The first part of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 202 concentrated on a dialogue between Yuki Tsukumo and Tengen, which revealed an unexpected information about the former’s identity. Yuki’s reveal as a former Star Plasma Vessel enhanced her relevance in the story significantly. Furthermore, it prompted various issues about why Tengen developed while knowing they would be a major target.
By reviewing the past and the terrible death of Riko Amanai, who was set to combine with Tengen 12 years ago, their debate also offered a serious ethical quandary. This article explores Tengen’s relationship with the Star Plasma Vessels and their real function in the series.
The Star Plasma Vessels play a major role in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe
Tengen’s relationship with Star Plasma Vessels
Tengen was first presented in person in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 145, despite being referenced several times throughout the book. Tengen revealed that their Innate Cursed Technique is Immortality, which offers them an eternal lifetime but not immunity to aging.
After a certain age, the cursed technique seeks to spark an evolution of both the user’s body and the method itself, a process that may be slowed by combining Tengen with a suitable Star Plasma Vessel. In Jujutsu Kaisen, the Star Plasma Vessel is a person who can merge with Tengen and halt their transformation into a being with decreased self-awareness, whose ego transcends beyond the body and becomes one with the world.
According to the story, the immortal sorcerer must combine with a viable Vessel every 500 years in order to keep their human form. Tengen’s growth, however, was halted by Riko Amanai’s murder in the Gojo’s Past arc. Tengen could no longer keep their human form, and as they evolved over the following 12 years, they became more of a cursed spirit than a human person.
Yuki’s words in Jujutsu Kaisen chapters 145 and 202 imply that a Vessel’s mind survives the merging, despite the fact that their bodies fuse with Tengen’s. The sorcerer explained that she, too, was a former Star Plasma Vessel who rejected or failed to combine. She can also hear the “voices” of previous Vessels who have joined with Tengen, however it is unknown if this is an ability unique to Yuki or shared by all Star Plasma Vessels.
Why did Tengen evolve?
In Chapter 202, Yuki asked Tengen whether any other Star Plasma Vessels had arrived after Riko Amanai, but the immortal sorcerer said that no one else had the remarkable traits that Amanai possessed. Yuki was enraged by their reaction since he considered Tengen’s decision to develop and embrace reality dishonored the sacrifice of the previous Star Plasma Vessels, who had chosen to combine and prevent Tengen’s transformation.
The sacrifice of the Star Plasma Vessels goes beyond the ethical quandary of compelling a teenager to choose the greater good over oneself. In Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 145, Tengen stated that in the past, Kenjaku had murdered off the Star Plasma Vessel within a month of their birth in order to initiate the immortal sorcerer’s metamorphosis. Tengen could have halted the evolution if they had chosen to join with another Vessel, thereby foiling Kenjaku’s goal, according to Chapter 202.
Final thoughts
The Star Plasma Vessel in Jujutsu Kaisen has the power to single-handedly derail Kenjaku’s intentions to force the metamorphosis of non-sorcerers throughout Japan. Given that he spent years attempting to eliminate Vessels and Six Eyes users whenever they arose, it is not unreasonable to think that Kenjaku influenced the Time Vessel Association’s ideas about Tengen’s divine status and tricked them into ordering Riko Amanai’s murder.
The significance of the Star Plasma Vessel in the narrative also heightens anticipation for Yuki’s upcoming battle against Kenjaku, since there is a significant likelihood that Choso will be beaten in his fight against Kenjaku.