.
In the legends, Seimei and Douman were nothing but bitter rivals.
But in reality, it seems that they were friends. Friends who cared for one another, until it all went wrong.

Seimei and Douman, in Fate/GO, is quite literally the trope of "hero seeing their best friend fall into evil and being unable to stop it". Seimei never stopped believing in Douman, even as society, their talents, and Douman's own self-hatred and doubts forced them apart.

This goes back all the way to the kabuki play, which as I said is mentioned in Douman's profile as a source. Douman...was a good man. A decent man who, when faced with the evils of their certain future, didn't even consider anything but repenting with their own destruction.

Remember when I mentioned at the very beginning of this thread that Douman is specifically an "Alter Ego" Servant?
The Ashiya Douman we summon is an Alter Ego of...Ashiya Douman. A caricatured version of the bitter rival fated to lose to the onmyouji blessed with everything.

Ashiya Douman's story in Fate/GO is, like several other Servants, an example how the perceptions of people in history may not at all reflect reality.
In Fate/GO, the caring connection between two individuals was erased, and a man would be forever seen as a harbinger of evil.

It is interesting to note that in Douman's profile, "Murasaki Shikibu's accounts imply that Douman from the past was that much inhuman and untrustworthy." Douman wasn't blameless. They were flawed. They still did evil. They still produced curses. A good man can still do wrong.

And in the end, Limbo is still a part of Douman. Limbo is Douman's resentments and hatred given life. While Douman would lay down and give up, Limbo would stop at nothing to get the attention and power they crave. Not even gods could stand in their way.

Which brings us to "well, wait, how does Douman work for the MC as an ally now?"
And the answer is: love. It is heavily implied that Douman wants to know love.

Of course, there's that Whole Motive of "you need to know love to become a Beast". That's a thing.
But also, Limbo is a part of Douman, who was never regarded as highly as Seimei in anyone's eyes but Seimei himself and never loved themselves.

This Valentine's Day scene basically shows this to a T - first, Douman is INSANELY jealous of MC getting attention from others (comparing them to Seimei) and seems to be unable to separate "love" from curses.

(Also please just watch this scene because Morikawa Toshiyuki, Douman's voice actor, has so much fun with this character!! There's so much nuance!!! SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA YELL "FORBIDDEN" WITH EMOTION)

Anyways, Douman's (Limbo's) search for "love" is a large part of why the F/GO fandom has been taken with this character like nothing else. Because just like they did with others, Limbo acts as the MC's right hand man, loyal to the end, and is WILLING TO WALK INTO HELL WITH YOU

But is it truly loyalty? Is Douman walking with you into hell out or devotion or is it because Douman pushed you into the path of hell? Is Douman your one and only? Your end? Ashiya Douman, the carnivorous beast, is at your call, but they give curses as a sign of love, you know.

How much of the Douman we summon is Douman? Obviously, Limbo is at the forefront, the Alter Ego pretending to act as "humble priest", but is part of them that man who wept outside of the city that spurned them, distraught that they would someday destroy it? Is it there?

Ashiya Douman is...a character filled with ambiguity. And I think it just goes to show just how complicated they truly are that little things like new art or new lines makes you rethink their character in different ways. Fandom returns to Douman again and again for that reason.

At the end of the day, what I think I want everyone to know is that...Douman is more than just "a horny clown". They are a tragic, flawed character, with duality that goes beyond "good and evil". Even a shadow of humanity, as they say, can be ever so very human at their core.

Thank you SO MUCH for reading this ENTIRE HUGE THREAD MY GOD DID I RAMBLE but this is a character that has fascinated me for so very long, and I feel Fate/GO really gave so much depth and character to them! I will add little things I like and such after this when I think of them.

Also can everyone please just give kudos to Hasendow (Showichi Furumi) for their impeccable work on the art and ascensions of this character? There's so much love poured into the details of Douman's clothing and expressions in game!!!!

One thing to note is that I believe there are a few writers who have made connections for Douman being a symbol of rebellion against the aristocracy which Seimei stood for - after all, Douman was never officially part of the government, and was from a poorer province.

If you're interested in seeing some photos of places (like shrines) connected with historical Douman, please check out @/ DOMANFAN_ (just remove the slash), they seem to have visited some sites based on their tweets!

Some people might ask why I didn't talk about the two gods that are part of Douman's Saint Graph (basically the comprehensive part of who they are) - this is something I need to read more about but the connections are FASCINATING. Check this space later!

Of note is that in the TMA interview that Hasendow recently gave, they drew a Yin/Yang symbol representing Limbo/Douman - so yes, them being Unknown gender is more than just them eating a goddess! Two-toned hair, being feminine/masculine, moon/sun, etc. Its all intentional.

I need to go to sleep but for now, yes. Fine. You can have this horny final ascension art. You're welcome.

Slides back into this thread - its time to talk about the gods that are a part of Douman's Saint Graph, because their inclusion actually says more about Ashiya Douman than one might think! The two gods in question are Ītzpāpālōtl, an Aztec goddess, and Chernobog, a Slavic god.

Once again, feel free to mute this thread since I'm updating it, and be aware that Heian-Kyo Lostbelt 5.5 spoilers are abound! I will also probably cover Douman's Bond CE as well at the end of it since I forgot to touch on that before.