Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses from Jujutsu Kaisen, is immediately recognizable by his placing array of tattoos.
These markings, masking his face, physique, and even his fingers, have turn out to be iconic amongst followers, sparking numerous fan artwork, cosplay, and even real-life tattoos.
However are they merely aesthetic decisions, or do Sukuna’s tattoos maintain a deeper that means? Since we’re speaking about Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s extremely probably that these markings aren’t only for present, as a result of Akutami has used loads of totally different references within the story.
On this article I’ll be looking on the doable explanations behind Sukuna’s enigmatic tattoos.
Please preserve one factor in thoughts, Akutami has not given us any affirmation concerning whether or not Sukuna’s markings have a deeper that means or not. So, this text is strictly speculative.
What do Sukuna’s Tattoos imply?
At first sight, it appears that evidently Sukuna’s tattoos are simply there for aesthetic functions. Nevertheless, after doing a little digging, I noticed that they may even have a deeper that means.
Tattoos have had fairly an fascinating historical past in Japan. From being seen as one thing that has religious significance throughout the Yayoi interval (300 BC – 300 AD). Tattoos additionally represented social standing on many events.
Nevertheless, by the Kofun interval (300 – 538 AD), tattoos have been seen in a extra unfavourable gentle, usually related to criminals and outsiders. So, Sukuna sporting the tattoos might be Gege’s means of exhibiting us that the King of Curses is as much as no good.
It may additionally level to his mythological roots, if we glance nearer.
Sukuna’s tattoos & his mythological origins:
In line with texts from Nihon Shoki, there was a person within the Hida Province named Sukuna. Nevertheless, he was somebody who went towards the imperial directives, that means he opposed the emperor of Japan.
Consequently, the emperor had handed a verdict for Sukuna to be vanquished.
Within the 12 months 65, there was a person in Hida Province. He was named Sukuna. The person had a single head and torso with two faces, every face oriented in reverse instructions. The 2 faces met on the prime however had no nape. Every face was served by its personal set of appendages. Every had knees however no ankles. He had super energy however nonetheless may transfer rapidly. With two pairs of arms, he held swords, a bow and an arrow. Sukuna refused to adjust to imperial directives. He threatened and plundered the folks. Whereupon the emperor dispatched the founding father of Wanibe no omi Naniwaneko Takefurukuma to conquer the creature.
Now, in Japan the renegade clans who opposed the Emperor have been known as the Tsuchigumo. These clans have usually been depicted as big, monstrous spiders – which have was a well-known yokai of at present.
Right here’s the place the tattoo half is available in. The Tsuchigumo have been stated to have tattooing traditions, to showcase that they have been outsiders. On prime of that, the Tsuchigumo yokai can be depicted with markings of some type in legends.
The marking that Sukuna has on his brow is eerily just like that of the Yokai spider. Which means, this might signify Sukuna as a member of a renegade native clan who went towards societal norms.
This sits nicely together with his established picture of a bother maker – a calamity in case you might.
Apparently, the Uncanny Japan podcast famous that in Jap Japan there was a bunch of such indigenous native clans, the Tsuchigumos, who disobeyed the Yamato court docket.
It’s rumored that their chief was both a really robust particular person, or a pair of brothers who appeared alike/twins, who fought collectively. Sukuna? Effectively, that’s one mythological connection I felt was related when it got here to Sukuna’s tattoos.
Now that we’ve mentioned the origin side, let’s check out the opposite tattoos on Sukuna’s physique and what they may most likely imply!
Sukuna’s hand tattoos:
Not like the Tsuchigumo, Sukuna’s hand tattoos seem like impressed by the irezumi kei, or tattoo penalty, which was probably impressed by the Chinese language means of punishing wrongdoers.
This concerned tattooing petty criminals, together with thieves and robbers, on the arms and wrists as a type of punishment and identification. It was a way more lenient punishment in comparison with the demise penalty or chopping off a hand.
Now, the historic accounts within the Nihon Shoki describe Sukuna as a “plunderer” and a “thief”, so Akutami deciding to offer the King of curses such tattoos is smart.
Take a look at the next picture for one more fascinating element concerning the tattoo.
