Is Tien an Earthling?

Discussion, generally of an in-universe nature, regarding any aspect of the franchise (including movies, spin-offs, etc.) such as: techniques, character relationships, internal back-history, its universe, and more.
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cesarcoronel07
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Is Tien an Earthling?

Post by cesarcoronel07 » Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:23 am

I don't remember him saying if he was or wasn't.

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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Kamiccolo9 » Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:25 am

Yes, he's an Earthling. One of the Daizenshuu (I forget which one, but I believe it is 7) says that he has some alien ancestry, but he is grouped with the Earthlings. He is always treated as one, and no one has ever referred to him as an alien in either the anime, the manga, or the movies.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Tyro » Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:49 am

Is "alien" mentioned? I know he's descended from the Three-Eyed Tribe but I don't remember if they're/he's specifically referenced as non-Earthling.

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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Blade » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:54 am

The Dragon World is full of mystical beings, Dinosaurs and talking Animals - all of which are 'Earthlings', as they originate from Earth.

Is Tien an Earthling? Yes. Is Tien Human? That's more difficult.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:58 am

Blade wrote:Is Tenshinhan an Earthling? Yes. Is Tenshinhan Human? That's more difficult.
He is a human. Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Goku, Piccolo, Freeza, etc are all humans.
James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.

Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.

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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Blade » Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:33 am

DBZGTKOSDH wrote:Goku, Piccolo, Freeza, etc are all humans.
Am I missing something here? Human as in, homosapian?
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by TheDevilsCorpse » Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:07 am

Blade wrote:Am I missing something here? Human as in, homosapian?
I think this guide explains what was meant: http://www.kanzenshuu.com/forum/viewtop ... =7&t=13915
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Blade » Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:33 am

TheDevilsCorpse wrote:
Blade wrote:Am I missing something here? Human as in, homosapian?
I think this guide explains what was meant: http://www.kanzenshuu.com/forum/viewtop ... =7&t=13915
*Facepalm*

I don't even...
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by VegettoEX » Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:35 am

Blade wrote:*Facepalm*

I don't even...
You don't even what? What is your contribution here? Do you have something to add to the conversation?
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by DarkPrince_92 » Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:41 am

Look if you're born on Earth and live there, you're an Earthling. Being human is different. I assume being human in DBZ means you meet the biological human standards... I could be wrong, but that's my opinion.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Blade » Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:47 am

VegettoEX wrote:
Blade wrote:*Facepalm*

I don't even...
You don't even what? What is your contribution here? Do you have something to add to the conversation?
Do you?

As, if you'd read my interaction with TheDevilsCorpse, you'd see that I was responding with bewilderment to the link he provided, which in turn was a response to my original confusion at his use of the word: 'human' in relation to the likes of Piccolo and Freeza.

Removed from the context of my existing exchange with TheDevilsCorpse I can understand why you may take issue with such a response. If it's the wording that you're unhappy with I hardly think it's worth a reprimand, as the alternative would have been for me to use a like-for-like expression and flatly say 'I find that bewildering'.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Herms » Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:33 pm

Tyro wrote:Is "alien" mentioned? I know he's descended from the Three-Eyed Tribe but I don't remember if they're/he's specifically referenced as non-Earthling.
The Three-Eyed Clan are said to be alien in Daizenshuu 4/7. Tenshinhan though is still classified as an Earthling in Daizenshuu 4, despite them talking about his alien ancestry. So presumably he's still "mostly Earthling" despite his ancestors. A bit like the human class in DB Online, I suppose.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by VegettoEX » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:01 pm

Blade wrote:Do you?

As, if you'd read my interaction with TheDevilsCorpse, you'd see that I was responding with bewilderment to the link he provided, which in turn was a response to my original confusion at his use of the word: 'human' in relation to the likes of Piccolo and Freeza.

Removed from the context of my existing exchange with TheDevilsCorpse I can understand why you may take issue with such a response. If it's the wording that you're unhappy with I hardly think it's worth a reprimand, as the alternative would have been for me to use a like-for-like expression and flatly say 'I find that bewildering'.
I don't really see how a sarcastic quip back at any moderator is appropriate. If you're being moderated, don't expect an on-topic response to accompany it each and every time, because we're here to do our job in addition to joining in to other conversations. Furthermore, be happy a strike wasn't added to your account, and instead a nice little freebie was tossed out there instead.

That's really all there is to it. You clearly understand that we do ask for legitimate contributions rather than non-responses, and since you do have one, it would be appreciated if you would respond that way from here-on-out instead. Raise the bar. If you have something awesome to contribute, add it. If you have nothing to say, you have nothing to say.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by roscaifed » Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:57 pm

I would ask the same thing about chiaotzu aswell. Does the Crane Hermit have some affiliation with a source that isn't from Earth? Or is this Just one of those random things included in the story with no real meaning or explanation, like animals being anthropomorphized

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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Herms » Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:10 pm

roscaifed wrote:I would ask the same thing about chiaotzu aswell.
His character design is based off traditional Chinese vampires or "hopping ghosts", but he doesn't seem to actually be one, or at least nothing's ever said about it in the series or any supplemental material. I mean, if he were undead then you'd think this fact would come into play during the numerous times that he's killed...

...wait a minute...
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by roscaifed » Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:31 pm

Herms wrote: His character design is based off traditional Chinese vampires or "hopping ghosts", but he doesn't seem to actually be one, or at least nothing's ever said about it in the series or any supplemental material. I mean, if he were undead then you'd think this fact would come into play during the numerous times that he's killed...

...wait a minute...
Yeah I do remember reading that somewhere actually...that is a good point though. Toriyama doesn't have to make sense though :lol:

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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Polyphase Avatron » Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:01 am

I heard somewhere that Chaotzu was an emperor of some place.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Marco Polo » Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:06 am

Is Tenshinhan an Earthling? Is Chiaotzu an Earthling? These are questions that Toriyama most probably didn't care about, so there's probably no answer to them.

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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by Herms » Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:37 am

Polyphase Avatron wrote:I heard somewhere that Chaotzu was an emperor of some place.
In DB movie 3 he's portrayed as the emperor of the Mifan Empire, with Tenshinhan as his bodyguard, Tsuru-sennin his backstabbing cabinet minister, Blue his loyal general, etc. But this all part of an alternate universe re-telling of the Red Ribbon/22nd TB storylines, with no relation to the main series.

Apparently in the Funi dub the narrator does refer to him as "the young emperor of Mifan" when he's getting wished back to life at the end of the Freeza arc, but this is just the dub scriptwriters tripping over their own feet again. There's no such line in the Japanese version, and apparently the dub writers assumed DB movie 3 was in the same continuity as the main series.

Still, it's not like he's ever really given a hint of backstory in the main series, so for all we know I suppose he really could have been an emperor but given it all up to learn martial arts from Tsuru-sennin for some crazy reason or another. Though the existence of a "Mifan Empire" would be hard to reconcile with the setup we get in the main series of DB Earth being a one-world government under a single dog king. But probably no harder than Murasaki hiding behind a US flag, or the random kings who pop up in filler.
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Re: Is Tenshinhan an Earthling?

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:54 am

Marco Polo wrote:Is Tenshinhan an Earthling? Is Chiaotzu an Earthling? These are questions that Toriyama most probably didn't care about, so there's probably no answer to them.
... We do have an answer. We do know that both of them are Earthlings.
James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.

Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.

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