Kidō

In the manga and anime series "Bleach", . The former category is somewhat more generalized, referring to basically any technique designed to deter a target, including tracking and communication spells. Some binding spells, however, can be quite harmful to their targets, if not deadly. Destructive spells, on the other hand, are always intended to harm, usually consisting of some sort of directed energy blast.

With the exception of healing, which requires no incantation or even a name to perform, "kidō" spells consist of four distinct steps: reciting the incantation of the spell (which is usually long-winded), its category (binding or destructive), its number, and finally its name. The number of a spell determines the difficulty of casting it correctly and effectively (#1 is simple to cast, #99 is incredibly difficult). With sufficient training, the first step can be bypassed, allowing spells to be used in combat quickly, known as nihongo|incantation bypass|詠唱破棄|eishō haki|literally "discard chant". Doing so, however, may lessen the spell's effect, the degree of which is dependent upon the skill of the caster. ["Bleach" Episode 62, Gin comments on how Aizen skipping the incantation is "scary", but Aizen notes that the spell was only a third as powerful as it should have been.] Bypassing the incantation is also more difficult for higher-numbered spells, as casting them is already fairly difficult even with the full verbal component. The power of "kidō" spells varies on the skill of the user; even a low-level "kidō" spell can be utterly devastating when utilized by a sufficiently powerful user. ["Bleach" episode 59, Byakuya uses "byakurai", a low level "kidō" spell, to burn a hole through Ichigo's shoulder.]

Complementing "kidō" may be combined for a single ability, something that Isane Kotetsu demonstrated when she used binding spell #58 to locate Sōsuke Aizen and Gin Ichimaru within Soul Society, and then #77 to convey the information to every captain and lieutenant (as well as Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends)."Bleach" manga; chapter 172, page 4.] Rukia Kuchiki has also demonstrated the ability to use two "kidō" spells simultaneously by alternating between the lines of each incantation."Bleach" manga; chapter 266, page 15.]

"Kidō" can also be combined with other forms of Soul Reaper combat to form unique abilities, such as Yoruichi Shihouin's nihongo|flash cry|瞬閧|shunkō|"lit." instant war cry technique, which combines "kidō" energy and nihongo|hand-to-hand combat|白打|hakuda to concentrate spiritual power at the back and shoulders for quicker movement and increased attack power.

Known kidō spells

Binding spells

* 1. nihongo|Restrain|塞|sai"Bleach" manga; chapter 1, page 16.] — Locks a target's arms in place behind their back.
* 4. nihongo|Crawling Rope|這縄|hainawa"Bleach" manga; chapter 266, page 14.] — An energy rope entangles a target's arms.
* 9. nihongo|Strike|撃|geki"Bleach" anime; episode 9. The incantation was recited in chapter 21, page 17, but the spell was aborted.] — Engulfs a target in red light, completely paralyzing them.
* 39. nihongo|Arc Shield|円閘扇|enkosen — Summons a shield of energy to block opponents' attacks. ["Bleach"manga, chapter 322, page 16]
* 58. nihongo|Summoning of the Tracking Sparrows|摑趾追雀|kakushitsuijaku"Bleach" manga; chapter 172, page 4.] — Tracks and locates any spiritual force the user focuses on. To activate it, the user must draw a circle on the ground, cut into four parts with a specific character in each. The incantation animates the circle, causing various numbers to appear within until the specific set is found. The number set seems to be a variation on longitude and latitude.
* 61. nihongo|Six Rods Prison of Light|六杖光牢|rikujōkōrō"Bleach" manga; chapter 142, page 9.] — Summons six thin, but wide, beams of light that slam into a target's midsection, holding them in place. Referred to as "Six Rod Light Restraint" in the English manga and "Six Bars of Light" in some of the games.
* 62. nihongo|Hundred Stepped Rails|百歩欄干|hyapporankan"Bleach" manga; chapter 324, page 13.] — A rod formed of energy is thrown towards the target before it disintegrates into numerous short rods which are used to pin the target to the surroundings and render them immobile.
* 63. nihongo|Winding Binding Chain|鎖条鎖縛|sajō sabaku — The target is wrapped from the neck down in a thick chain.
* 75. nihongo|Quintet of 1 kan Iron Pillars|五柱鉄貫|gochūtekkan"Bleach" manga; chapter 218, page 6.] — Summons five incredibly tall and thick pillars to pin a target to the ground.
* 77. nihongo|Heavenly Rickshaws in Silken Air|天挺空羅|tenteikūra"Bleach" manga; chapter 172, page 8-9.] — Transmits messages to anyone within a specific area. In addition to reciting the spell, the user must draw specific markings on their arms, which are animated by the spell to convey the messages.
* 81. nihongo|Splitting Void|斷空|dankū"Bleach" manga; chapter 302, page 7.] — Creates an energy barrier in the form of a rectangular wall. According to Byakuya, it is capable of stopping destructive spells up to #89.
* 99, Part 1. nihongo|Restrict|禁|kin — Binds the arms of a target with spiritual fabric and iron shafts."Bleach" manga; chapter 61, page 16.]
* 99, Part 2. nihongo|Great Seal|卍禁|bankin — This spell's effects are divided into three "songs":
**nihongo|First Song: Halting Fabric|初曲・止繃|shokyoku: shiryū covers a target from head to toe with spiritual fabric.
**nihongo|Second Song: Hundred Linked Bolts|弐曲・百連閂|nikyoku: hyakurensan stabs the target with numerous metal blades.
**nihongo|Final Song: Great Seal of 10,000 Forbiddings|終曲・卍禁太封|shūkyoku: bankin taihō"Bleach" manga; chapter 64, page 5.] smashes the target with an immense metal cube.

