What do you think?
Rate this book
Saiyuki universe #3
saiyuki t.3
Having been assigned by the human elders the mission of stopping an mystical plague that has afflicted the Yokai with madness, Genjo Sanzo assembles his team of Yokai warriors in the hopes that the affliction will not affect them. He sets up tests that will ensure that Cho Hakkai, Son Goku and Sha Gojyo stay loyally by his side as he journeys west. Once they pass, the team ventures forth to rid the land of madness.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
1 person is currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Kazuya Minekura
213 books190 followersKazuya Minekura (峰倉かずや Minekura Kazuya, born March 23, 1975) is a Japanese manga artist most known for the Saiyuki series. Her other manga series include Wild Adapter, Shiritsu Araiso Koto Gakko Seitokai Shikkobu (Araiso Private School Student Council Executive Committee), and Stigma. Stigma is notable for being a full-color work, unusual as manga is generally drawn in black and white.
She had an illness that affected her writing from 2004–2007, which caused her to have a hysterectomy. On 28 September 2010, she went on Hiatus to undergo surgery for ameloblastoma on the right half of her upper jawbone. On 31 December 2010, she reported her surgery was successful after removing the tumor on her right upper jawbone and is currently resting and being fitted with artificial prosthetics to reconstruct the area where her bones were removed.
She had an illness that affected her writing from 2004–2007, which caused her to have a hysterectomy. On 28 September 2010, she went on Hiatus to undergo surgery for ameloblastoma on the right half of her upper jawbone. On 31 December 2010, she reported her surgery was successful after removing the tumor on her right upper jawbone and is currently resting and being fitted with artificial prosthetics to reconstruct the area where her bones were removed.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 1, 2018
I ADORE this series. I have never found anything like. I have watched all of the anime, read the series over multiple times, and lots of fanfiction. I can’t suggest this more. It is cute yet not lighthearted. The characters are great and I love them all so much (I ship Goku and Sanzo forever). If you like m/m then you will like this as the characters have plenty of “interesting” moments. If you simply like an adventure then you will like this. If you like retellings then you will like this. Overall, it’s really good and you need to pick it up.
November 13, 2025
This volume finishes the Rikudo arc. Goku loses his youkai power limiter and goes crazy almost killing Rikudo, who manages to escape. Sanzo is still unconscious, so Goku turns on Gojyo and Hakkai (because he doesn't remember who they are). They manage to subdue him and put his power limiter back on.
Kanzeon Bosatsu (Buddhist Kanon from heaven who always has her tits visible) appears and uses Gojyo's blood to heal Sanzo. Sanzo is still unconscious while he recovers.
When Sanzo wakes up, he sneaks out to confront Rikudo again. They fight, but the others catch up as well. Sanzo manages to kill Rikudo, but Rikudo welcomes death once he sort of realises what he has become.
The volume then moves onto the next arc.
Lirin (Kougaiji's half sister) decides to take it upon herself to fight Team Sanzo on her brother's behalf.
In a city market, Team Sanzo run into a fortuneteller who tells Hakkai he has the eyes of a sinner. It unnerves Hakkai, but it pisses Goku off and he kind of attacked the fortuneteller.
Then a monster appears which they must fight to keep the city safe.
Lirin appears and fights the monster, thinking she took it down in one punch. She then announces to Team Sanzo that she is going to kill them.
Kougaiji, Dokugakuji and Yaone set out to find Lirin.
Lirin attacks and Sanzo stops her by picking her up off the ground. Team Kougaiji appear and he demands his little sister back. Sanzo hands her over.
Team Sanzo and Team Kougaiji decide to fight, but you can tell that no one has their hearts in it. They don't really see each other as enemies.
Dokugakuji is revealed to be Gojyo's half brother (the one who saved his life and killed his own mother in the process). They decide to fight each other as everyone else is fighting too.
The fortuneteller appears again and calls Hakkai by his old name (Cho Gonou) . This again unnerves Hakkai.
The fortuneteller reveals his name is Chin Yisou and attacks using the monster from before.
Team Sanzo and Team Kougaiji team up and take the monster (Shikigami) down. Once the monster is defeated Kougaiji decides to leave and not continue with the fight.
I really like the relationship between Sanzo and Gojyo that's shown in this volume. They may both be antagonist with each other, but in the end, they are able to read each other so easily.
Kanzeon Bosatsu (Buddhist Kanon from heaven who always has her tits visible) appears and uses Gojyo's blood to heal Sanzo. Sanzo is still unconscious while he recovers.
