Fushiguro and Ryomen Sukuna

Diving into the mythology surrounding Fushiguro’s shikigami Makora. Disclaimer first: I am no expert, just a humble myth buff.

This is the hand seal (mudra) Fushiguro make to call forward his domain expansion. This mudra is associated with deity Bhaisajyaguru (薬師如来). Bhaisajyaguru is Buddha of healing from Mahayana Buddhism and known also as Yakushi Nyorai in Japan. Yakushi Nyorai has been known to release disease and pain from sick people. The believe of Yakushi Nyorai is the first to develop in Japan after the introduction of Buddhism to Japan.

Yakushi Nyorai is also the Buddha at the center of the Twelve Heavenly Generals (十二神将 read as Juuni shinshou) legends. Originally, the Twelve Heavenly Generals are yaksha or devils who were converted to Buddhism because of Yakushi Nyorai’s teaching. They are then tasked to protect Bhaisajyaguru and his followers.

So it is not actually surprising that one of Fushiguro’s shikigami is based on one of the Heavenly Generals.  

Divine General Makora, as its name implied, is one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals, though Makora seems to be more obscured compared to Kumbhira, Vajra, or Anila. Makora’s name in Sanskrit is “Mahoraga”, which means “Great Snake”. One of the depictions of Mahoraga is a human with snake crown on its head.

Interestingly, the deity counterpart (honji suijaku*) of Makora in Japan is Daiitoku Myou Ou (one of the Five Great Wisdom Kings), whose name in Sanskrit is Yamantaka. Yamantaka means “the one who slays God of Death Yama”. 

Deity Yama is also known with another name, which is Enma, the lord of underworld.  

Who is Enma in jjk? Well of course.

Not only the motif for his domain is a recall to underworld or hell, but the hand seal Sukuna make for his domain expansion is also a mudra associated with Enmaten (閻魔天). So, yeah, here is Ryomen Sukuna, King of Curse and alluded Lord of Underworld.   

I feel there’s a kind of foreshadowing here. Is Fushiguro the one who will be able to exorcise Sukuna and save Yuuji? Well, maybe that is too hopeful since Sukuna was able to defeat Makora in Shibuya. But it will be another matter if Fushiguro is actually able to control Makora.

Anyway the lore here just add more to the connection between Sukuna and Fushiguro. Though what he will use Fushiguro’s power for is still a mystery, but I think there’s a connection to Yamata no orochi**) version of jjk world who is mentioned and compared to Makora by Sukuna when they fight in Shibuya. 

*) honji suijaku = it is a theory used to be widely accepted in which native deities from India appear in Japan as Japanese original kami or god, during the peak of Shinto-Buddhism syncretism before Meiji period.

**) Yamata no orochi in its original legend is an eight-headed and eight-tailed serpent. In its legend, the serpent is slayed by storm god Susano-o.