#nihonshoki

The king of curses, the malevolent kitchen itself, but did he really exist? Where, when, and who was the strongest curse in history? Did Gege approach this case like the others, leaving historical hints in Sukuna as well?

According to some records, Ryomen Sukuna is a figure from ancient Japanese legend who appeared in the Hida Province during the reign of Emperor Nintoku. This is the depiction of Sukuna that Jujutsu Kaisen also uses, but it's not the only one. Emperor Nintoku himself is an interesting figure in Japanese history, so if you're interested in Japanese history, definitely look him up. He is one of those buried in a kofun, a mysterious ancient structure similar to the pyramids of Egypt, but that’s enough about Nintoku.

Sukuna had two faces, four arms, and four legs, with the faces and limbs located on both the front and back of his body. His two faces and four arms make him comparable to mythological beings like Janus from Roman mythology, the god of transitions and beginnings. Like Janus, Sukuna, with his dual faces, may have symbolized opposites and duality, representing both evil and good, destructive and protective forces. His height varies depending on the source, but he was significantly taller than the average people of that time (in some sources, he reached 50 meters, while in others, he was only slightly taller than the people of his era).

He was fast, super strong, and fought with weapons. Although little is known about him, as the Nihonshoki is such an ancient source with few equals outside of the Kojiki, similar information is scarce. Speaking of his weapons, we can again find some connections with Gege’s work. His main weapon was the bow, which—though in an extreme form—also appears in the second season and the manga under the name Divine Flame (竈 カミノ, Kamino).

According to the 'Nihonshoki,' Sukuna was merely a feudal lord, not a curse or demon. As I mentioned, there’s no evidence supporting his existence, yet he was featured in major ancient writings. From this, I infer that whether or not he existed, he was important enough to be mentioned, meaning that people of the time knew his name. Even as a man, he wasn’t without credit—he defied the imperial court and caused suffering to the people, so in 377, a general was sent to defeat him. However, in Hida and Mino provinces, he was revered as a hero and worshipped as a deity in several temples. His hidden deity status in the Minashi-jinja shrine suggests that his figure might have been connected to Shinto gods in some way. The local sacred mountain, Kuraiyama, was worshipped as the dwelling place of gods, and some theories suggest that Sukuna could have been the god of that mountain. Some even believe that Sukuna introduced Buddhism to the Hida province.

Anyone reading articles here knows that Buddhism always comes up—it’s one of the core themes of Jujutsu Kaisen when it comes to fight choreography, but it’s also an integral part of the characters. You can find references in their names, or you couldn’t deny that Geto Suguru himself is a reincarnation of Buddha—or at least his head is.

Other theories suggest that Sukuna might have been a symbol of twins or brothers, or perhaps the ruler of a dynasty in Hida that rivaled the Yamato dynasty. The stories of Oousu no Mikoto and Ousu no Mikoto, or Yamato Takeru and his brother, as well as Emperor Chuai’s sons, Kagosaka no Miko and Oshikuma no Mikoto, are all examples of brother pairs whose fates intertwined with Hida and Mino provinces. (Let's not even go into this… Japanese history surpasses any soap opera.) It’s said that he helped local communities and supported the region. He was worshipped in many local temples and shrines, and in several places, he was honored as a 'kaiki,' or temple founder. Here, I’ll insert a picture of Hida and Mino prefectures, for those interested in where this person lived:

So no trace? Archaeologists think otherwise, as several items bearing Sukuna's name still exist in modern-day Japan! A special, two-faced haniwa (clay figure) was discovered near Wakayama city, dating back to the Kofun period (early 6th century). This haniwa resembles Sukuna and suggests that the cult or iconography of two-faced figures was present in ancient Japan. Furthermore, the already mentioned Sukuna Kabocha, a pumpkin found in the Hida region, is linked to Sukuna’s name, although the exact connection remains unclear. Even though it’s not directly proven to be tied to Sukuna’s legend, this plant still serves as an intriguing reference to the local cultural heritage.

To be honest, I was skeptical, I didn't think so much could be discovered, but once again I wasn't disappointed by the master. Sukuna is more than the king of curses, and Gege Akutami is more than just a mangaka, he is a true historian.

“Empress Jingu conquering the three korean kingdoms”, (1885), Adachi Ginko (active 1874-1875)

I lived in Japan’s San’in Region (home to the famous Izumo Taisha and the stage of about a third of the Kojiki myths) 2012-2016, during which time I wrote a dedicated blog about the region, but the blog is now mostly defunct due to technical difficulties. I undertook a major project doing research on the local myths, traveling to the spots where they took place (hunting for obscure shrines in the middle of nowhere, ah, what great memories), and writing English language comics about the myths. The purpose was to educate, entertain, and promote the relatively unknown but wonderful region as a tourism destination. This was not a purely academic project, but my comics and illustrations have been used in a lot of academic projects. As such, I’d like them to still be available to the world, and am sharing the link to the zipped folder of them here. 

PLEASE ENJOY, SHARE, AND USE THEM AS YOU PLEASE.  Download link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p21R8NlurABfGRSZAtu4pUAyDuUEzQ-d

Stories included:  Story 1: To Yomi and Back Again Based on Kuni-umi, Kami-umi, & Yomi-no-Kuni Houmon

Story 2: Intoxicating the Serpent Based on Yamata-no-Orochi Taiji

Story 3: The Hairless Hare of Inaba Based on Inaba no Shiro-Usagi

Story 4: Heave, ho! Kuni, ko! ~Based on the Izumo-no-Kuni Fudoki myth Kunibiki~

Story 5: Fatal and Fateful Trials Based on Yasogami no Hakugai & Ne-no-Kuni Houmon

Story 6: Beauty and the Crocasharkagator ~ Based on the Izumo-no-Kuni Fudoki myth Shitaiyama~

Story 7: Growing Pains of the Land and Family Based on Okuninushi-no-mikoto no Tsumadoi & Sukunabikona-no-kami to Kuni-tsukuri ~PLUS!: Shichifukujin, some background info on the Seven Lucky Gods~

Story 8: Birth and Bright Light  ~ Based on the Izumo-no-Kuni Fudoki myth Sada-no-Okami Tanjou~

Story 9: Relinquishing the Land Based on Kuniyuzuri

Époque de Nara

L'Époque de Nara (Nara Jidai) de l'ancien Japon (710-794), appelée ainsi parce que pendant la majeure partie de cette période, la capitale était située à Nara, alors connue sous le nom de Heijokyo, fut une courte période de transition avant l'importante période de Heian. Malgré sa brièveté, cette période produisit tout de même les œuvres littéraires japonaises les plus célèbres jamais écrites et certains des temples les plus importants encore utilisés aujourd'hui, notamment à Todaiji, le plus grand bâtiment en bois du monde à l'époque, qui abrite toujours la plus grande statue en bronze de Bouddha jamais réalisée.