Shirai Ryu
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The Shirai Ryu (白井流) is a faction in the Mortal Kombat fighting games.
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[edit] About the Shirai Ryu
The Shirai Ryu was a fictional group of Japanese ninja in the Mortal Kombat universe credited with bringing ninjutsu and other secret martial arts to Japan from China. For years, they were bitter rivals with the Lin Kuei, from which they had originally sprung. They were eventually wiped out by the necromancer Quan Chi who destroyed all but one member of the clan, who was later murdered by the elder Sub-Zero: Hanzo Hasashi, better known as Scorpion.
[edit] History
The Shirai Ryu was formed many years ago by a Lin Kuei warrior named Takeda. He eventually grew tiresome of the Lin Kuei and left the clan. However, leaving the clan is punishable by death, and Takeda was sought after by Lin Kuei assassins. He left China and returned to his homeland in Japan, where he offered his services to the lords and generals. His art gradually spread throughout Japan and developed into the art of ninjutsu. In addition to teaching his new art form, he also taught modified versions of Lin Kuei tactics, as well as revealing many of their secrets. This only further infuriated the Lin Kuei when Takeda's teachings became well-known with many followers throughout Japan. His followers became known as the Shirai Ryu.
Shirai Ryu and Lin Kuei became tremendous rivals. Takeda's clan mocked the Lin Kuei by dressing in similar outfits of yellow color and teaching modified versions of their own secrets. He managed to avoid many assassination attempts well into his later years. He was eventually killed by poison in his tea. It was never known if Lin Kuei was responsible for his death. The animosity between Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu continued after his death, as the Shirai Ryu became more prominent.
During the events of Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, the sorcerer Quan Chi hired members from both rival clans to find the Map of the Elements giving directions to Shinnok's amulet: Lin Kuei warrior Sub-Zero and Shirai Ryu member Hanzo Hasashi were the members of the clans respectively chosen for the task. Quan Chi had originally sent Sub-Zero to find the map, but he had also sent Hasashi in the event that Sub-Zero failed in his arduous quest. Neither warrior knew of the other's involvement until they discovered each other in the room of the Shaolin Temple containing the map. Sub-Zero killed Hanzo and retrieved the map. He gave the map to Quan Chi, and as payment to the Lin Kuei, he wiped out the rival Shirai Ryu clan.
Hanzo returned from death as Scorpion, and met his murderer in the Netherealm, where Sub-Zero had gone to stop Quan Chi from releasing the fallen Elder God Shinnok. Unable to exact his revenge, Scorpion waited until Mortal Kombat, when he confronted Sub-Zero again. This time it was Sub-Zero who would face death in the tournament. He disappeared into the Netherealm as the demon Noob Saibot, only to have his younger brother take his place in future tournaments.
[edit] A New Future?
In Scorpion's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, the Shirai Ryu clan- and Scorpion's family- appear atop the Pyramid where the climactic final battle took place. Scorpion has a brief reunion with his clan, but Quan Chi appears and kidnaps Scorpion's son. Scorpion sends the clan after the sorcerer, vowing never to rest until Chi is dead. This could indicate that at least part of Scorpion's ending- the emergence of the Shirai Ryu- may become canon and feature in the next-gen game Mortal Kombat 8. Just like with Sub Zero rebuilding the Lin Kuei. Also, in Armageddon's Konquest mode, it is revealed that as part of his bargain with the Elder Gods to become their champion, Scorpion had his clan revived, though the Elder Gods revived them as undead similar to himself, prompting Scorpion to seek to keep Armageddon from being prevented, as a way to spite the Gods for their treachery.
[edit] Trivia
- The real Shirai Ryu was a form of martial arts invented by Shirai Yoshikane. They were known to practice shurikenjutsu (手裏剣術), which was prominent and had many followers in Japan from around 1860-1960. It was an art of throwing long thin blades and shuriken. [1]
- Scorpion is regarded as the last member of the Shirai Ryu. He has ended his vendetta against the Lin Kuei Grandmaster, Sub-Zero, as well as a gaining a newfound hatred toward Quan Chi for destroying his clan. It is doubtful that the clan will ever emerge again, as Scorpion is the only remaining member, and he has other things on his agenda. Today, there is almost no mentioning of Scorpion being a member of the Shirai Ryu or even any mentioning of the clan itself, aside from the aformentioned MKA ending above.
- Shirai Ryu means "Style/Flow of the White Well." In Mortal Kombat, it is consistently mispronounced.
