Cursed Humans vs. Cursed Spirits: The Key Differences in Jujutsu Kaisen

Summary

Cursed spirits are born from human negativity, haunt humans, and vary in strength.
Special grade cursed spirits are exceptionally powerful and challenging to defeat.
Cursed humans are afflicted with cursed spirits, experience unsettling symptoms, and may be harder to exorcise.

Delving into the captivating realm of “Jujutsu Kaisen,” I’ve found myself intrigued by the unique duality of cursed humans and cursed spirits. Though they may seem distinct, there’s a striking proximity between these two entities. The heart of this enchanting series lies in the intricate web of curses that binds them together. For us ordinary humans, becoming a Cursed Human signifies an unfortunate encounter with a curse, a powerful entity that has taken residence within us.

To clarify, this isn’t just applicable to individuals who have been doomed by a curse and are now deceased, but also extends to those still alive who are plagued by the specter of a cursed spirit. These ethereal beings, unseen by humans, are a community of spirits that materialize from the malevolent energy released by humans as a result of their negative emotions.

What Are Cursed Spirits, And How Are They Created?

A Menace To Society, Causing Havoc And Death

Since ancient times, humanity has been grappling with negativity, which often takes the form of painful experiences like trauma, sorrow, and hardship. These negative emotions can leave deep scars and emotional wounds. This constant outpouring of negativity from humans is believed to give rise to malevolent entities, known as cursed spirits. These spirits bring chaos into our world and prey on vulnerable humans, tormenting them. In response, sorcerers with the ability to manipulate energy, or Jujutsu practitioners, aim to exorcise these spirits to protect humanity.

While the origins and nature of cursed spirits remain shrouded in mystery, it is understood that they are malevolent and often feed on human suffering. Humans cannot directly perceive or interact with these spirits; instead, they experience strange symptoms associated with their presence.

In diverse forms and potencies, malevolent spectral entities exist. The intensity of their power can differ based on their origin. Certain curses have the ability to inhabit lifeless objects, transforming them into cursed relics that seem to breathe life and movement. This phenomenon was evident during Nobara’s encounter with the mannequin in the building where Yuji and she were sent by Gojo on a mission. The most lethal of these spectral entities are the special-grade cursed spirits, capable of independent thought and discourse. A notable example of an exceptionally intelligent and powerful cursed spirit is Mahito, born from a strong concentration of human emotion – hatred.

Cursed spirits can be categorized into unregistered special grades, avenging spirits (born when a cursed human dies), registered special grades, and disease-cursed spirits (created due to plagues or other illnesses). Additionally, there are several powerful cursed spirits such as Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon.

Thanks to the hate spewed between people… I was born.

Who Are Cursed Humans, And How Are They Cursed?

Being Haunted By Cursed Spirits Isn’t The Greatest

People under a curse, in contrast, are individuals who have been affected by a malevolent spirit. For instance, a young lady was unwittingly bestowed with a curse by a low-ranking spirit, a Fly Head, yet all she felt were the weight of burdens on her shoulders. Individuals under a curse may encounter perplexing occurrences within their body. They might experience bizarre dreams and sudden spells of immobility for no apparent reason. Exorcists skilled in Jujustu can banish these malevolent spirits by performing an exorcism. However, the difficulty of exorcising the spirit depends on its strength; it may be more challenging to expel a highly potent curse.

Extraordinarily potent curses are tough to vanquish and require a substantial amount of cursed power to banish them; they can even be contained with enough cursed energy. For Yuta Okkotsu, he bears the special-grade label as a Cursed Human, being tormented by his childhood friend who perished in a grievous car crash. This deceased spirit, named Rika Orimoto, functions as his personal cursed spirit, which he can summon and command. Furthermore, Yuta can employ Rika to unleash his cursed abilities, making him one of the most formidable and distinctive figures within Jujutsu Kaisen.