When Sanzo wakes up, he sneaks out to confront Rikudo again. They fight, but the others catch up as well. Sanzo manages to kill Rikudo, but Rikudo welcomes death once he sort of realises what he has become.
The volume then moves onto the next arc.
Lirin (Kougaiji's half sister) decides to take it upon herself to fight Team Sanzo on her brother's behalf.
In a city market, Team Sanzo run into a fortuneteller who tells Hakkai he has the eyes of a sinner. It unnerves Hakkai, but it pisses Goku off and he kind of attacked the fortuneteller.
Then a monster appears which they must fight to keep the city safe.
Lirin appears and fights the monster, thinking she took it down in one punch. She then announces to Team Sanzo that she is going to kill them.
Kougaiji, Dokugakuji and Yaone set out to find Lirin.
Lirin attacks and Sanzo stops her by picking her up off the ground. Team Kougaiji appear and he demands his little sister back. Sanzo hands her over.
Team Sanzo and Team Kougaiji decide to fight, but you can tell that no one has their hearts in it. They don't really see each other as enemies.
Dokugakuji is revealed to be Gojyo's half brother (the one who saved his life and killed his own mother in the process). They decide to fight each other as everyone else is fighting too.
The fortuneteller appears again and calls Hakkai by his old name (Cho Gonou) . This again unnerves Hakkai.
The fortuneteller reveals his name is Chin Yisou and attacks using the monster from before.
Team Sanzo and Team Kougaiji team up and take the monster (Shikigami) down. Once the monster is defeated Kougaiji decides to leave and not continue with the fight.
I really like the relationship between Sanzo and Gojyo that's shown in this volume. They may both be antagonist with each other, but in the end, they are able to read each other so easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2022
Aw, man! This is one of those volumes where every page/scene/panel is so wonderfully designed! There’s so much action - which I expected having seen the anime - I kept pausing to admire the art style and dedication I know went into all of the characters and details!
After Vol. 2 left me on a cliffhanger, I had to get to this one! Goku and Sanzo’s relationship is just awesome! I love how it doesn’t come across as a older man/teenage boy romance type of relationship but rather a mentor/guardian to student/brat relationship. Throw in what little of their tragic backstories we’ve seen so far, and I can feel how strong of a bond those two have. One of the things I love about Saiyuki is how it handles relationships, particularly with ‘saying things without saying them’. This goes along with Gojyo and Hakkai’s relationship, though more as a brotherly bond.
The end of the Rikudo arc is intense and I love that the Chin Yisou is next because it deals with some heavy stuff - important backstory for Hakkai that explains his demon origin. I would say the Rikudo arc should also be an example of what happens to Sanzo for the rest of the story lol
Another incredible volume and I’m reminded again of just how much I love this series!
After Vol. 2 left me on a cliffhanger, I had to get to this one! Goku and Sanzo’s relationship is just awesome! I love how it doesn’t come across as a older man/teenage boy romance type of relationship but rather a mentor/guardian to student/brat relationship. Throw in what little of their tragic backstories we’ve seen so far, and I can feel how strong of a bond those two have. One of the things I love about Saiyuki is how it handles relationships, particularly with ‘saying things without saying them’. This goes along with Gojyo and Hakkai’s relationship, though more as a brotherly bond.
The end of the Rikudo arc is intense and I love that the Chin Yisou is next because it deals with some heavy stuff - important backstory for Hakkai that explains his demon origin. I would say the Rikudo arc should also be an example of what happens to Sanzo for the rest of the story lol
Another incredible volume and I’m reminded again of just how much I love this series!
December 18, 2018
A warning: I am biased. This has been my favourite manga series for over a decade and I'm on my sixth (or so) reread. This is as good as I remember. Minekura has given us distinct characters, and even when the speech balloons aren't tied directly to anyone in the panel, you know exactly who is expressing which thought. The art is amazing, and sometimes I'll just stare at scenes trying to soak more in. And the drama/angst jumps in to contrast the humour so suddenly that I will need to stop reading just to process how much I love the moments/characters/everything. Or the humour bumps aside the drama, which is a delightful way to break the tension. In all, that's basically the theme of the whole story. Nothing matters so much you can't joke about it. Though at the same time, everything absolutely matters. Sweet and sour, baby.
My copies of this manga are all beat up, but I know I'll read them again. Everytime, it's a treat.
My copies of this manga are all beat up, but I know I'll read them again. Everytime, it's a treat.
