Nen
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Nen is one of the defining features of Yoshihiro Togashi's manga Hunter × Hunter. It is an energy created within the body (like chi) that can be deployed and manipulated in a variety of ways by a skilled user. Within the series, this energy is referred to as one's aura. The term "Nen" itself can refer to both the energy itself and the skill of using it. As a note, President Netero of the Hunter Association is generally regarded as the greatest nen-user alive.
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[edit] "Energy" in manga
It is fairly common for characters in manga to have control over some sort of energy created by the body, the amount created corresponding to an attribute the mangaka wishes to emphasize in the characters. In YuYu Hakusho, the amount of youki a character can produce is related to their physical strength, while in Bleach, the amount of reiatsu (spiritual force/pressure) is more aligned with a character's spiritual awareness and willpower.
These energies are often created so the characters in manga are capable of doing supernatural or superhuman feats. This allows for situations to occur that would not be naturally possible, which is the appeal. Often these energies are used in devastating effects in fights, creating brutal and visually arresting scenes to entertain readers.
[edit] Examples of "energies" in other manga
- YuYu Hakusho - Spiritual energy, or ki, is the energy that exists in anything that has a spirit. In YuYu Hakusho, there are two different kinds of ki: reiki, the energy that's used by humans and those who reside in the Spirit World; and youki, the ki used by the youkai (demons/monsters).
- Bleach - Reiatsu is a power aligned with the spiritual sensitivity and willpower of the user. It is often used by Shinigami to provide power to and enable the powers of their Zanpakutō (soul cutters). It can also be used to cast Demon Arts, magic spells created by Shinigami. Reiatsu can even be coalesced into a physical form and thrown or shot, like ki in Dragon Ball.
- Dragon Ball - In the anime and manga series Dragon Ball, the power source is called ki, which allows a character to manipulate their inner energy to produce devastating attacks on their opponents. It can also be used for other purposes such as flight, and often produces a visible aura surrounding the character using it.
[edit] Why Nen is unique
Most energy forms have vague definitions, which allow the characters to have an almost random variety to their moves that use them. For example, in Dragon Ball, ki allows for powerful direct assaults with moves like the Kamehameha, attacks with homing abilities like Freeza's Kienzan, and tactical skills such as the Taiyô-ken that can blind opponents with a flash of light. There is never any explanation how chi is handled differently in each case to produce a different result. Nor are there ever any explanations to how abilities are first developed/invented, or how they are learnt.
Nen, by comparison, has a rather rigid and well-structured system. There are a set of techniques, both basic and more advanced forms, which involve general manipulation of the aura. Each nen user will then develop his or her individual skill, known as the Hatsu based on the same few logical principals that govern all of nen.
[edit] Properties of Nen
[edit] Creation
Nen is an energy produced by all living bodies, it is considered a vital energy that results from simply being alive. If one were to lose all their nen, it would be equivalent to using up all the energy that is keeping them alive, which would be fatal. The nen from all parts of the body has a tendency to flow together, producing one 'mass' of energy. This happens without the individual's awareness, and will simply leak out of their body slowly. The pores or points on the body where nen flows out from are called the Shouko.
[edit] Controlling and Seeing
A nen user trains to manually open and close their shouko so that they can control the flow of nen. One can learn this process gradually, learning to control the shouko through meditation, or they can receive an influx of nen from an experienced user that forces the shouko open, forcing the new user to learn to control the flow or risk severe exhaustion and/or death. The second method is generally frowned upon as it very dangerous (although far quicker). Once one has opened their shouko, they will be able to see nen as an 'aura' that surrounds the body (this is because the shouko of their eyes are opened). It has also been hinted in the manga that some people are able to 'discover' and learn to manipulate their nen on their own, without any teaching or guidance from another nen-user.
