Chichiri, originally named Ri Houjun, hailed from a village near Konan's Shouryuu River. His family held governmental prominence, granting him an elevated education. A devastating flood destroyed his village, claiming his parents, sister, fiancée Kouran, and best friend Hiko. While initial encounters suggested Chichiri might have murdered Hiko in anger over Kouran, subsequent OVAs clarified Hiko was swept away by the floodwaters. During a rescue attempt, a log struck Chichiri's face, severely injuring his left eye. The wound left a permanent scar, fused his eye shut, and inflicted deep emotional trauma.

Adrift in guilt and despair for three years, Chichiri attempted suicide by drowning in the Shouryuu River. Rescued by villagers from Seisen, including a girl coincidentally named Koran, he was healed by her father. During recovery, the creator deity Taiitsukun guided him to seek training on Mount Taikyoku. There, he honed his magical abilities and embraced his destiny as the Suzaku Warrior of Well. To conceal his scar and inner pain, he adopted a perpetually smiling kitsune mask, aiming to appear approachable despite his turmoil.

As a Suzaku Warrior, Chichiri wielded diverse magic focused on transportation, barrier creation, chi perception, and shapeshifting. His Buddhist staff, beaded necklace, and distinctive dark-blue cape with white circles were instrumental in spellcasting. He excelled at teleporting individuals across vast distances, even between countries. His shapeshifting carried a subtle limitation: concave and convex lines visible on the face of his impersonations. His combat style prioritized strategic support, evasion, and defense over direct confrontation, reflecting his training and personal aversion to violence stemming from his past. He rarely removed his mask, reserving such moments for grave seriousness or deep emotional revelation.

Throughout the original series, Chichiri served as the oldest, most experienced Suzaku Warrior. He provided tactical guidance, mediated conflicts, and used his magic to protect the group and Priestess Miaka. Key interventions included impersonating Emperor Hotohori to aid his journey with Miaka, disguising himself as the antagonist Nakago to infiltrate Kutou's palace, and devising a communication method through Mitsukake's cat when their powers were suppressed. Despite an outwardly cheerful, playful demeanor—often shifting into a "chibi" state for comedy—he maintained emotional detachment regarding personal matters, rarely revealing vulnerabilities. His deepest bonds were with fellow warriors Mitsukake and Tasuki; Mitsukake's death visibly moved him to tears.

His character reached a pivotal point during the OVA "Transcience of a Water Mirror." Confronted by the demonically corrupted spirit of Hiko, Chichiri faced unresolved guilt and trauma. He prepared to sacrifice his life to save Hiko's spirit, achieving a sense of atonement. Tasuki and Taka intervened, preventing his death. This resolution allowed him to finally release his burdens of guilt and self-blame regarding the flood and Hiko's fate.

In the later OVA "Fushigi Yuugi Eikoden," set over a decade after the original events, Chichiri partnered with Taka and Tasuki on a critical mission. They sought the reincarnations of the deceased Suzaku Warriors, now reborn as children, to thwart a new evil manipulating the new Priestess of Suzaku, Mayo Sakaki, and threatening Konan. Chichiri employed his signature transportation magic to materialize before Taka, using his robe and hat as conduits. He continued as the group's steadfast strategist and protector, leveraging his wisdom and magical expertise to reunite the warriors and safeguard Konan.