Bleach

The Soul King is the supposed ruler of Soul Society who resides in the Soul King Palace and is protected by the Royal Guard. In reality, he is a godlike entity that has been sealed, and his existence is tied to that of Soul Society, the Human World, and even Hueco Mundo. The Soul King is the father of Yhwach.

The Soul King is not involved in governing Soul Society and never interferes. Most Shinigami have never seen him. To them, he is revered and symbolic, but not present in their lives.

The Soul King’s sole purpose is to regulate the flow of souls into and out of Soul Society and keep the flow stable. Without the Soul King, the balance is lost and Soul Society, as well as the Dangai, Hueco Mundo, and the Human World, will all collapse into one. According to Yhwach, this results in the unification of life and death and the creation of a world without the fear of death.

At some point in history, when Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo were one single world, the Soul King appeared and separated the three realms, thereby creating the concepts of “life” and “death”. Sometime afterwards, the Soul King’s limbs and organs were separated from his body, an act for which Ichibē Hyōsube was present. After that, the Soul King was sealed up and had restraints placed on his powers by the Shinigami.

Soul King Palace is a separate dimension kept suspended above Soul Society that serves as the official residence of the Soul King and its Royal Guard.

The Soul King Palace consists of several layers, with one layer suspended above the other. The lowest level is comprised from many buildings of the same style to that of Seireitei. From this, a large stairway leads upwards to a wide and flat expanse, with both areas at the base and top of these stairs being lined by rows of huge, circular pillars. Floating above are five discs with numerous buildings on each, while suspended higher still is a large cylindrical structure that has a conical top and bottom.

The Soul King Palace is further protected by 72 barriers between it and the Seireitei. Should these barriers be forced open via clothing constructed from an Ōken, they cannot be closed off for 1 hour and 40 minutes due to the sheer defensive power of the clothing.

The Gotei 13 is the primary military branch of Soul Society and the main military organization most Shinigami join after graduating from the Shin’ō Academy.

While the history of the Gotei 13 remains largely unknown, the organization was founded by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who has stood at the head of the group since its inception.

The first generation of the Gotei 13 consisted of Yamamoto, Chika Shihōin, Kinroku Izuhara, Chigiri Shijima, Danjirō Obana, Furōfushi Saitō, Nobutsuna Shigyō, Batsu’unsai Katori, Entetsu Kumoi, Furuoki Ōtogawa, Yachiru Unohana, Uhin Zenjōji, and Saizō Sakahone. Shunsui Kyōraku considers this generation to be the strongest version of the Gotei 13.

According to Yhwach, the Quincy King, the original Gotei 13 were “defenders” in name only, comprised of nothing less than a brutal mob of the most dangerous killers in the Seireitei, but it was for this very reason they were a force to be feared and able to enforce order, especially because Yamamoto was a ruthlessly pragmatic leader who would hold even his subordinates as expendable. In their pursuit of enforcing order, they were personally involved in the extermination of the Quincy race, whose actions against Hollows threatened the balance of life and death. It is noted that the Gotei 13 underwent dramatic changes after the extermination of the Quincy, mellowing out to become less brutal and barbaric in the ensuing peace, having now found a sense of justice upon discovering things to protect and treasure.

The Gotei 13 does not normally operate as a cohesive unit. The command of the divisions is generally left to the discretion and oversight of its particular captain, who commonly runs it whatever way they see fit, allowing for the change of a division’s traditional duties to an entirely new set and even the creation of a separate institution connected to the division. The Gotei 13’s main duty is to defend the Seireitei from hostile threats, but they are allocated districts in Rukongai to defend. In addition to these duties, Shinigami have to deal with the business of being assigned to the Human World.

The only general authority to call forth a combined front is an edict from the Central 46 Chambers, or more often the Captain-Commander. It is not uncommon for division captains to not see each other as a whole group for long periods of time, except for cases involving a threat to all of Soul Society required unified efforts, a captain’s punishment, or, to a lesser degree, a captain’s promotion. On a regular basis, the captains are spread out all across Soul Society doing their divisions’ duties, whatever they may be.

The Gotei 13 is made up of thirteen divisions, with several divisions having certain specializations.

The Gotei 13 was formerly led by the Captain-Commander, who had the statutory authority to conduct all the affairs of the Gotei 13 while deferring to the authority of the Central 46 Chambers in civil and legislative matters involving the Soul Society.

As with any army, the Gotei 13 has ranks. There are 20 ranks for officers, but no ranks for non-officers. The lower the number is, the higher the rank. The ranks and their descriptions are below, from highest to lowest in terms of strength. The Gotei 13 is an organization with a merit-based hierarchy based on demonstrations of skill, experience, and power, and has disposed of the system of rank based on seniority. Abilities and efficacy to obtain results are the only criteria used to determine one’s rank.

A Captain is the leader of one of the thirteen divisions (with the special case of the Captain-Commander).

The captains congregate in the main hall of the First Division Headquarters to discuss important issues involving their specific divisions and matters which affect Soul Society. This council is highly formal, with the captain-commander leading its proceedings. All captains are considered equal (with the exception of the captain-commander), and determine the course of their individual division unless dictated otherwise by the captain-commander. Votes are carried out via a unanimous consensus.

