Unlocking the Secrets of Kotaku: Hells Paradise Map Revealed
Hoko's insights in Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku provide crucial information on the Elixir of Life and the island's structure As a creature who has lived for over a thousand years, his knowledge is invaluable to Gabimaru and the group
The introduction of the mysterious arboreal creature, Hōko, in episode 7 of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku alongside Mei, provided Gabimaru and his group with invaluable information. Hōko, having been born on the island and lived for over a millennium, shared much-needed intel on the elusive Elixir of Life and the structure of the island. With his help, the group is now much closer to discovering the legendary elixir's location.
When asked about the source of eternal life, Hōko provided a simple map outlining the island's basic layout. According to Hōko, Shinsenkyō, also known as Kotaku, consists of multiple layers.
.
The concept of Kotaku in Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku draws inspiration from mythology and religion. Kotaku's three layers and the Tensen are inspired by the Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology, while the island itself is partly inspired by the utopian island where the immortals lived. Having been on the island for over 1000 years, Hōko's understanding of its structure is reliable. He explains to Gabimaru and the group that the island is divided into three regions, with the outer region known as Eishū. This is where people are most likely to encounter flowery landscapes and the various abominations that have been seen on Kotaku thus far.
The monsters on the island are known as the Sōshin, serving as guardians for the more valuable and elusive inner regions of the island. The village where Hōko and Mei live is located in the second region known as Hōjo, a valley beyond Eishū. The Sōshin nest in this part of the island, while the most important region of the island, Hōrai, is the location of the Elixir of Life. Hōrai is where an encounter with the superior beings known as the Tensen is guaranteed, as they guard the secrets of eternal life, each having walked a different path towards immortality.
Characterized by a stunning yet sinister landscape, the outermost region of Kotaku is home to Eishū, a place shrouded in mystery and danger. It is said that the secret to eternal life can be found here, hidden amongst the dazzling flowers that bloom from the bodies of unfortunate visitors. However, the island is fiercely guarded by deadly fauna and Sōshin, making survival nearly impossible for the average person. To increase the slim chances of success, the shogunate sends criminals with exceptional abilities to brave the abominations that lurk within Eishū.
The area known as Hōjo used to be home to a thriving population over a thousand years ago, until an incident occurred which led to the extinction of various kinds of life on Kotaku, including the people who once lived there. Nowadays, the only inhabitants of Hōjo are Hōko and Mei, who simply want to live in peace. The desolation of Hōjo is strikingly apparent, with the ruins of Hōko and Mei's village serving as one of the few points of interest in the area, which is engulfed by a thick blanket of fog.
The island of Hōrai is shrouded in legend and said to be home to the gods known as Tensen, as well as the elusive secret of immortality. Jofuku, a man sent to the island by the emperor of the Qin dynasty centuries ago, made it his mission to find the Elixir of Life. Instead, he discovered Kotaku and devoted himself to uncovering the secret to everlasting life. While little is known about the landscape or layout of Hōrai, it is speculated that the middle of the island may contain more artificial structures such as buildings, in contrast to the statues that are scattered throughout Kotaku.