June 24, 2018
I thought reading the manga would help me focus on the plot more but there is just something about this series that makes my eyes unfocus when I try to pay attention to what's going on even though I do adore the main characters [honestly that's the only reason I'm even making the effort]. This volume is pretty much just more of the same, although there's a nice extended fight scene and they've also introduced a hermaphrodite character [is that even acceptable terminology anymore? or is it just intersex?] which, in what I can only assume from my experience with other late 90s / early 2000s shounen anime/manga series, is almost certainly going to be a super unfortunate attempt to be ~edgy~. I'm pretty they just made them a girl in the show although it's been ages since I watched it so maybe I'm not remembering right, but anyway I'm sure that'll be a whole thing although I'm trying to reserve judgement for now.
September 8, 2022
Okay so I guess I felt a little like this was going like a paw patrol episode cause of how they didn't fight since they were all more friends and stuff since there was a huge crab tryna deck them but idk. Gojyo slays
June 8, 2017
Things are starting to get slightly freaky. I like that!
December 26, 2022
To the one scene that happens in this volume all I can say is "It started out with a kiss how did it end up like this?" I love rereading this series over and over.
October 21, 2023
My favorite part is how a group of three demons who are supposed to be so strong continuously get blindsided by the most random of things.
March 12, 2024
What’s the aim?
May 23, 2013
23 May 2013
Rating: * * * 1/2
After the intense cliffhanger of the last volume, Saiyuki, Volume 3 comes to a surprising lull. That isn't to say there aren't exciting moments because there are a few, but the many flashback sequences interrupt the flow of things so that you just can't quite get there. In spite of the slowing pace, this raucous group still provides a good time.
I'm anxious to read the next volume, which will hopefully unravel some of Hakkai's mysteries. He's a tough nut to crack.
Rating: * * * 1/2
After the intense cliffhanger of the last volume, Saiyuki, Volume 3 comes to a surprising lull. That isn't to say there aren't exciting moments because there are a few, but the many flashback sequences interrupt the flow of things so that you just can't quite get there. In spite of the slowing pace, this raucous group still provides a good time.
I'm anxious to read the next volume, which will hopefully unravel some of Hakkai's mysteries. He's a tough nut to crack.
March 11, 2019
♥ ♥ ♥
I don't have much to say about the volume since... well everything that happened in it happened in the anime, but I do however have some fabulous "screen caps" I want to share!
Haha! I love this! (WARNING!!! The f-bomb is about to be dropped so if you're easily offended or can't handle that little four letter word, I recommend scrolling passed this photo)
A couple of great Kougaiji shots!
Oh god, you don't have to tell me twice!
I love this series of photos at the start of the chapters!
I don't have much to say about the volume since... well everything that happened in it happened in the anime, but I do however have some fabulous "screen caps" I want to share!
Haha! I love this! (WARNING!!! The f-bomb is about to be dropped so if you're easily offended or can't handle that little four letter word, I recommend scrolling passed this photo)
A couple of great Kougaiji shots!
Oh god, you don't have to tell me twice!
I love this series of photos at the start of the chapters!
September 17, 2011
Yet another case of a 3.5 rather than a 3 star volume - but it's getting there, slowly but surely, to the 4 star mark. A lot of backstory for Sanzo in this volume, as well as a lot of team bonding and many hints of Hakkai's past that can only mean the next volume will be very Hakkai heavy.
The series seems to have taken a huge stepback from the 'yokai issue of the week' which had defined its first two volumes, which is probably for a better because there is only so much after school special lessons on yokai & human relations I can take before begging for some actual plot development. Mercifully, there is some, including actual fleshed-out scenes involing Kougaiji and the people he works with.
However, this volume unfortunately undercuts the serious lack of interesting female characters in the series so far; either women are inherently helpless and require the Sanzo gang's assistance, are 'evil' in the sense that they are working for the revival of Gyumaoh, or are both (see: Yaone in volume 2). The most important female figure so far in the series - Kougaiji's mother - is literally unable to move or speak or participate in the action. None of them are sensibly fleshed out so far, not even in comparison to the tons of story we've been getting about Sanzo and the gang. But of course, why introduce complex interesting female people that might distract from all the sexy young men running about with their quest and amazing physical abilities?
One might also question why the only yokai characters are either evil, berserk, or Sanzo's cohorts, but I'm pretty sure this issue is addressed in later volumes. Still, the portrayal of post-Minus Wave yokai as being all mindless violent killing machines and the ones who aren't being part human and on a mission from god is problematic to say the least. I think the odds of Sanzo getting a full-blooded yokai ally grows smaller and smaller with every passing chapter.
Well, at least the art is getting better, right? Right? Eh.