Destructive spells

* 1. nihongo|Thrust|衝|hado no ichi shō"Bleach" manga; chapter 301, page 6.] — Pushes the target away from the caster.
* 4. nihongo|White Lightning|白雷|hado no roku byakurai"Bleach" manga; chapter 165, page 11.] — Fires a concentrated bolt of white lightning from the caster's forefinger.
* 31. nihongo|Shot of Red Fire|赤火砲|hado no san-jū ichi shakkahō|Red Flame Cannon in the English dub"Bleach" manga; special chapter -17, page 25.] — Fires a ball of red fire at a target.
* 33. nihongo|Blue Fire, Crash Down|蒼火墜|hado no san-jū san sōkatsui|Pale Fire Crash in the English dub"Bleach" manga; chapter 9, page 9.] — Fires a column of blue fire at a target in a similar manner to 31, but over a wider area and with more power.
* 54. nihongo|Abolishing Flames|廃炎|hado no go-jū yon haien"Bleach" manga; chapter 213, page 15.] — Fires a blast of purple fire that will incinerate a target completely when it makes contact.
* 58. nihongo|Whirling Tempest|闐嵐|hado no go-jū hachi tenran"Bleach" manga; chapter 323, page 5-6.] — A widening tornado-like blast is fired towards the target.
* 63. nihongo|Thunder Roar Cannon|雷吼炮|hado no roku-jū san raikōhō"Bleach" manga; chapter 177, page 13.] — Fires a massive wave of yellow lightning at a target.
* 73. nihongo|Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down|双蓮蒼火墜|hado no nana-jū san sōren sōkatsui"Bleach" manga; chapter 266, page 16.] — Essentially a doubled version of #33, this spell fires two shots of blue fire with greater potency than the single-shot variety.
* 88. nihongo|Flying Dragon Striking, Heaven-Shaking, Lightning Cannon|飛竜撃賊震天雷砲|hado no hachi-jū hachi hiryūgekizokushintenraihō"Bleach" manga; Turn Back the Pendulum 11, chapter -98, page 10-11.] — Fires a massive blast of spiritual energy in a fashion similar to a laser.
* 90. nihongo|Black Coffin|黒棺|hado no kyū-jū kurohitsugi"Bleach" manga; chapter 176, page 11.] — Forms a box of black energy around a target, which is then pierced by dozens of energy "spears", lacerating the one inside from head to toe. Aizen notes that the spell only reached a third of its destructive potential the one time he uses it, indicating that the spell would be far more damaging at full power. Its appearance and function is reminiscent of a common magician's trick, as well as certain torture devices used during the Spanish Inquisition.

Other

These spells are not explicitly stated to be in one category or the other.
*"Bleach" manga; chapter 129, page 16.] — Although not seen actually using it, Momo Hinamori apparently uses this spell while imprisoned to knock out a guard and destroy everything within a certain radius of herself. The anime suggests that it is a binding spell, but doesn't number it.
*"Bleach" manga; chapter 168, page 10.] — Tōshirō Hitsugaya used this to seal Momo Hinamori's hospital room. It creates a glass-like barrier which is difficult to break from the outside, but quite simple to break from the inside.
*"Bleach" manga; chapter 159, page 3.] — This technique nullifies an opponent's kidō by hitting them with a perfectly opposite surge of energy. Yoruichi uses this against Soifon's "shunkō".
* — Ganju's signature technique turns whatever it is aimed at into sand. It has a variety of uses, ranging from cushioning a fall to creating quick escape routes.
*"Bleach" manga; Turn Back the Pendulum 11, chapter -98, page 17.] — A forbidden spell used by Tessai along with "kūkanten'i". Its name in kanji means "time stop," but the actual effect of the spell isn't elaborated on.
*"Bleach" manga; Turn Back the Pendulum 11, chapter -98, page 17.] — A forbidden spell used by Tessai with "jikanteishi" to teleport a specified portion of space from one point to another, transporting even other active "kidō" spells.

References