Soul Society
Considered a spirit world or an afterlife, the Soul Society is the other half of the World of the Living. These two worlds exist together in harmony, allowing the balance of life and death to remain equal. Between the two, there is a flow of Souls, moving between to keep the balance in check, always equal and never unbalanced.
In the Soul Society, Souls of all types make their homes. Shinigami live and serve as balancers while Souls that have departed the World of the Living find rest in the Soul Society until they are reincarnated into the World of the Living. Myriads of Souls call the Soul Society home, but this place is little more than a small area of a greater plane of Souls. What is known as the Soul Society is actually the East Branch, while another area known as Reverse London is the West Branch.
Structure
Some describe Soul Society as a paradise, one that is oftentimes a better and safer place for Souls than any part of the World of the Living. Needs that one had when alive no longer must be fulfilled for survival, things like hunger and thirst are nonexistent. Even with this, the Soul Society is far from perfect. Aside from the slowed aging and the lack of hunger and thirst, life in the Soul Society can be much like that in the World of the Living.
The World of the Living and the Soul Society are essentially two sides of the same coin. The two planes run parallel to each other, allowing Souls to pass between when necessary. That being said, finding those that one knew in life once they reached the Soul Society is a near impossibility. Unless two Souls arrive in Soul Society together, they will rarely be reunited and will often join the myriads of Souls living together as a family of strangers. So much of the culture and government of the Soul Society is dictated by these realities, as well as one's level of Reiryoku.
Territories
Soul Society is split into two main areas and then into smaller districts to aid in governing. These two areas are far from equal and tend to create a divided structure that is defined wholly by one's spiritual power. Those Souls that lacked any form of spiritual power during their lifetime will often find themselves in the Rukongai while those with strong spiritual power will always find their way to the Seireitei eventually.Rukongai
The Rukongai comprises the majority of the Soul Society and is by far the most populated. Divided into 320 districts, the Rukongai supports a large number of Souls in varying levels of poverty. Those districts closest to the walls of the Seireitei are often richer, having shops, schools, and other infrastructure that one may find in well-off cities in the World of the Living. Those districts on the very fringes of the Rukongai are often the poorest, theft and crime rampant as the Souls there attempt to continue living somewhat fulfilling lives. Shops are rare, and those that do exist often have high prices. Schools are unheard of and children, mostly orphans, run ragged through the streets. These districts are the slums of the Rukongai and are often ignored, even by those in power.Seireitei
The Seireitei is the center of Soul Society, its architecture and government structures defining it as a place of power and strength. A circular shiro with four main entrances, the gates of the Seireitei are heavily guarded by the Gatekeepers, rarely allowing those without some level of Reiryoku into the city. The walls are made from Sekkiseki stone, a rare material that can negate all Reiryoku and creates a spherical barrier around the city that cannot be easily breached. The majority of the Souls that live within the Seireitei are part of the Gotei 13 or one of the Noble Houses. Their positions are determined by their power, allowing them a life of luxury compared to the Souls just outside the wall. Those within are the government and military, leading those on the outside, somewhat cluelessly.Life & Culture
Most Souls that come to the Soul Society experience the same lives and culture that they may have had during the era of feudal Japan with some additions that may better or worsen their lives. Those without Reiryoku will never hunger or thirst and their lifespans are greatly extended with centuries or even millennia being possibilities. Children are born to Souls much as they would be in the World of the Living and death is still a possibility, albeit a much lesser one. Those who do die in the Soul Society will find themselves reincarnated in the World of the Living with no memories of their past life.Culture of Souls
Those who enter with little Reiryoku may find their lives very similar to that in the World of the Living. Poverty, crime, and other issues plague many of the districts, creating instances of familial ties amongst complete strangers. As blood relatives are difficult to reconnect with here, Souls create their own families to survive whatever lifestyle their district dictates.Shinigami Culture
Those blessed with some level of Reiryoku will eventually find themselves in the Seireitei amongst the ranks of Shinigami. It is a militaristic life similar to that of the samurai of old but with many differences. Food and drink once again become a part of life and balance is an ever-present concept that one must be aware of.Laws & Punishment
Laws
- The ultimate law is to maintain balance.
- It is against the law for a Shinigami to give their spiritual power to Humans.
- It is against the law for a Shinigami to use forbidden Kidō.
- It is against the law for any citizen of Soul Society to create weapons of a dangerous nature not sanctioned by the feudal government. To do so is treason.
- It is against the law to attack a Captain. To do so is treason.
