The negative energy force that produces positive results in the hands of a jujutsu sorcerer can be very confusing to new fans of Jujutsu Kaisen. In fact, even dedicated fans of Gege Akutami's manga series are still working tirelessly to make sense of cursed energy and Cursed techniques while using the recent battle between Yuji Itadori and Higuruma Hiromi as a test case.
The basics of cursed energy are simple enough to understand. Human strife eventually pools into a mass of negative energy that a select group of people can learn to see, manipulate, and go to war with. As a jujutsu sorcerer continues to learn the ins and outs of cursed energy, this power becomes more and more complicated. Eventually, as is the case with Satoru Gojo, cursed energy begins manipulating the very laws of nature that most believed to be immutable.
10 Rather Than Goodness Leading To An Increase In Power, Cursed Energy Rewards Those Who Garnish Negativity
Cursed energy's basic tenets lie in the existence of human strife. The more negative emotions that humans feel toward a place, object, or person, the more powerful that object becomes.
While this idea is easy to understand once it is explained, it is a bit confusing for first-time viewers of JJK because of the typical power systems set up in shonen anime. Though it isn't the first anime to use a dark power system, the idea that an excess of negative energy is what results in an excess of power is strange. JJK even ignores the idea of friendship that most anime fall into by casting Gojo as a lonely and overpowered sensei standing at the top of the JJK power system.
9 Only A Small Minority Of People Can See Cursed Energy, But Everyone Can Add To It
Although every single human being in the world is able to create cursed energy by expressing their negative emotions, only a select minority can see it. While this may seem like a benefit for those hoping to seek out a peaceful life devoid of spirits like Mahito and Jogo, it is difficult to make sense of.
It would make more sense if everyone that is capable of creating cursed energy had power over the negative energy that they create. It seems a bit unfair that someone could contribute to and feel the wrath of a cursed spirit like Jogo, but only those cursed with the powers of a jujutsu sorcerer are able to combat it.
8 Cursed Energy Can Be Manipulated Into Complex Cursed Techniques That Are More Akin To Super Powers Than Curses
After fans of Jujutsu Kaisen connect the negative emotions exhibited by humanity to cursed energy, the next step to understanding the world of jujutsu is understanding cursed techniques. The complex superpowers that jujutsu sorcerers use to defeat cursed spirits vary in form and strength, but each of them is significantly more complex than the manipulation of cursed energy.
Yuji quickly learns to manipulate cursed energy but continually struggles to understand the depth of cursed techniques. Exactly how the manipulation of cursed energy becomes a cursed technique is something dedicated fans of Jujutsu Kaisen are still trying to piece together.
7 Some Families Are Naturally Gifted Cursed Energy Manipulators
The world of jujutsu is run by a group of powerful sorcerers that belong to three big families. There are other families that contribute to the mastery of cursed energy, but the Gojo, Kamo, and Zenin families stand at the top of this world because of their inherited cursed energy and cursed techniques.
Though it makes sense for a cursed technique to determine who is the most powerful, Gege Akutami has done little to explain why these cursed techniques are genetic rather than learned. He has done even less to explain why these families pass down incredibly high levels of cursed energy to their children. What exactly is it that makes someone like Yuta Okkatsu more cursed than the average human walking through modern-day Tokyo?
6 Cursed Energy Is Able To Pool Into Sentient Cursed Spirits Like Mahito, Hanami, & Jogo
There are a number of scientific theories that suggest that all sentient life is just energy moving at a specific frequency. Still, the idea that walking and talking life forms are made up of the same stuff that fills a AA battery is confusing.
This is especially true of cursed energy that pools up into sentient and conscious cursed spirits like Mahito. Relating negative energy to power is one thing, but once this negative energy starts talking for itself, fans are forced to dive into scientific theory that is confusing by its very nature.
5 Barrier Techniques Use Cursed Energy To Create Environments That Are Cut Off From The Real World
Cursed techniques that manipulate cursed energy through a means of equivalent exchange make up the majority of JJK's complex combat system. Outside of these cursed techniques, a sorcerer is left to resort to cursed energy manipulation, Maximum Uzumaki Techniques, and Barrier Techniques.
Cursed Energy Manipulation offers up simple combat buffs and Maximum Uzumaki opens the door to the peak of cursed techniques. Both of these are useful to the average jujutsu sorcerer but Barrier Techniques push the limits of cursed energy by altering the physical world. Anime-only fans have only just begun to see the extent of barrier techniques. Once Tengen and Kenjaku begin putting their barrier techniques on display, fans will begin to question if anything that they have seen in JJK is real or just the result of the manipulation of cursed energy.
4 The Manipulation Of Cursed Energy Is Enhanced By Tengen's Barrier
The name Tengen was only mentioned once in the Jujutsu Kaisen anime. The immortal sorcerer's limited screen time makes it difficult to understand the purpose behind his actions. Even manga readers have a hard time explaining why Tengen uses his incredible Barrier Techniques to enhance and optimize the power of cursed energy in Japan.
While it may contain the negative energy, it also enhances the power of the evil cursed spirits that call Japan their home.
3 Human Strife Is The Source Of The Most Powerful Source Of Energy In The World Of JJK
The fact that negative energy serves as the foundation of a shonen anime power system is confusing in and of itself. Most shonen anime series rely on the power of friendship or love to fuel their power systems. Jujutsu Kaisen is different though, as it puts a focus on the negativity of humanity rather than the positivity.
Even the positive energy that sorcerers use to heal rather than destroy is called Reverse-Cursed Energy and is only created by multiplying cursed energy with itself. Perhaps Gege Akutami will introduce a positive energy source that doesn't rely on the negativity of humanity, but for now, human strife is the most powerful source of energy in the world of JJK.
2 Cursed Energy Can Attach Itself To, & Be Contained By, Anything
Most Energy is difficult to contain for long periods of time. The fact that cursed energy is able to attach itself and be contained by pretty much any object in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen makes no sense when fans consider how difficult it is to store energy in real life.
1 Cursed Energy Continues To Impact The World In More Powerful & Distinct Ways
Satoru Gojo has a theory that deals with the Special Grade designation assigned to the most powerful jujutsu sorcerers and cursed spirits. After serving as the strongest jujutsu sorcerer of the modern era and a teacher at Tokyo's premier jujutsu school, Satoru has reached the conclusion that the special grade title will become insufficient when labeling the next generation of sorcerers.
According to Gojo-sensei, the next generation of sorcerers will be far more powerful than the previous, leading viewers to believe that cursed energy is both increasing and growing more powerful over time. The reason behind this increase has yet to be explained, so fans are left to assume that humanity is simply becoming more and more negative over time. This is a depressing conclusion, but perhaps it can serve as a call to action for those readers who would prefer to avoid a Shibuya Incident in real life by adding more positivity to the world.