Dear Readers,
Today I wanted to talk quite a bit about chakra in the anime Naruto. I have really enjoyed the show, and the concept of chakra and its manipulation is what holds the plot together. Before I begin, I would like to send to a special shout out to the blogger of
Anime-in-the-heart. Though their blog post about chakra covers the subject in more depth, I am wanting to focus more on my own beliefs on the matter, and how it interacts and coincides with other anime and realistic philosophies.
So, what is chakra?
Chakra is defined as a substance made from "molding" energies of the spirit and the body together.
I remember when I was taking ceramics classes, and we would wedge the clay. Though one also molds clay into the desired shape, the wedging of clay is a closer comparison.
One can take two differing kinds of clay, we used red and white clay in my class. If you only wedge it a little, it causes spirals, like in the example of this bowl from
http://adventuresinclay.blogspot.com/2011/04/neriage-agateware-swirly-blended-clay.html
If this combination of clay is wedged enough, it becomes a perfect blend between the two. In a similar manner, characters from Naruto wedge or "mold" chakra from their spiritual energy and their life energy.
What is the spiritual energy? In my first blog post about the anime
Bleach, I compared reiatsu, or spirit pressure, to a breastplate of protection. That reiatsu emanates from the individual's spirit power, or reiryoku. I will also re-quote
President Thomas S. Monson on the matter, "Prayer continues to provide power--spiritual power. Prayer continues to provide peace--spiritual peace."
So there is such a thing as spiritual power, and that power, according to Bleach, can produce a "presence" or force like effect. Is this the spirit energy?
I will also reference my blog post about
The Force in Starwars. In that post, I came to the determination that "The Force", the "...energy field created by all living things. [That] surrounds us and penetrates us." (
Obi Wan). is intelligence, or the light of truth. It is this light that emanates from our spiritual bodies, making them appear, as
Yoda described, "Luminous".
Alas, intelligence, or the light of truth, though it could be considered the energy that spirits have, it is not spiritual energy. I would like to clarify by referring to the
Journal of Discourses 7:2-3 "...Matter is capacitated to receive intelligence." and
Doctrine and Covenants 131:7 "There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes;".
This is where my argument gets tricky. Einstein purposed that E = mc^2. This is the root of countless scientific experiments that all support the fact that matter can be transformed into energy, like with atomic bombs, and more recently, that energy can be transformed back into matter (
Forbes).
Thus, it is my argument that the spirit energy talked about when using chakra is actually reishi spirit particles, or spirit matter from Bleach. Being able to control such for use either as a shinigami in Bleach or in the chakra molding process, also implies that the matter has indeed bonded or "received" intelligence and thus has both "The Force" and the reishi so it can become or used as spirit energy. As though it were in a hyper accelerated state.
Indeed, because reiatsu is the spiritual force that is projected from the spirit, it is reasonable that it is quite realistically the reishi with intelligence in an energy form that we have been looking for.
Simply put, spirit energy is reiatsu.
So, what is the energy of the body, or life force?
In my post about
Dragon Ball, I came to the conclusion that ki is body heat that is controlled by thought and will power. It is this ki that I believe is that life force or energy.
Now, molding the two together should actually be possible. Physical matter can work in conjunction with spiritual matter in the same manner as our spirits are within our bodies right now.
"And the spirit and the body are the soul of man" (
Doctrine and Covenants 88:15). Thus, if we were able to form chakra, it would be creating a soul, though unorganized, or unformed.
To verify that this is "sound doctrine", I will now reference
1 Nephi 16:24 of the Book of Mormon, "...for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul.".
1 Nephi 15:25 and
Alma 5:43 also attribute speaking with urgency and power as with the energy of the soul.
Chakra is the energy of the soul, spiritual energy and physical energy bonded together.
Moroni 7:48 adds that we can "...pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart...". Thus implying a connection with energy and the heart. This is further edified with the comparison of ki to body heat, because the heart pumps the warm blood throughout the body.
Much like the circulatory system of blood, chakra also flows through a set course called the meridian system.
Because chakra is molded in the abdomine, that is where it is also stored and then siphoned and used throughout the body.
Using these meridians and chakra control, one can then manipulate it into leaving the body. This is where I use the example of the rasengan.
The rasengan is a technique developed using the two most basic properties of chakra outside the human body.
First is control. Because chakra is imbued with intelligence, that allows for control and manipulation of other objects, as well as the chakra itself. This is the fundamental way in which the puppet users are able to control their puppets using chakra strings.
