So, after waiting for more than 200 chapters, we see Yuji ‘The Cog’ Itadori get a much needed power up – Domain Expansion. In that sense alone – Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 264 was generational.
Itadori chose to unleash his domain expansion at the perfect time too – right when Sukuna’s cursed technique was not usable.
Now, we know that Gege Akutami has based the domain expansion hand signs on the Buddhist mudras. And Yuji’s domain expansion hand sign was no different.
As eagle-eyed fans have quickly discovered, the gesture bears a striking resemblance to a specific Buddhist mudra. In this article, we delve into the details of this hand sign, exploring its meaning and potential implications for Itadori’s character and storyline.
Itadori’s domain expansion hand sign explained:
Itadori’s domain expansion hand sign is based on the Kshitigarbha mudra in Buddhism. It is achieved by interlacing all fingers of both palms, turning them inwards, and then straightening both the middle fingers.
The important detail here is that the middle fingers don’t touch. If they did, then we’d have a different mudra on our hand.
Kshitigarbha is one of the four great Bodhisattvas in Buddhism. A Bodhisattva is an enlightened person who is on the path to becoming a Buddha, but chooses to stay and help others instead of attaining nirvana for themselves.
In Japanese, this deity is pronounced as Jizo (地蔵) and also known as Jizo Bosatsu. Kshitigarbha is especially known for his great compassion and kindness towards those who are suffering, which is showcased in the two very important promises he made (both are quite similar too):
- To help all beings: He vowed to help every single living being, from humans to animals, until the next Buddha comes.
- To empty the hells: This is the most famous of his vows. He promised not to become a Buddha until everyone suffering in hell is saved.
He is seen as a protector and guide for those who are going through difficult times. In Japanese Buddhism, he is also known as the protector or deceased children, guiding them to salvation by protecting them from demons and evil.
How Kshitigarbha ties in with Itadori:
While both Itadori & Kshitigarbha are from vastly different worlds, they share some intriguing parallels in their character arcs and motivations.
Both characters exhibit a strong sense of self-sacrifice and profound compassion for others. Yuji is willing to risk his life to protect others based on his late grandfather’s words. This is similar to how Kshitigarbha has vowed to help every single living being.
Many times in the series, we have seen that Yuji’s empathy drives his actions, which once again is similar to the Bodhisattva. We can also draw parallels to their strong willpower.
Itadori is relentless and has a never give up attitude. This is comparable to Kshitigarbha’s vow of saving everyone who is suffering in hell. Check out the latter’s quote to get a better idea – “Until hell is empty, I promise not to become a Buddha and I will smash my body and splinter my bones to save sentient beings.”
Also the connection to the hell here is also intriguing in my opinion.
According to Britannica, in Chinese Buddhism, Kshitigarbha (known as Dicang) is seen as the overlord of hell and is invoked when a person is about to die.
In other instances, he is also believed to take the form of Yama, the king of hell, and bring salvation to the most evil beings who are condemned there to suffer.
Now, Sukuna’s domain expansion hand sign is a reference to the Enma-ten, who is basically Yama.
The fact that both Itadori and Sukuna’s characters have connections to Yama shows that Akutami might have consciously chosen these domain expansion hand-sings to signify the connection between these two in the manga too!
The Kshitigarbha mudra for Yuji’s domain expansion also ties in with his current goal of wanting to separate Sukuna from Megumi’s body. Read on to know why.
In Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism) Kshitigarbha is one of the peaceful deities who is related to purifying elements of the body and mind.
He is also part of the deities who manifests in front of a deceased person while they are in the intermediate state between death and birth.
In JJK, Megumi is metaphorically between death and rebirth, having experienced a dissolution of both his body and his consciouness. And he is in desperate need to purify his body from the King of Curses.
So, it makes perfect sense that Yuji, whose major goal here is to save Megumi, used the Kshitigarbha hand sign. This is yet another point which proves the story-telling brilliance of Akutami, who doesn’t even miss out making the small details super interesting.
Yuji’s journey, though fraught with darkness, mirrors Kshitigarbha’s eternal quest for salvation, and I believe that the hand sign reference is spot on for the character.
What are your thoughts on Itadori’s domain expansion hand sign? Let me know them in the comments below!