kuchiyosenojutsuironmaidn
Member
The whole manga has religious and cultural overtones as cohesion devices. Hueco Mundo means "World of hollowness" or "Hole in the world" in Spanish (Though I think they might've been trying to say 'Hollow World' they just got the syntax mixed up, if so). The Spanish reference doesn't stop there. Sado is from Mexico and his grandfather told him he has the devil in his arms.
But notice that Hollows (demons) come from a hole in the world (Hell) The Soul Society is likened to Heaven. Lost souls are sent to either Hueco Mundo or the Soul Society (Hell or Heaven) They are all people with Japanese names (Japan). All Shinigami are seemingly Japanese.
Xcution members were also Japanese. The Visoreds had three American names among them, but the rest were Japanese.
The Arrancar, however, had names that seemed like attempts at making up Spanish names (Kinda like how DBZ attempts to make up English names). Notice how being killed by a hollow makes you one? Zombie or Vampire ref. Notice how the Quincy destroy hollows, but Shinigami simply send them to Hell? Shinigami are reapers, yes, but also exorcists. Quincy are priests, yes, but also terrorists.
The Quincy have a heavy German overtone. I don't think I need to elaborate on the Nazi refs. Just know that keeping things cultural makes it easier to keep the story cohesive and consistently thematic.
The war between the Shinigami and the Quincy is a symbolic war between Angels and those who play God. Uryuu represents someone who is conflicted about religion; or fed up with it. Yhwach is meant to resemble Christ. The Quincy invasion is meant to symbolize the ever-spreading influence of Christianity all over the world.
The assault on the Soul King symbolizes how people are systematically replacing God, with Jesus. The right Hand symbolizes Lucifer/Satan. The right hand taking over symbolizes Satanism going Head-to-Head with Christianity. The Shinigami are losing to the Quincy because in the real world, People can't see Angels, but they can see priests, so priests have better influence over the world and it's religions.
It seems the manga is implying that Jesus and the priests of the world are killed because they would otherwise rid the world completely of evil and upset the balance; ether that or that they are actually terrorists. Yhwach's beef with the Soul King is for allowing it.
So, why the cultural refs?
In World War 2, Germany and Japan were on the same side and Mexico was on the opposing side. Quincy and Shinigami were once on the same side, too. The hollows were always a menace to the Shinigami and Quincy. The Shinigami and the Quincy agreed on that about Hollows, but could not agree on how to deal with them.
Sound familiar?
The priests set out to destroy 'evil', the Angels set out to put 'evil' in it's place. Terrorists will kill people they deem evil, exorcists will try to save people they deem evil. Which brings us to Characters, properties, and their ultimate roles in the symbolism:
Orihime - Doctor; Healing all with no concern about religion
Sado - Police officer; Devil arms, right? Read:guns; Protector with no concern about religion, using a tool that most deem evil
Uryuu - Scientist; dispelling belief in Angels and demons, but leaning more and more towards Christianity over time
Vizoreds - Budhists; Embracing a higher understanding of the yin/yang balance of good and evil (Shinigami/Hollow; Angel/Demon)
Arrancar - Technology; Originally intended as a distraction, but can be used for good as well
Xcution - Pagans; Seeking power from within and around with no affiliation towards Angels, nor Demons.
Gotei 13 - Prophets; Miracle workers that deliver a divine message
Schutzstaffel - Disciples
Ichigo - United States; Can embrace any faith or culture, but is ultimately seeking a higher purpose, more power, and to police the world.
Reishi - Influence over mankind
Zanpakto - Notariety; The ability to command influence starts here
Shikai - Popularity; indirect influence
Bankai - Fame; influence obtained from many, over many
Bleut vein - Pride, stubbornness; Ability refuse influence, free will
Sankt Altar - The ability to take someone's following; the ability to use someone's own arguments against them
The "Almighty" - Blind and/or unwavering faith; The ability (or percieved ability) to trump any argument about religion;
Volstandig - Looks like it's supposed to be "The Holy Spirit".
Ichibei's brush - History, the Bible, religious texts; The ability to gain influence through text
Fullbring - Sorcery, Psycic ability; Influence that can be taught but not shared and is unique to the user
Auschwalen - Martyrdom, sacrifice; Influence and validity gained through persecution
Quincy Schrift - Talent; the inbourne ability to obtain fame
Hollofication - Resolve; Doing what is necessary even if it is deemed evil
Karakura Town - The world
Fake Karakura town - Church
The Seireitei - Heaven
Rukongai - Pergatory
Hueco Mundo - Hell
Soul King's Palace - Eden
Now you should see why Ywach keeps asking Ichigo "Why are you resisting me?". Why he scolds Ichigo for trying to protect everything. Also, why Ichigo's attempt to save the Soul King made things worse, which is because, in real life, people's attempts to assist "God" only make things worse. From the pretentious representations, to the very altering of the Bible, People are undermining themselves and their own efforts. Bleach is a story about religious warfare and world domination. Just sayin'
Next time: Naruto Explained :flakez:
But notice that Hollows (demons) come from a hole in the world (Hell) The Soul Society is likened to Heaven. Lost souls are sent to either Hueco Mundo or the Soul Society (Hell or Heaven) They are all people with Japanese names (Japan). All Shinigami are seemingly Japanese.