Yet for the rasengan, the control is spinning the chakra in a spherical rotation.
Second is force or power. A good example of this is when Hokage Tsunade punches. She released a large amount of built up chakra quite spontaneously, causing great destruction.
This means that the rasengan includes both properties, first control in the sphere and rotation, then packing that sphere full of compressed and powerful chakra.
Because of the power, if the rasengan is released early, it tends to explode. Otherwise, that sphere has so much power that it acts like a drill, causing immense damage to the physical body, and possibly the spiritual body, but at least chakra disruption.
There is a third attribute of chakra: elemental affinity. According to the show, everyone has an elemental affinity, seemingly based off of character attributes. There are five of these elements, and they coincide with states of matter:
Fire (heat energy), explosive
Wind (gas), one gust sliding against another gust, forming a blade
Lightning (plasma), chain of electrons or electricity
Earth (solid), compressed
Water (liquid). flowing wavy
The above flow chart has fire on top, then air, lightning, earth, and water. With the clockwise rotation, we see how each one is strengthened or stronger than the next. Fire with added air, or oxygen, fuels the fire making it stronger. Added wind causes added friction creating more lightning. Lightning is attracted to, and strikes earth. Dirt mixes with the water turning it into mud. Then water dowses fire.
Because chakra is an undefined energy, unorganized or without purpose, it can be given purpose. It is not, I repeat not, matter created out of nothing. This elemental chakra is simply matter reorganized and given a new purpose and new attributes.
The show also points out Kekkei Genkai or "blood line limits". These are abilities that are passed on genetically. In particular, I wish to mention the ability to use two elements in perfect harmony simultaneously. A splendid display of this is "wood release".
Now, wood release not only recreates the nutrients and molecules that form the cells of the tree, but also has life in the tree.
See, trees draw water up like a straw. The compression and density of the bark allows the water that escapes from the leaves during photosynthesis to "suck" the water up. Thus ultimately, wood has both the fluid attributes of water inside, as well as the compression and stability of earth, or a solid.
Because solid and liquid are two close states of matter, they blend together differently than say, fire and earth.
Earth being, as
Toph Beifong from Avatar:The Last Airbender describe, a "stubborn" element. The heat or combustion of the fire merely draws the normal solid into a liquid state, creating lava.
Thus, the seeming conundrum of compression and explosion occurring simultaneously is solved by creating a flowing state of liquid.
Though not all of the element combinations have been revealed in Naruto, nor revealed to my satisfactory, using how the 5 elements are created could show insight into what kind of substance they would and could create.
Now, chakra is made from 50% spirit energy and 50% body energy. We can change the attributes of chakra by molding it in different percentages.
If we had, for example 70% spirit energy and 30% body energy, it would be more spiritually inclined rather than physically. Thus it becomes yin chakra, and is affected more by creativity and imagination. This is what Shikamaru uses in his shadow possession technique.
While on the other hand, if it was 30% spirit energy and 70% body energy, then it is more physically inclined. It now becomes yang chakra and is affected more by vitality. Though there is not a real clear picture for this, Naruto himself has the Kyuubi's yang chakra inside of him. Thus, his chakra arms are yang chakra.
This is also evident in what happens to White Zetsu when Naruto punches him. The vitality of the yang chakra causes his plant cells to burst into growth and sprouts into a tree.
Another variation on the molding style of chakra is sage mode. For sage mode, one molds 1/3 ki, 1/3 reiatsu, and 1/3 nature energy. I would define nature energy as ambient energy. That is the energy in the air, in the ground, in water, etc.
In Tai Chi, one collects chi. Ideally one gathers their own chi, ki, or body heat and then rotates it back into their body. However, I sometimes find myself trying to gather in the ambient energy as well and convert it into ki by cycling it into my body. That is the improper way to perform Tai Chi as well as an improper way of gathering the ambient energy for molding.
In a less aggressive way, one gather's the ambient energy by being still and letting the energy seep its way in. This method allows it to stay more "pure" for the molding process. However, it comes with side effects. Because the ambient energy is "calibrated" or attuned for non living things, mixing it with the unorganized matter can cause it to react in such a way as to petrify the individual. The chakra takes on the influence of the nature energy causing them to turn to stone.
Yet, if the molding is performed with precision, then the individual's chakra gains added attributes. These attributes include increased physical power and stamina, and being able to punch and or effect the nature energy causing near miss hits that still make contact.
