An interesting idea to approaching a cultivation story

[ThrillingHuman]

I was watching a Garfield fandoms analysis video, of all things, and it gave me this idea.
In cultivation stories the idea is to literally better oneself in some way, basically. And the protagonist is trapped in a cruel, hostile world where everybody is out to get them, and ready to betray them, and there's basically only violence and means to prepare for the inevitable violence, and at the end of the story, you "ascend" to a different plane of existence for some reason...
So, I thought, why not frame it as a personal mental journey of overcoming depression/some other tough time, and it's not that the world is so cruel and evil and violent, it's the perception of the protagonist, and the ascension isn't physical, rather they just leave the previous state of mind they had, overcome the trying thing the want to overcome and "leave" the hostile world they used to perceive?
I don't know if it's been done before, but that sounds interesting to me

 

[Jemini]

I was watching a Garfield fandoms analysis video, of all things, and it gave me this idea.
In cultivation stories the idea is to literally better oneself in some way, basically. And the protagonist is trapped in a cruel, hostile world where everybody is out to get them, and ready to betray them, and there's basically only violence and means to prepare for the inevitable violence, and at the end of the story, you "ascend" to a different plane of existence for some reason...
So, I thought, why not frame it as a personal mental journey of overcoming depression/some other tough time, and it's not that the world is so cruel and evil and violent, it's the perception of the protagonist, and the ascension isn't physical, rather they just leave the previous state of mind they had, overcome the trying thing the want to overcome and "leave" the hostile world they used to perceive?
I don't know if it's been done before, but that sounds interesting to me

It's been done before, it's called "Journey to the West," and it was written 2,000 years ago.

It's the great ancestor of all Anime, Manga, and Chinese fantasy alike. The original Dragon Ball series was literally based off Journey to the West, having several story arcs that were pretty much lifted directly from things that were in that story.

Anyway, the entirety of the story was basically one giant analogy for the mind. So... yeah.

(For the record, it's a lot more that the modern take on Cultivation stories is the writers have lost the plot and forgotten their roots, which were Journey to the West which essentially has the message that you just described.)

 

[ThrillingHuman]

Lol

 

[Cipiteca396]

I think that's the basic idea of the religions that inspired cultivation? The real world is a construct, and in order to reach enlightenment, you have to divest yourself of mortal interests and concerns.

Edit:

 

[Zirrboy]

(For the record, it's a lot more that the modern take on Cultivation stories is the writers have lost the plot and forgotten their roots, which were Journey to the West which essentially has the message that you just described.)

And I shall continue to do so because there are not just writers for this desecration, but also tons of readers.

 

[Anon_Y_Mousse]

Isn't this just basically what the original concept of cultivation is supposed to be about?

 

[Cipiteca396]

And I shall continue to do so because there are not just writers for this desecration, but also tons of readers.

Lol

I would possibly read a story where the protagonist wakes up with amnesia and slowly collects their memories by defeating their fears and anxieties in climactic boss-fights; gathering allies in the form of virtues and memories of friends and loved ones; slowly progressing until they finally wake up from a coma or something. Wait, this sounds familiar too.

 

[vaurwyn]

This might be some shameless self-promotion, but I tried to do something similar in my book, A lonely exploration of Tao. Cultivation is not only about power, it is also about personal growth and the pursuit of the Truth. It is the triumph of an ideal over practical benefits, and power is only a welcome side-effect.

 

[Anon_Y_Mousse]

I would possibly read a story where the protagonist wakes up with amnesia and slowly collects their memories by defeating their fears and anxieties in climactic boss-fights; gathering allies in the form of virtues and memories of friends and loved ones; slowly progressing until they finally wake up from a coma or something. Wait, this sounds familiar too.

Wait, if you're referencing something with this, tell me what that is. Because I'd be extremely happy to see that

 

[paradigmfriday]

That sounds like a good idea, and if done well it could be a pretty interesting read. But then again that can be said for most concepts. So you know..., do you, I guess...

 

[Cipiteca396]

Wait, if you're referencing something with this, tell me what that is. Because I'd be extremely happy to see that

I don't actually know. It just sounds familiar. Maybe a Kingdom Hearts game, or a story idea I trashed years ago. I'm just sure I've seen something similar before.