Captains are generally the most respected and powerful Shinigami within the Soul Society, with the leaders of the Kidō Corps and Onmitsukidō possibly being of equal status. Initially with one exception, all captains are able to utilize the final stage of their Zanpakutō, and are far more powerful than even their lieutenants. Knowing Bankai gives captains an average of five-to-ten times the strength of Shinigami who are unable to perform it.

They function as Chief executive officers, and they determine the course, organization, tactics, and policy of their division. The power a captain has over his/her division is absolute and cannot be questioned by subordinates or the captains of the other divisions. A captain can choose to change the division specialty (which Kisuke Urahara did upon becoming captain of the 12th Division). Due to captains having supreme authority in their respective division, the divisions are separate entities and not a cohesive military. In this way, they only have the right to punish the actions of their subordinates and not those of other divisions unless the division in question has no current captain or the subordinate’s actions are against the laws or rules of Soul Society.

The true power of Soul Society lies in the captains of the Gotei 13, as they are the leaders of its military arm and the vanguards against any threat the Soul Society may face. With them at full strength, Soul Society is deemed safe and almost unbeatable. If they are broken and disjointed, their strength dwindles, making them highly vulnerable.

Shinigami all have a salary. Captains receive an initial salary of ¥2,000,000 per month, from there a raise is issued through each fiscal year and a performance-based merit system. They are also assigned Captain’s Chambers to live in or, if they have a family, can move into the Officer’s Mansion District.

There are three different ways to become a Gotei 13 captain:

Captain Proficiency Test: A test which requires the ability to perform Bankai. Nearly all Shinigami become captains using this method. At least three existing captains, including the Captain-Commander, have to witness the test.

Personal Recommendation: To have personal recommendations from at least six captains and approval from at least three of the remaining seven.

Trial by Combat: To defeat and kill an already acting captain in one-on-one combat with at least 200 witnesses from the captain’s division. This method is seen as being the exceedingly rarest and the least refined of the three. The method is commonly looked down upon by some captains as barbaric and outdated compared to the other refined methods. This method allows one to bypass having the mastery of Bankai or other possible abilities which a captain would otherwise be required to have knowledge of, for it allows no judgment from captains who would require those skills as a prerequisite to join their ranks. Though rare in other Divisions, the Eleventh Division has been set up to exclusively utilize this method, with each captain attaining their rank by killing their predecessor in combat.

Most Gotei 13 personnel wear the standard Shinigami uniform, called Shihakushō - a white shitagi, a black kosode, a black hakama, a white hakama-himo, white tabi, and waraji. The black kosode has its owner’s division insignia emblazoned on the inside. Lieutenants sometimes wear an armband which carries their division symbol and its number, usually on their left arm. They are required to do this when they are summoned to a meeting, but apart from this, it is rarely compulsory.

Lieutenants function as executive officers for their division, taking care of or supervising day-to-day operations. Along with their captains, they are not assigned to one specific squad. They generally only know the Shikai of their Zanpakutō but they are still the second strongest in their division. In the case of a division captain’s death, departure, or other circumstances making them unable to perform their duties, the lieutenant acts as the “substitute captain” until another can be assigned.

The authority to appoint or dismiss a lieutenant lies solely with the captain of the respective division, a privilege which was granted to them with the support of the Central 46 Chambers. Captains reserve the right to appoint multiple lieutenants at a single time, though this is rarely done due to it being both considered highly unorthodox and heavily frowned upon by the Central 46 Chambers. Though rarely exercised, any potential candidate retains the right to decline the nomination.

Lieutenants receive an initial salary of ¥700,000 per month.

Seated officers are the remainder of the officers in the Gotei 13 which hold ranks at or below 3rd Seat. Captains and lieutenants have the ranks of 1st and 2nd Seats, respectively. Next to that, there are 18 more seats (3rd-20th). In the Gotei 13, only one person can hold a senior officer rank (3rd-10th seats), but there are several holders of junior officer ranks (e.g. 20th seat). This varies from division to division, for there are two 3rd Seats in the 13th Division. Seated officers often lead sub-units within each division (for example, 3rd Seat Hanatarō Yamada is leader of the 4th Division’s 14th Advanced Relief Team).

A Shinigami’s starting salary is ¥200,000. As they rise in the ranks they earn raises.

Officers do not necessarily serve in their assigned division for life. It is customary to be transferred to another division after gaining some experience, an event which often coincides with a promotion.

Each Division is made up of just over 200 Shinigami, with the Gotei 13’s standing force being just around 3000 total enlisted troops. The Shinigami are typically recruited through the Shinigami Academy, but it must be noted not all graduates make it into the Gotei 13. Graduates from the Academy are required to take an entrance exam for the Gotei 13, and only those who pass are allowed to join. This exam can be taken multiple times. The influence of the Noble Families can somewhat undermine this process, as Rukia Kuchiki graduated early and was placed into the Gotei 13 from Byakuya Kuchiki’s workings.

Each of the 13 divisions in Gotei 13 have their own symbol which represents the division’s primary role. When a power limit is placed on a captain or lieutenant, their symbol appears on a certain part of their body until the limit is lifted. Each symbol has a specific meaning.

