Kaiōshin are Core People who were born as a special golden fruit. They are sexless,[2] but they often present a gender. A Kaiōshin presides over each of the twelve universes with four cardinal Kaiō serving underneath them. Each Kaiōshin is life-bound to their God of Destruction; if one dies, so does the other.[3] The Kaiōshin are named after in-world and real-world divine figures.[4]
Origins
Akira Toriyama provides some information about the origins of the Kaiō and Kaiōshin in the Character Volume of the Super Exciting Guide. There are some inconsistencies with this statement in his own work in Dragon Ball as well as the work of Toei Animation.
How did you come up with the ball-like cosmos? I think it’s something I came up with so both I and the readers would be able to grasp the atmosphere of it easily. The big ball in the center is the world known as "this life" and "the afterlife", and the one who watches over it from outside is Kaiōshin. Only, at the bottom, as though in opposition, a Makaiōshin exists, and governs evil. (Although right now, Kaiōshin’s power appears to be greater.) Is Kaiō-sama a hereditary position? Inside the big ball I mentioned before, there is a planet, called the World Core where the Kaiō are born and raised. It's a world like a gigantic Planet Kaiō, and Kaiō-sama and his peers are born as Core People from the fruit of the World Core’s giant World Tree. The planet's population is about 80. Core People are neither male nor female, and their average lifespan is said to be about 75,000 years. At a castle that's like a school, they learn a variety of things, and live an easygoing life; however, if a Kaiō dies on one of the Kaiō Planets, the next Kaiō is chosen from among them by lottery. However, a Kaiōshin is chosen only from Core People who are born from a special golden fruit, which rarely occurs. In addition, there are occasionally delinquent Core People with evil hearts; these ones fall under the Makaiō. — Akira Toriyama (2009)[2]
Toriyama's 75,000-year Kaiōshin lifespan is contradicted by dates given in the series, as detailed in the biographies of the individual Kaiōshin below. It is unknown why there is only one Kaiōshin per universe now, rather than a Dai Kaiōshin with four cardinal Kaiōshin, but in the current era, the cardinal Kaiō seem to play a similar role. This cardinal hierarchy is inspired by the Buddhist Four Heavenly Kings.
Five years later, Toriyama reiterated the 75,000-year lifespan, and also suggested that there are three Kaiōshin for each universe, only one of whom is on duty at a time.
The Kaiōshin are said to have the highest status in the universe, but how can you become a Kaiōshin? No one can. Kaiōshin are born as Kaiōshin. There are three of them, and they work in shifts. Though there are two of them on duty now, if one of the Kaiōshin were to die in an accident, then the currently-inactive Kaiōshin would grow in the Kaiōshin Realm like a plant. If there aren’t any accidents, then it’s said their lifespans are about 75,000 years. — Akira Toriyama (2014)[5]
In Universe 10, Zamasu is recruited from the position of Kaiō to train under Gowasu as his apprentice in order to take the position of Kaiōshin when Gowasu dies, which renders various aspects of Toriyama's previously-dictated lore somewhat open to discussion.
In the film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, coming out in March 2013, a new god, the "God of Destruction", appears. In this [book], Kaiō-sama and Kaiōshin-sama are described as "Gods of Creation", but do they have the power to create things like planets? Rather than Kaiōshin-sama making planets, he is able to provide the impetus for them to be born. Also, he will sometimes divide up one planet and increase the number of planets. He will even do things like create life-forms, or transplant them from another planet, but his basic job is to watch over the numerous planets. Because the number of planets is so very large, the four Kaiō-sama help him out as well. They intervene if it appears that the world's balance will crumble, but normally, they merely act in an advisory role for new life-forms, and don't get involved. In order to provide a balance to the constantly increasing number of planets, the God of Destruction destroys, but he does not act on Kaiōshin's orders; he destroys according to his own individual judgment. — Akira Toriyama[6]
The power of Creation is exhibited by Angels, Kaiō, and even the Namekians of the Dragon Clan. The fact that Kaiōshin sometimes create lifeforms and transport them from one planet to another could explain how vegetation and races on other planets sometimes closely resemble those found on Planet Earth.