[edit] What Affects Nen
Although the production of nen is unconscious and constant by all living beings, it is more than just 'leaky energy'. Nen carries with it the desires and emotions of the one who deploys it, which is what allows Nen to have incredible versatility to those who develop their skill at using it. A basic application of this phenomenon is that one can channel their aggression or hatred into their nen and deploy it towards another person. The other person will then be able to feel that aggression as if it were physically palpable, and if unable to keep it from their own body by deploying their own nen, may be physically harmed by it.
[edit] Conscious Strengthening of Nen
Nen responds to the goals and strengths of the desire of its user. As a result, a user can make a commitment that results in an increase in their abilities. If a user, for example, damages their own body in such a way that an individual skill seems more imposing when used, their nen will become correspondingly more powerful. It is also possible to increase the strength of an individual skill by imposing limits on it. For example, if a user consciously decides something along the lines of "I will only use this skill on Thursdays," or "I will only use this skill against short people," and manage to abide by the rule, that particular skill will become stronger.
Theoretically, the more restrictive the condition, the greater the enhancement in power. It is also implied that restrictions which carry great meaning, or emotional value also bring about a greater benefit.
Furthermore, restrictions which contain some sort of 'punishment' (i.e. "I will die should I break this rule") will strengthen the ability more.
[edit] Sensing Nen
When one has developed use of their nen, they become sensitive to the presence of other beings by their deployment of nen. Since every living being creates nen subconsciously, it is a useful skill for those tracking or hunting (both animate and inanimate things). It is also useful in combat, because one can judge the location and relative strength of opponents by the output of their nen. To counter this, techniques that minimize nen output like Zetsu or In are used.
[edit] Geniuses
Nen is like any other skill, in that there are those who will learn it faster than others. There are also individuals that can use facilities of nen without having any formal training. This can be anything from being able to use the basic techniques of nen without even realising it, or unconsciously developing a unique nen ability that can be used without the user really understanding how or why they are able to do so.
[edit] Unexplained things
As of yet, there is still a lot about nen that is not yet explained. One such question is whether Nen has color. The anime version of Hunter x Hunter has nen-users with different colored auras which refer to the nen type, or to the emotional state of the nen user. However, because manga is in only black and white, there's no way to show color on the manga version of Hunter x Hunter. It is therefore uncertain whether color was simply something added to the anime version for convenience, or that nen was intended to have color. On volume cover 21 of the manga, it is shown that nen apparently does have color.
[edit] Basic Techniques
These are the most fundamental techniques of nen - everything else, including a nen-user's specialized skill, is really based on these most basic manipulations of nen-flow. These are the first skills that are taught to any nen-user. Often, for an experienced nen-user, these basic 'techniques' are second-nature. For example, a beginner must learn to use Ten, and concentrate to maintain it; where as an experienced nen-user will practically always be in a state of Ten, even when they are asleep.
[edit] Ten
- Once a person has had their shouko opened, they must learn to keep their nen from leaking away from their body. Ten is the process of keeping the shouko open, but also having nen flow through and around the body rather than away from it. Having a field of nen surround the body is the most basic defense against the physical or emotional attacks of another nen user. Another use of Ten is the prevention of old age; since the energy powering the body is no longer leaking away, one can keep the body from breaking down.
[edit] Zetsu
- While Ten allows a user to keep nen from leaking away from their body, Zetsu stops the flow of nen from their body altogether. By closing all of their shouko, the user is able to stop almost all outflow of nen. Because the user is no longer surrounded by their own aura, they can become more sensitive to the nen of others. This can be useful when tracking another person, and it will also prevent other nen-users from noticing them. However, since Zetsu involves releasing no nen, it can be dangerous since it leaves the body defenceless to any physical or nen attacks.
[edit] Ren
- Ren is a direct application of Ten. Since a user is capable of keeping nen from leaking away from the body, it's also possible for them to have more nen around them without having to worry about losing it. Ren focuses on outputting a high amount of nen and keeping it on the body, expanding the size of one's aura. This increases the user's physical strength and durability and provides a large pool of nen for any advanced techniques or individual skills they decide to use.