Captains wear a white haori over the usual black Shinigami clothes, with the number of their division on the back inside the Gotei 13 symbol (a rhombus). Some captains have long sleeves, while the others do not. The color of the underside is division — or at least captain — specific, for every captain has a different color of it. The haori is meant to signify a captain’s status, and Yamamoto was furious when Captains Kuchiki, Kyōraku and Zaraki lost theirs in battle and were acting indifferent about it.

Humans are normal, living people, most of whom cannot see or sense spirits in any way. One in 50,000 Humans is a medium with some awareness of nearby ghosts, but only a third of these are able to see them clearly and only the strongest of mediums are able to speak with or touch ghosts. Certain unique Humans naturally have both the power to sense and the strength to fight them. Ordinary Humans can gain the ability to interact with spirits by spending time around a large source of spirit energy.

Fullbringers are a subset of Humans, being that they are living beings who are spiritually aware and were born with the eponymous ability Fullbring, which allows them to manipulate the souls that reside in all physical matter. Their powers are constituted by Hollow Reiryoku.

The Quincy are spiritually aware living beings who use weapons composed of spiritual energy to slay Hollows. Quincy absorb and channel energy from their surroundings to fight, obliterating the Hollow’s soul entirely rather than purifying it and sending it to Soul Society. This method has the propensity to shatter the balance of the universe, because when souls are destroyed, the number of souls entering and leaving Soul Society cannot remain equal.bThis issue prompted the Shinigami to exterminate most Quincy about 200 years ago.

A plus is a benign spirit of a Human that has died.[9] A chain, known as the Chain of Fate, protrudes from the chest. This chain originally connected the Plus to their living body, but is severed upon death. Occasionally it binds the Plus to a location, object or person that they felt close to in life. Normally, pluses are sent to Soul Society by Shinigami, but if the Chain of Fate is corroded entirely before this can be done, the Plus will become a Hollow. If the Chain of Fate is torn out deliberately, this also leads to spiritual degradation.

A group of Shinigami who have also obtained Hollow powers through “illegal” means, gaining removable masks and access to certain Hollow abilities.

Shinigami; “Soul Reaper(s)”) are guardians of the souls who are going through the circle of transmigration. Having been called Balancers

they purify Hollows who do evil in the World of the Living and ensure the safe crossing of souls — the Pluses who have lost their way after death — by giving them a soul burial. Shinigami are the opposite of the Quincy.

Shinigami are unearthly beings living in a world ruled by a different logic than the World of the Living. They possess high Reiryoku and a body of Reishi. They are invisible to those without spiritual powers.

All Shinigami have vents at their wrists which release their Reiatsu. If they are blocked off, the Shinigami in question would be incinerated by their own Reiatsu from the inside out. If a Shinigami’s Saketsu and Hakusui are pierced, their spiritual powers are sealed up and they most likely can never regain their lost powers again.

Longevity: Shinigami can live for far longer and likewise age much slower than Humans.

The Hollows are evil spirits who normally reside in Hueco Mundo, but travel to the Human World to feed on the souls of the living and dead alike. Like Shinigami, Hollows are made of spiritual matter and cannot be detected by ordinary Humans. While the majority of Hollows can be overcome by the average Shinigami, there are some which surpass even the most elite Shinigami in strength. All normal Hollows wear white masks and have a hole where their heart used to be.

Arrancar are an evolution of Hollows that have broken off part of their Hollow mask. By shattering their masks, these Hollows regain the ability to reason, sometimes obtain a Humanoid form, and gain access to Shinigami-esque powers, such as a Zanpakutō of their own.

The spirit embodying a Shinigami’s Zanpakutō that resides within their master’s inner world. A Zanpakutō Spirit is a part of their Shinigami’s soul, and their appearance and abilities are a reflection of this. They exist in tandem with their master; they are born alongside their Shinigami, and die with them.[13] A Zanpakutō Spirit’s power is separate from that of their owner, and when a Shinigami draws on this power in addition to their own, their Zanpakutō will become even stronger.[14] They dwell within the inner worlds of their Shinigami masters.

“Transcendent Beings” are beings who, through various means, have ascended past the limits of the other races. Such examples include the Soul King, Yhwach through absorbing the Soul King’s powers, Sōsuke Aizen through the Hōgyoku, and Ichigo Kurosaki due to being a hybrid of all races.

Reiryoku: Shinigami naturally possess high levels of Spiritual Power which varies greatly in magnitude with the strength of a Shinigami. The more power a Shinigami has, the sharper their movements will be. A consequence of having Spiritual Power is that unlike powerless spirits, Shinigami need to eat.

Reiatsu: Reiatsu is the pressure exerted from a Shinigami’s Reiryoku, and is used for their various techniques. The Reiatsu of a Shinigami will continue to flow for as long as the heart is still beating; if the heart beats, it is impossible for the Reiatsu to cease. Due to this, prisoners, such as Aizen, who cannot have their heart stopped by any executioner in Soul Society are kept in Muken.

There are some Shinigami who exist in exile, namely Yoruichi Shihōin, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Kisuke Urahara. They will work with the Shinigami at times but still remain in exile.

Konsō: the process by which a Shinigami sends wandering Pluses in the Human World to Soul Society if they are good in life or Hell if their life was full of evil acts (such as murders, theft, etc.). Konsō is performed by using the hilt of the Shinigami’s Zanpakutō, tapping the soul on their forehead and transporting them to the afterlife.