One of the greatest attributes of sage mode is being able to see energy and existence in a new way. Indeed, sage mode changes one's physical attributes while it courses in the meridian system, rather than changing how chakra behaves outside the body. Sage mode attacks and powers are called senjutsu.
Jutsu means "techniques". Therefore "senjutsu" means sage techniques. There are many other types of jutsu as well.
Basic is taijutsu which is hand to hand combat. I would choose to make a distinction since taijutsu is part of the Naruto world, that it could be classified as chakra enhanced combat. Though this chakra would be just the natural chakra flowing through the meridian system, it is still involved for physical enhancement.
Indeed, with taijutsu perfected, one can open meridian gates, allowing one's body to work to its utmost limits.
In a similar manner, one can use hand symbols or gestures called signs or seals to make chakra molding and element assignment easier. These techniques are called ninjutsu. Not only do the signs make the element assignment easier, they also give characteristics to the formed chakra. I believe that is rooted in the conscious aspect of chakra, the intelligence.
I understand that this concept can be confusing in the series because sometimes it takes 40 seals for one move, and other times just one. I believe that is because the individual gets so used to, and acquainted with the signs and the correlated flow of chakra that they can reproduce the effects without having to use the signs.
That being said, I personally think that there is no coincidence that the hand seals are correlated with the Chinese zodiac. Zodiacs being shapes drawn in the night sky by connecting stars, and then attributed with certain personality and behavior characteristics. Indeed, I love how the television show Jackie Chan Adventures assigned "talismans" with the zodiac creatures.
Jackie Chan Adventures also correlates certain powers with each talisman.
Dog = immortality
Dragon = combustion
Horse = healing
Monkey = shape shifting
Hare = animation
Rabbit = speed
Pig/boar = heat vision
Ox = strength
Rooster = flight/levitation
Sheep/ram = astral projection
Snake = invisibility
Tiger = Yin/Yang
Thus, if we make a connection between these powers and the hand seals, we find that for ninjutsu like the Water Dragon, that characteristics could be attributed such as: dragon seal for the shape, hare seal for animation, and possibly dog seal for regeneration after it is destroyed. This both gives personality and shape to the ninjutsu. Though this does not have a direct correlation with what is shown in the anime and manga, it is still a valid explanation.
Genjutsu, or illusionary techniques, are techniques that involve the use of chakra to affect the mind, causing hallucinations and even inducing unconsciousness. This adds substance to the science behind migraines, that differences like hydration, salt levels, and blood sugar can affect the brain. In a similar manner, the added chakra causes a discrepancy that confuses and confounds one's mental capacities.
There are also sealing techniques or fuinjutsu, that bind a subject. Much like bakudo from Bleach (which can also be found in my first
Bleach blog post), these bind or contain something. Usually chakra meridians, the person's body, or even beings themselves are what is constrained or sealed. These seals are usually in the forms of shapes or symbols, and can even be called formulas. Like a prayer that is written, these invoke power, either directions to the intelligences in the chakra, or to the being that is bound.
It is by fuinjutsu that the Kyuubi, the nine tailed chakra demon fox, was sealed within Naruto inside a different dimension. This was performed in such a way as to allow Naruto to communicate with the beast and even use its chakra from time to time. However, only part of the Kyuubi was sealed within Naruto, the yang chakra part.
It is here that I will quickly point out that when a jinchuuriki, or someone who has a chakra beast sealed within them, begins to loose control, the beast's chakra begins to mix with the blood itself causing very strange formations.
Yet if controlled, a jinchuuriki's cells could use the chakra to transform into the cells of the beast, and even become them.
In contrast to fuinjutsu there is juinjutsu or cursed seal techniques. Juinjutsu adds nearly uncontrollable power, and releases it instead of binding it.
These can also cause chakra disturbances that cause cells to transform and mutate.
Alas, Sasuke, who was given the cursed seal of heaven, could control the juinjutsu because of his kekkei genkai called sharingan (mirror wheel eye). This is where I will begin talking about how chakra can enhance the user genetically.
Though the anime has never shown the point of view of a sharingan, it is attributed with two main gifts. First is "Eye of Insight" and the second is "Eye of Hypnotism".
The "Eye of Insight" allows an individual to see chakra inside another individual, to a point. They cannot see the meridians themselves. This gift also gives great perception, including seeing fast moving objects and precision to copy hand gestures or combat moves. With the ability to copy the hand gestures and moves, they are able to recreated ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, if they know how to form the elemental assigned chakra. However, they cannot copy kekkei genkai, the bloodline limits.
