Age: exact age unknown, but he is most likely around 19. In feudal Japan people were considered majors once they turned 15, and Miroku appears slightly more mature than the others in the group.

Hair: black, with bangs in front, bound into a tail at the nape of his neck. As I understand it, the little ponytail is a mark of his status as a Buddhist monk.

Eyes: violet/lavender blue, take your pick.

Appearance: Miroku looks the very epitome of the pious, humble monk, down to a kind smile -- until it profits him to be otherwise. He is quite handsome, and can be eloquent and charming as well as explosively angry, but he has a friendliness about him. He dresses in the robes of a wandering Buddhist monk, with a simple black robe and a purple kesa, a scarf that is folded over the robe. He also wears sturdy straw sandals, the quintessential Japanese footwear for a wanderer. ^_^

Appellations: Miroku, Miroku-sama, houshi-sama, houshi-dono, furyou houshi, sukebe bouzu...

Meaning of Name: "Miroku" is the Japanese form of the Sanskrit Maitreya (Buddha of the Future), a Messianic saviour figure that some Buddhist sects revere. I like to theorise that he was named thus in the hope that he would break the curse of the Kazaana and save his lineage -- too bad that he doesn't act so holy for most of the time.

Quote: "Will you bear my child?"

Impressions: Miroku is, as the appellation "furyou houshi" says, a renegade Buddhist monk. He is a swindler, a cheat, a lech, a womaniser -- and the ladies do swoon at his charms. He has thrown many a member of the fairer sex into confusion and giggles by springing his trademark question: "Will you bear my child?" This actually has an explanation: he is duty bound to ensure the continuation of his lineage, since his family has been cursed by the demon Naraku, and if he fails in the quest to destroy Naraku, he has to produce an heir to carry out the mission. However, he is gentle, true to his friends, and downright altruistic whenever someone he cares about is in danger, in spite of a certain lone wolf streak. He often gets to act as the voice of reason and is, alongside with Kagome, undoubtedly the brain of the outfit.

History (spoilers!): Fifty years ago (like so many other things in this series) Miroku's grandfather battled a youkai called Naraku ("Abyss"). During their last battle, Naraku pierced the monk's hand, creating a black hole into his hand that consumed everything nearby unless sealed with a rosary. In time, the void would widen and eventually swallow its bearer. The same curse would be passed on to every child of the monk's lineage until Naraku was dead. So, now Miroku carries the Kazaana ("Air Rip" or "Wind Tunnel") in his right hand, seeking Naraku. His father was consumed by his own Kazaana when Miroku was only a child, and a somewhat corrupted monk named Mushin brought him up -- among other things teaching Miroku all his bad habits, or so Miroku maintains.

Miroku has wandered in search of Naraku most of his adult life, likely. When the Shikon no Tama was shattered, he, too, began gathering the shards, and thus crossed paths with Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippou.

Weapons & Attacks: As a servant of Buddha, Miroku has spiritual abilities (houriki) such as exorcism, the ability to create kekkai (magical barriers) and to sense youki and evil presences. He uses (o)fuda, paper strips enscribed with Buddhist scriptures in quite artful kanji, as a conduit for his powers. He is also very skilled with his shakujou (monk's staff) when necessary.

The Kazaana ("Wind Tunnel"): Despite being the result of a deadly curse, the Kazaana is Miroku's most formidable weapon. Normally he keeps the void sealed with a protective glove and a rosary wrapped around his hand, but when he opens it, everything he points his palm at is sucked up into his hand by an irresistibly strong wind. The downside is that the hole will widen sufficiently to consume him in a few year's time unless Naraku is killed. Also, if he sucks anything poisonous into the Kazaana, the poison will affect him.

Love Life: Well, Miroku poses his infamous question to about every attractive female he comes across, and is often soon surrounded by girls when the group comes to a village. However, it is notable that he never popped the question at Sango until it was remarked to him much later on, and even then she told him that he did not have to ask her. There is definitely something going on between those two, but Sango is generally too much in denial and Miroku is generally too clueless -- or perverted. He seems to like to grab Sango's bottom, which in turn, ruining every nice moments they could have together.

Things of Note: Due to his training as a monk, Miroku has a higher-than-average resistance to powerful evil energy (jaki) that can sometimes be strong enough to incapacitate a human.

First Appearance: manga act 51, anime episode 16
Seiyuu (Japanese): Tsujitani Kouji
Voice Actor (English): Kirby Morrow