Hollow Cleansing: When a Shinigami slays a Hollow with their Zanpakutō, they cleanse their sins. Once this takes place, a Hollow will return to its former state as a Plus and is led into Soul Society. This is called sublimation. Souls that live in Soul Society are reborn again into the Human World. Not all Hollows are sent to the Soul Society. Since Zanpakutō are only capable of cleansing sins committed after becoming a Hollow, Hollows that committed serious crimes when they were still Human are sent to Hell when they are slain.

Gigai: The temporary bodies that Shinigami use in the World of the Living. They were created by the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.

Jigokuchō: The butterflies that Shinigami use to lead them to the World of the Living. They are also used as messengers in Soul Society.

Spiritual Limiter: All Shinigami captains and lieutenants have their spiritual energy reduced by about 80% when they enter the Human World by use of a spiritual limit, represented by a seal called the Gentei Reīn, which resembles the symbol unique to their Division, in order not to cause unnecessarily high damage while there. In extreme cases, where their full power is needed, they can request a limit release. The command to release the seal is “Restriction Removal”.

The Hollow mask which covers the head. Unlike the masks of the Arrancar, the masks of the Visored are undamaged. The Visored remain in complete control while wearing their masks. According to Aizen, the fusion of the two spiritual entities allows these Shinigami to reach power levels far surpassing that of either a Hollow or a Shinigami.

The Visored use their Hollow powers to augment their existing Shinigami abilities, granting them massive increases in speed, stamina, and strength.

The only known side effect in donning their Hollow masks is the specific time limit, which varies from user to user.

Seireitei is a large city in the center of Soul Society and serves as the home of the Shinigami and the Noble Houses.

Seireitei is a circular shiro with four main entrances, ten days walk apart, each guarded by one of the Gatekeepers. These gates are collectively called the Four Great Pure Soul Gates: these gates are made up of the Northern Black Ridge Gate, the Eastern Blue Stream Gate, the Southern Red Hollow Gate, and the Western White Way Gate. The gates are so heavy that it takes the full might of Jidanbō Ikkanzaka to lift one. There are, however, doors within the gates, to allow passage of individuals when needed, such as when Momo Hinamori first entered the Shin’ō Academy.

The walls of the Seireitei, known as the Seireiheki, are made of Sekkiseki, a rare type of stone known to negate all Reiryoku, similar to magnetic lodestones. The stone also forms a spherical barrier known as the Shakonmaku around the city, extending above and below, stopping anything spiritual from breaching it from ground level, from the sky or from underground.

The wall that surrounds the Seireitei is commonly held up, only closing down when there is an emergency. When it is not down protecting the Seireitei, the wall protects the Soul King Palace, located in an inner dimension.

Information about the Seireitei is confidential. What is known is that in the center of the Seireitei is a white tower known as the Senzaikyū, where criminals are imprisoned; on the hill adjacent to it is the Sōkyoku, where prisoners are executed. Those permitted to live in the tranquility of the Seireitei are Shinigami and the Noble Houses. Shinigami live in the Division barracks, while high-ranking officers commute from their own homes.

The majority of the residents of Seireitei, nobility and Shinigami alike, do not interact with the citizens of Rukongai. However, residents of Rukongai, like Renji and Rukia, are allowed to apply for the Shin’ō Academy, which is often the only escape from the poorest conditions of Rukongai.

Following the Quincy War 1000 years ago, the Quincy who would later become the Wandenreich fled to the Seireitei and used Reishi to create space in the “shadows”, effectively creating a world within the Seireitei, unseen to outsiders. These Quincy were able to move between their world and the Seireitei, as they were technically there to start with. The Wandenreich can absorb the Reishi particles of the Seireitei to reveal their hidden world. The area is known as the Schatten Bereich, which Yhwach cannot leave for more than a certain period of time before having to retreat.

The Four Great Seireimon are protected by the Four Great Seireimon Gatekeepers. They are all giants who have the strength to lift the gates made of Sekkiseki.

The Noble Houses of Soul Society have an unclear role in the culture, social and governmental aspects of that dimensions existence. The Four Noble Families carry the most weight and appear to have some influence over the governmental institutions (i.e. Central 46 Chambers) and even institutions outside of the government (i.e. Shin’ō Academy). The military (i.e. Gotei 13, Kidō Corps & Onmitsukidō) have no authority to act against a noble family without evidence that their actions are treasonous to Soul Society.

By tradition, the head of the Shihōin family leads the Onmitsukidō. Also known as the Tenshiheisōban, they are the Caretakers of the Hōgu and Bugu said to have been bestowed on them by the gods.

The Onmitsukidō, also called the Secret Mobile Unit/Corps, Special Forces or Covert Ops, is the second largest organization that Shinigami join, and one of the three main branches of military in Soul Society.

Although by nature an organization separate from the Gotei 13, the clan which possessed superior abilities as Shinigami among the Four Noble Families, the Shihōin Clan, filled the role of the Commander-in-Chief throughout the generations, while also having their clan leader take the post of division captain within the Gotei 13. Having served her post as 2nd Division captain, the then Commander-in-Chief, Yoruichi Shihōin, had strengthened the image of the organization’s direct influence of the 2nd Division, as every head of the five divisions have all been ranking officers within the 2nd Division.

