Jujutsu Kaisen: How Sukuna Dominated The Heian Era

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The following article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen.

Summary

  • Sukuna was a powerful sorcerer in the Heian period, considered the most powerful, and is based on Japanese mythology.
  • The Heian era in Jujutsu Kaisen was a Golden Age of Sorcery, with powerful clans and intensely negative energy.
  • Sukuna’s sadistic and cruel nature led to his title as King of Curses in the Heian period.

Sukuna serves as the primary antagonist in “Jujutsu Kaisen”, yet he’s also among the most beloved characters within this series. It appears that people find appeal in villainous figures when they possess an alluring charm, and it seems that Sukuna exhibits such a trait in “Jujutsu Kaisen”.

However, Sukuna is not from our time in the series. He was a powerful — the most powerful — sorcerer in the Heian Era, and no other sorcerer was ever a match for him. So, who exactly was Sukuna during the Heian period?

What Is The Heian Era in Japanese History?

The history of Japan is divided into periods. One of them is the Heian Era, which lasted from 794 to 1185. It is considered a time of peace in Japan (at least in terms of warfare, evidence suggests that crime was high), and started when the capital was moved to Heian-kyo, known today as Kyoto (which means “imperial capital” in Japanese). The Fujiwara clan rose to power during this period.

During the Heian period, the foundation of what is now considered traditional Japanese culture was formed. Thus, this era is considered something like the Golden Age of Classical Japan (it is also the last age of Classical Japan), especially when it comes to art and literature. It was also during this time that the katakana and hiragana syllabaries were created.

The Heian Era in Jujutsu Kaisen

Similar to the cultural image of the Heian period, this era was also the Golden Age of Sorcery in Jujutsu Kaisen, and is one of the most important periods in the series’ timeline. As the quality of life was generally poorer, there was a widespread atmosphere of negativity. Fed by this negativity, Cursed Spirits were stronger, which also forced Jujutsu Sorcerers to be stronger in order to survive.

In ancient Japan, there were three powerful families known as clans, who possessed remarkable magical abilities. These families have been passing down potent Jujutsu techniques from one generation to the next.

In olden days of Japan, three influential families with exceptional magic capabilities existed. They had mastered and passed on powerful Jujutsu skills throughout their lineages.

  • Zenin Clan
  • Gojo Clan
  • Kamo Clan

Who Was Ryomen Sukuna in JJK?

The main antagonist of the series, Ryomen Sukuna was born to a starving woman in the Heian Era, and lived mostly a lonely life, which made him turn into a sadistic and cruel person. He actually had a twin in his mother’s womb, but he ate him to survive. He became a sorcerer and started killing other sorcerers. Eventually, he split his power into his twenty indestructible fingers and was sealed for centuries.

He was reincarnated when Yuji Itadori ate his finger, but was trapped in Yuji’s body. Sukuna is actually based on a creature of the same name in Japanese mythology, a demon-like being portrayed in Nihon Shoki, one of the oldest books in Japan.

What Sukuna Did During The Heian Era

As previously stated, Sukuna became a sorcerer in the Heian period — he apparently was never after power, though, he just wanted to fight and kill. It got to the point where it was imperative to try to stop him, but he killed sorcerer after sorcerer. He is regarded as the most powerful sorcerer to ever exist, and was only stopped after he split himself into the twenty fingers.

It’s truly remarkable to live in this time. There are so many women and children around, it seems they’re as abundant as insect larvae. Quite fascinating! It promises to be a significant event, perhaps a turning point.

It appears that the individual in question earned the title of “King of Curses” and was revered as a deity during the Heian era, likely due to his immense strength and apparent invincibility. However, it seems that he grew tired of his dominance and chose to seal himself away. Later on, he became known as the Imaginary Demon.

You can find the anime series “Jujutsu Kaisen” streaming online, with both subtitled and dubbed versions in multiple languages, on Crunchyroll. In some regions, it’s additionally accessible on Netflix.

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2025-03-17 01:10