A lot of the comedy of Ranma 1/2 comes from the fact that some of the characters have curses on them as a result of falling into the Jusenkyo springs, which turn the person into whatever drowned there when hit with cold water. Here are each of the springs and their descriptions. I think maybe I'll let my friend the Jusenkyo Guide explain them...^_^

"Ah sirs and madams, you wish to know about tragic story of springs and who fall in? I tell you the story....there are too too many people who come to Jusenkyo in these days..."

Shonmaoniichuan

"Here we have panda who drown in this spring 2000 year ago, quite a tragic story. I see man who not know Chinese so good get knock into spring by boy..."

(Genma Saotome was knocked into this spring by his son Ranma while they were training).

Nyannichuan

"This also a tragic story. Young girl drown here 1500 year ago. I think she should have take swimming lessons, no? Anyway, boy who knock man in panda spring fell in here."

(Ranma Saotome, shocked at seeing his dad as a panda, is knocked by him into this spring).

Heituenniichuan

"Ah, this bad. Very young black piglet drown in this spring 1200 year ago. I not cook pork anymore because I almost cook poor traveler what was pig for panda-man."

(Ryoga was knocked into this spring by a certain girl chasing a certain panda around. Ryoga was almost eaten by Genma as sweet and sour pork).

Maoniichuan

"Cat drown in this spring 1800 year ago. Old woman what led beautiful girl here knock girl into spring. Young girl quite pretty...is tragic she got curse..."

(When Shampoo returned to China, Cologne led her to Jusenkyo to be trained again, and knocked Shampoo into this spring).

Nannichuan

"Ah, I not know when, but man drown here a long time ago. I not see anyone fall in here for long time, but I hear some crazy peoples want jump in here. Why they want to do that?"

(This is the spring that apparently can cure Ranma, Ryoga, Genma, and Mousse of their curses, but they haven't been able to find it or get to it as of yet).

Yaazuniichuan

"I not understand how, but duck drown in this spring 1300 year ago. Half-blind boy accidentally walk into spring..I not know why he did that either..."

(Mousse, who was training in Jusenkyo, fell into this spring on accident).

Fuushanniichuan

"About 999 year ago, Buddhist priest drown here. Very tragic that very powerful warrior fall in here..."

(Kinnii, a near-invincible warrior, fell into this spring while training - (This spring is only found in the Anime series.) ).

Niuhoomanmaorenniichuan

"Oh, here 2500 year ago, very tragic story happen. Yeti what ride Bull while carrying Crane and Eel fall in spring and drown. Very cursed spring it is...but little old man have nerve to wash baby in it!"

(Happosai, who had helped in the birth of "Pantyhose" Taro, washed the newborn Taro in this spring and baptized him with the name "Pantyhose").

Shannannichuan

"Here, 1200 year ago, there was good man who drown in spring, what a waste of good man...boy what was baptised in bull/crane/yeti/eel spring try to come here and get water for dirty old man...."

(Pantyhose returned to Jusenkyo to get this water to splash on Happosai, so that he would become virtuous).

Shuanshontsuniichuan

"Ah, peoples, I not know when, but twins drown in this spring long time ago. I make rare mistake sirs and madams, I give this to bull/crane/yeti/eel boy to give to dirty old man.."

(However, the Jusenkyo guide made a mistake and accidentally gave Pantyhose Taro the water from this twins spring instead of from the virtuous man spring. Ranma was barely able to prevent Taro from splashing Happosai with it).

Chanyuiniichuan

"Here legend say that 2500 year ago, Octopus drown in spring somehow. I not know how that happen. Same boy what try to get virtuous man water splash himself with this and grow tentacle before very eyes..."

(Pantyhose came back to Jusenkyo and splashed himself with water from this spring, making his cursed form grow tentacles and shoot ink).

Ashuraniichuan

"Legend say that 4000 year ago a statue of great warrior-goddess drown here. And woman warrior of great tribe fall in this spring and gain her power..."

(A woman named Rouge fell into this spring and gained the powers of the warrior goddess Ashura, whose statue drowned in the spring).

Xiaochiniichuan

"Ah, I know not when but a long time ago a young boy drown in this spring. Very very tragic story. However, old man who is like pervert drown in this spring..."

(Lukkosai, aka "Lucky", was one of Happosai's old training partners who fell in this spring. He later tries to use his cursed form to get something back from Happosai).

Akaneniichuan

"Only a short time ago, sirs and madams, bird-lady come carrying cute, short-haired girl, and try to drown her. It almost tragic story, but girl not drown...however, spring still cursed. Bird-lady jump in and come out, look like girl..."

(Kiima, who had kidnapped Akane in the last volume, made a new cursed spring by throwing Akane in an uncursed spring and attempting to drown her. Though Akane did not drown, the spring was still cursed, and Kiima was anble to jump in and curse herself witht he ability to turn into Akane, which she used against Ranma).

That's it so far. Let me know if I missed any springs! ^_^

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"Shampoo, is that you? I can't quite see because I can't find my glasses. Anyway, could you tell Shampoo to meet me either in The Cast of Ranma 1/2 or Anything-Goes Martial Arts by clicking the left and right arrows, respectively? Hmmm, maybe I should see her back at the Ranma 1/2 Library Main Page. Oh well, I'll find her sooner or later..."