The Senkaimon (穿界門, World Penetration Gate; Viz "Tunnel World Gate") is the dimensional gateway which Shinigami use to enter and leave Soul Society.

Overview

Soul Society and the Human World are parallel worlds. The Senkaimon is the gate used to travel between the two worlds, and is the only official and safe way to enter and leave Soul Society. Soul Society has only one permanent Senkaimon, which takes the form of a giant gate situated within a large courtyard atop a large tower. Travel through the Senkaimon is heavily regulated, and can only officially be opened by the members of the Kidō Corps. Upon opening the gate doors, white light emanates from the door and extends upward into the sky of Soul Society.

A black winged insect, the Jigokuchō, which only Shinigami are permitted to carry, is needed to pass through it.^[1]

For high-level Shinigami, such as captains and lieutenants, a seal is automatically placed onto them whenever they pass through the Senkaimon from Soul Society to the Human World, limiting their strength to 20% of their maximum output. This is done to prevent their Reiryoku from causing undesirable ripples in the Human World, but they can request for the seals to be removed if the situation calls for it.^[2] Under critical situations, such as the battle against the Espada, the seal is not applied even when the captains and lieutenants pass through the Senkaimon.^[3]

While the Senkaimon is run by the Kidō Corps, some high ranking Noble Families have their own private Senkaimon.^[4]

Usage

Upon arriving and leaving from the Human World, the Senkaimon can appear almost anywhere. When it appears in this fashion, the Senkaimon takes the form of a traditional Japanese waiting room entered through a Shōji. It can be opened by using a Zanpakutō as a key. The method requires simply placing the Zanpakutō in front of the user and inserting it into the spatial area one wants the Senkaimon to appear before turning the sword like a key while declaring "Unlocking!" (開錠, Kaijō; Viz "Release!"). As the crease of the door appears and fully opens, another door beyond it opens, releasing the Jigokuchō.^[5] Intruders can pass through the Senkaimon in the same manner. While this method uses the same gate, the lack of a Jigokuchō forces intruders to pass through the Dangai (断界, Parsing World), a bordering dimension between the Human World and Soul Society. This is much more dangerous to do, as souls who cannot pass through before the gate to Soul Society closes are trapped there forever. It is possible for those in the Seireitei to deactivate these mechanisms, allowing Shinigami or Humans to traverse the Dangai safely.

Variations

• Reishi Henkan-Ki (霊子変換機, Spirit Exchangers): A device that converts kishi into Reishi — in other words, it converts physical material or physical beings into Souls or Reishi.^[6]

• Tenkai Ketchū (転界結柱, World-Inverting Boundary Pillars; Viz "Tenkai Ketchu"): A "device" of enormous size, invented by Kisuke Urahara, that applies the principle of the Senkaimon to enact a large-scale interdimensional transposition. By setting up four large pillars at four corners around a designated space with a "one Spirit Mile" (一霊理, ichi Reiri) radius, that enclosed area and all its contents are enveloped by a giant Senkaimon, before being swapped out with another space of equal size, even if that other space is in a different dimension. This transference process was integral for the Soul Society's plans to face Sousuke Aizen and his army while preventing the destruction of Karakura Town: the SRDI constructed an exact replica of Karakura Town on the Rukongai's outskirts, which was subsequently switched out with the real Karakura Town in the Human World (including all the Humans living in it), such that Aizen and his subordinates were left finding only the "fake" town in the World of the Living.^[7][8][9] If any of the pillars are destroyed, the real town will begin to return to the Human World in a spreading area referred to as Tensō Kaiki (転送回帰, Regression Transfer), but this can be halted by embedding stakes in the ground that the area will stop progressing at, though said stakes are fragile and can be broken if careless fighting takes place near them.^[10]
  

• Chōkaimon (超界門, World-Transcending Gate; Viz "Super Worldy Gate"): A gate that a Royal Guard can open, sending someone directly to the Human World from the Soul King Palace. The gate can also be opened to send this person back, but to do so requires syncing the arrival and departure times.^[11]

Trivia

• In the anime, the Bounts can also create Senkaimon, but their inability to manipulate Reishi rendered their Senkaimon unable to convert their bodies to Reishi upon entry.^[12]

Klub Outside Trivia

• According to Q&A #758 by Tite Kubo on his fansite "Klub Outside", the travel time when using the Senkaimon remains the same no matter where in the Human World it connects to. Thus, when Ichigo Kurosaki goes on vacations in the human world, he travels to and from Soul Society to do so.^[13]

See Also

• Ōken
• Garganta

References

Navigation

Shinigami
Shinigami Skills
Combat	Zanjutsu • Hohō • Kidō • Hakuda
Abilities	Zanpakutō • Reiryoku • Reiatsu • Reiraku • Konsō • Shunkō
Organizations
Government	Soul King • Central 46
Nobility	Kuchiki Clan • Shihōin Clan • Noble Houses • Kasumiōji Clan • Ise Clan • Tsunayashiro Clan • Formerly: Shiba Clan • Ryōdoji Family • Dark Ones
Military	Gotei 13 • Onmitsukidō • Kidō Corps • Royal Guard • Gatekeepers
Institutions	Seireitei Communication • Shinigami Research and Development Institute • Shin'ō Academy
Recreational	Shinigami Women's Association • Shinigami Men's Association • Tea Ceremony Club • Ikebana Club • Calligraphy Club
Related Articles
Locations	Soul Society • Seireitei • Central 46 Compound • Nest of Maggots • Sōkyoku Hill • Gin Tonbo • Kuchiki Manor • Central Great Underground Prison
Items	Shihakushō • Jigokuchō • Gigai • Reigai • Gikon • Modified Soul • Denreishinki • Ōken • Gokon Tekkō • Kan • Blood Oath's Seal