The Onmitsukidō is one of the three forces under the direct supervision of the Central 46. If the Gotei 13 operate openly, the Onmitsukidō patrols and conducts surveillance in enemy territory and carries out top-secret operations, such as assassinations and the execution of Shinigami who have broken the law.[2] If the Gotei 13 are considered an exterior guard, then the Onmitsukidō is an interior, covert guard.

The hierarchy of the Onmitsukidō is based on a traditional feudal model. There is a high ranking clan with attached lower ranking families under them.

Commander-in-Chief who has the statuary authority to conduct all the affairs of the Onmitsukidō; while deferring to the authority of the Central 46 in matters involving the Soul Society and the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 in all military matters.

Corps Commander: The rank given to each one of the five divisions of the Onmitsukidō. Given that the Onmitsukidō is currently tied with the Gotei 13’s 2nd Division, each Corps Commander also holds a Seated Officer position in said division. The Commander-in-chief of the Onmitsukidō generally also commands the top division of the Onmitsukidō, which is the Executive Militia and it is known that the lieutenant is the Corps Commander of the Patrol Corps and the 3rd Seated Officer is the Corps Commander of the Detention Unit. It may be said that the order of the five divisions also goes in order of the top five officers of the 2nd Division. (Unlike the Gotei 13 captains, the Commander-in-chief has several bodyguards, though its current Commander-in-Chief Suì-Fēng has never been seen with any.)

The Onmitsukidō’s tasks are execution and assassination as well as supervision of criminals. Five smaller divisions carry out these duties. 2nd Division seated officers serve as the leaders of these five divisions. The seat rankings of the 2nd Division are not based on ability, but based according to the division they lead.[4]

There are five divisions within the Onmitsukidō, for which the first has the most authority while the fifth has the least.

Members of the Kuchiki family have been known to wear Kenseikan in their hair, which symbolizes their nobility as one of Four Noble Families. The Kuchiki family also has a white scarf made by the master weaver, Tsujishirō Kuroemon III. The scarf is made from the Ginpaku Kazahana no Uzuginu, a silver-white, windflower light silk, and is a family heirloom that is handed down from generation to generation and is given to each Kuchiki family head. The scarf alone is worth enough to buy ten mansions in the Seireitei. By tradition, the family has been charged with compiling and protecting the history of Soul Society. The family resides in the Kuchiki Manor.

Zanpakutō are the trademark weapons of the Shinigami. Capable of cutting spiritual bodies, they are among the few weapons which can be used to combat Hollows. Each Shinigami carries a Zanpakutō, and each Zanpakutō is unique: the swords are reflections of a Shinigami’s power and soul, and sentient beings unto themselves. The Zanpakutō’s name is the name of the living spirit which empowers the sword and lends its strength to the Shinigami who wields it. These beings can vary greatly in appearance, and have their own distinct personalities, which are similar to their owner’s.

A Zanpakutō’s shape and abilities are based on their Shinigami’s soul. Once a Shinigami learns his/her Zanpakutō’s name, they can communicate with one another and grow stronger together. Zanpakutō are born with their Shinigami, and they die along with their Shinigami. Shinigami use them in battle as a reflection of their heart. When released, they can display a vibrant power. They are one with the Shinigami, and they share a Shinigami’s conviction.

The only known exception to how a Zanpakutō is unique to the Shinigami carrying it is the Shinken Hakkyōken, in which it is a Zanpakutō passed down from one generation to another of the Ise Clan. Because they are bound to this blade, it is impossible for members of the family to create their own unique Zanpakutō.

Inside each Zanpakutō is an incarnation which manifests itself upon the Zanpakutō’s transformation. The first step is to acquaint oneself with this incarnation.

A Zanpakutō Spirit is a part of their Shinigami’s soul, and their appearance and abilities are a reflection of this; as such, they also share their master’s resolve. They exist in tandem with their master; they are born alongside their Shinigami, and die with them. A Zanpakutō Spirit’s power is separate from that of their owner, and when a Shinigami draws on this power in addition to their own, their Zanpakutō will become even stronger. They dwell within the inner worlds of their Shinigami masters.

Though a Zanpakutō Spirit’s personality is also influenced by the soul of their master, they possess their own thoughts, feelings, opinions, and desires, which may differ from their master’s to varying degrees. Additionally, Zanpakutō Spirits are unwilling to teach their masters new techniques, and will engage them in battle in order to determine whether or not they are worthy. They can also determine if their master is worthy of wielding their power.

The most common method of communication between a Shinigami and their Zanpakutō Spirit is called Jinzen, where the Shinigami places their Zanpakutō nearby, enters a meditative state, and merges their mind with that of their Zanpakutō Spirit while entering their inner world. However, a Zanpakutō Spirit can also pull their master into their inner world or manifest itself in the real world in order to speak with their master.

Normally, the Zanpakutō spirit can only be seen by its wielder. Otherwise, they dwell in their own “inner world”, created within the minds of the Shinigami who wield them. As such, each Shinigami’s inner world is drastically different from another Shinigami’s, and is unique to themselves. A Zanpakutō’s spirit can bring its wielder into its inner world, though Shinigami can voluntarily achieve this simply by meditation.

