The Manhood Ceremony (成人の儀式, Seijin no Gishiki) is a tradition mentioned in Suikoden and Suikoden II. It is also referred to as the Trial of Manhood.
Information
The Manhood Ceremony was a custom of the Warriors' Village in Lorimar.
Boys of the Warriors' Village are required to go on a pilgrimage as they come of age. Only after the youth has performed "honorable acts" on his journey and returns triumphantly to the village is he recognized as a full-fledged warrior. Part of the ceremony including the naming of one's sword after the person most dear to their heart.
The Manhood Ceremony was essentially complete when the individual decided to return to the Warriors' Village though those who returned without having accomplished 'sufficient' deeds could be subjected to ridicule. Tengaar, for example, wanted Hix to one day become chief of the Warriors' Village so he was expected to accomplish great deeds before returning.
Flik left on his Manhood Ceremony five years prior to the Gate Rune War and never returned, his future lying outside the village. Some years later, Hix was in the middle of his journey during the Dunan Unification War, with he and Tengaar are traveling the land in search of trials that could be considered "honorable acts".
References
- Genso Suikoden II 108 Stars Character Guide (ISBN 4-88317-769-6), page 176
- Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), pages 151-2
- Genso Suikoden Kiwami Encyclopedia, page 171