Zanpakuto (Bleach)

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Zanpakuto are weapons that feature in Bleach.

Contents

History

Origin

Ichigo Kurosaki wielding his Zanpakuto.

Zanpakutō (斬魄刀, Soul-Cutter Sword; Viz "Soul Slayer") were spirit weapons of the shinigami of the Soul Society with them having been created by Ōetsu Nimaiya. He came to forge weapons for the Gotei 13 with these originally being ordinary swords known as Asauchi (浅打, Shallow Hit). Over time, these came to be imprinted on by the spirit energy of their wielders thus creating the Zanpakuto when the shinigami wielder came o awaken it. The terms "Zanpakutō", "Shikai", and "Bankai" were later chosen and given by another member of the Royal Guard namely Ichibē Hyōsube, whose Zanpakutō was also the first to gain an evolved form, known as a Shinuchi.

Arrancar

Zanpakuto Rebellion

The Zanpakuto Rebellion arc was an original creation of the anime series and did not feature in the original Manga.

Overview

In appearance, Zanpakuto were special blades that could be wielded by Shinigami, Arrancar and Visord. To Shinigami, they had a special symbiotic relationship with one another with the blades being born with their wielder and dying with their wielder.

All Zanpakuto began life as lifeless swords known as Asauchi (浅打, Shallow Hit). The nameless Zanpakutō which all low-class Shinigami wield. Shinigami who are still in training - those who do not yet belong to any of the Gotei 13 - and Shinigami who are unable to communicate with their Zanpakutō all wield generic Zanpakutō. "Shallow hit" refers to the grossly reduced power of a Zanpakutō whose wielder cannot connect with it properly. Asauchi were said to be the ultimate Zanpakutō, for they have the potential to become anything. There were over 6,000 members of the Gotei 13, all of whom are loaned one of these nameless Zanpakutō upon first entering the Shin'ō Academy, and this same blade is officially given to them upon joining a division. All Shinigami must spend every waking moment with their own Asauchi, and as they progress in their training, they slowly and methodically imprint the essence of their soul into their Asauchi. This is how they guide and mold their own unique Zanpakutō

The shinigami art of wielding a Zanpakutō was called Zanjutsu (斬術, swordsmanship).

One could not fully use the sword by simply knowing the name of their Zanpakutō. If a wielder were to lend its power to its Zanpakutō, the weapon would become stronger. To fully use a Zanpakutō's power, a wielder must get to know its Zanpakutō's spirit. The one method to accomplish this was through the Jinzen (刃禅, Sword Meditation; Viz "Sword Zen") ritual whereby one could carry on a proper conversation with one's Zanpakutō. One places their sword over their lap, takes a meditative pose, and forces their mind to become one with the Zanpakutō.

Following training, a wielder could activate the swords first form which was the Shikai (始解, Initial Release). This was achieved by learning the name of the Zanpakutō. This was not as easy as simply picking a name, for the living spirit of the Zanpakutō already had its own name. The Shinigami must be able to communicate and harmonize with their Zanpakutō effectively, which requires being able to speak to the spirit within its world. Gaining access to one's Shikai and releasing it for the first time was known as Manifestation (顕現, Kengen).

Full training in the use of a Zanpakuto could help the wielder in unlocking its final second form allowing them to enact the Bankai (卍解, Final Release).

It was noted that one could repair a broken Zanpakuto if it was damaged in its Shikai state. However, if it was destroyed in it Bankai state then it was said to be impossible to fix it. Instead, the only means to do so was through re-forging the blade.

Users

  • Zangetsu (斬月, Slaying Moon) :
  • Nozarashi (野晒, Weather-Beaten One) :
  • Zabimaru (蛇尾丸, Snake Tail) :
  • Hōzukimaru (鬼灯丸, Demon Light) :
  • Kazeshini (風死, Wind of Death) :
  • Ruri'iro Kujaku (瑠璃色孔雀, Azure Peacock) :
  • Benihime (紅姫, Crimson Princess) :
  • Suzumushi (清虫, Cricket) :
  • Senbonzakura (千本桜, Thousand Cherry Blossoms) :
  • Sode no Shirayuki (袖白雪, Sleeved White Snow) : the Zanpakutō of Rukia Kuchiki whose spirit was that of a white skinned woman said to be the most beautiful of all the blades in the Soul Society and wielded a power over ice.
  • Minazuki (肉雫唼, Month of Water) :

Notes

  • Zanpakuto were created by Tite Kubo and featured as antagonists in the setting of the Bleach universe.

In other media

Television

  • In Bleach, the Zanpakuto featured in the setting of the anime television series adaptation of the manga. The Zanpakuto Rebellion appeared within the anime where the event was instituted by a Zanpakuto named Muramasa whose power allowed him to stir feelings of resentment amongst the living weapons allowing them to manifest a physical form and turn against their wielders.

Films

Video games

Appearances

  • Bleach:

External Links

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