Hell’s Paradise Jigokuraku – What is Tao Explained
What’s Hell’s Paradise Jigokuraku
Hell’s Paradise Jigokuraku anime is based on Japanese manga developed by Yuji Kaku. Fun fact: Yuji Kaku was a assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto ‘s Chainsaw Man and started his own manga as well. The overall story plot is about a group of criminals goes to a mysterious expedition on an uncharted island called Shisenkyo to find a “Elixir of Life”. Elixir of Life grants user immortality but many mysteries unfold in Shisenkyo.
Main protagonists Gabimaru the Hollow, is a immortal criminal that has a wife. Gabimaru is set to be executed by his clansmen and executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, who is assigned to watch over him. Both Gaimaru and Sagiri meet other characters alongside Yuzruiha, who is another convict that allies with them.
Shion and his partner Nurugai join up with main characters. Also, a samurai named Tamiya Gantetsusai and Fuchi, another member of Yamada Asaemon group. Aze Chobei and his brother Toma along with a Tensen named Mei. The group battles against Tensen, who has Tao energy and has ability to change genders at will.
In Hell’s Paradise Jigokuraku, Tensens are the main antagonists of the series and were created from flowers. In season 2, episodes 2-4, Tao was explained as Ying Yang energy and also read opponent’s movements as well. Tao can be transferred by physical contact from another person, for example, Sagiri did it with Gabimaru.
How is Tao Use
Tao could be used for combat along with many other things. There are elements in Tao, such as fire, earth, water, metal and more. In season two, each of the major characters fight off Tensen based on their elemental tao. Elemental tao has strength and weakness just like fighting a Mega Man boss or Pokemon types. In battle, Tensen can regenerate using Tao and has a weakness striking their abdomen area. Shion and Ghobei group had to work together to defeat these, Tensen.
Gantersusai and Fuchi didn’t Tao, episode 7-8, both characters had to figure out how to use it. Shion teaches them how to use Tao and defeats on the Tensen. Yuzuriha and Gabimaru have experience with using Tao already because of their training. I had to stopped at episode 10 because English dubbed of that episode has not come out yet.
Back to Tao, it can be causing memories loss, for example, Gabimaru almost died during his fight with Chobei. Without Tao, energy, that person will face death and takes a while to restore. The term Tao comes from Chinese culture and its about self-existent. It means invisible to the eye went Tensen attacks main characters without setting tao energy. They had to concentrate on their inner self to see through attack.
How Does Tao Exist?
In Hell’s Paradise, Tao is described as Mother of the universe who gives birth to all existence. Which Tensen can take form of females and Lord Tensen is self-proclaimed Ultra Supreme Elder Lord. Throughout the series never explains Tao’s religious use. Mainly, explains martial art portion and teachings of Tao.
Taoists believe that an entity can take human form like flowers and others. There are monsters in Shisenkyo that character fight that take form of hybrids. Believe me, I am no expert of Taoism whatsoever, it just my overall thoughts on Tao. The series explains it in a complicated way and cookie-cutter through Tao. Gabimaru element is fire and I am not sure about other character elements. Tensen use tao to feed humans for nourishment.
Lord Tensen wants to create another elixir known as gaitanho. Taoism is students as well like Yamada Asaemon group and Doshi. Doshi work for Lord Tenshin, while Yamada Asaemon follows orders from Shogunate (who is higher class in military). Hell’s Paradise tao is that not simple to understand.
Closing
The manga has ended in January 25, 2021 with 13 volumes. I don’t know how the series ended but Gabimaru would be free or died after defeating Lord Tensen. Maybe his Tao ran out but what knows what else might happen. If you want to read more about Taosim, go research it on your own. In my opinion, Hell’s Paradise is a great anime to watch and even with 12 episodes. My favorite is Shion because he reminds me of Yoda from Star Wars.
Also, just like a blind swordmen like Mortal Kombat’s Kenshi and Zatoichi, I would I forgot about Daredevil. Asagiri is a good female character as well and harms up to Gabimaru as series progresses. We learn more about their backstories as well and what path they chose from themselves.
I really enjoy this series as a whole, giving it grittier and step into the shoes of each character. What your thoughts on Tao and also Hell’s Paradise? Let me know in the comments below, you can watch it on Netflix and Crunchyroll. Thank you for reading this blogpost and tune into the next from yours truly.
Anjim Plays is a award-winning streamer from Washington DC, who is a advocate of blerd and gaming culture. I am willing to help others and work with brands.
