An End to Suffering? — Fan Video Analyzes Majora’s Mask Through a Buddhist Lens
Posted on October 12 2023 by Josh Wittmershaus
Earlier this week, we presented two fan videos analyzing Majora’s Mask: one through a lens of suffering and trauma, and the other through philosophical concepts and theories. For my third and final fan content review of the week, I’d like to focus on a recent video created by Max Derrat showing some of the religious symbolism in the game. Derrat points out facts that he states may be well discussed among Majora’s Mask fans, like that the three-day cycle is a representation of “samara,” or the circle of reincarnation. He breaks his videos into three sections (how fitting, right?), which I’ll briefly go over below.
Termina
Derrat points out that the Hyrule Encyclopedia states that the world of Termina is not only an alternate dimension from that of Hyrule, but that its existence is intrinsically tied to — and reliant on — the Mask itself. How does this characteristic tie to Buddhism? Well, it comes back to the concept of “No Self,” and the notion that our existence is deeply predicated on our desires and attachments in our world. Once we rid ourselves of these illusions in our lives, we become free, much like the Skull Kid being freed from the captivity of his desire for revenge and attachment to the Four Giants at the end of the game.
The Fierce Deity
Link is described in this video as some sort of bodhisattva, brining enlightenment to others and to Termina as a whole on his path to personal freedom. The bodhisattva is working towards becoming a Buddha, and Derrat (with the acknowledged help of another Zelda content creator) notes that this concept is represented in Majora’s Mask as Link’s transformation into the Fierce Deity after giving away all his masks, the possessions he’s become so attached to. And while you may say, “But Josh, the Fierce Deity is also a mask!” Well… I encourage you to watch Derrat’s response to this point, as he says it much better than I ever could.
Four Giants
Derrat continues to talk about the different forms of Buddha and refers to a specific group of cardinal-direction Buddhas that, through their analysis, are very similar to the Four Giants in Majora’s Mask. This is less of a philosophical or theoretical connection, and more of a display of clear Buddhist influence in the game and its themes, even at the aesthetic level. Derrat also connects the Giants and their corresponding Buddhas to the four classical elements in Alchemy; and he acknowledges that, in Eastern philosophy, there tends to be a fifth element of Void and an emphasis on the element’s relationship with one’s consciousness.
The video ends with some speculation on the final moments of the game, which, as someone who took a course on Buddhism in college, I was shocked to have not realized on my own. He brings up the importance of the Moon in Buddhism, but makes some intriguing connections that I would highly encourage you to watch and judge for yourself.
What do you think? Do you think Zelda games other than Majora’s Mask carry other religious themes? Do you think these themes are intentional by the developers, or coincidental, as they may be simply taking inspiration from a religion that exists around them subconsciously? Let’s talk about it below!
Source: Max Derrat
Josh Wittmershaus is a writer at Zelda Dungeon. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, he now resides in Northern California. Aside from Zelda, Josh enjoys playing music, seeing live music, music history, and all other things music. He also enjoys skating, hockey, and the occasional political or philosophical thought exercise.
