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In Bleach, season 1 episode 3 (around 19:00) Orihime's brother, who is a
Hollow, stabs himself with Ichigo's Zanpakuto.

Soul Reapers are supposed to have the power to exorcise the Hollows to send
their souls to the Soul Society; however, it is implied here that it isn't
necessarily the _Soul Reaper_ who exercises the soul, but rather the
_Zanpakuto itself_.

Is there a clear definition on how this whole process is supposed to work? Or
can Hollows just commit suicide with a Zanpakuto and have their soul cleansed
as if the Soul Reaper had done it?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-23T04:57:22.107
9886
2014-05-23T06:20:21.517
2014-05-23T06:20:21.517
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question
bleach
How does Hollow exorcism work?


In a later episode with that Hollow who has those exploding slugs the
Zanpakuto can forgive the sins a soul has committed while it was a Hollow
allowing them entry into the Soul Society, it can not forgive the sins
committed before hand so murderers and the like even when killed with a
Zanpakuto are sent to the Underworld. the Quincy only seek to kill Hollows so
their weapons destroy rather than absolve the sins.

What happened with Orihime's brother is apparently an "Exorcism" as Rukia
implies there is a difference when Ichigo is about to stop Orihime's brother,
i think what she said is on the lines of

> There's is a difference between killing a Hollow and exorcising one

i've haven't see the entire series or read further in the manga but from the
looks of it it's the difference between a Soul Reaper forcing a soul to be
purified and forcing the soul to understand what they have done as a hollow
over the soul regaining themselves and learning of the sins they have
committed, coming to terms with it seeking purification with their own hands,
ie. taking responsibility for their own actions


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2014-05-23T06:04:11.480
9889
2014-05-23T06:04:11.480
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answer