 

[Anon_Y_Mousse]

I don't actually know. It just sounds familiar. Maybe a Kingdom Hearts game, or a story idea I trashed years ago. I'm just sure I've seen something similar before.

I see, what you described was actually kinda similar with a story I'm planning to write. Minus the amnesia, but past memories and traumas turning into climactic boss fights(tho, they're the boss) complete with a change in background. Would have been great if I knew of a similar plot already.

 

[SuperHeiyan]

I would possibly read a story where the protagonist wakes up with amnesia and slowly collects their memories by defeating their fears and anxieties in climactic boss-fights; gathering allies in the form of virtues and memories of friends and loved ones; slowly progressing until they finally wake up from a coma or something. Wait, this sounds familiar too.

Every part of this was used before somewhere multiple times, from ancient buddhist texts to video games, but I don't think all of this happened in the single story. As an examples of "partial match" in the video games there are that weird 3D bullet hell roguelike for PS5 and Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series.
Also, starting with amnesia is a shitty trope. It's even worse if amnesia happens halfway throught the story.

 

[Cipiteca396]

Every part of this was used before somewhere multiple times, from ancient buddhist texts to video games, but I don't think all of this happened in the single story. As an examples of "partial match" in the video games there are that weird 3D bullet hell roguelike for PS5 and Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series.
Also, starting with amnesia is a shitty trope. It's even worse if amnesia happens halfway throught the story.

Oh, Returnal. I did watch a playthrough of that. Hmm. I'd like to add Dante's Inferno as a 'partial match', I suppose. At the very least, the theme follows through, although it loses the personal touch of being inside your own mind.

With that reference, it's definitely something I scrapped. A roguelike game where you pick a virtue and a sin, and the level changes based on that info. Also less personal than the story I outlined earlier, but what can you do, lol.

As for the Amnesia, it's kinda necessary in this case. You're literally building yourself up from scratch inside your mind... So you need to start with nothing.

 

[SuperHeiyan]

Oh, Returnal. I did watch a playthrough of that. Hmm. I'd like to add Dante's Inferno as a 'partial match', I suppose. At the very least, the theme follows through, although it loses the personal touch of being inside your own mind.

With that reference, it's definitely something I scrapped. A roguelike game where you pick a virtue and a sin, and the level changes based on that info. Also less personal than the story I outlined earlier, but what can you do, lol.

It's can be argued that even 12 labors of Heracles represent dealing with human sins.

As for the Amnesia, it's kinda necessary in this case. You're literally building yourself up from scratch inside your mind... So you need to start with nothing.

Or deep depression. Either way it's going to be a journey about rediscovering yourself.
If, you know, it's about your virtues and emotions. *Ahem* Ar Tonelico *Ahem*

 

[InceTagn]

I think that I know a story just like that, but it is more like a fantasy. People cultivate themselves and reach higher levels by facing their flaws.
Leveling up the world

 

[ElijahRyne]

I was watching a Garfield fandoms analysis video, of all things, and it gave me this idea.
In cultivation stories the idea is to literally better oneself in some way, basically. And the protagonist is trapped in a cruel, hostile world where everybody is out to get them, and ready to betray them, and there's basically only violence and means to prepare for the inevitable violence, and at the end of the story, you "ascend" to a different plane of existence for some reason...
So, I thought, why not frame it as a personal mental journey of overcoming depression/some other tough time, and it's not that the world is so cruel and evil and violent, it's the perception of the protagonist, and the ascension isn't physical, rather they just leave the previous state of mind they had, overcome the trying thing the want to overcome and "leave" the hostile world they used to perceive?
I don't know if it's been done before, but that sounds interesting to me

Sounds interesting, like a xianxia story. A hero’s journey in a more fantastical world. It would be cool if it was less about combat, and more about life…

 

[BearlyAlive]

Wait, so cultivation stories weren't about seething in anger, taking drugs and dissing people?!? They were just journey to the west fanfics?!

I learned something new again. I never actually noticed the obvious connections... Now I feel kinda dumb XD

 

[SakeVision]

It's been done before, it's called "Journey to the West," and it was written 2,000 years ago.

400 years ago

also, this idea didn't originate from the journey to the west, but buddhism and daoism, where cultivation's point is to level up person's soul and remove them from the cycle of reincarnation- through self-improvement of the character