The series seems to have taken a huge stepback from the 'yokai issue of the week' which had defined its first two volumes, which is probably for a better because there is only so much after school special lessons on yokai & human relations I can take before begging for some actual plot development. Mercifully, there is some, including actual fleshed-out scenes involing Kougaiji and the people he works with.
However, this volume unfortunately undercuts the serious lack of interesting female characters in the series so far; either women are inherently helpless and require the Sanzo gang's assistance, are 'evil' in the sense that they are working for the revival of Gyumaoh, or are both (see: Yaone in volume 2). The most important female figure so far in the series - Kougaiji's mother - is literally unable to move or speak or participate in the action. None of them are sensibly fleshed out so far, not even in comparison to the tons of story we've been getting about Sanzo and the gang. But of course, why introduce complex interesting female people that might distract from all the sexy young men running about with their quest and amazing physical abilities?
One might also question why the only yokai characters are either evil, berserk, or Sanzo's cohorts, but I'm pretty sure this issue is addressed in later volumes. Still, the portrayal of post-Minus Wave yokai as being all mindless violent killing machines and the ones who aren't being part human and on a mission from god is problematic to say the least. I think the odds of Sanzo getting a full-blooded yokai ally grows smaller and smaller with every passing chapter.
Well, at least the art is getting better, right? Right? Eh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2020
Leggendo questo manga, sto provando le stesse sensazioni di quando guardavo l'anime: infatti, oggi come allora, mi sono affezionata subito non solo al gruppo di Sanzo, ma anche a quello di Kogaiji. Il principe, come già detto, non ha alcun particolare desiderio di rivedere il padre, né di dare una mano a quella strega di Gyokumenkoshu, ma lo fa spinto dal desiderio di salvare la madre. Yaone e Dokugakuji provano del sincero affetto per il principe e quindi sono pronti a seguirlo ovunque; e poi c'è la piccola Lirin che adora fare un po' di casino.
In questo volume i due gruppi si incrociano e le varie dinamiche che si vanno a formare sono davvero interessanti: due fratelli che si incontrano di nuovo e che finalmente hanno trovato il loro posto nel mondo, Hakkai e Yaone che sì combattono, ma sempre con molto garbo, Sanzo che si è trovato una nuova fan, Kogaiji che ha a che fare con un avversario come Goku, che combatte per se stesso e per il solo piacere di farlo. Insomma, dei nemici particolari che qui dovranno pure collaborare.
Una menzione anche per la parte iniziale del volume, dove si iniziano a delineare meglio i contorni del rapporto tra Sanzo e Goku, con quest'ultimo che perde il proprio dispositivo di controllo dopo aver visto l'amico ferito, dando così libero sfogo alla sua natura demoniaca. Sarà fondamentale l'intervento di Kanzeon Bosatsu, la divinità che ha deciso di spedire Sanzo & co. verso ovest, che rimetterà a posto il dispositivo di Goku e che guarirà il bonzo corrotto - oltre a fare un interessante riferimento alle vite precedenti dei quattro che, a quanto pare, secoli prima, si erano già conosciuti nel mondo celeste.
Ovviamente i disadattati non avranno un attimo di pace, perché incontrano un altro strano individuo che accusa Hakkai di essere un crudele assassino e che vuole "divertirsi" con i nostri protagonisti. Simpatia portami via.
In questo volume i due gruppi si incrociano e le varie dinamiche che si vanno a formare sono davvero interessanti: due fratelli che si incontrano di nuovo e che finalmente hanno trovato il loro posto nel mondo, Hakkai e Yaone che sì combattono, ma sempre con molto garbo, Sanzo che si è trovato una nuova fan, Kogaiji che ha a che fare con un avversario come Goku, che combatte per se stesso e per il solo piacere di farlo. Insomma, dei nemici particolari che qui dovranno pure collaborare.
Una menzione anche per la parte iniziale del volume, dove si iniziano a delineare meglio i contorni del rapporto tra Sanzo e Goku, con quest'ultimo che perde il proprio dispositivo di controllo dopo aver visto l'amico ferito, dando così libero sfogo alla sua natura demoniaca. Sarà fondamentale l'intervento di Kanzeon Bosatsu, la divinità che ha deciso di spedire Sanzo & co. verso ovest, che rimetterà a posto il dispositivo di Goku e che guarirà il bonzo corrotto - oltre a fare un interessante riferimento alle vite precedenti dei quattro che, a quanto pare, secoli prima, si erano già conosciuti nel mondo celeste.