All Zanpakutō have two levels of release. The first one is Shikai and the second one is Bankai. One must be able to perform both of them to become a captain. The power and forms of Shikai and Bankai are dependent on the Zanpakutō, and vary according to the wielder’s strength and training.

Shikai form available to a Zanpakutō. To activate it, the Shinigami needs to learn the name of their Zanpakutō. This is not as easy as simply picking a name, for the living spirit of the Zanpakutō already has its own name. The Shinigami must be able to communicate and harmonize with their Zanpakutō effectively, which requires being able to speak to the spirit within its world. Gaining access to one’s Shikai and releasing it for the first time is known as Manifestation.

Bankai is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakutō. To achieve Bankai, one must be able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō spirit. Materialization means the opposite of getting dragged into the Zanpakutō’s inner world: the wielder needs to summon the Zanpakutō’s spirit into the physical world. It usually takes 10 years or more to achieve, plus the experience needed to master it. Despite the Zanpakutō spirit being subjugated for their Shinigami to learn Bankai, the Zanpakutō also becomes stronger and learns Bankai at precisely the moment their Shinigami learns it. Even though Bankai is the final stage of a Zanpakutō, it does not mean the Shinigami’s growth ends there. A Bankai, especially one recently obtained, can evolve even further as its Shinigami gets stronger. Furthermore, obtaining Bankai allows a Shinigami to release their Shikai without calling its name, although some Shinigami still choose to release their Shikai by calling its name.

Arrancar are a group of Hollows that gained similar powers to that of a Shinigami by removing their masks. The individuals that Aizen turned into Arrancar using the Hōgyoku generally possess powers far beyond those of previous Arrancar, with some exceptions like Coyote Starrk and Ulquiorra Cifer. Especially powerful Arrancar were assigned ten numbers by Sōsuke Aizen and came to be known as the Espada.

Arrancar are the result of Hollows removing their masks. However, an average Hollow removing their mask would not be a problem for the Gotei 13: to hold their own against the Gotei 13, the ones removing their masks would need to be Gillian or stronger. Pseudo-Arrancar have not developed much in the past few decades. Sōsuke Aizen was the first to create a breakthrough; Aizen managed to create a full Arrancar by using the Hōgyoku.

There is a hierarchy among the Espada; a higher-ranked member can give orders to lower-ranked members.

According to Ulquiorra, any Espada ranked 4th or higher are not allowed to release their Zanpakutō within Las Noches, nor are any Espada allowed to discharge a Gran Rey Cero as both are powerful enough to destroy the majority of Las Noches.

The Royal Guard also known as the Zero Division, is an organization that is dedicated to the protection of the Soul King, the Royal Family, and the Soul King Palace.

The Royal Guard is a special organization that performs services for the Royal Family. It has a considerable amount of fighting, organizational, and executive power compared to other organizations.

Since serving the royal family is the primary purpose of the Royal Guard, they do not interfere in Gotei 13’s affairs and the defense of Soul Society, even against major threats like Aizen and his Arrancar. They are known to do whatever is required by order of the Soul King.

Soul Society: The Soul Society consists of an expansive walled city, Seireitei in the center and four regions, each with 80 districts, outside of it. The districts outside of the Seireitei are known as the Rukongai and are the place where commoners live. The district number of the Rukongai (ranging from 1 to 80) also describes its conditions. District 1, the closest to Seireitei, is peaceful and orderly, while the most distant District 80 is filled with criminals and has the poorest living conditions. A king resides in another realm within Soul Society.

Hueco Mundo: Hueco Mundo is the desert-like world between the Human World and Soul Society where it is eternal night. Literally meaning “hollow world” (the word hueco can also mean “empty”), it is where Hollows reside when not hunting in the Human world, where they are undetectable. Entrances to Hueco Mundo are created by ripping the dimensional fabric between the two worlds (Garganta).

Hell: Hell is the destination of those who committed unforgivably evil acts during their lives in the Human world. When a Hollow whose mortal soul is too wicked to enter Soul Society is slain by a Zanpakutō, the gates of hell (giant doors held by skeletons) appear and begin to open. A giant, laughing spirit with a blade then spears the wicked soul and drags it down into hell.

It is against the law for a Shinigami to give their spiritual power to Humans.

It is against the law for a Shinigami to use any type of forbidden Kidō.

It is against the law for any citizen of Soul Society to create weapons of a dangerous nature not sanctioned by the feudal government. To do so is treason.

It is against the law to attack a captain. To do so is treason.

It is against the law to commit terrorist action(s) or attempt to overthrow the balance of Soul Society. To do so is treason.

It is against the law to commit murder.

It is against the law to kill a Human that a Shinigami has not been ordered to kill.

It is forbidden for a Shinigami to acquire or attempt to gain Hollow-like powers.

It is against the law for the Gotei 13 to meddle in the affairs of the noble families unless the family in question breaks one of the laws of Soul Society beyond a shadow of a doubt.

It is a crime for a Shinigami to remain in the Human World longer than a certain time limit.

It is a crime to lose a sacred treasure.

It is against the law to alter the Dangai records.

The Central 46 is an organization that serves as the judiciary authority of the Soul Society. Operating under a mandate from the Soul King, the influence of the Central 46 goes well beyond the boundaries of a judiciary authority and into those of legislative and operative authorities.

