#kasaya

[WARNING! THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SPOILERS: (JJK. VOL 26)]

I would like to draw the attention of sensitive readers that this article will contain some emotional parts from me; I cannot ignore the influence I feel towards these characters. I’m really sorry.

So, most people knowledgeable about this topic are aware of the fact: Geto Suguru, after deciding to leave the school and become a sect leader, wears something called a Gojo-kesa. But why? What does this have to do with Gojo? Was it really named after him? What exactly is it? Is there any fact that explains why Geto chose this? That’s already too many questions. Let’s dive in!

Short answer:

Yes. This kesa actually bears the surname of Gojo Satoru, or to be precise, the Gojo clan bears a name that is derived from a Buddhist tool.

Long answer:

The 五条 literally means “fifth in line” or “the fifth in the sequence.” The first kanji isn’t that interesting, as kanji representing numbers generally don’t carry additional meanings, but since we’re talking about Gege, let’s not skip over it. The number five is, of course, an important number in Buddhism, as it is used in many stories and is associated with good deeds. It also symbolizes harmony and refers to the five elements, which is an important philosophical element in Japanese culture. Remember when Gojo said, “whether it's above heaven, or it's under heaven, only I reign supreme”? This is a great connection to the five elements and Buddhism.

In Japanese culture, the number five represents a lot of things, but let me bring up my favorite: In Japanese tradition, sometimes the fifth season appears, which denotes the period after the spring bloom, the time of flowers and trees (if someone doesn’t know, I’m referring to the hidden inventory). Well, considering how insignificant the number five is, we've gathered quite a lot about it.

The second kanji, 条 (jou), almost always refers to a line. It means stripe, line, placement, etc. This kanji isn’t very common in everyday language; instead, it’s almost daily used in courts, as it appears in the naming of regulations and laws. Additionally, the 条 kanji often occurs in Buddhist texts, as it denotes laws, prescriptions, or important principles related to Buddhist teachings. In such contexts, 条 signifies the lines or sections of the teachings and is closely linked to the number five, representing the five basic principles of Buddhism, which are also a sort of rules.

So what’s next? Let’s return to the question of the Gojo-kesa. The kanji for the garment Gojo-kesa only partially matches because in this word, Gojo is written as 五條, meaning the other kanji has a few more strokes, as it denotes the striping itself, literally meaning “five-striped.” The origin of the kesa dates back to the beginnings of Buddhism and comes from the clothing worn by Buddha. According to Buddhist traditions, the kesa symbolizes renunciation and detachment from the material world. Perhaps in our case, it wanted to symbolize that Geto left behind his old life, along with Gojo Satoru? Who knows? Is there a conscious use of this? What Geto wears is also an existing type of kesa, which we can also call kasaya:

"Oomu-e: Priest's Kasaya with Porcelain Scrolls and Ritual Buddhist Implements (Known as 'Dream Robe')."

It was found at Nanzen-ji Monastery in Kyoto. The appellation comes from the legend that on the day after Ryūshū dreamt he had received a robe from the eminent Chinese master Wuzhun Shifan, someone appeared bringing him Wuzhun’s kasaya. The distinctive hand-drawn, gold-painted peony scrolls that cover the entire robe...

The historical 14th century kasaya

So... what do we have now? A garment that actually existed and dates back to the 14th century, associated with dreams, speaks of renunciation, and bears the name Gojo. Do we need anything more than that?

I have emphasized several times that Akutami Gege is a genius, and he hasn’t forgotten to prove it again now. But now we can also encounter his sadistic side, while I find it impressive that he already knew what he intended to accomplish by the end of volume 26 in volume 9.

MAROONED

oh no they’re neither stranded not shipwrecked they’re neither trapped not isolated they’re not marooned

but they’re all clad in a maroon kasaya and a genuine, subtle smile that hid with the the click dis-appearing in the depths of their kind and simple hearts counting me  stranger no more but a friend.

Did I ever post these??