[edit] Hatsu
- The Hatsu is the releasing of a nen-user's nen so it can be projected to carry out a certain function. In essence, the Hatsu is a nen-user's special and unique ability that they themselves create. A good Hatsu should reflect the nen-user's own character; a nen-user can never truly master nen if they only copy other people's abilities. Hatsu has several different categories, and the nen of each individual user is aligned with one category. Upon learning their affinity, a user can set about learning to apply nen in a unique way that suits their type and personality, which can develop into a unique skill. A user may also have the ability to use more than one nen ability, but they may never be able to change their hatsu type. For example, Gon's hatsu is reinforcement, but he is also capable of using emission and transformation. This can be seen in his attack jajaken. His paper attack is emission and his scissors attack is transformation. However, even though a user may be able to use more than one hatsu, they can only be adequate at the hatsus adjacent to his primary hatsu. So, Gon can use emission and transformation adequately, but will not be able to use manipulation or materialization very well or at all.
- Although each nen-user's Hatsu is different and unique, Hatsu can be divided into 5 rough categories, and a 6th category for anything that does not fit into the five.
- The most popular way (and the only sure-way seen in the series) of determining one's nen category is the "Water Test" created by the Kung-Fu Shingen School. The test requires a leaf floating in a glass of water. It consists of a student placing their hands around the glass and applying Ren to it - the effect of their Ren determines the student's affinity.
- The character Hisoka also claims that he is able to judge a nen-user's nen type based on their personality (so according to him, all people of one nen-type are generally of the same personality type.)
[edit] Types of Hatsu
- Reinforcement (Enhancement)
- Japanese Name: Kyouka
- If a student increases the quantity of water in the glass during the Water Test, they are of the reinforcement type. Reinforcement is basically the ability to use nen to increase the efficiency (strengthen) of an object or body. Therefore, reinforcement types are able to greatly increase their physical attack and defense, and are best suited for close-melee combat.
- Reinforcement is the most well-balanced category, allowing users to spread themselves evenly between offense and defense and become very strong using only simple abilities. Examples of more complex reinforcement abilities include enhancing a person's ability to repair themselves, which is basically the equivalent of a healing-ability.
- According to Hisoka, reinforcement types are generally "simple" and "determined". Users in this category include Gon and Uvogin.
- Emission
- Japanese Name: Houshutsu
- If a student changes the color of the water in the glass during the Water Test, they are of the emission type. An affinity for emission means that a user is capable of controlling the deployment of their aura while separating it from their body. Nen usually loses power very quickly when it is separated from the source-body, but strong emission types can separate their aura from their body for long-periods of time and still be able to maintain it.
- An application of this is the ability to throw giant nen balls. Emission abilities are commonly mistaken for materialization abilities. The two, however, are fundamentally different. Objects created from emission type nen are made of pure nen energy, believed to be invisible to normal people, and requires the use of manipulation nen to control.
- Hisoka claims that emitters are "impatient" and "not detail-oriented." Franklin is one example of an emission type, his ability is to shoot out powerful nen-bullets from his fingertips.
- Manipulation
- Japanese name: Sousa
- If a student moves the leaf floating on the water in the glass during the Water Test, they are of the manipulation type. Manipulation is the ability to control other people or other non-living material. Abilities belonging to manipulation types tend to be more complex, and generally require certain conditions to be met before the user is able to control the target object.
- An example of a manipulator Shalnark's, who can control people by placing a phone antenna on their body. Another manipulator is Baise (Veze), who can control people by kissing them. According to Hisoka, manipulators are logical people who advance at their own pace.
- Materialization (Conjuration)
- Japanese Name: Gugenka
- If a student creates an object in the water in the glass during the Water Test, they are of the materialization type. Materialization is the ability to create a physical, independent, material object out of nen. Once a nen-user has mastered the materialization of a certain object, they can materialize it and un-materialize it (make it disappear) in an instant, whenever they want. It is believed that materialization is the only way in which nen can create things which ordinary people (who don't use nen) can see and touch.
