Son Biten
Son Biten is a character introduced in *Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost.*, the 19th installment of the *Touhou Project* series by Team Shanghai Alice. Operating out of the sacred domain of the Yamanba located at the foot of Youkai Mountain, she is a sarugami (monkey god) who serves as both a playable character and an opponent. Believing herself to be the reincarnation of Sun Wukong, she uses the title "The Great Sage of Small Sanctuaries." On the surface, she acts as a member of Kicchou Yachie's Kiketsu Family, though she is secretly a spy sent by Nippaku Zanmu.
Overview
Son Biten is a character introduced in Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost., the 19th installment of the Touhou Project series by Team Shanghai Alice. Operating out of the sacred domain of the Yamanba located at the foot of Youkai Mountain, she is a sarugami (monkey god) who serves as both a playable character and an opponent. Believing herself to be the reincarnation of Sun Wukong, she uses the title "The Great Sage of Small Sanctuaries." On the surface, she acts as a member of Kicchou Yachie's Kiketsu Family, though she is secretly a spy sent by Nippaku Zanmu.
Appearance
She has red-tinged brown eyes and brown hair bound in loose, low twintails. She wears a golden cloud-shaped ring ornament on her head. Her attire is a patchwork outfit split into a green chest piece, an orange midriff, and a blue skirt featuring diamond-shaped cutouts along the hem, reminiscent of Sakata Nemuno's clothing. She wears a single detached white sleeve with diamond cutouts on her right arm, while her left arm remains bare, adorned only with a ornate gold cuff. She is barefoot. Numerous thin, yellow stick-like objects float around her skirt hem, and her long tail holds a transparent tube with open ends containing red and purple substances.
Personality
She possesses a simple and gullible nature, easily led to believe that she is the literal reincarnation of Sun Wukong. Despite being manipulated as part of a larger scheme, she displays a loyal and compassionate heart, choosing to remain with the Kiketsu Family after feeling pity for Kicchou Yachie. She is naturally friendly and casual, casually calling fellow mountain resident Kochiya Sanae by a friendly nickname.
Abilities
Her capability is described as "the ability to control wild monkeys." In combat, she unleashes danmaku attacks by throwing numerous thin stick-like projectiles. Having consumed a powerful spirit that held authority over the sacred sanctuary under Nippaku Zanmu's guidance, she gained a physical body alongside the awakened powers of an oni, bestowing her with formidable martial capabilities.
Background
Originally a stray monkey living on Youkai Mountain, she transformed into a sarugami after meeting Nippaku Zanmu and consuming the spirit governing the Yamanba sanctuary. To escape falling into Hell as punishment, she joined the Kiketsu Family upon being approached by Kicchou Yachie. Although her placement within the organization was originally a undercover assignment to stall Yachie's surface invasion, she ultimately chose to stay with the syndicate out of genuine concern for Yachie after the crisis resolved.
Relationships
She acts as a subordinate to Kicchou Yachie, who gave her Wukong-themed accessories; despite the initial deception, Biten chooses to stay by her side to support her. Nippaku Zanmu is her true benefactor and master, who orchestrated her transformation and assigned her to spy. She shares a connection with Sakata Nemuno and other local Yamanba, from whom she occasionally pilfers refined liquor, and maintains a friendly acquaintance with Kochiya Sanae.
Trivia
Her theme song, "Tiny Shangri-La," marks the very first use of the erhu instrument in the soundtrack of the mainline Touhou Project games. The unusual yellow sticks floating around her skirt hem are frequently joked about by fans and even mocked in in-game victory dialogue for their resemblance to french fries.
