The Six Paths of Reincarnation is a powerful ability used by Mukuro Rokudo which he acquired from each of the realms after repeatedly dying from the experiments conducted on him by the Estraneo Famiglia.
Description[]
In Buddhism, Saṃsāra is an endless cycle in which a person experiences birth, death, and rebirth infinity until they manage to reach nirvana.
Mukuro acquired his skills by having followed the way of the Six Paths which had been carved into his memories, possibly due to the experiments he underwent as a child; as he uses a certain skill, the kanji of the number referring to the path where the skill was obtained appears on his right eye.
Chrome Dokuro also shares the same skills with Mukuro, as she shares the same body with him.
The Six Paths[]
First Path[]
The Realm of Hell (地獄道, Jigokudou?, lit. Niraya Path), also known as the "Naraka Path" or the "Hell Path", is represented by the numeral kanji for "one" (一, ichi?) and grants Mukuro the power to create Real Illusions capable of manifesting in the physical world.
This power is a form of reality-warping, but the illusion must be preconceived before the power manifests. Seemingly, Mukuro can use this ability without projecting the illusion into the physical world, but within the target's mind.
Real Illusions were made by Chrome with Mukuro's help during the battle with Glo Xinia. During the Choice aftermath, Mukuro appeared in front of Byakuran as a Real Illusion with a mark from the Realm of Hell.
Second Path[]
The Realm of Hungry Ghosts (餓鬼道, Gakidou?, lit. Preta Path), also known as the "Preta Path", is represented by the numeral kanji for "two" (二, ni?) and grants Mukuro the power to use the skills of others. However, it seems that in order for him to perform a target's signature moves, Mukuro need to be currently possessing that person's body to do so.
Third Path[]
The Realm of Beasts (畜生道, Chikushoudou?, lit. Tiryagyoni Path), also known as the "Tiryagyoni Path" or the "Animal Path" (it's other name comes from the Middle Chinese word meaning "livestock; sacrificial animal") and is represented by the numeral kanji for "three" (三, san?), it grants Mukuro the power to summon and control deadly animals like poisonous snakes or wild dogs.
The phrase "Chikushoudou" is also a pun meaning "damn it".
Fourth Path[]
The Realm of Demons (修羅道, Ashuradou?, lit. Asura Path), also known as the "Asura Path", is represented by the numeral kanji for "four" (四, shi?) and grants Mukuro an increase in his combative capabilities.
When using this path, Mist Flames emerge from and surround Mukuro's right eye.
Fifth Path[]
The Realm of Humans (人間道, Ningendou?, lit. Manuṣya Path), also known as the "Manuṣya Path" or the "Human Path", is represented by the numeral kanji for "five" (五, go?) and increases Mukuro's battle aura, thus strengthening him.
Considered the most dangerous of the Six Realms, in order for him to enter it, Mukuro must first pierce his right eye which causes a type of aura resembling the Dying Will Flames to surround his entire body. However, unlike the Dying Will Flame, Mukuro's aura poses no danger in and of itself as it's merely a representation of Mukuro's fighting spirit.
Sixth Path[]
The Realm of Heavens (天道, Tendou?, lit. Deva Path), otherwise known as the "Deva Path" or "Heaven Path", is represented by the numeral kanji for "six" (六, roku?) and grants Mukuro the power to control the minds of others.
This is the path he used on Lancia, Futa and Guido Greco, as well as the one he uses continually on Chrome in order to help her. The Sixth Path also gives Mukuro the ability to project himself as a Real Illusion, which he did in his fight with Viper.
Trivia[]
- The ability is based on the realms of rebirth in Buddhist cosmology that refer to the cycle of life, death and rebirth.
- A person is reincarnated into one of the six realms depending on their accumulated karma from their past life.
- In the manga, Mukuro stated that he had 6 past lives to gain the Six Paths of Reincarnation, but in the anime, Mukuro stated that his body went through all six paths to Hades instead.
- In the anime, Mukuro does not pierce his right eye when entering the Fifth Path.