- Materialized objects can have special abilities imbued into them. An example of this is Shizuku's ability - a materialized vacuum cleaner that can infinitely suck up objects, but with the condition that it can't suck up living things. Like manipulation nen, conditions can be set into materialized objects to make them stronger. Korutopi, for example, is able to materialize a perfect copy of any non-living object that he touches. However, all his materialized objects will automatically disappear after 24 hours.
- Like manipulation, materialization abilities tend to be very specific, complex, and conditional. In terms of personality, Hisoka claims materialization types are generally very "high-strung" people.
- Transformation (Transmutation)
- Japanese name: Henka
- If a student changes the taste of the water in the glass during the Water Test, they are of the transformation type. An affinity for transformation means a user can change the properties of their nen, usually so that it mimics something else. Like emission, things created by transformation are still pure nen. A simple way of thinking about it would be that transformation lets your nen mimic properties, whereas materialization allows you to change your nen into some material.
- Nen can copy properties of real things, for example, Killua uses his nen to copy the properties of electricity. Transformation types can also give their nen properties that don't necessarily mimic real things; Hisoka's "Bungee Gum" copies and combines the properties of rubber and gum. Transformed substances are invisible to normal people (i.e. those who are not able to use nen).
- According to Hisoka, transformation types are generally "whimsical liars".
- Specialization
- Japanese name: Tokushitsu
- If a student causes some other effect during the Water Test, they are of the specialization type. It is possible that the effect that occurs can give some insight into how they should direct their ability.
- Specialization is anything that doesn't belong into the other five categories. This is the most vague Hatsu-category. For example, Kurapika's specialization ability allows him to use all the five standard nen-types at 100% efficiency. Kuroro's specialization ability is a combination of the other five types, but in a way that no normal nen-user can use. While Neon's specialization ability is something that is simply unique, it has almost no relevance to any of the other five nen types.
- Specialists are said by Hisoka to be very "independent" and "charismatic".
[edit] Hatsu abilities
- Using more than one nen type
- A lot of nen abilities use more than one nen type. Common combinations include manipulation and emission (allowing user to manipulate objects from far away) and manipulation and materialization (allowing users to manipulate objects they have materialized).
- Within human boundaries
- No nen ability can be "beyond human boundaries." What this means is that you can't have an ability that is limitless. For example, you can't materialize a sword that can cut through anything. However, if you can set very strict conditions on it - then you can materialize a sword that can cut through anything given that the conditions are met.
- For example, Kurapika was unable to materialize an unbreakable chain. However, he was able to materialize a chain that was unbreakable by any Genei Ryodan member. Shizuku is able to materialize a vacuum cleaner which can suck up anything that is not alive.
- Materialization/Emission/Transformation
- These three Hatsu types tend to cause a lot of confusion to some people. To put it in short, a materialized thing is solid and material (i.e. made of molecules and atoms...etc), a transformed thing is pure nen which is copying properties of other things, whilst an emitted thing is pure nen in a certain shape and is discreetly separate from the user's body.
- Kastro's clone [Materialization] - it is solid, ordinary people could see it, it could be separated from the real Kastro as long as it stayed relatively close.
- Hisoka's bungee gum [Transformation] - normal people can't see it, it is not solid, it is simply pure nen energy copying the properties of rubber and gum, it always stays in physical contact with Hisoka.
- Reiza's 14 devils [Emission] - it was not solid, ordinary people couldn't see it, it was pure nen, it didn't need to physically stay in contact with Reiza.
- Neon
- Neon Nostrade is a character in Hunter x Hunter who has a complicated specialization Hatsu ability. For most nen-users, the Hatsu is the last step in their learning, after they have learnt all the other basic abilities. However, Neon shows no sign of having any knowledge, training, or awareness of nen; or being able to fight in any way. Some believe she must have been taught how to use nen because her Hatsu ability is too complex and developed. Others think she is a rare case of someone having an innate nen ability that they discover and use without any real understanding.
