Unveiling the Mysterious World of Cursed Objects in Jujutsu Kaisen

Highlights

Cursed Objects, such as the remains of powerful individuals or spirits, play a crucial role in the plot of Jujutsu Kaisen and are of great interest to various characters.

Special Grade Cursed Objects possess immense power and possess the ability to repel Cursed Spirits. They are indestructible and often possess extraordinary supernatural abilities.

The Incarnation process entails a human consuming a Cursed Object, merging with its Cursed Energy, and becoming a vessel for it. This fusion of consciousness and physical form grants certain vessels the ability to manipulate the Cursed Object's powers, as seen with Yuji Itadori.

Introduced from the very beginning of Jujutsu Kaisen, Cursed Objects have played a significant role in driving Gege Akutami's dark fantasy series. The story follows Yuji Itadori, who is drawn into the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits after unwittingly encountering a finger from the original body of Ryomen Sukuna, a renowned sorcerer from the Heian Era. Throughout the series, other Cursed Objects like the Prison Realm, used to imprison Satoru Gojo, have played a prominent role in various story arcs.

Cursed Objects are feared for their dark histories and have captivated the interest of Jujutsu Sorcerers, Curse Users, and Cursed Spirits. Often, they are comprised of the remnants of powerful individuals or spirits from history, capable of being revived when consumed by a suitable host to harness their powers. This important concept has been explored at different points in the narrative, emphasizing its significance to the series' progression.

What Are Cursed Objects?

Cursed Objects, much like Cursed Tools, Cursed Spirits, and Jujutsu Sorcerers, are ranked accordingly. Any object that holds Cursed Energy and doesn't fall under the categories of Cursed Tools or Cursed Corpses qualifies as a Cursed Object. These items are found worldwide and greatly contribute to the growth of Cursed Spirits and the spread of Cursed Energy in their surrounding areas.

Certain Special Grade Cursed Objects, when sealed, can serve as protection against Cursed Spirits. These Objects are indestructible due to the Binding Vow used in their creation. By transforming into Cursed Objects, they no longer pose a threat to others. This explains why Ryomen Sukuna's 20 fingers could not be completely destroyed throughout centuries since his death.

Besides their usage in reviving individuals, Cursed Objects possess extraordinary supernatural abilities or can function as protective charms against spirits. An illustration of this is the Prison Realm, a Cursed Object of Special Grade believed to be composed of the remains of a Sorcerer named Genshin, who was an actual historical figure from Japan's Heian Era. This entity contains a robust barrier capable of imprisoning Satoru Gojo, one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world.

How Can They Be Created?

Only a select few Jujutsu Sorcerers possess the knowledge to convert a person's body into a Cursed Object after they pass away. Among them, Kenjaku stands out as one of the rare individuals who managed to form Binding Vows with numerous Sorcerers throughout centuries, specifically for this purpose. Sukuna holds the distinction of being the sole individual in recorded history to successfully transform himself into a Cursed Object after his demise, whereas most other Jujutsu Sorcerers required outside assistance in their attempts.

Generally, individuals commit such acts in order to revive themselves at a later time through a process called Incarnation, just like Sukuna. However, the chances of successfully doing this are not always in their favor. Additionally, Sukuna's fingers possess the unique ability to choose their own vessel. Moreover, their Cursed Energy is incredibly powerful, often attracting high-level Cursed Spirits to their location after remaining dormant and unused for centuries.

The Process Of Incarnation

When an individual consumes a mystical Cursed Object, they become a vessel for the Cursed Energy attached to that item, enabling their Incarnation. Typically, this means that the person becomes a physical embodiment of the owner of that Cursed Energy, granting them the ability to once again wander the realm of the living. While certain Cursed Objects have the power to completely alter the appearance and essence of the human vessel, others may only bring about a partial transformation.

This process involves merging the Cursed Object with the human flesh of the vessel, resulting in the suppression of the host's consciousness. Furthermore, the owner of the Cursed Energy linked to the Cursed Object will retain their original Innate Cursed Techniques and physical abilities, while also gaining the memories and knowledge of the vessel.

In certain cases, the vessel may possess enough power to contain the Cursed Object, preventing its full Incarnation. Yuji Itadori serves as a clear example of this phenomenon, functioning more as a "cage" rather than a traditional vessel. He is able to restrain Sukuna's power, except for occasions when he loses control to the ancient Sorcerer's will. Hana Kurusu is a similar case, although her connection with the ancient Sorcerer Angel is more symbiotic than that of Yuji and Sukuna.

Finally, the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings are a rare form of Cursed Object. Unlike other Cursed Objects, they do not contain the Cursed Energy of a deceased Sorcerer. Instead, they were created through a combination of a cursed spirit and a human. These unique items were sealed with a Binding Vow for over 150 years, remaining dormant until they were gradually acquired by Tokyo Jujutsu High School. Resembling human-like fetuses, each of the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings generates a hybrid creature that possesses both human and cursed spirit traits. These hybrids are capable of using Jujutsu and can be visible to ordinary humans, unlike other Cursed Spirits.

You can stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Crunchyroll and Funimation.