What exactly is cursed energy in Jujutsu Kaisen?

Hello! I'm Osamu, a manga blogger.

Last time, I dug deep into the origins of the Jujutsu Kaisen techniques and characters using an encyclopedia I had on hand. The more I learn, the deeper it gets!

Well, we've received a lot of feedback from our readers saying, "I want to know more!" Thank you! So this time, we'd like to explore the very core of "Jujutsu Kaisen," " cursed energy " itself, while unpacking the materials.

What is "cursed energy" in "Jujutsu Kaisen"?

As is well known in the story, cursed energy is " energy born from negative human emotions (hatred, jealousy, fear, regret, etc.), " and when this leaks out, it generates "curses (cursed spirits)." Sorcerers control this cursed energy and use it in their magic formulas.

So, how has this concept of "negative emotions becoming energy" been interpreted in real-world folklore and thought? Looking through the Magical Dictionary, I found many very interesting concepts.

1. "Animism" and "Ki": the power that resides in all things

First of all, according to the Magic Dictionary, the basis of all magic is the idea of " animism ." This is the idea that "every being in this world has a soul." The "cursed objects" depicted in "Jujutsu Kaisen," which are cursed objects with a curse attached to them, and the cursed spirits (similar to local gods) that are born from the magical energy that accumulates in specific places, are directly linked to the worldview of animism.

And in terms of this "energy that resides in all things," the concept of " ki " in Eastern thought is very similar to magical power. According to the Magic Dictionary, "ki" is the element that makes up all things, and at the same time, it is considered a mysterious force that moves them. The ancient Chinese philosophical text, "Zhuangzi," teaches that " humans are a collection of ki ." In Chinese medicine, it is believed that illness occurs when the flow of this "ki" is blocked. Just as negative emotions create magical power in "Jujutsu Kaisen," in real life we often say that stress (negative emotions) makes us "depressed" or that "illness comes from ki." The idea that negative emotions disrupt the flow of energy and create substance (illness or curses) is directly related.

2. Human Inner Energy "Shakti" and "Tapas"

When we pay attention to the fact that the magical powers in "Jujutsu Kaisen" come from "humans," concepts from Indian thought come to mind.

• Shakti (sexual power) The Magic Dictionary has an entry for "Shakti." This is the "sexual power" that is identified with Parvati, the wife of the Hindu god Shiva, and is the source of life energy. This power is said to lie dormant within the human body in the form of a snake called " Kundalini ." Just as magical power springs from a person's fundamental emotions, Shakti is also connected to a person's fundamental life force and impulses.

• Tapas (heat energy) The other is " tapas (penance) ." The Magic Dictionary states that ascetics accumulate an energy called " tapas (heat energy) " in their bodies through physical strain (a type of negative energy) such as fasting or rigorous training. This tapas has immense power, and is said to be able to burn even gods. Don't you think the setting of "Jujutsu Kaisen," in which characters gain great magical power by accumulating negative emotions or strengthen their spells through "binding," is very similar to the idea of tapas?

3. "Curses" were born from "faith"

First of all, why did humans create concepts like "curses" and "magic"? According to the "Origins of Magic" section of the Magical Dictionary, magic was born as a way to reach out to those unreachable things (gods and spirits) at the same time that humans became aware of terrifying nature and beasts. In other words, "sorcery" and "magic" are the flip side of human "fears" and "desires" (which include negative emotions), and were techniques for dealing with them.

The 19th-century anthropologist Frazer also believed that " magic preceded religion ." His theory was that people's emotions, such as fear and anxiety, first gave rise to "magic," and then "religion" arose in response to problems that could not be addressed by "magic."

In "Jujutsu Kaisen," the worldview in which negative human emotions become "cursed energy" and manifest as concrete threats known as "cursed spirits" can be said to draw its energy from the "fear of invisible powers" that humanity has cultivated for thousands of years.

summary

The concept of "cursed energy" in "Jujutsu Kaisen" is not simply a fantasy power, but is based on various real-world energy concepts such as "ki," "animism," "shakti," and "tapas," as well as the history of humanity itself, which gave rise to "magic" and "faith."

What if the emotions we feel, such as "fear," "hatred," and "regret," were really visualized as energy? When you think about it that way, the worldview seems even more real, and even more terrifying.

Why not take a moment to read "Jujutsu Kaisen" and think about the origins of the "cursed energy" that is all around us?

It was Osamu!