Matching Sukuna’s band markings with the tattoos within the above picture signifies that he was marked for against the law dedicated within the Nara area.
If the Nara area doesn’t sound fascinating sufficient for you, then right here’s a chunk of historical past to catch your consideration. This area holds historic significance as the previous Yamato province, the central hub throughout the Kofun and Asuka intervals.
Myths recommend Sukuna existed throughout this time and opposed the Yamato court docket, including one other layer of that means to the Nara-related tattoo on his arms.
A translation of the Sukuna legend from the Nyukawa village in Gifu Prefecture (previously Hida Province) provides extra context (because of Tempenensis for the interpretation):
Throughout historical historical past of Japan from the early days of Yamatai nation, there isa mysterious 4th century. In different phrases, a interval of 100-years main as much as the event of the Yamato dynasty. Within the literature, it was the period of the institution and growth of royal authority as depicted in “Kojiki” and “Nihonshoki”. It was additionally the time when giant Kofun period began. The ability of the Yamato court docket had reached to Hida since greater than 1.500 years in the past, and Ooyahashi no Mikoto was appointed as Hidakokuzo*. Ryomen Sukuna who managed Hida, didn’t obey the court docket so Takefurukuma no Mikoto superior the suppressing drive as ordered by Emperor Nintoku.
And coming to the wrist tattoo, these markings got to the “Hinin” (非人), a time period used to check with outcast teams and criminals throughout Japan’s feudal period. The phrase actually means “non-human” or “not an individual,” a becoming description for the King of Curses, who has additionally been known as a calamity.
There is just one small draw back. These particular tattoo designs have been primarily used throughout the Edo interval, lengthy after the Heian period when Sukuna is believed to have lived. Even so, the primary information of a tattoo getting used as a punishment will be traced again to 720 A.D (which is throughout the Heian period).
This means that Gege Akutami probably drew inspiration from these later designs so as to add extra depth to Sukuna’s character design.
On prime of that, Sukuna’s arm tattoos bear a metamorphosis when he enters his true type. The unique two bands on his wrist and higher arm morph right into a single band on every arm. Take a look at the picture beneath!
The that means behind this alteration stays unclear as of now.
Sukuna’s face tattoos:
Coming to the face tattoos that Sukuna had, they as soon as once more are rooted within the tattoo penalty custom. Nevertheless, as a substitute of petty crimes, markings on the face indicated a extra severe crime usually, as murderers have been generally plastered with these.
Whereas his face tattoo doesn’t correspond to any identified markings from the Edo interval, the one on his brow does look eerily just like the Tsuchigumo yokai illustration.
Nevertheless, the brow marking disappeared as soon as he entered his true type. So as soon as once more, the that means behind this stays unclear.
Sukuna’s facial markings is also a callback to the Jomon period tattoos on faces, which may have been “rites of passage or cultural traits meant to have been cultural/tribe identifiers”.
Take a look at the next picture for reference:
Now that we’ve explored the doable meanings behind Sukuna’s tattoos, I want to discuss a bit a couple of idea that was as soon as rife within the JJK fandom!!
The tattoo idea:
One fascinating idea amongst Jujutsu Kaisen followers on Reddit and different on-line boards was that Sukuna shops cursed methods he stole or ingested (because of the massive mouth in his abdomen) inside his tattoos.
This concept gained traction as a result of mysterious “Open” approach, which was initially shrouded in secrecy when revealed throughout the Shibuya arc. Within the manga, the redacted phrase of the open approach was proven as a black field.
This black field was taken actually, and followers speculated that every field formed tattoo on his chest represented a unique cursed approach. And when Sukuna “opens” one, the corresponding tattoo would disappear, letting him use that approach.
Variations of this idea grew to become extra standard as a result of the tattoo on Sukuna’s brow was formed as a trident, which many took as Sukuna storing certainly one of his weapon.
Nevertheless, this idea is on its final legs following the current reveal behind what the open approach and hearth arrow actually have been. Seems, cursed methods aren’t actually saved inside a selected tattoo.
What are your ideas on Sukuna’s tattoos in Jujutsu Kaisen? Do you suppose they serve a deeper that means than simply the aesthetics? Let me know your opinions within the feedback beneath!!