[edit] Advanced techniques
These are the more advanced techniques. Most of them are achieved by using a combination of the basic techniques. Most nen users learn Ten, Zetsu and Ren first before attempting these techniques. The Hatsu, being a nen-user's individual 'skill', is often something that a nen-user will develop gradually over a long period of time.
[edit] Shu
- Shu is the advanced form of Ten. Shu allows a nen-user to extend their aura to an object, allowing them to 'use' that object as if it were an extension of their own body. For example, one could use Shu to extend their Ten around an object (and not just their body), which would strength and protect the object like the way Ren strengths and protects the body. This is the technique that allows Hisoka to make his solitaire cards as sharp and as hard as metal knives.
[edit] En
- En is an advanced technique based on Ren. In Ren, the aura usually occupies only a small amount of space around the user (about a few centimeters.) En is when the nen-user extends their Ren so that it fills up a circular area of several meters around them. Someone using En can feel everything that happens in their En-covered area. The downside to this is that it is extremely tiring and draining for the nen-user to constantly deploy so much aura. Those who master En are typically able to extend their En to a circle of 50m radius. There are exceptions - Zeno Zaoldyeck, one of the most powerful assassin and nen-users alive, is able to extend his En to a radius of 300m. Also, a chimera ant, Nefelpitou, has an irregularly shaped En and she can extend a tendril of it up to two miles away.
[edit] Ken
- Ken is the combination of the two basic techniques Ten and Ren. Ken is a defensive technique that covers the entire body, allowing a nen-user to defend against attacks from any direction without the need to use Ryu (described below). Ken is as useful as a defensive position, but is tiring to maintain. Additionally, it is not as strong as Ryu on any given part of the body, since it protects the whole body evenly. Because of that, it is used to guard when one wants to be cautious.
[edit] In
- In is an advanced form of Zetsu that can almost completely hide a nen user. In can also be used on a nen-user's Hatsu ability (more information on why some Hatsu abilities are visible below in the Hatsu category section) to make it invisible to other nen users. In can be countered by using Gyou on the eyes, or by using the technique En.
[edit] Ryu
- The ability to shift your aura around your body. With the basic techniques of Ten and Ren, the aura is evenly spread out around the body. Ryu allows a user to alter the balance and flow of the aura. For example, you could move most of your aura to your upper body and only keep a small percentage of your aura in the lower body in order to increase upper body endurance.
[edit] Gyou
- Using Ryu, one can concentrate a large portion of their aura into one specific body part. This ability to concentrate the aura is known as Gyou. Gyou increases the strength of that one body part, but leaves the rest of your body more vulnerable.
- Gyou is most often used on the eyes, which allows a nen user to see things which would otherwise be hidden (e.g. objects hidden by In). This also allows a nen-user to analyze an opponent to find weaknesses that would otherwise be unnoticeable.
[edit] Kou
- Kou is the strong form of Gyou, where ALL (and not just some) of an individual's nen energy is concentrated into one particular body part. Zetsu is used to completely stop the flow of nen in all other parts of the body. This makes that one body part exceptionally powerful, but leaves the rest of the body completely unprotected. This is used by some nen users as an offensive technique (a Kou punch would carry all 100% of your nen power with it), but it is a risky move (leaving the rest of your body unprotected in a fight against another nen-user is not generally a good idea).
[edit] References and External Links
| Hunter × Hunter |
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| Anime: List of Hunter × Hunter episodes |
| Characters: Gon | Killua | Kurapika | Leorio | Hisoka | Kuroro |
| Groups: Hunters | Genei Ryodan | Zaoldyeck family |Other Characters |
| Other: Greed Island | Nen | Yoshihiro Togashi |
