Stories about them;
+ Yin & Yang;
The basic Taoist concept of Yin-Yang is based upon the idea that two natural, complementary and contradictory forces exist in our universe: Yin – the feminine, and Yang – the masculine. All forces can be classified as either Yin or Yang. These opposite forces mutually complement one another and are in dynamic equilibrium. As one aspect declines, the other increases to an equal degree — striving for that harmonious equilibrium of BALANCE that we all seek. (Source).
Chobei and Toma really fits yin and yang, both as characters and their harmony.
Yang represents the light and its characteristics include those that are “masculine”, active, producing, and rational such as: Enthusiastic, Direct, Mental, Excited, Outgoing, Logical, Day, Heaven/Air, Sun, Fire, Hardness, Dryness, Joy, Reactive, Upward seeking, Fast, Restless, Productive, Hot, Summer, Activity, Function, Expansive, Outward, Back of Body, Rigid, Unwavering, Dominant, Controlling, Positive, Full, Even Numbers, Shiva, the contents. (Source).
Chobei is yang. He is very masculine character. He is natural leader so of course, he is outgoing. He is all about adaptation. Has self confidence. Very direct with his desires and also loud. Obviously dominant and active. He is light for his brother. He was born in summer. Etc Etc.
Yin represents the dark and its characteristics include those that are “feminine”, passive, receptive, and sensitive such as: Nurturing, Intuitive, Relaxed, Imaginative, Quiet, Introverted, Night, Earth, Moon, Water, Softness, Moisture, Sadness, Contemplative, Downward seeking, Slow, Consuming, Cold, Winter, Rest, Structure, Contracting, Inward, Front of body, Mutable, Bending, Allowing, Negative, Empty, Odd Numbers, Shakti, the container. (Source).
Toma is yin. Yin symbolize feminity which fits Toma’s character design and behavours. He has female-ish design, and behavours (for example, he often plays with his hair), also has soft-seductive touch. He is very negative character who often worries about things which makes him slow. Very quiet, introverted, passive and distant character who tends to obey. His tao element is earth which also symbolize yin. He was born in autumn, this also can be read as yin. Etc etc.
And their story and character development is all about them ‘balancing the harmony’ between them. Their origin of characters dont change. Chobei is still yang and Toma is still yin. At the end, they just learn to be equal as yin and yang.
Basically, we can say clearly, their characters are based on yin and yang. They are written be soulmates.
+ Blue Oni & Red Oni;
Chobei and Toma also kinda reminds me of Blue oni and Red oni.
The Red Oni is associated with passion, wildness, and defiance. A Red Oni character is often more brawny than brainy, extroverted, enthusiastic, determined, and filled with a zest for life. They are also much more likely to break conventions and rules than their counterpart.
The Blue Oni is associated with serenity, control and observing authority. A Blue Oni is more intellectual, proud, traditional, introverted, and cultured (sometimes more spiritual, although that’s not guaranteed), if a Blue Oni is indeed physically strong, they tend to be Genius Bruisers, with the calm, collected intelligence of a typical Blue Oni character combined with the physical prowess of a typical Red Oni character.
Source
For their design and characters, Chobei is similar to Red Oni and Toma is similar to Blue Oni. Oni (demon) metaphor fits them too since they are bandits. And just like onis, brothers were outcasted for something they had no control of by other people.
Original story is about two friends. Red Oni and Blue oni. Red oni is hot-headed, Blue oni is calm one. People are scared of them because they are oni. Red oni wants to be friends with humans so blue oni decides to help him. He plays to bad guy to humans and Red oni saved the day so people accept red oni as hero. Red oni returns back to Blue oni but find out that blue oni is gone because if humans find out, they are friends, that he can be outcasted again which makes Red oni sad but well, story is about kindness of Blue oni. (Source).
Though, with Chobei and Toma, Chobei fits the role of Blue oni more. He always make sacrifices for Toma (even though he never asks for it) who learns to connect with others and become strong enough to survive on his own in story.
There are so many things to say about them but for now, thats it.
