He's a youkai prince living in Houtou Castle with his father Gyumaoh and mother Ratsetsunyo. As a fighter, he's legitimately skilled—strong-willed with genuine martial prowess, able to throw fire attacks and cast youjutsu spells, most notably his signature Engokuki, which traps enemies in a prison of flame.
In Saiyuki, Kougaiji serves as the main antagonist hunting down Genjou Sanzou's party. He's forced into this role by his stepmother Gyokumen Koushou (who he despises) because she's promised him something he actually wants: his mother's revival. Ratsetsunyo has been cursed into stone, and retrieving the five Sutras—including the maten sutra—is supposedly the path to breaking that curse.
What makes him interesting is that he's not a villain out of malice. His deep love for his mother and genuinely decent heart win him fierce loyalty from his followers. His inner circle includes his half-sister Lirin, whom he's protective of; Dokugakuji, his bodyguard and swordsman who acts more like an older brother; and Yaone, his alchemist, whom he personally rescued from a cannibalistic youkai named Hyakuganmaoh. These companions stick with him because they respect him, not because they're forced to.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
