Dongyang Project (Pax Columbia)

The Dongyang Project (동방 프로젝트) is a series of 2D (with 3D background) vertically-scrolling danmaku shooting games made by Team Nanjing Fulanita (팀 남경 손잡이) in Korea.

The series mainly takes place in Hwansang (환상향; means "Land of Illusions" or "Land of Fantasy"). The main Dongyang theme is Buddhism, though other themes like Hindu, Taoism, and Shintō is referenced/seen.

The Dongyang Project (동방 프로젝트 Dongbang Peulojegteu, lit. Eastern Project), also known as Toho Project or Project Shrine Maiden, is a Korean dōjin game series focused on bullet hell shooters made by the one-man developer Team Nanjing Fulanita, whose sole member, known as ZUN, is responsible for all the graphics, music, and programming for the most part. The series was inducted into the Guinness World Records in October 2010 for being the "most prolific fan-made shooter series".

The Dongyang Project began in 1995 when Highly Responsive to Prayers was first developed by the group Amusement Makers for the Korean NEC PC-9801 series of computers; the game was later released in November 1996. The next four Dongyang games released between August 1997 and December 1998 also were released on the NEC PC-9801. The Dongyang Project was inactive for the next three and half years until the first Microsoft Windows Dongyang game, The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, was released in August 2002 solely by ZUN after he split from Amusement Makers and started Team Nanjing Fulanita. The Dongyang Project became a media franchise spanning a steadily increasing number of official games, in addition to commercial fan books, light novels, and Manhwa.

Hijili Byakulen
Hijili Byakulen (히지리 뱌쿠렌; OTL Byakuren Hijiri) is the main character of the Dongyang Project. Her first appearance was 동방영이전 ~ Highly Responsive to Prayers (Dongyang Yeong Ijeon) when she was the only player. From then on she became the main playable character in the Dongyang Project series. She is also a Buddhist and lives in and maintains the Myouren Temple. (basically acting like a Reimu Hakurei-equivalent)

Hojyu Nue
Hojyu Nue (호쥬 누에; OTL Nue Houjuu) is another main character of the Dongyang Project series. Her first appearance was in 동방봉마록 ~ the Story of Eastern Wonderland [Dongyang Bongmalog] as a stage 4 boss. She soon started appearing as a playable character starting in 동방몽시공 ~ Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream [Dongyang Mong Sigong]. She is a friend of Hijili Byakulen. (Marisa Kirisame-equivalent)

Tatala Kogasa
Kogasa Tatala (타타라 코가사; OTL Kogasa Tatara) is a friend of both Hojyu Nue and Hijili Byakulen. She first appeared as a playable character in 동방요요몽 ~ Perfect Cherry Blossom [Dongyang Yoyomong], and then became a playable character since (except in Shoot the Bullet and Double Spoiler where she appears as a boss instead).

Mulasa Minamicheu
Mulasa Minamicheu (무라사 미나미츠; OTL Minamitsu Murasa) is another friend of Nue, Byakulen, and Kogasa. She first appeared as a Stage 5 Midboss and Stage 5 Boss in Mountain of Faith, then as a Extra Stage Midboss in Subterranean Animism. In Undefined Fantastic Object, she became a playable character as well, and also again playable in Dongyang Bisangcheonchig (OTL Touhou Hisoutensoku). She appears as a Boss in Double Spoiler.

Komeiji Koisi
Komeiji Koisi (코메이지 코이시; OTL Koishi Komeiji) is a friend of Kogasa Tatala. She first appeared in Imperishable Night as a player character, and later again in Phantasmagoria of Flower View, in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody, Dongyang Bisangcheonchig, and Ten Desires. She also appeared as a Stage 4 Boss in Subterranean Animism. In all the Dongyang Project games/Manhwa/etc. she appears in (except Subterranean Animism), she appears without her closed third eye altogether.

Hosiguma Yuugi
Yuugi Hosiguma (호시구마 유우기; OTL Yuugi Hosiguma) appears as a playable character in Immaterial and Missing Power and Scarlet Weather Rhapsody. Later, in Subterranean Animism she appears as a Stage 3 boss, and also appears as a boss in Double Spoiler. In TTL, she doesn't have a horn on her forehead as well.

Kaenbyou Lin
Lin Kaenbyou (카엔뵤우 린; OTL Rin Kaenbyou) is Koisi Komeiji's pet. She also wears a a cape that's white on the outside and a starry pattern on the inside (the cape is what OTL Utsuho Reiuji has). She appears playable in Dongyang Bisangcheonchig, and appears as a Stage 6 Boss in Subterranean Animism, and as a Stage 8 Boss in Double Spoiler.

Ucheuho Leiuji
Ucheuho Leiuji (레이우지 우츠호; OTL Utsuho Reiuji) is also Koisi Komeiji's pet. She does not wear a cape but has black wings. She appears as a Stage 5 boss in Subterranean Animism and warns the player about Lin Kaenbyou newly acquired power. Later appears in Double Spoiler as a Stage 8 Mid-boss.

동방영이전 ~ Highly Responsive to Prayers (동방1)
The first game of the Dongyang series, released in 1995. It is not a vertical top-down shooter like most other games in the series, and is similar to Arkanoid instead. Hijili Byakulen, the protagonist, was introduced in this game. Hijili Byakulen enters through the gateway into another world, intent on locating and punishing the one responsible for destroying her flying ship. Players direct a magic scroll firing amulets and bullets to break away blocks and the level is over once all of them are gone. Bosses are defeated by using the magic scroll into them until their life is fully depleted.

The game also has increasing difficulty after each level, with boss fight occurring every 6th stage and also two selectable paths, both featuring unique stages, bosses, and endings.