There have been many mangakas who put in a lot of thought with regard to their characters, the names they hold, and the lore they possess. Gege Akutami and Eiichiro Oda stand as two prominent figures who often incorporate some of the deepest connections into the making of their characters. While there are some who would name their characters cleverly, others also add significance to that wit.
Both those ways act as a means to define the characters with or without the meaning. However, were there to be a name that had more to the story than meets the eye, that just adds an extra layer to the endless tales hidden in a person and their deeds? Sukuna, the King of Curses, is just that kind of a character.
Basking in the Lore of the Dead: Sukuna the Soul Keeper
While Eiichiro Oda has always been ways ahead in foreshadowing and symbolism, Gege Akutami is no less a person to take inspiration from mythology from across the world. Sukuna’s Malevolent Shrine has always hidden mysteries of just how strong the King of Curses truly is. However, the symbol his hands make denotes more about his purpose than anything else. His Domain Expansion’s hand sign is also called Enma Ten-in.
While Sukuna is heavily inspired by Japanese mythology, the fusion of Hindu myths is unmistakable. Said to be an incarnation of the Japanese Jizo Bosatsu, Enma is the God of Hell and Judgement. Enma is also derived from the Hindu God Yama. The God of Hell guides souls of all kinds, deeming them fit for his kingdom over the sins they may have committed in their lives.
Yama is the Hindu God who stands as the face of both Death and Justice. While he resides in Hell, it is his task to condemn those who have wronged humans in his domain. This inspiration behind Sukuna’s Domain Expansion may lead to a big speculation about his future purpose.
Gege Akutami Could Tie Sukuna to What He Hates
Lucifer was condemned to rule Hell after defying God and His creation of humans. His punishment had been to look after the very creatures he chose to rebel over. Yama is the God who guides souls after they have long since passed away. Yama was regarded as the first human to have died, and thus, to take up the task, no one else knew was needed.
While Yama is the King of Hell, Sukuna is the King of Curses. Yuji Itadori’s Domain Expansion in Chapter 264 suggested an interesting parallel to Gojo’s airport sequence. The subway station defined the direction in which the primary antagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen could go and take others alongside him.
He has always been one to look down upon Sorcerers and other Cursed Spirits. However, were he to die, he too could take up the task of watching over an abode of curses and humans. His own personal Hell and one that he sits on top of. Yama was the son of the God of the Sun and Sukuna may essentially be the guardian of the setting sun.
Jujutsu Kaisen is available to read on Viz.
