Warning: Contains spoilers for chapter #264 of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Summary
Jujutsu Kaisenhas finally givenYuji his most highly-awaited and final power-up, and it is secretly genius. The latest chapter ofJujutsu Kaisenfinally seesYuji cast his own Domain Expansionand the hand sign he uses points to a surprising Buddhist connection that reflects many aspects of Yuji’s character and could even reveal how the final battle will go down.
Chapter #264 ofJujutsu Kaisenfinally reveals Yuji’s Domain Expansion, which takes the form of a train station that Yuji and Sukuna are transported to. Thehand sign Yuji uses to cast his domain is associated with Kṣitigarbha, a bodhisattva known for his vow to guide lost souls to enlightenment and to liberate suffering souls in hell, before attaining enlightenment himself.
This is strongly reminiscent of Yuji’s initial ideals in the series of wanting to help people and be surrounded by the people he has saved before he dies, along with his initial preoccupation with the concept of a proper death. The hand sign and the train station-like appearance of his domain could also hint at Yuji possibly leading Sukuna to enlightenment in the final phase of their battle.
Gojo’s Inspiration In Jujutsu Kaisen Could Explain His Return
A Jujutsu Kaisen theory uses Buddhist symbolism to suggest that Satoru Gojo may potentially return in a stronger state than before.
Jujutsu Kaisen Finally Reveals Yuji’s Domain Expansion
Created by Gege Akutami Chapter #264, “Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 36”
Though the latest chapter does not reveal the name of Yuji’s domain, the connection to Kṣitigarbha does provide many clues and oddly fits with many elements of Yuji’s character and his story. For one, Kṣitigarbha’s name, which is Sanskrit, can be translated to “Earth Store” or “Earth Womb”. This could relate to howYuji was created to be the ultimate vessel by Kenjaku, almost as a perfected version of the Cursed Wombs.
Kṣitigarbha is also known as Jizōin Japan and is considered the protector and guardian of the souls of children, particularly those of fetuses who were stillborn, aborted, or miscarried. This could turn out to have greater significance inJujutsu Kaisendown the line once more ofSukuna’s backstory is revealed. Sukuna has previously referred to himself as an unfortunate child and has also implied that he ate his twin in the womb out of starvation, which oddly enough is what ties his fate to Yuji.
Interestingly, Kṣitigarbha is also referred to as the bodhisattva of hell and is said to descend to hell to save damned souls. This could again have an interesting connection to Sukuna, who uses the hand sign associated with Enamten, the king of hell, when casting his domain. All this points toYuji perhaps leading Sukuna to true enlightenment, saving his soul, which was split into multiple fragments into his mummified fingers, and finally giving Sukuna a proper death after a millennium.
Jujutsu Kaisen Teases Yuji and Sukuna May Be Going North
Interestingly, the platform featured in the latest chapter is one from theKitakami Station in Iwate, Gege Akutami’s hometown. Though the signboard in the panel displays Line 0, the appearance and layout of the platform down to the chair that Sukuna is seated in better resemble the platform for Line 12 at Kitakami Station, which is the Tohoku Shinkansen routeheaded north towards Shin-Aomori.
This could again be a sign that Yuji may be leading Sukuna towards true enlightenment. The concept of “going north” was first introduced during the famous airport scene in chapter #236 whereNanami described going north as starting anew. This idea of “going north” is also heavily tied to enlightenment in Buddhism, as Buddha is said to have taken seven steps north in his journey towards attaining enlightenment and Nanami’s description of being born anew perfectly aligns with this idea.
If so, Sukuna and maybe even Yuji may soon be presented with the choice of going north and being born anew in the chapters to come represented quite literally by the train headed north. This may again tie in with the connection to Kṣitigarbha guiding souls to enlightenment.
Could The Train Station in Chapter #264 Be The Afterlife?
Many fans have interpreted the train station scene in the latest chapter as being theafterlife or some form of limbo like the airport in chapter #236instead of Yuji’s domain. The final page of chapter #264 perfectly mirrors the beginning of chapter #236 with Yuji and Sukuna in the exact positions as Geto and Gojo. The fact that Sukuna appears to resemble Yuji again and the absence of Yuji’s scars, claws, and red gauntlets also seems to support the idea that this is no regular Domain Expansion.
That said, it does not make sense for Yuji or Sukuna to have died so abruptly right after Yuji cast his domain. The latest chapter also makes it a point to establish that Sukuna has regained the ability to use Reverse Cursed Technique after hitting two Black Flashes which goes against this hypothesis. Nonetheless, there is still clearly much that fans do not know aboutYuji’s Domain Expansionjust yet, but the upcoming chapter ofJujutsu Kaisenwill likely provide all the answers.
Jujutsu Kaisenis available from Manga Plus and Viz Media.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Cast
Jujutsu Kaisen follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student with extraordinary strength, who becomes intertwined with curses after ingesting a cursed object. Under the guidance of sorcerer Satoru Gojo, Yuji joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School to combat malevolent forces and navigate his new, perilous existence.
