Shikigami in Jujutsu Kaisen can be pretty confusing concepts, especially due to the existence of Cursed Spirits. So, what is the difference?
Jujutsu Kaisen is a series filled with incredible concepts and ideas that are all held together by a complex and layered system of rules that revolve around Jujutsu sorcery. These rules govern the way that the world has worked for centuries and contain many interlocking parts that can either work for the benefit or the detriment of Jujutsu sorcerers. Both Cursed Spirits and Shikigami fall under these preexisting rules.
However, to many fans starting the Jujtutsu Kaisen series, a lot of these concepts can get pretty confusing. It is also quite easy to misunderstand the differences between Cursed Spirits and Shikigami as both seem to work in similar ways and can appear identical in terms of overall design as well. So, in this article, let’s break down the differences between these 2 misunderstood concepts! Shikigami
Shikigami are most easily be defined as creatures that can be summoned by Jujutsu users to aid them in any given situation. Though these creatures may resemble some Cursed Spirits, they are very different and those sorcerers that summon them in battle are referred to as Shikigami Users. These sorcerers can only summon certain Shikigami after defeating and taming them in a fight.
While these creatures are generally summoned through talismans, there exist some Cursed Techniques that summon them directly, such as Megumi’s Ten Shadows. Shikigami are also summoned to complete a specific task put to them by their summoner and will only go away once either the task is completed, they’re killed or the summoner’s Cursed Energy runs out.
Shikigami can also only be summoned via a medium that can exist, in Megumi’s case, as the very Cursed Energy of the summoner. The Ten Shadows technique uses Megumi’s shadows as a means of bringing the Shikigami into the physical world, as seen with them turning into a liquid shadow upon their defeat or desummoning. The existence of these creatures’ is completely predicated on the task given to them by their summoner as they effectively work like robots with no sense of identity.