The Central 46 is comprised of forty wise men, gathered from all over the Soul Society, and six judges. These men are in charge of trying all Shinigami crimes, whether they were committed in Soul Society or the Human World. The Central 46 are also within their jurisdiction to order the use of deadly force by the Gotei 13, the Onmitsukidō or the Kidō Corps. Once a decision has been made, it is rarely overturned. While Soul Society has its own royal family and king, they reside within a distinct dimension outside of Soul Society and their rule is not felt by Soul Society’s residents. The Central 46 receives a mandate from the Soul King to act in his place and so are considered for all intents and purposes as the royal and the ruling class of Soul Society. However, the Central 46 have no jurisdiction over the Royal Guard or the Shin’ō Academy. Upon their deaths at the hands of Sōsuke Aizen during the Ryoka Invasion, Captain-Commander Yamamoto has taken over their normal duties. Some time later, the Central 46 is reassembled and resumes performing its judiciary duties.

The residential district of the Central 46 is an enclave in Seireitei called Seijōtōkyorin inside the Central 46 Compound. This enclave is forbidden for entry to anyone, regardless of their military or civilian status.

The proceedings take place in the underground assembly hall within the Central 46 Compound. Each of the Central 46 has a plaque with a number on it obscuring his face. These plaques are the only means to identify individual members. Investigations will be held by the Onmitsukidō in secret, at the behest of the 46. Defendants will not be told exactly what it is they are accused of until sentencing, nor what the source of the accusation was; they are only allowed to speak when they answer the questions addressed to them and will only rarely, if ever, be given a chance to speak for themselves. The evidence is deemed far more important than any testimony. The Central 46 has very little patience to breaches of protocol. Wanton disregard for the proceedings or contempt of the Central 46 will more than likely bring added charges or sentence.

The Central Underground Assembly Hall is where the Central 46 meets. It is an octagonal structure located in a large open space within the main building, and was also referred to as the Diet Building. Beyond the entrance to this structure there is a staircase leading down into the hall. The benches and high-backed chairs of the 40 wise men are arranged in two concentric rings, one higher than the other, surrounding an open area. In the walls there are recesses with stairs leading up to them, where the six judges are seated. There are large banners on its walls. It has thirteen levels of protection to keep out or at least stall intruders. During Aizen’s rebellion, the Assembly Hall was placed under lock down.

Notable events to occur in the Assembly Hall are the massacre of the Central 46 by Aizen, the manipulation of Rukia Kuchiki’s execution, the trial of Kisuke Urahara, which took place 101 years before the start of the story, and the sentencing of Sōsuke Aizen. On this occasion, the members of the Central 46 sat behind numbered screens to maintain their anonymity. The Hall was kept in darkness during the trial, with the only lights shining upon Urahara and his co-accused, Tessai Tsukabishi.

After the Wandenreich’s attack on Seireitei and the death of Captain-Commander Yamamoto, the Central 46 appoints Captain Shunsui Kyōraku to take over the position of Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and be the new captain of the 1st Division.[5] When Kyōraku later meets with the Central 46, they debate and argue with his decisions to have both Nanao Ise and Genshirō Okikiba serve as co-lieutenants as well as his first major decision as Captain-Commander to have Captain Kenpachi Zaraki trained in Zanjutsu. They ultimately have no choice but to accept Kyōraku’s decision, given the preexisting rule of Gotei 13 captains being allowed to appoint their lieutenants and because of Soul Society’s current inability to survive yet another invasion by the Wandenreich.

Zanjutsu is the fighting style for the Zanpakutō (i.e. sword fighting) and is one of the four basic fighting styles of the Shinigami. It is shameful for a Shinigami to not master at least this technique. It is the specialty of Captain Kenpachi Zaraki of the 11th Division.

Kendō is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional samurai swordsmanship. Yachiru Unohana is particularly masterful in this art.

The Sternritter are a group of powerful Quincy in the Wandenreich’s army, who play a pivotal role in the invasion of Soul Society, being tasked with purging the Shinigami.

The Sternritter, also referred to individually as just Ritter. are an order of extremely powerful Quincy who serve as the Wandenreich’s leading combatants. According to Akon, those Sternritter who participated in the first invasion of the Seireitei wield powers comparable to or greater than that of a Captain-level Shinigami. Each Sternritter is assigned a Schrift by Yhwach, which bestows them abilities; each Schrift is based off an English word and letter.

Jugram Haschwalth is the Sternritter Grandmaster. commanding the lower-ranking Ritter as Yhwach’s right-hand man and his imperial adviser. Furthermore, 1,000+ years ago, Hubert was the Vice-Captain of the Sternritter, under Haschwalth.

A select few (originally three) Ritter are appointed as Yhwach’s Schutzstaffel “Elite/Imperial Guards” and serve as his royal guard, being the order’s most powerful and valuable Sternritter who first become active to take on the Royal Guard for Yhwach. Among the elite guard, Lille Barro is the unquestioned leader as the first-ever Sternritter to receive a Schrift. Pernida Parnkgjas and Gerard Valkyrie are the incarnated left arm and heart of the Soul King, respectively. Later, Askin Nakk Le Vaar is promoted from the lower ranks during the second invasion of the Seireitei, and Uryū Ishida is assigned to the Schutzstaffel following the creation of Wahrwelt.

