Bleach incorporates Buddhist themes and imagery extensively

Bleach, a manga and anime series, is well-known for its incorporation of Buddhist symbolism from across Japan, which forms the basis of the story itself. Tite Kubo’s hit series even won the Shogakukan Award for highlighting Japanese values and culture. Buddhism is a major religion in Japan, and therefore, the Buddhist imagery is prevalent throughout the shonen series, with symbolism such as the “Wheel of Life,” the Hogyoku as a wish-fulfilling jewel, and the representation of Ichigo Kurosaki and Sosuke Aizen as Buddha and Myō-ō, respectively. The characters seek to escape the cycle of life, death, rebirth, and suffering, which is influenced by Buddhist philosophy, where one can only escape the cycle after achieving enlightenment.

The Wheel of Life is a foundation for other Buddhist elements that can be seen throughout Bleach. The concept maintains a balance of good and evil spirits for the world’s natural order. The visual depictions of creatures in Bleach are inspired by the Wheel of Life, with those at the lower end of the series’ soul ladder taking the form of animals, while humans are at the top end. Bleach’s Hogyoku is an orb capable of dissolving the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow, allowing one race to attain the other’s powers. It has great significance in the story as it gives Sosuke Aizen tremendous power, making him immortal.

The parallels between Sosuke Aizen and Buddhism’s Aizen Myō-ō are notable. Sosuke Aizen’s treacherous personality and visual representations, words, and actions in Bleach become a representation of the Buddhist Wisdom of King Aizen Myō-ō. Sosuke wants to obtain Ōken (the royal key) and tries to sacrifice the lives of 100,000 human beings living in Karakura Town. He plans to kill the Soul King and reign over all the worlds himself. In the end, the Hogyoku transforms him into a monster, depicting the Japanese representation of Aizen Myō-ō defeated by a traveling, yet guided, Sakyamuni. The Hogyoku has elements found only in Japanese stories or doctrines, such as the jewel emerging from the body of a woman, being stolen, and being passed from master to disciple, as in Shingon Buddhism.

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Rukia, Urahara, Kyoraku, Kenpachi, Orihime, Byakuya