Did the curse in "Jujutsu Kaisen" actually exist? A thorough analysis of the original source in the "Magic Dictionary"!

Hello! I'm Osamu, a manga blogger.

"Jujutsu Kaisen" is really interesting! Not only are the characters fascinating and the battles spectacular, but the underlying theme of a " curse " gives the story a sense of horror and depth.

In the story, "curses" are depicted as "cursed spirits" that are the tangible manifestation of negative human emotions (fear, jealousy, hatred, etc.).

Suddenly, I had a thought.

"Does the curse in Jujutsu Kaisen have an origin? Maybe it actually existed...?"

So today, with my favorite book, "Magic Dictionary" (supervised by Yamakita Atsushi) in hand, I would like to take a thorough look at the roots of this "curse"!

Did the "curse" in "Jujutsu Kaisen" really exist?

To conclude, even if there are no such things as "cursed spirits" themselves, the concept and techniques of "curses" have existed throughout history and all over the world.

By reading the Magic Dictionary, we can see that many of the spells depicted in Jujutsu Kaisen are firmly based on real-life magical theory.

1. The Two Basic Theories of "Curses"

The sorcery depicted in "Jujutsu Kaisen" is very systematic, but its roots can be found in real-life magical theory.

According to the Magical Dictionary, the fundamental law of magic is the idea of "sympathetic magic," proposed by the 19th century anthropologist Frazer. This can be broadly divided into two parts.

① Similarity magic: Curse with "similar things"

This is the theory that "like influences like."

I'm sure many of you have already guessed it. That's right, the straw doll used in Kugisaki Nobara's "Rumination Spirit Spell." This is a typical example of sympathetic magic, in which a curse is carried out by "representing" the target.

The ancient Japanese tradition of " Ushi no Koku Mairi " (a midnight visit to a shrine), in which a curse is cast by driving nails into a straw doll, is introduced in the "Magic Dictionary" as a typical form of sympathetic magic.

② Infectious magic: Curse with "connected things"

This is the theory that "once something comes into contact with something, it continues to influence it even after it leaves contact."

This is another clear example of Nobara's technique, "Tomonari." She obtains a part of the target's body (in this story, the arm) and uses it as a medium to inflict damage on the target's body.

According to the Magical Dictionary, "nails and hair cut from the body" were believed to be connected to their owners by mystical powers and were considered essential items in witchcraft.

The magic formulas used in "Jujutsu Kaisen" are constructed based on these real-life magical theories!

2. Curses born from "negative emotions" = Japan's three greatest vengeful spirits

The premise of "Jujutsu Kaisen" is that "negative emotions create magical powers." This is something that is deeply rooted in Japanese history and beliefs.

Belief in vengeful spirits and Sugawara no Michizane

Since ancient times in Japan, it has been feared that people who die an untimely death become "vengeful spirits" and bring about curses.

The most representative example of this is Sugawara no Michizane, who is said to be the ancestor of the strongest sorcerer, Gojo Satoru!

Michizane, whose name appears on the cover of the Magic Dictionary, was defeated in a political battle during the Heian period and demoted to Dazaifu, where he died in despair. After his death, the capital was hit by a series of disasters and epidemics, and people feared these to be a curse from Michizane.

In order to calm this overwhelming negative emotion (resentment), people enshrined him as a god called "Tenjin-sama."

This is a perfect example of how powerful negative emotions can become energy (magical power) that requires them to be worshiped as a god.

3. Techniques for exorcising "curses"

In "Jujutsu Kaisen," sorcerers exorcise cursed spirits, but of course, the technology to "exorcise" also exists in the real world.

• Exorcism

  According to the Magic Dictionary, in the West it was believed that demons possessed and tormented humans. Exorcism was the practice of exorcising these demons. Priests (exorcists) would exorcise demons by sprinkling holy water, reciting prayers, or pointing at the sign of the cross.

• Hexproof and Exorcism

  Meanwhile, in the East, there were techniques known as "jukin" and "chofu," which were incantations of Onmyodo and Taoism that involved "subduing demons" using spells and mudras (hand gestures).

  This is exactly like the way sorcerers in "Jujutsu Kaisen" make seals and fight cursed spirits!

  The true professional in this field is none other than Abe no Seimei. He is also listed in the Magic Dictionary, and is recorded as having used powerful "shikigami."

Summary: Curses are linked to human emotions.

Looking at it this way, we can see that the world of "curses" depicted in "Jujutsu Kaisen" is not a complete creation of the author, but is firmly rooted in myths and legends from all over the world, past and present, as well as real-life magical systems.

When you get down to it, a "curse" is the very essence of human emotions such as "fear" and "hatred," and perhaps that is why we feel a sense of realism and irresistible appeal in the world of "Jujutsu Kaisen."

If you try to find out what real-life sorcery your favorite characters' spells are based on, you might make some new discoveries!

It was Osamu.