The "Eye of Hypnotism", on the other hand, allows the individual to cast specialized genjutsu with mere eye contact. Under the premise that the "eyes are the windows to the soul", the chakra moves instantaneously to the recipient's mind. These genjutsu can be so powerful that the user can completely control the victim against their will. The individual who is being completely control then exhibits the sharingan eye due to the chakra's hold of the ocular cells.
However, the sharingan takes time to develop. Those of the Uchiha clan are born with the potential of awakening their sharingan, but they are not born with it. In this way, it is like dormant genes passed on from one generation to the next. With extreme emotional trauma, usually visual, the chakra enters the eye and activates the genes. This causes cellular "mutation" or rather "manifestation" in the iris of the eyes.
First it begins with the red iris, having one black, for lack of a better term, coma. Another one forms after more emotional trauma, until the user has all three.
Sasuke, after watching his brother die by his own hand, awakened his mangekyo sharingan, meaning kaleidoscope mirror wheel eye. Some abilities that this manifestation adds to the user's arsenal include corporealizing genjutsu. By that I mean, their chakra is able to behave in a way to manifest the illusions physically.
This includes creating a separate dimension to and from which the individual can teleport themselves or others. This portal is called a kamui.
There is also amaterasu, which is black fire that is unquenchable because it does not require fuel. Essentially, it is chakra given some properties of fire. It burns, breaking down all matter it comes into contact with, yet it is assigned chakra that does not need continued matter to stay "lit". This would explain why it is dark instead of light like normal fires. The energy is not expended and lost, rather it is a continuous cycle without end, storing and incorporating the energy and light.
A variation of amaterasu is forming a susanoo. Susanoo is a entity that the amaterasu assigned chakra becomes, as a guardian warrior, protecting the individual. The summoner is encased inside of the jewel on its forehead, though they fit comfortably due to the immense size of the apparition.
Sadly, the use of mangekyo sharingan comes at a price. The amount of chakra that flows into the eye causes cellular decay within the retina, inducing growing blindness.
Such blindness can be both hindered and enabled by the user's actions. By not using the eye's powers very often, the chakra does not decay the cells as much. However, there are two techniques that cause instant blindness for the eye being used.
The first is izanagi. This technique involves reversing the manifestation of a genjutsu. Usually when the individual dies or is about to die, they can reverse the chain of events as though it was an illusion that was killed instead of themselves. In this way, the chakra manipulates the body itself, reforming it whole elsewhere.
The second is izanami. Izanami was created to combat those who rely too much upon izanagi. It creates a mental loop for the individual that continues until they learn a lesson and change their life. This has no physical manifestation, besides blinding the eye of the caster.
Alas, as the blindness can be rushed, there is a cure. If one transplants the sharingan eyes of someone else into their own body, the other individual's chakra residue in the eyes, as well as the new user's, is able to maintain a balance in the eye, preventing the cellular death. These are called eternal sharingan, because no matter how much they are used, they do not go blind. It is important to note that the mangekyou sharingan changes slightly. Though the chakra is the user's, the eye does still contain chakra from the original host.
I would now like to wrap things up by emphasizing that chakra can be used whether within the body, enhancing physical traits, even genes, as well as outside the body, as simple chakra or elementally charge. Even the molding percentages of the chakra can create different qualities.
That being said, I would shirk to think of the power that a Super Saiyan stage 5 Goku from Dragon Ball
Who had the reiryoku of Ichigo from Bleach after figuring out the Final Getsuga Tensho
And knew how to mold ki and reiatsu together forming chakra like Naruto. Such a being would have more power than I can currently conceive.
Alas, as I pointed out what seems like a long time ago, the only scriptural references to chakra or the "energy of my soul" are found in the Book of Mormon and are correlated to labor and speaking things that pertain to building God's kingdom. Ultimately, rightly so, for if chakra is the union of both the energies of our spirits and the energies of our bodies, would they not combine in a labor of love? Our spirits, which know God and love Him working together with our bodies, having the flesh subject to the spirit. Would that not mold chakra? Would that not be building up the energy of our souls? Indeed, if we live righteous lives, serving God and those around us with love, charity, and compassion, then we are building up our own chakra inside of us, making us stronger. We will begin to realize and accomplish our potential as children of God.
I challenge everyone who reads this to work on molding chakra in their own lives, to unify body and spirit in righteousness. Though this blog contains many entertaining elements, I encourage all of you to see the real world applications and potential.
Special thanks to
naruto.wikia.com for their helpful information and images.
Love,
Jacobugoth
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