Soeur System
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The sœur system is a fictional system incorporated in the manga and anime series Maria-sama ga Miteru; this system is a central concept in the series. Shiritsu Ririan Jogakuen (Lillian Catholic School for girls) is the private academy in which the majority of the story takes place. The Lillian Girls' School is based on a real school in Nishi-tokyo known as the Musashino Jyoshi Gakuin (Musashino School for Girls). Although it is a private school, it is not a Catholic but a Buddhist school. The author Konno Oyuki graduated from a Catholic kindergarten and Musashino Joshi-Gakuin. It is not strange for most Japanese if a person has gone to schools of different religions. The Lillian Girls school uses the lily symbolism as the white lily is the flower of the Virgin Mary. The white lily is a Christian symbol of virginity and purity.
(Everything after this point is fiction and should in no way be taken as non-fiction.)
Any second or third year student might pick a younger girl who will become her "sœur" (sister in French). The basic etiquette demands the petite sœur (younger sister) to call her guide back "oneesama" (older sister in Japanese).
In the novel, aside from being used in prayer, the rosary is the instrument that certifies the sœur relationship between two students.
Even though the relationships are basically related to friendship, some prove to develop into further feelings. There's an implicit code of behaviour between sœurs, especially in the student council, the Yamayurikai: quietness, measure and respect towards each other; values deeply attached into the Japanese traditional education. Due to the high importance the three Roses families (Rosa Gigantea, Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida) have in the development of the student activities within school, those who become petite sœurs of any of the mentioned families receive a functional "inheritance" through the grande sœurs teachings, to adopt a position given certain circumstances. In this way, there are patrons recognised through the generations of the members of the Rose families.
Still, after graduating, the grande sœurs of the Yamayurikai may continue with a fair participation in the events concerning their families, as shown in the novels (Vol. 21 "Sœur audition") which follows the story after the second animated season (Maria-sama ga Miteru ~Haru~).
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official web site (Lillian Jogakuen)
- Soeur System Registry Sub-community for the real person (otaku) soeur system (LiveJournal)
- Garden of Maidens Maria-sama fan community (Livejournal)