- It is against the law to commit terrorist action(s) or attempt to overthrow the balance of Soul Society. To do so is treason.
- It is against the law to commit murder.
- It is against the law to kill a Human that a Shinigami has not been ordered to kill.
- It is forbidden for a Shinigami to acquire or attempt to gain Hollow-like powers.
- It is a crime for a Shinigami to remain in the World of the Living longer than a certain time limit.
- It is against the law for the Gotei 13 to meddle in the affairs of the Noble Families unless the family in question breaks one of the laws of Soul Society beyond a shadow of a doubt.
- It is by ancient law that two Shinigami cannot hold the same Zanpakutō. They must fight for the honor of bearing the spirit, with the spirit going to the winner, and the loser being executed.
- It is forbidden for a Shinigami to intervene in anything that is related to Hell.
- It is a crime to lose a sacred treasure.
- It is against the law to alter the Dangai records.
Punishment
- Exile: Certain crimes allow for the punishment of exile, commonly stripping a Shinigami of their powers and banishing them to the World of the Living.
- Detention: A punishment not well known among the citizens of Soul Society is the detention of Shinigami. It is commonly reserved for those who have either broken the law, quit the Gotei 13, or those who just seem dangerous and mentally unstable (as per the government's interpretation). This is carried out by the Onmitsukidō.
- Imprisonment: Central 46 can sentence a Shinigami to be held in the Central Great Underground Prison for a set amount of time. The prison has eight levels in which prisoners are confined in based on the severity of their crimes.
- Sealing: If a renegade Shinigami is resisting arrest and proves to be too powerful to be restrained or executed, they would instead be sealed away to prevent further damage.
- Spirit-Sealing Pit: The Spirit-Sealing Pit is an ancient form of execution in which Shinigami criminals are thrown into a pit walled with Sekkiseki stone. Hollows are then thrown into the pit with the criminals as the means of execution. The practice was considered too barbaric and discontinued, and the Spirit-Sealing Pits were converted into garbage dumps.
- Sōkyoku: The ultimate punishment, Sōkyoku is a form of execution usually reserved for those with extremely strong spiritual powers, namely Shinigami Captains. The Sōkyoku is a giant halberd that utterly destroys a soul on contact. When released, the Sōkyoku takes on the form of a phoenix, its true form, called Kikōō. The Kikōō has the destructive power of a million Zanpakutō, and that power is multiplied by a factor of 10 at the moment it pierces its victim.
Military
The military of Soul Society consists of four independent main branches, although one of the branches only functions in the Soul Palace. The branches include the Gotei 13, the Royal Guard, the Kidō Corps, and the Onmitsukidō.
Gotei 13
The Gotei 13 is the most well-known branch of Soul Society's military as it is the organization that most Shinigami join. Split into thirteen divisions, each part of the Gotei 13 specializes in different areas of combat or warfare. Three divisions are highly specialized and are recognized amongst the ranks of Shinigami for their abilities. The 4th Division specializes in medicine and supply, the 11th Division specializes in combat involving swordsmanship, and the 12th Division specialized in research and scientific applications. It should be noted that Yoruichi Shihōin serves as both the Captain of the 2nd Division and the leader of the Onmitsukidō. This position is odd as the Gotei 13 seems to both be superior and have little authority over either the Kidō Corps or the Onmitsukidō.Royal Guard
The most specialized organization of Soul Society's military, the Royal Guard, also known as the Zero Division, is tasked with the protection of the Soul King and the Soul Palace. These people tend to have other specialties that are part of their service. Members of the Royal Guard are former Captains of the Gotei 13 that have risen to a specific level of power and have been promoted to this position. Because of the manner of promotion, the existence of the Royal Guard is not known outside of the current, and some former, Captains of the Gotei 13. This group is said to have considerable power and tactical knowledge. They report directly to the Royal family, with no other organization presiding over them. Central 46 has no authority over this group or any say in those chosen for this honor.Kidō Corps
Very little is known about the Kidō Corps as they choose to operate in secrecy in many instances. Members of this organization are known to excel in Kidō of all levels. Members of the Kidō Corps may be former members of the Gotei 13 but this information is difficult to confirm.Onmitsukidō
Another organization that operates in secrecy, very little is known about the duties of the Onmitsukidō or its members. Historically, this group has been led by a member of the Shihōin Clan, including current leader Yoruichi Shihōin who is also the Captain of the 2nd Division.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
East Branch
Leader
Ruling Organization
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
Kan
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Comments