Chichiri is the fourth Celestial Warrior of Suzaku, and his real name is Ri Houjun. At twenty-four years old, he is the oldest of the seven warriors. His given name as a seishi means "well," and his corresponding character is located on his right knee.

He presents himself as a cheerful, quirky, and somewhat mysterious traveling monk. His most distinctive trait is the smiling mask he always wears, which conceals a heavily scarred face and a left eye that was destroyed in a tragic accident. He speaks with a characteristic habit of ending his sentences with the verbal tic "no da," which adds to his otherwise lighthearted and eccentric demeanor. This outward jocularity, however, masks a deep internal sorrow and a profound sense of responsibility. When he removes his mask, his personality shifts to become markedly serious, grim, and wise.

The motivations driving Chichiri are rooted in a traumatic past. At the age of eighteen, he believed his best friend, Hikou, had stolen his fiancée, Kouran. In a fit of jealous rage, he confronted Hikou, which led to a struggle during a catastrophic flood. As Chichiri tried to save his friend from the raging waters, a log smashed into his face, destroying his eye and causing him to lose his grip, leading to Hikou's death. The flood claimed the lives of his family, his fiancée, and many others. Consumed by guilt and grief, Chichiri attempted suicide. After being saved, he was guided by the sage Taiitsukun to begin three years of intensive training, which honed his natural magical abilities. He chooses to keep his facial scar rather than heal it with magic as a permanent reminder of his past mistakes and lost friend, and he wears the cheerful mask so as not to upset others with his disfigurement.

Within the group of warriors, Chichiri serves as a steadfast advisor and a behind-the-scenes protector. He often shadows the priestess Miaka and her companions, intervening decisively only when they are in mortal danger. His wisdom and perspective allow him to act as a mediator, offering indirect guidance that helps others come to their own conclusions. For instance, he demonstrates deep empathy for the emperor Hotohori's unrequited love for Miaka by magically transforming himself to look like the emperor, allowing Hotohori to leave the palace and join the quest. Chichiri regards himself as an older brother to the other, younger warriors, and while he helps keep the group's spirits up with jokes, he is equally willing to provide serious counsel when needed.

Over the course of the story, Chichiri develops from a mysterious loner lurking in the shadows to an open and integral member of the group. He eventually reveals his tragic backstory to Miaka, allowing her to learn from his experience of loss and blame. His arc comes full circle when he confronts the vengeful spirit of Hikou, finally achieving a measure of atonement for his past and accepting that he must continue living to protect his new friends.

Chichiri is the most magically versatile of the Suzaku warriors, a power granted by his intensive training with Taiitsukun. His abilities include short-distance teleportation, often using his large straw hat as a conduit. He can release powerful chi blasts from his hands, project defensive forcefields, and dispel magical effects created by others. He is also capable of transforming his appearance to impersonate other people, such as the emperor Hotohori or the antagonist Nakago. Furthermore, he can communicate across long distances and sense the presence of enemies by attuning himself to his surroundings. While his primary strength lies in magic, he is also a capable combatant, skillfully wielding a shakujo (Buddhist ringed staff) for defense.