Chichiri, a wandering monk, has undergone several years of training with Taiitsukun, the creator. A 24-year-old native of a village near the Shōryū River (close to the northern Kōnan-Kutō border), he uses a shakujō staff, kasa hat, and kesa mantle in combat and employs various magical techniques taught by Taiitsukun, the first being the ability to create a protective barrier around himself. His real name is Houjun Ri, born under the star Well (井).
As the oldest and wisest among the Suzaku warriors, Chichiri considers himself the elder brother who looks after them all. He often appears lighthearted, sometimes adopting a super deformed 'chibi' frivolity, but can also become very serious and grim. While Tamahome and Hotohori are the obvious leaders, Chichiri serves as the steadfast advisor and supporter from behind the scenes, always ready to lend a hand when needed. With a Zen master's detached attitude, he is unconcerned with his own mortality or earthly desires. He frequently ends his sentences with the emphatic phrase "no da," translated as "ya know" in the English version of the anime.
When he first appears, Chichiri always wears a smile, though he later reveals that this is actually a mask with movable features designed to mimic a natural face. His true face closely resembles the mask, except for a scar over one eye caused by an injury. At eighteen, Chichiri was engaged to be married. After his best friend kissed his fiancée, she broke off their engagement. Enraged by the betrayal, Chichiri fought with his friend. During their fight, a heavy rainstorm caused the Shōryū River to flood their village, drowning most of its inhabitants, including Chichiri's family and fiancée. His friend fell into the rushing water, and while trying to rescue him, Chichiri was struck by a log, which gouged out his eye and left a scar on his face. Unbeknownst to Chichiri, his friend survived and mistakenly believed that Chichiri had abandoned him to die. When they meet again, this misunderstanding reignites their old conflict, but it ends once the truth about the scar is revealed.
By the end of the series, only Chichiri and Tasuki remain alive among the Suzaku Celestial Warriors in "The Universe of the Four Gods."
