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The forest 森林 (mori) is not just wildnerness that covers the majority of Japan in the 13th Century, but it's the home of the gods that constantly fight to live against the humans. The forest spirit シシ神 (shishi-gami) leads the gods and gives life and death to the world. The gods like The Wolf Gods 犬神 (Inu-gami) of the Moro モロ clan and the boar gods 猪神 (inoshishi-gami) led by Okkotonushi 乙事主 fight to save the forest a fight for the Shishi-gami.
Many creeatures live in the forest, like the kodama which live greatly where the forest is healthy and live in the trees. They are a kind of spirits, and live in the rich forest. They have pale green, half transparent bodies. They showed a way to Ashitaka and others who lost their way in the forest. It seems that they don't particularly have any ill feeling against humans. Also the ape tribe the Shoujou 猩々達 (Shoujou-tachi) which plant trees, which are cut down again by the humans and the people of tataraba. "Shoujou" is a legendary animal in China, and is said to have red fur and love to drink. The legend probably comes from the orangutan, but Shoujous in Mononoke Hime look more like gorillas. In the movie, Shoujous plant trees to replenish the Shishi God's forest which has been cut down by humans. However, their efforts are in vain.
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