Tien

Jackal puFF · Post by **Jackal puFF** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:27 pm

So I've been a huge DB fan for a long time, and I never really understood why Tenshinhan had 3 eyes. Is he even human?

Post by **desirecampbell** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:35 pm

One of the daizenshuu (seven, maybe?) his biography states he is "descended from the 'three-eye' tribe", who were extraterrestrials.

But, there's some contention about that as theres absolutely no mention or hint that he is anything but human in the series itself.

Kid Trunks · Post by **Kid Trunks** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:43 pm

I heard he got the eye through intense meditation.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:47 pm

Kid Trunks wrote:I heard he got the eye through intense meditation.

The third eye, in fiction, mythology, and religion, is usually seen as a form of enlightenment. I've not heard of anything like that specifically referenced towards Ten. In fact, I can't remember anyone, ever, making reference to his having as third eye.

Post by **Herms** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:00 pm

desirecampbell wrote:One of the daizenshuu (seven, maybe?) his biography states he is "descended from the 'three-eye' tribe", who were extraterrestrials.

It's mentioned in both Daizenshuu 4 and 7. While classifying Tenshinhan as an Earthling, Daizenshuu 4 states that the reason he can do things like grow an extra pair of arms or split into four people is because he is descended from the Three-Eyed Tribe. 7 mentions largely the same thing in it's biography of him. Interestingly, it never actually says that the reason he has three eyes is because of his descent from the Three-Eyed Tribe, but that's the obvious implication.

In the racial guide section near the front of Daizenshuu 7, it also mentions the Three-Eyed Tribe, that they are aliens who found their way to Earth, and that they are the ancestors of Tenshinhan. You can read TripleRach's translation of this section here. Her translation refers to the Three-Eyed Tribe as "Triclopses".

I've heard that the more recent guidebooks also refer to Tenshinhan as descended the Three-Eyed Tribe, but I've can't confirm this. While I do have Landmark and Forever, I've never noticed if it mentions the fact. The character guide in Forever doesn't mention it in its bio of Tenshinhan (but the bios in Forever are all only one or two sentences anyway; not much room to mention anything extra). I don't own the recent animation guides.

The Japanese Wikipedia article on Tenshinhan says that the Three-Eye Tribe is a reference to the manga The Three-Eyed One by Osamu Tezuka (creator of Astro-Boy, as well as modern manga and anime as a whole, really). There's no cite for anything showing that this was an intentional reference and not a coincidence, though.

Also see Wikipedia on the connatations of having a third eye.

Jackal puFF · Post by **Jackal puFF** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:00 am

Oh, wow... Tenshinhan... is an alien! What? Haha.

Post by **Herms** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:12 am

Jackal puFF wrote:Oh, wow... Tenshinhan... is an alien! What? Haha.

He's a descendent of aliens. It's not exactly the same thing. It's like Goku jr. in GT: he can transform into a Super Saiyan because he is descended from the Saiyans, but would you really classify him as an alien?

Jackal puFF · Post by **Jackal puFF** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:09 am

Herms wrote:
Jackal puFF wrote:oh wow Tenshinhan... is an alien! whattt haha
He's a descendent of aliens. It's not exactly the same thing. It's like Goku jr. in GT: he can transform into a Super Saiyan because he is descended from the Saiyans, but would you really classify him as an alien?

Yeah...?

TheGreatness25 · Post by **TheGreatness25** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:22 am

You know why nobody in the series never really mentioned him having a third eye? Because DB/Z/GT takes place in a world with talking/transforming pigs, cats, a dog/wolf type thing as the "king" of the world, and an array of bizarre life forms. Suddenly a third eye doesn't seem like such a big deal when you have a giant dinosaur competing in the World Martial Arts tournament.

disturbed001 · Post by **disturbed001** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:36 am

TheGreatness25 wrote:You know why nobody in the series never really mentioned him having a third eye? Because DB/Z/GT takes place in a world with talking/transforming pigs, cats, a dog/wolf type thing as the "king" of the world, and an array of bizarre life forms. Suddenly a third eye doesn't seem like such a big deal when you have a giant dinosaur competing in the World Martial Arts tournament.

Amen to that.

Jackal puFF · Post by **Jackal puFF** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:42 am

That makes sense. Hah.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:35 am

Jackal puFF wrote:That makes sense. Hah.

There's a reason all of your posts are being corrected. Please take the hint/advice. Thanks.

temujin · Post by **temujin** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:13 pm

In fact the Japanese Wikipedia article on Tenshinhan says that tenshinhan is a mitsume jin three eyes alien.
I believe daizenshuu made tenshinhan alien to put an end in kuririn tenshinhan discussions.

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:36 pm

disturbed001 wrote:
TheGreatness25 wrote:You know why nobody in the series never really mentioned him having a third eye? Because DB/Z/GT takes place in a world with talking/transforming pigs, cats, a dog/wolf type thing as the "king" of the world, and an array of bizarre life forms. Suddenly a third eye doesn't seem like such a big deal when you have a giant dinosaur competing in the World Martial Arts tournament.
Amen to that.

He did mention it during the 22nd Budokai. He said that's why zanzokens didn't work on him. Around Goku vs. King Piccolo Round 2, he mentions they're moving so fast even he couldn't keep up with them.

pepsiplunge · Post by **pepsiplunge** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:44 pm

I know you will think this is stupid, but I wish they used the third eye as an excuse to power him up during the Buu saga... not enough to beat him, but at least hold his own... something like discovering that he is actually an alien or something...

Snail · Post by **Snail** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:05 pm

If that would've happened..my god...*imagines the awesomeness.

Rocketman · Post by **Rocketman** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:09 pm

pepsiplunge wrote:I know you will think this is stupid, but I wish they used the third eye as an excuse to power him up during the Buu saga... not enough to beat him, but at least hold his own... something like discovering that he is actually an alien or something...

Doesn't matter. He wouldn't be Saiyan. Piccolo's an alien, and look how far he got.

And besides, what. Fuck, Gohan's mystic powerup wasn't bad enough, you want a weaker-than-Freeza human to suddenly become even with Buu? Just from discovering he's an alien? I must've missed the parts where Goku and Piccolo got stupidly high power-ups from finding out their past.

Post by **Herms** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 4:37 pm

pepsiplunge wrote:I know you will think this is stupid, but I wish they used the third eye as an excuse to power him up during the Buu saga... not enough to beat him, but at least hold his own... something like discovering that he is actually an alien or something...

I always wished that Tenshinhan had tried to use the Mafuuba against Buu. It would have made him at least a credible threa to Buu. Then he'd fail in some way and die, but that's what happens anyway and at least this way he'd look cooler.

Jackal puFF · Post by **Jackal puFF** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:44 pm

What episode did Tien save Gohan?

During the Buu saga?

max3000 · Post by **max3000** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:10 pm

Jackal puFF wrote:What episode did Tenshinhan save Gohan?

During the Buu saga?

It was during the fusion saga, right before old Kai gave Goku a life to help Gohan. I dunno the episode number, though.