Miroku

"Miroku" is the Japanese form of the Sanskrit name "Maitreya" which means "the Buddha of the Future".

Miroku is typical of the wandering Buddhist priests, often called hōshi (法師)  while Kagome's grandfather and Kikyou are typical of the Shinto Shrine priest/priestess.

Miroku is a "lecherous monk" - It is historically documented that during this time period certain Buddhist Monks and Monastaries were notorious in their promiscuousness. Whenever he meets a beautiful young lady he asks "Would you consider bearing my children?"

His great-grandfather was cursed by Naraku, the chief antagonist of the InuYasha series. Whilst battling Naraku, Miroku's grandfather was pierced though the hand creating the Wind Tunnel. This curse has been passed down from father to son, and thus to Miroku. Miroku is able to control the wind tunnel by sealing it with prayer beads when he doesn't want to use it.

If Miroku uses his wind tunnel in the prescence of strong demonic poisons, the wind tunnel will suck in the demonic poison and spread it throughout Miroku's body. As a spiritually powerful Buddhist monk who regularly battles demons and exorcises spirits, a little bit of the poison won't kill him; however if he absorbes too much demonic poison it will incapacitate or kill him. The curse of the Wind Tunnel is that it slowly grows larger with time; ultimately this Wind Tunnel will grow out of control and consume him, like his father and grandfather before him. His only hope is to locate and destroy Naraku first.

Attire
Miroku's Robes:

Miroku wears a dark blue or purple two-piece robe typical of a Japanese Biuddhist Monk. Periodically he appears with leggings. He always wears woven rice-straw sandals. On occasion he wears a rice-straw hat typical to the era.

The robes of most wandering monks are actually quite poor and ragged - often stitched together out of whatever pieces of cloth a person might give them on their travels. Miroku's robes are actually quite extravagent and expensive compared to most itinerant monks. This is consistant with his tendency to loot the wealth of greedy merchants whose homes he rids of demons and ghosts.

Miroku's Staff: Shakujou

Miroku carries a pilgrim's staff (shakujou) topped with a metal finial with two sections, each with three rings, (for a total of six rings), which represent the Six States of Existence -- the cycle of samsara, of suffering and reincarnation. In former days the same staff became one's grave post if one died on the way. Thus the top of the staff is designed like a Buddhist grave post.

The shakujou's metal rings were originally used by traveling priests to alert small creatures to keep them from accidentally being harmed by a priest when walking in the woods (this is consistant with the Buddhist teachings to kill no living creature). It was also used to frighten away dangerous snakes or beasts that the priest might have encountered. When begging, a Monk rattled this staff to announce his arrival at the door or gate of a household without breaking his vow of silence.

In Japan the shakujou is still used by monks, pilgrims, and practitioners of Shugendou ( a school of Buddhism teaching spiritual practices in the mountains). A yamabushi or mountain priest may use it for magic or exorcism, as does Miroku. In the Shingon and Tendai sects, the shakujou is used as a ritual object in special ceremonies, much like the Tibetan Dorje

Miroku's Rosary: Nenju (Also called juzu )

Miroku carries a string of beads or a rosary, used for Buddhist prayer and invocation. Usually associated with a chant repeating the name of Amida Nyorai. The most common type has 108 beads.

Originally rare and made of semi-precious stones, the spread of Buddhism brought wider use of nenju from the Heian Period (8th-12th century) through the Kamakura Period (12th-14th century). By the Warring States era, most poor monks carried wooden beads. The number "108" (a sacred number in many Buddhist traditions) represents the number of earthly passions and desires that blind and delude us, entrapping us in the Six States of Existence (the wheel of life, the cycle of samsara, the cycle of suffering and reincarnation).

Miroku makes further use of his nenju to seal off the Wind Tunnel in his hand.

Miroku's Tanuki (Raccoon-Dog) Companion:

The Tanuki is a real animal. It is often confused with the badger (ana-guma) and the racoon (arai-guma). However it is actually an odd species of dog that can grow up to 60 cm. in length, with distinctive stripes of black fur under its eyes. The Tanuki is native to Japan, southeastern Siberia and Manchuria.

The Tanuki (Raccoon-Dog) is technically neither a racon nor a dog. The Mythical Tanuki, much like the Fox Demon (Kitsune), is another Trickster. This Racoon-like Dog is a lesser yokai with shape-shifting powers ( a henge ) and is associated with Gluttony and Boozing.

Tanuki transform into any shape (living or otherwise), but often assume the form of a monk or a tea kettle to play tricks on humans. They cast powerful illusions and are known to turn leaves into fake money or horse excrement into an extravagent meal. Like the Kitsune, the Tanuki's powers of illusion are slightly flawed - sharp eyes reveal the true nature.

Tanuki love sake (rice wine), and are often seen with a sake bottle in one hand (usually purchased with fake money made from leaves) and a bill it never pays in the other.