Gojo Satoru: Hollow Purple, the Combined Powers of Red and Blue (Jujutsu Kaisen Anime Analysis)
What is the significance of the technique known as Hollow Purple, and why purple?
Gojo Satoru is well known as one of the most powerful, if not THE most powerful, character in the hit shounen anime Jujutsu Kaisen. His skill as a sorcerer and his tremendous expertise in the use of cursed energy is what makes him so deadly in combat. Many curses and rival sorcerers have tried to take him out, and many have failed. Due to his incredible power as well as his caring, albeit nonchalant demeanor, he garners the respect of his colleagues at Jujutsu High, as well as the intense fear of his enemies and rivals.
Gojo Satoru possesses many powerful techniques in his arsenal. One of his most powerful techniques is what is known as Hollow Technique: Purple, or Hollow Purple for short. When this technique is in use, Gojo combines two balls of energy, one blue and one red, into a powerful spherical attack coloured purple, hence the name Hollow Purple. This technique was first revealed during Gojo Satoru’s battle with the cursed spirit Hanami during a cursed spirit attack at the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event, and it is designed to completely erase anything in it’s way.
However, is there a symbolic significance behind why the color purple, as well as the constituent colors of red and blue? Is there a power in the colors red, blue and purple that adds to the symbolism of Gojo’s powerful technique? Are these colors befitting of the signature technique of one of anime’s most powerful characters? We will investigate these questions.
Cursed Technique Amplification: Blue
The first component of Hollow Purple is manifested as a blue orb, and this technique is used to amplify the effects of certain cursed techniques. Imbued with tremendous power and energy, this technique is known as Cursed Technique Amplification: Blue. The blue orb is later combined with the red orb to create Hollow Purple.
Now the question is: why blue? What is the significance of the color blue? Is there a deeper meaning behind the color blue, and why such a color is used for this technique?
Well, blue is a color that is symbolic of peace, tranquillity, serenity, and stability. Blue is the color of the ocean and the sky: fluid, adaptable, formless. It promotes peace of mind, poise, and cool, collected decision-making. When staring at the sky or immersing oneself in the ocean, one feels content, relaxed, and present in the sensations of the moment, just going with the flow.
Blue can be considered as a defensive color, and defense is an important component of a powerful warrior. In battle, a warrior must know how to defend oneself, not only by shielding oneself, but by counter-attacking an opponents moves. Counter-attacking is much like redirecting one’s energy outward in a defensive manoeuvre. Much like water, which can redirect energy, blue is a symbol of a stable state of being, one unchanging but adaptable to everything. Blue is stoic and lacks impulse, and can be symbolic of a calm, rational mind. A warrior when in battle must have presence of mind and be fully cool and in the moment in order to think clearly and be able to defeat the challenges before him.
“Empty your mind.
Be formless, shapeless, like water.
You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup.
You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle.
You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot.
Now water can flow or it can crash.
Be water, my friend”.-Bruce Lee
In battle, whether it is against an opponent, yourself, or a challenge in front of you, you need to have poise, stability, presence of mind, adaptability, and calmness under intense pressure. A warrior must also be able to adapt to all circumstances and adjust their strategy on the fly when needed. Without these calm, serene qualities, we would be overtaken by emotion during the heat of battle, which will cause us to commit mistakes. Blue represents all these qualities, which is why blue can be such a powerful color, even if blue is not historically associated with power. Gojo combines the qualities represented by blue to create a more potent attack.
Cursed Technique Reversal: Red
The next component of Hollow Purple is manifested as a red orb, and this technique is used to negate the effects of curses used to strengthen other cursed techniques. Known as Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, the output of energy from this technique is great when executed. The red orb is later combined with the blue orb to create Hollow Purple.
The question of why is red chosen as a component color of such a powerful technique should be obvious, considering the symbolism behind the color red, however we will explore it all the same.
The color red represents power, anger, passion, war and aggression. Red is the color of fire: blazing, fiery, uncontrollable, authoritative, and dominating. When one is powered by emotions and in the pursuit of the enemy or their goals, the inner drive is often termed as a “fire in the belly”. Red is also the color of blood, and the transport of blood throughout the body gives one the energy to pursue glory, victory, and the destruction of their enemies. Fuelled by the red blood flowing through ones veins, red symbolizes emotions, such as ambition, competition, passion and desire, that generates power.
Red is considered the color of attack, and the term “seeing red” usually means someone who is playing offense. Red is impulsive, driven and emotional, which when channelled appropriately can lead to great power. A warrior must use their emotions in battle, and one’s feelings of ambition, vengeance, and lust for power and retribution allows a warrior to overcome their opponents.
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire”.
-Ferdinand Foch
Without your emotions to drive you into action, a warrior will cease to be a warrior. A warrior must be proactive and on the attack, not just against their enemies on the battlefield, but also against the challenges before them. Emotions, represented by the color red, gives us the impetus to initiate action and build momentum. The more emotion behind the action, the more powerful the action will be. Emotions make you strong and powerful, which is why Gojo combines the qualities represented by red to give the attack more destructive impact.
Hollow Technique: Purple
Hollow Purple is achieved when the blue and red orbs of energy combine into one powerful, purple-colored attack. Anything or anyone that touches this attack is eliminated and erased from existence. The symbolism is clear: combine the qualities represented by both blue and red, and you will create something truly unstoppable.
As stated before, red is the color of pursuit, desire, war and emotion, while on the other hand, blue is the color of fluidity, acceptance, peace and rationality. In order to defeat your opponents, you must have both blue and red qualities within your person.
In battle, you must be driven by your passion and desire to defeat your opponent, with your blood infused with aggressive energy and your will to dominate the challenge before you. You let your intense emotions energize you and to give your moves more power. You channel the red through your body. As a warrior, you must also channel your emotions productively by maintaining your poise and presence of mind under intense stress. In battle, you must be fluid and able to adapt to any challenge and circumstances. You calculate what moves will bring you victory by critically analyzing the situation and coming up with a suitable strategy. At the same time, you must maintain your composure so as to avoid making errors, thus channelling the blue through your body.
Combine red and blue together, and you get purple, a color that also contains meaning symbolism. Purple is the color of status, regality, wealth, wisdom and royalty. Purple is the color of the king, the one who occupies the top spot within a hierarchy. How fitting that Gojo Satoru, the most powerful sorcerer and who occupies the top spot within the hierarchy of raw power and skill, would have a signature technique associated with a color representing royalty?
When fighting an enemy, whether a physical enemy, a challenge, or a spiritual opponent, a warrior must use both red and blue in their war. Gojo Satoru, when in battle, combines emotion and rationality, passion and tranquillity, into a powerful attack. If you use both red and blue when facing a challenge, you will achieve great power, wealth, status, awe and respect, as represented by the color purple. You will be the ruler of your domain, the king of your kingdom, the top of the pyramid.
“It’ll be fine. I’m the strongest there is, after all”
-Gojo Satoru
Gojo Satoru demonstrates through his Hollow Purple cursed technique that one must be balanced within themselves when facing a challenge or ordeal. One must be driven by desire, passion, and emotion, while also having stability and presence of mind, peace, and fluidity. If a warrior uses these qualities, they will reach the top of their domain and be a king in their own life. When facing life, one must be like Gojo Satoru, who uses the combined powers of Red and Blue in his Hollow Purple technique, and you will succeed.
