Zanpakutō (Soul-Cutting Swords)

Item from Bleach by Tite Kubo

The signature weapons of the Shinigami — each sword contains a spirit born from the wielder's own soul, unlockable through two stages of release: Shikai (initial) and Bankai (final).

Also known as: Zanpakutō, Zanpakuto, Soul-Cutting Sword, Soul Slayer

What They Know

• Each contains a spirit born from the wielder's soul — learning the spirit's name unlocks Shikai
• Bankai requires decades of training and materializing the Zanpakutō spirit for combat
• Forged from Asauchi — nameless blade templates created by Ōetsu Nimaiya of the Royal Guard
• A broken Zanpakutō cannot normally be repaired — it represents a fractured soul
• Ichigo's Zangetsu was unique: his 'Old Man Zangetsu' was actually his Quincy power, while the true Zanpakutō spirit was his inner Hollow

Connections

• created_by — soul_king_palace
• used_by — seireitei
• belongs_to — soul_society

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