Ovviamente i disadattati non avranno un attimo di pace, perché incontrano un altro strano individuo che accusa Hakkai di essere un crudele assassino e che vuole "divertirsi" con i nostri protagonisti. Simpatia portami via.
August 16, 2016
Wonderful! ♥ I'm swiftly becoming addicted to this story! I love all of the characters, the good guys and the 'bad' guys (its hard to think of them as bad when they're so friendly!) I can't get over the way Kannon is portrayed in this series, because it's so indicative of the unique, edgy, left-of-center way the manga-ka has retold this story. I know that throughout history Kannon has had both male and female incarnations, but to my knowledge, never both at the same time! My interest is severely piqued by Kannon's interest in the Sanzo group, and especially her comments about how they are the same no matter how many times they are reborn - the plot thickens! Goku's transformation, and the allusions to the legend of the monkey king have me all excited, I'm really enjoying the parallels with the old legend, as well as the way the manga-ka has worked the deviations into an original tale. Having Gojyo's brother turn up as one of the enemy group was a bit of a shock, but I like the tension it creates, I wonder how it will work out? I'm also highly curious about Hakkai's dark past that keeps being alluded to. I had a feeling there was something lurking behind that disarming smile, I can't wait to discover more about what it is! In short, I have to stop typing now, because I need to go find the next book and feed my new addiction!
March 2, 2014
Not quite as thrilling as the previous volume but still excellent. Goku goes off the deep end after Sanzo's injury and breaks his power limiters going on the rampage. Kannon comes down and intervenes. The second story intoduces a Shikigami master who seems to have a particular grudge against Hakkai. Lirin runs away from Kou to fight our heroes and Kou and co have to come and get here. The rival quartets end up working together to defeat the Shikigami.
I really like the way Kou and Sanzo's parties parallel each other and I love the various interplays between the characters. Gorgeous artwork as I've come to expect from this series.
I really like the way Kou and Sanzo's parties parallel each other and I love the various interplays between the characters. Gorgeous artwork as I've come to expect from this series.
November 25, 2012
So the major cliffhanger of the last volume is resolved, with Sanzo confronting a priest from his past, and Goku resolving to become stronger.
The Sanzo party go on to meet a strange fortune teller who seems to know Hakkai, and also come face to face with Kougaiji and his team. Gojyo finds out his link to Dokugakuji, and both parties develop a grudging respect for each other, but both decide that neither are going to back down.
Again, good dynamics between the characters in both parties in this volume and we will see how the fortune teller is linked to Hakkai in the next...
The Sanzo party go on to meet a strange fortune teller who seems to know Hakkai, and also come face to face with Kougaiji and his team. Gojyo finds out his link to Dokugakuji, and both parties develop a grudging respect for each other, but both decide that neither are going to back down.
Again, good dynamics between the characters in both parties in this volume and we will see how the fortune teller is linked to Hakkai in the next...
September 11, 2022
Goku, my sweet baby boy 💓
We get to spend a bit of time with Lirin this volume, and I don't like her, she's like a whiney spunky strong lil girl but that's not a trope I go for. So far there hasn't been a single female character that I've liked. Except Kanzeon Bosatsu, but the narrative is so transphobic towards her, calling her a hermaphrodite and making fun of her sex.
At least we have lots of cute boys to stare at.
We get to spend a bit of time with Lirin this volume, and I don't like her, she's like a whiney spunky strong lil girl but that's not a trope I go for. So far there hasn't been a single female character that I've liked. Except Kanzeon Bosatsu, but the narrative is so transphobic towards her, calling her a hermaphrodite and making fun of her sex.
At least we have lots of cute boys to stare at.
November 28, 2012
ini nih kayaknya yang bikin ni komik ga bakalan diterbitin di Indonesia: Kanzeon Bosatu-sama. yah, dimaklumi sih, karena dia bener-bener ngerusak imej Dewi Kwan-Im yang gw liat di Monkey King. udah pakaiannya menerawang, kelakuannya parah, eh, hermafrodit pula. XD
September 24, 2013
Another solid volume. I like the meeting between Sanzo's gang and Kou's gang - it starts something great that develops throughout the series. Also, the deus ex machinas in here were fun :3 I'm excited to keep reading.
November 21, 2017
Jiroshin e Kanzeon, quando compaiono, sono una delle coppie comiche che preferisco, ma in questo volume niente batte il gruppo di Kou che va a recuperare Lirin. Ancora adesso, a distanza di anni, rido come una matta quando lo rileggo.
September 29, 2010
Loved it! ^ _ ^
July 6, 2017
Beautiful as always. So glad that I can understand more of it now.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews