Bleach Terms

Acting Shinigami Permit - A small emblem with emblazoned with a (Hollow?) skull. Given to Shinigami whose activities can not be directly monitored, but are approved by the Gotei 13. It also acts as a Hollow alert device and can be used to identify oneself to Shinigami from Seireitei.

Adjuchas - The second level of Menos which sacrifices the sheer bulk of the Gillian form to become more intelligent and powerful. They are less common than their Gillian cousins, but are much more dangerous thanks to their enhanced form.

Arrancar - A Hollow that has removed its mask in order to obtain Shinigami powers and a Zanpakutou. This type of Hybrid can have its powers augmented by the effects of the Hougyoku. Unlike Shinigami, their Zanpakutou are sealed in order to hold back their Hollow powers, as opposed to unleashing their soul's dormant abilities.

Asauchi ("Shallow Hit")- A nameless Zanpaku that is given to unranked/training Shinigami. These weapons are incapable of utilizing Shikai and Bankai and are very weak.

Bakudou - Types of Kidou that are purely defensive in nature.

Bankai (Mystic Release) - The second and final form of a Zanpaku that allows the spirit within the blade to manifest directly into the spiritual world without restraint. Due to fact that the Zanpaku’s consciousness is no longer bound to channel its power directly through a weapon medium, the resulting effect is the absolute peak of spiritual energy output a Shinigami can achieve. With the spirit unbound and now in a direct symbiotic relationship with its corresponding wielder, Shinigami can use the Bankai to unleash the most devastating elements of their arsenal. Only the truly elite Zanpaku wielders of SoulSociety, the Captains of the Gotei 13, have been observed as total masters of this discipline. This in turn ranks them as the most powerful of Shinigami and a record in the annals of Soul-Society’s history.

Central 46 - The ruling government of Seireitei. It is traditionally composed of 40 legislators and six judges who all reside in the underground sanctuary known as the Seijoutou-Kyorin. Being the rulers of Soul Society, they hold authority over the Shinigami forces in the Gotei 13, Onmitsu Kidou, and the Kidoushuu.

Central Spirit Academy - An educational institution that was created by the late Gotei 13 Commander-General Yamamoto over two thousand years ago. It specializes in the instruction of potential Shinigami and upon graduation provides them eligibility to join the branches of Seireitei's forces.

Cero (Hollow Flash) - A high-level skill that advanced Hollows, such as Menos, use to either completely annihilate a single target or devastate a small area. Gathered in the mouth and then shot forward as a beam, this attack is known to be one of the most threatening at the disposal of a Hollow attacker.

Chain of Fate - A spiritual construction that binds one's soul to its corporeal body in the Living World. If the chain is severed, its links will consume one another in a process known as "corrosion" which ends in the transfiguration of the soul into a Hollow.

Commander-General - This is the single highest rank a Shinigami can achieve within the forces of the Gotei 13. The post’s responsibilities are to oversee the entire operation of the 13 Divisions charged with the defense of Seireitei and to administer certain necessary protocols within the troops including, but not limited to, certain Captain-level promotion exams, court-martial sentencing, and the executions of military criminals.

Corrosion - The process of decay of one's Chain of Fate. Once completed, the soul in question becomes a Hollow.

Dangai - The dimensional crack/space between the Living and Spiritual Worlds. Can only be safely traversed with the use of a Jigoku-cho.

Demon Arts - See Kidou.

Earthbound Spirits - See Jibaku.

Eishouhaki - See Incantation Bypass.

Espada - The "Ten Blades" of the Arrancar's forces who answer only to Sousuke Aizen. They are the Arrancar who possess the highest killing power after being augmented by the Hougyoku and are marked with a number indicating their rank somewhere on their person. Being a member of the Espada, an Arrancar can compel its cousins ranked 11 or lower to obey its orders.

Flash Step - See Shyunpo.

Fukutaichou - The Japanese term for Vice-Captain.

Gigai (False Body) - A Gigai (義骸) is an artificial body that allows Shinigami to remain in the human world for an extended period, either due to temporary loss of powers or extended missions. In certain circumstances, a Shinigami will need a way to stay in the human world for long periods of time, interact with the living, and/or recover their powers when the need arises, all of which they can't do in spirit form. Thus, the gigai was developed. While the body is synthetic, it functions and operates exactly like a natural one, including but not limited to blood flow and the like. Unlike the normal Shinigami body, a gigai is detectable by humans who are not at all spiritually aware, thereby allowing the Shinigami to interact with them. This also means that a Shinigami in a gigai has to behave like a normal Human, this task can prove to be somewhat challenging to inexperienced Shinigami, due to the cultural and technical differences between the Human World and Soul Society.

Gikongan (Soul Candy) - Devices dispensed to Shinigami in order to provide their Gigai with a proxy soul in times of emergency while stationed in the Living World. These proxy souls are much like Mod Konpaku, but lack any specialized ability augmentation for use in combat.

Gillian - The most common type of Menos that has been sighted by the Shinigami. Due to its colossal stature, it has earned the moniker, "Menos Grande" in the texts of Seireitei. It is of below-average, animalistic intelligence and is capable only of wanton destruction. On the tiers of the Menos, it is exceeded in ferocity and capability by the Adjuchas and the Vasto Lorde.

Gotei 13 (The 13 Court Guardians) - A defense corps whose ranks are filled by the Shinigami of Seireitei. They are charged with protecting the city as well as the souls of the living world.

Hadou - Types of Kidou that is purely offensive in nature.

Hakuda - Hand-to-hand combat; one of the five skills that Shinigami advance their skill in.

Hanki - A technique available to those who have experience in the use of Shunkou that allows one to completely cancel out an opponent's attack with a counter of equal power with unerring precision. It seems to be derived from the massive Kidou supply collected during the initiation of Shunkou.

Hell - See Jigoku.

Hirenkyaku - A highly advanced Quincy technique that gathers Spiritrons to one's feet for high-speed movement. Very similar to the Shinigami-developed Shyunpo.

Hohou - Speed and agility; one of the five skills that Shinigami advance their skill in.

Hollow - A malevolent type of spirit that is characterized by its eternal ravenous hunger. They are created when a Konpaku in the Living World is allowed to wander around in pain and sorrow for so long that their Chain of Fate corrodes completely and eats a hole in the soul's chest. Aside from the tell-tale hole, Hollows are also easily identified by a striking mask, which shields their true selves from the eyes of others.

Hougyoku - A substance created by former 12th Division Captain and Technology Institute founder Kisuke Urahara. It is known to dissolve the barrier within a soul that separates one's Shinigami and Hollow aspects and creates a hybrid spiritual being capable of wielding both sets of powers.

Hueco Mundo - The Hollow home plane that lies outside of the reach of both Soul Society and the living world. Not much else is known about this dimension other than the fact that it seems only Hollows can enter or leave its lands.

Huge Hollow - A type of Hollow, as its name implies, that has grown to gigantic proportions and easily overshadows small buildings.

Incantation Bypass - A technique used by Shinigami to skip the verbal component of a Kidou and proceed directly to its somatic component. The decrease in overall casting time however correlates to the Kidou's ensuing reduced effectiveness.

Inner World - A world born of introspection that resides in one's own soul. A Shinigami's Zanpakutou spirit can be found residing in this plane of existence.

Jibaku - An earthbound spirit in the process of becoming a Hollow. Its center is chained to a place that filled it with regret in life and remains there until it bursts and recombines into a Hollow.

Jigoku - Souls tainted with evil committed in the living world are sent here. Hollows whose sins occurred only in Hollow form are cleansed by a Shinigami's Zanpaku and are sent to Soul Society instead.

Jigoku-cho (Hell Butterfly) - A butterfly-like entity that assists Shinigami in traveling between Soul Society and the living world. It has also been seen acting as a messenger, delivering various announcements throughout Seireitei.

Kidoushuu - A group of Shinigami operating alongside the Gotei 13 and the Onmitsu Kidou that specializes in the usage of Kidou in battle.

Kiokuchikan - A device that Shinigami use to alter the memories of spiritually sensitive humans that may have witnessed a battle with a Hollow or any other major spiritual action.

Konpaku - A regular human soul.

Konsou - The act of affixing a seal to a Plus spirit that allows it passage to Soul Society.

Kouryuu - A substance in the Dangai which adheres to spiritual matter, trapping it forever within its home dimension.

Mekkakyu Juuji (Quincy Cross)- One of the most powerful artifacts known to the Quincy. Currently under the possession of Uryuu's father, the last fully trained and master Quincy, Ryuuken.

Menos - A being created by the fusion of numerous lesser Hollows into a single form. They are known for their signature Cero and Negation abilities as well as a base power that warrants an immediate dispatch of multiple experiencedl Shinigami to neutralize them once they appear. There are three types of Menos, each one smaller and stronger than the next (Gillian, Adjuchas, Vasto Lorde).

Menos Grande - See Gillian.

Mod Konpaku (Mod Soul) - An artificial soul that was created for the purpose of being housed in human corpses to animate them in battles with Hollows. Each one was engineered with a single superior strength, such as intelligence, arm/leg power, or hearing. The project that produced them was eventually scrapped by Soul Society and each one was systematically eradicated to prevent abuse.

Negation - A technique utilized by the Menos Grande to isolate and retrieve comrades.

Quincy - A reiatsu manipulating individual found in the living world. As opposed to other humans who develop unique powers and the Shinigami, those with Quincy powers do not utilize the powers of their own soul to do battle, but gather, group, and shape reiatsu in the immediate area to support them in battle. Since they can not presumably take the same amount of damage a Shinigami or Hollow can, Quincy fighters are adept at using long-range attacks in the shape of a reiatsu bow and arrows.

Ransoutengai - The most powerful Quincy technique ever developed. It utilizes reiatsu to support the user's body and allows it to move despite broken bones and massive injuries very much like a string puppet. Generally reserved for elder Quincy, this ability is so great that it allows one to fight up until they are completely destroyed.

Reiatsu - Reiatsu (霊圧, Spiritual Pressure) is the physical force/pressure that a person’s Reiryoku creates when released. Most Shinigami and Arrancar, even Quincies and Bounts can manipulate the release of their reiatsu.

Rukongai (Floating Spirit Town)- The areas of Soul Society outside the city limits of Seireitei. It is divided into 80 districts, with quality of life steadily becoming worse and worse the farther one dwells from the Shinigami city.

Seireitei (The Court of Pure Souls) -Seireitei (瀞霊廷, court of pure souls) is in the center of Soul Society. It is a circular shiro with four main entrances, ten days apart,[1], each guarded by a Gate Guardian. The walls of Seireitei are made of Sekkiseki (殺気石, spirit reducing stone), a rare type of stone known to negate all Reiryoku, similar to magnetic lodestones, which prevents the ability to gather Reishi underneath your feet to walk in the air whist within Seireitei. The stone also forms a spherical barrier around the city, stopping anything spiritual from breaching it.

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 Shinigami Academy, which is often the only escape from the poorest conditions of Rukongai. Some Seireitei residents, such as ex-commander of the Onmitsukidō, Yoruichi Shihōin, and the Shiba clan, do maintain residences outside the court.

Senzaikyuu (Tower of Penitence) - A massive tower in the heart of Seireitei made of a stone that suppresses spiritual power. It is used to house criminals awaiting sentencing/execution, hence its namesake.

Shikai (Initial Release) - The true form of a Zanpaku’s blade that is as unique to each Shinigami as the spirit the weapon houses and is activated through knowledge of the spirit’s name. In this state, the Zanpaku can be used as a medium for Shinigami to call upon a basic set of its hosted spirit’s abilities for use in battle. However, before any Shinigami can make use of their Zanpakuto’s Shikai they must first establish a certain level of trust with the weapon’s spirit and it’s true name. Since achieving this state is quite the accomplishment, only higher-ranked Shinigami such as those at or above the station of seated officer can call on this ability.

Shinigami (Death God) - A spiritual being that uses specialized techniques to harness the springs of power within their own soul to facilitate in combat and other tasks. They usually hail from Seireitei and are distinguished by a black seifuku and the Zanpakutou that they wield into battle. Their prime responsibilities include maintaining the balance between the Living and Spiritual Worlds and to help souls reincarnate by shipping off deceased individuals via Konsou to Rukongai in Soul Society.

Shunkou - An esoteric attack first developed by Yoruichi Shihouin that compresses waves of Kidou onto a person's back, arms, and legs in a single explosive moment. The additional support on a person's frame allows for high-speed, high-powered attacks as well as access to the unique Hanki technique.

Shunshin ("God of Flash") - The title given to the fastest person in all of Soul Society. Currently, it is held by Yoruichi Shihouin, the former commanding officer of the Keigun and the head of the Noble House of Shihouin.

Shunpo (Flash Step) - A technique used by advanced Shinigami that allows one's self to travel considerable distances in short amounts of time.

Soukyoku ("Dual Terminus") - A massive Zanpakuto reputed to be the equal of one million lesser Zanpakuto. When unsealed, it's powers magnify several times beyond that and is used only to completely annihilate those convicted of capital crimes against Soul Society. It materializes as a huge phoenix and seems to be capable of being unsealed only through the efforts of several specialized Shinigami.

Soul Burial - See Konsou.

Soul Candy - See Gikongan.

Soul Society - The home plane of Konpaku that have undergone Konsou as well as the Shinigami. It is divided into two main areas: Rukongai, where the vast majority of souls live, and Seireitei, where the enclosed city that the Shinigami call home.

Taichou- The Japanese term for Captain.

Tenshintai - A mannequin-like device utilized by Kisuke Urahara to forcibly materialize his Zanpaku's spirit in order to develop his three-day Bankai training method.

Vaizard - A Shinigami that has used forbidden methods to gain a Hollow's mask and powers. They are collectively known as a criminal force to the Shinigami of Soul Society.

Vasto Lorde - The most humanoid and deadly variety of Menos. Each one of these Hollows' strength exceeds that of the average Captain-level Shinigami and can cause massive amounts of devastation which dwarf that of its less evolved cousins. They are widely believed to be present only within Hueco Mundo.

Zanpakuto spirit - A fully sentient being that can be housed inside of a Zanpakuto. Originating from the soul of a Shinigami, they are a separate embodiment of their owner's powers, but are simultaneously part of the same individual. Depending on the relationship a Shinigami has with its Zanpakuto spirit, varying levels and qualities of Shikai and Bankai can be expressed in battle.

Zanpakutou ("Soul Cutting Sword") - The proper term for the primary weapon a Shinigami has at his or her disposal. While one looks like an ordinary katana when sheathed and initially drawn, Zanpakutou actually have two more forms other than this default sealed configuration. In order to use transcend the sealed state of a Zanpakutou however, a Shinigami must first establish a firm trust with the spirit inside of the sword and learn its name for use in commands. The initial release, or Shikai, of a Zanpakutou reveals the sword’s true shape for battle and allows the Shinigami wielding it to call on a variety of support abilities to aid in battle. A Zanpakutou’s second and final release, known as Bankai, fully liberates the Zanpaku’s spirit from its host blade and allows it to manifest directly outside of it. In this form, a Shinigami can optimum use of both his/her and the Zanpaku’s combined spiritual energy in the form of various devastating abilities.



Disclaimer: Some of these definitions are direct quotes from bleach.wikia and bleach-network.com. We do not take credit for any of them.