There is a clear divide in treatment between the Sternritter’s upper and lower echelons. When Yhwach personally makes an announcement, Haschwalth and the Schutzstaffel are permitted to stand on stage with him while the lower-ranking Sternritter remain in the audience. Furthermore, Yhwach and the Schutzstaffel do not attend meetings with the lower-ranking Sternritter; instead, these meetings where the lower Sternritter convene—held in Silbern’s Wörtlich Hall; German for “Literal Hall”, Japanese for “Sacred Knight Order’s Public Hall”)—are led by the Grandmaster Haschwalth, who passes down Yhwach’s orders. One particular law forbids any infighting among the Sternritter, violation of which is punishable by death.

Different Sternritter may harbor either feelings of camaraderie or dislike towards one another. Some have no qualms about insulting or criticizing one another for their shortcomings or failures, others will aid their fellow members in battle and if necessary protect them, and yet other Ritter have no issue with getting their peers caught up in the crossfire of their battles, even if if means harming them or controlling them against their wills in order to fight for them. Despite this, there are indeed those Sternritter who care for their fellow members, may see them as friends, and can be even angered when a fellow Ritter betrays and tries to kill them; some of the Sternritter even refer to each other by nicknames. However, there is also a streak of competitiveness between the Sternritter when it comes to attaining glory and receiving praise from Yhwach, even it means attacking and/or forcibly controlling their fellow members in the process.

All Sternritter are steadfastly loyal to their monarch, Yhwach, whom they refer to as “His Majesty” and hold in exceedingly high regard. Some have displayed a great deal of confidence in their emperor’s abilities while others are impelled to personally halt any enemies’ advancement towards him. Yet, differences in the degree of loyalty towards Yhwach are evident among the Sternritter. There are some willing to follow Yhwach’s orders even at the cost of their own lives,[34] some who will gladly accept a guaranteed suicide mission, and others who do not mind their own execution for being defeated so long as they die by Yhwach’s hand; even after being left for dead and having his powers stolen by Yhwach’s Auswählen, one member was still blindly loyal to him. On the other hand, there are some Sternritter who are loyal but not blindly so, thus being willing to question Yhwach’s decisions if they deem it warranted. Exemplary instances are when Yhwach named Uryū Ishida as his successor (the latter having been a recent recruit and stranger to all Sternritter, many of whom would have preferred Haschwalth and thus were dissatisfied) or when Yhwach decided to release Gremmy Thoumeaux amid the second invasion, despite other Sternritter describing him as a “monster” who, due to his unpredictable mentality, should have been kept locked up. Ultimately, three of the Sternritter came to assist the Shinigami for a chance to take their revenge on Yhwach for abandoning and nearly killing them via his Auswählen, aiming to personally kill the Quincy King in return (with one Ritter having held a grudge against Yhwach since as early as the time he first met him).

Yhwach himself considers the Sternritter to be all expendable, though some more than others. During the second invasion of the Seireitei, when Yhwach took his Schutzstaffel, Haschwalth, Uryū, and Nianzol Weizol to the Soul King Palace, the remaining Sternritter were labeled unnecessary and thus rendered sacrifices for the Auswählen. Upon successfully draining Ichigo Kurosaki of his Quincy and Hollow powers, Yhwach proceeded to use Auswählen on the last two surviving Sternritter, Haschwalth (his “other half”) and Gerard, declaring that he had no further use for any of them.

The Sternritter were created to invade and conquer Soul Society 1,000 years ago. Each member participated in an engraving ritual by drinking Yhwach’s blood; this enabled Yhwach to carve a part of his soul into theirs. This carving takes on the form of a letter, which is used as the designation of the Sternritter and grants them their unique powers. Upon the Sternritter’s death, the part of Yhwach’s soul they received is returned to him, who gains strength because of it.

Unlike the other Sternritter, Pernida Parnkgjas and Gerard Valkyrie did not receive powers from Yhwach and were assigned letters based on abilities that they already had.

All Sternritter wear a distinctive white, ankle-length cloak that features the Wandenreich insignia emblazoned on its back and often, a hood attached to the cloak’s collar, each with a button that resembles the Wandenreich insignia that fastens the cloak. Beneath this, the remainder of a personnel’s attire usually consists of a heavily customized variant of the standard Wandenreich uniform—a white double-breasted trench coat tied with a black belt, worn together with white-coloured trousers and boots.

Sternritter who are appointed as Yhwach’s Schutzstaffel wear a distinctive cloak known as the Hooded Coat over their clothing; this white, ankle-length cloak is fastened at the front with three buttons that resemble the Wandenreich insignia, and features a large, red Hagal rune on the left side.

Medallion: During their invasions of Soul Society, like various others within the Wandenreich, all Sternritter carry on their person a round device that is approximately the size of a person’s palm and has the Wandenreich insignia etched into its surface. When activated, this device is capable of stealing a Shinigami’s currently released Bankai in the immediate vicinity. The medallion’s owner can then proceed to use the stolen Bankai’s power at will, even after the original owner of the Bankai has died. However, they are unable to exploit this power fully, as noted by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, unless they train to control the Bankai which they stole. Yhwach has commanded that the Sternritter who took the Bankai of a captain is the one who will kill the said captain.