Xcution members were also Japanese. The Visoreds had three American names among them, but the rest were Japanese.
The Arrancar, however, had names that seemed like attempts at making up Spanish names (Kinda like how DBZ attempts to make up English names). Notice how being killed by a hollow makes you one? Zombie or Vampire ref. Notice how the Quincy destroy hollows, but Shinigami simply send them to Hell? Shinigami are reapers, yes, but also exorcists. Quincy are priests, yes, but also terrorists.
The Quincy have a heavy German overtone. I don't think I need to elaborate on the Nazi refs. Just know that keeping things cultural makes it easier to keep the story cohesive and consistently thematic.
The war between the Shinigami and the Quincy is a symbolic war between Angels and those who play God. Uryuu represents someone who is conflicted about religion; or fed up with it. Yhwach is meant to resemble Christ. The Quincy invasion is meant to symbolize the ever-spreading influence of Christianity all over the world.
The assault on the Soul King symbolizes how people are systematically replacing God, with Jesus. The right Hand symbolizes Lucifer/Satan. The right hand taking over symbolizes Satanism going Head-to-Head with Christianity. The Shinigami are losing to the Quincy because in the real world, People can't see Angels, but they can see priests, so priests have better influence over the world and it's religions.
It seems the manga is implying that Jesus and the priests of the world are killed because they would otherwise rid the world completely of evil and upset the balance; ether that or that they are actually terrorists. Yhwach's beef with the Soul King is for allowing it.
So, why the cultural refs?
In World War 2, Germany and Japan were on the same side and Mexico was on the opposing side. Quincy and Shinigami were once on the same side, too. The hollows were always a menace to the Shinigami and Quincy. The Shinigami and the Quincy agreed on that about Hollows, but could not agree on how to deal with them.
Sound familiar?
The priests set out to destroy 'evil', the Angels set out to put 'evil' in it's place. Terrorists will kill people they deem evil, exorcists will try to save people they deem evil. Which brings us to Characters, properties, and their ultimate roles in the symbolism:
Orihime - Doctor; Healing all with no concern about religion
Sado - Police officer; Devil arms, right? Read:guns; Protector with no concern about religion, using a tool that most deem evil
Uryuu - Scientist; dispelling belief in Angels and demons, but leaning more and more towards Christianity over time
Vizoreds - Budhists; Embracing a higher understanding of the yin/yang balance of good and evil (Shinigami/Hollow; Angel/Demon)
Arrancar - Technology; Originally intended as a distraction, but can be used for good as well
Xcution - Pagans; Seeking power from within and around with no affiliation towards Angels, nor Demons.
Gotei 13 - Prophets; Miracle workers that deliver a divine message
Schutzstaffel - Disciples
Ichigo - United States; Can embrace any faith or culture, but is ultimately seeking a higher purpose, more power, and to police the world.
Reishi - Influence over mankind
Zanpakto - Notariety; The ability to command influence starts here
Shikai - Popularity; indirect influence
Bankai - Fame; influence obtained from many, over many
Bleut vein - Pride, stubbornness; Ability refuse influence, free will
Sankt Altar - The ability to take someone's following; the ability to use someone's own arguments against them
The "Almighty" - Blind and/or unwavering faith; The ability (or percieved ability) to trump any argument about religion;
Volstandig - Looks like it's supposed to be "The Holy Spirit".
Ichibei's brush - History, the Bible, religious texts; The ability to gain influence through text
Fullbring - Sorcery, Psycic ability; Influence that can be taught but not shared and is unique to the user
Auschwalen - Martyrdom, sacrifice; Influence and validity gained through persecution
Quincy Schrift - Talent; the inbourne ability to obtain fame
Hollofication - Resolve; Doing what is necessary even if it is deemed evil
Karakura Town - The world
Fake Karakura town - Church
The Seireitei - Heaven
Rukongai - Pergatory
Hueco Mundo - Hell
Soul King's Palace - Eden
Now you should see why Ywach keeps asking Ichigo "Why are you resisting me?". Why he scolds Ichigo for trying to protect everything. Also, why Ichigo's attempt to save the Soul King made things worse, which is because, in real life, people's attempts to assist "God" only make things worse. From the pretentious representations, to the very altering of the Bible, People are undermining themselves and their own efforts. Bleach is a story about religious warfare and world domination. Just sayin'
Next time: Naruto Explained :flakez:
but this was a well done thread. Also ypu may want to elaborate on the left arm of the soul king since there areboth right and left arms of the soul king. Also yhwach like the soul king has a "right hand" (hashwalth) and uryuay be the left hand.
