Key Takeaways
- The structure of the realms in BLEACH created by the Soul King separates the Human World, Hueco Mundo, and Soul Society.
- Life and death were once the same, but the Soul King created order, leading to the existence of the three realms.
- The Shinigami maintain balance in the universe by ensuring no realm has more souls, facing a threat from Quincies in the past.
As a long-time fan of Bleach who has traversed through the Dangai, witnessed the eerie expanse of Hueco Mundo, and marveled at the grandeur of Soul Society, let me tell you that this anime has been an unparalleled journey into the afterlife. The realms of these spiritual beings are not just animated landscapes, but living, breathing worlds with their own unique characteristics and dangers.
In the opening scene of BLEACH, Rukia Kuchiki, a Shinigami, lays out the fundamental framework of the show’s cosmology. She discusses the origin of beings such as herself and the crucial role that Shinigami play in preserving the universe’s existing shape. Later on, during the arc where Rukia serves as a substitute Shinigami, the series presents the Quincies and their near-extinction at the hands of the Shinigami.
In the “Thousand-Year Blood War” storyline, we discover the origins of this three-realm system and the unspeakable acts necessary to preserve it. Let me briefly explain the layout of these realms in the world of BLEACH, as designed by the Soul King Adnyeus himself.
In The Beginning
The Separation of Life and Death
Initially, the universe was just a vast expanse of primordial waters, a tumultuous realm where existence and oblivion were indistinguishable. At a certain juncture, an entity known as Adnyeus, or the Soul King, harnessed his power to bring order out of chaos. He divided this primordial expanse into three distinct regions: the World of the Living (or Human World), Hueco Mundo inhabited by lost souls called Hollows, and the afterlife known as Soul Society. The space between these realms is an empty plane called Dangai, also known as the Precipice World, a corridor-like dimension linking the Human World and Soul Society. This dimension transcends both space and time, existing within the greater void that separates the realms, which is referred to as Garganta – derived from the Spanish word for ‘throat’, but written with characters that can be read as ‘black cavity’.
In the realm known as the Garganta, Reishi is highly volatile and rarely forms permanent structures like it does in the Soul Society or Hueco Mundo. However, there can form pockets of space called Valleys of Screams, which originate from Dangai and differ in size. These spaces are composed of souls that have been expelled from the reincarnation cycle. It’s worth noting that the initial story does not explain how Hell, introduced in the first arc, connects to this trio of realms; however, Ryohgo Narita’s “Can’t Fear Your Own World” novels reveal that Adnyeus created the World of the Living as a lid to seal Hell, implying that Hell existed before the creation of these realms. In the one-shot “No Breaths From Hell,” it is hinted that Hell and the three realms share a connection, as the reiatsi in Hell must be balanced with the combined reiatsi from all three realms. If this balance is disrupted, the inhabitants of Hell – which include deceased Captains of the Gotei 13 – could potentially force open the lid covering Hell.
Unique Attributes of Each Realm
The Differences Found in Each BLEACH Realm
- The Human World/World of the Living
In the way you’d imagine, I find myself dwelling in the realm we call the Human World or World of the Living. It’s here that spirits, often referred to as Pluses, embark on their human journeys. When life comes to an end, these spirits are gently guided back to the Soul Society, a place where they wait for another cycle of reincarnation. However, if a spirit strays from this path, it faces the danger of corruption. This can happen either by encountering Hollows – once human souls that have given in to despair and transformed into grotesque creatures with void-like holes marking their bodies – or by succumbing to despair and negative emotions themselves. The Human World is indeed where Karakura lies, a place with an unsettling frequency of supernatural events due to its location on the Jūreichi, a region teeming with spiritual beings.
- The Dangai
The corridor linking the Human World, Hueco Mundo, and Soul Society exists within a distinct dimension called Garganta, which is part of the void. Time flows differently here, and every seven days, an entity named Kōtotsu, or the cleaner, travels through this corridor to sweep away foreign matter, ensuring no hostile spiritual beings or enemies of Soul Society can establish a base. Anything caught by the Kōtotsu’s path is trapped in the void due to its strong, surging current found within the Dangai and inside the Kōtotsu itself. Due to its immense danger, precautions are usually taken when traversing the Dangai during the Kōtotsu’s presence; however, Sōsuke Aizen was able to destroy it without harm.
- Hueco Mundo
In a realm I call the Hueco Mundo, a place that bridges our Human World and the Soul Society, lies an everlasting expanse of white sands under eternal darkness. This barren land is nothing more than dense reishi energy. However, even with this plentiful resource, mighty Hollows and Arrancar are not content, as they crave more – souls to satisfy their hunger. The Dangai serves as a connection between our world and this desolate plane, but powerful Hollows and the Arrancar prefer to traverse dimensions through Garganta. It’s intriguing to note that “Hueco Mundo,” like many concepts tied to Hollows, is a Spanish term meaning ’empty space’ or ‘hole,’ reflecting the emptiness often associated with these entities.
- Soul Society
In the fictional world of BLEACH, there exists a supernatural realm inhabited by entities such as Shinigami and human souls, along with the fragmented Soul King, who was assaulted by the forebears of the four powerful Shinigami families known as the Great Noble Houses. The Soul King’s mutilation keeps the three realms in their present shape, and should he be removed again, like in BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, episode 2, the realms will quickly merge back into the original state of disarray, resembling the primordial chaos of the universe.
The Shinigami function as “regulators” within the realms, preserving balance by preventing any single realm from possessing an excess of souls compared to others. They also cleanse Hollows and assist them in rejoining the soul cycle. However, because Quincies destroy Hollow souls, their presence was considered a risk to the cosmic order. This was the reasoning behind the Shinigami’s past conflicts with the Quincies, leading to their near-extinction.
BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 is available on Hulu and Disney+.
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2024-10-20 18:04