Shin is the current Kaiōshin of Universe 7. In ancient times, he held the position of East Kaiōshin, at a time when there were four cardinal Kaiōshin ruled by Dai Kaiōshin. He was the youngest of them, and the only one to survive the terror of Majin Boo during the reign of the sorcerer Bibbidi.[7] When Bibbidi sealed Boo to transport him to Earth, his next target, Shin killed him and left Boo on the planet inside his seal. Shin is normally referred to by his title, but he uses his given name[8] as an alias when he enters the 25th Tenka'ichi Budōkai with his attendant Kibito on Earth[9] after they discover that Bibbidi's son Bobbidi plans to release Boo from his seal.[10]
The Elder Kaiōshin is a companion and advisor to Shin, the current Kaiōshin of Universe 7. His given name is not known. He is the product of a Potara fusion with an old witch who is the source of some of his mysterious powers,[11] and he served as Kaiōshin in Universe 7 fifteen generations before Shin.[12] He was trapped in the Z Sword during a trivial quarrel with the God of DestructionBeerus, who had been visiting the Kaiōshin Realm for their millennial coordination meeting.[5][13] The sword was secured in rock, and none of the Kaiōshin had ever been strong enough to pull it out.[14]Son Gohan becomes the first to retrieve the sword,[15] which is broken during his training when Shin encourages him to test the sword's strength against Katchin Steel.[12] The Elder Kaiōshin then performs a ritual to draw out Gohan's potential.[16] He later gives his life to Son Goku so that Goku can fight Majin Boo,[17] and his life is restored by Porunga after Boo is defeated.[18]
Dai Kaiōshin ruled over four cardinal Kaiōshin in Universe 7 in ancient times. His given name is not known. Ten million years before the current day, Dai Kaiōshin sacrificed the majority of his divine power to seal away the sorcerer Moro's magical powers. Five million years later,[19] during the reign of the sorcerer Bibbidi, Dai Kaiōshin was absorbed by Majin Boo.[7] When Moro escapes from Galactic Patrol Prison, a medium employed by the Galactic Patrol retrieves Dai Kaiōshin's memories inside Majin Boo. When Boo sees Moro, those memories resurface.[20] After the first round of their fight, Majin Boo takes on the appearance of Dai Kaiōshin, who informs Goku and Vegeta that he will be switching places with Boo until the fight is finished.[21] He tries to take away Moro's magic again using the Kai-Kai Matoru technique, but his remaining divine powers were retained by Pure Boo when they diverged.[22][23] After the fight, Boo's features return and he falls into hibernation.[24] Dai Kaiōshin appears once more at the end of the arc to guide Oob.[25]
South Kaiōshin served Universe 7 at a time when there were four cardinal Kaiōshin serving under Dai Kaiōshin. His given name is not known. Ten million years before the current day, South Kaiōshin assisted Dai Kaiōshin with the defeat of the sorcerer Moro. Five million years later,[19] during the reign of the sorcerer Bibbidi, he was absorbed by Majin Boo.[7]
North Kaiōshin served Universe 7 at a time when there were four cardinal Kaiōshin serving under Dai Kaiōshin. His given name is not known. He was killed by Majin Boo during the reign of the sorcerer Bibbidi.[7]
West Kaiōshin served Universe 7 at a time when there were four cardinal Kaiōshin serving under Dai Kaiōshin. Her given name is not known. She was killed by Majin Boo during the reign of the sorcerer Bibbidi.[7]
Anat, known for his gentle smile, is the Kaiōshin of Universe 1, the universe with the highest mortal level.[26][27] Anat's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Anat (アナト anato), a violent war-goddess of Ugarit mythology, is a likely source for his name.
Peru is the Kaiōshin of Universe 2. He works out to build his physique, and heart his burns for the battles of Universe 2's maidens of love.[28] Peru's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Perun (ペルーン perūn), the god of thunder and lightning in Slavic mythology, is a likely source for his name.
Ea is the Kaiōshin of Universe 3. He is influenced by machine-loving mortals[29] and particularly interested in machine life-form robots who have surpassed mortal evolution.[30] Ea's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Ea (エア ea)—a water god of Babylonian mythology, also known as "Enki" in Sumerian mythology—is a likely source for his name.
Kur is the Kaiōshin of Universe 4. He is haughty and mindful of his position as a god.[31] He speaks with the old-fashioned expression ~Ojaru (an archaic, honorific form of "to be").[32] Kur's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Kur (クル kuru)—an underworld dragon in Sumerian mythology who stole a goddess and carried her away to the nether world—is a likely source for his name.
Ogma is the Kaiōshin of Universe 5. She is a gentle god who values a balance between knowledge and power.[33][34] Ogma's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Ogma (オグマ oguma), a deity of Celtic mythology, is a likely source for her name.
Huwa is the Kaiōshin of Universe 6, the third lowest-level universe. He was awestruck to see Goku enjoying his fight with Hit during the martial arts match with Universe 7.[35] Huwa's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Huwawa (フワワ fuwawa), a monstrous giant who serves as guardian of the godly realm in Mesopotamian mythology, is a likely source for his name.
Il is the Kaiōshin of Universe 8. He loves making plans and gets fired up when they come together.[36][37] Il's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and a likely source for his name is El/Il (イル iru), a Northwest Semitic word meaning "god" or "deity", although also used to refer to (as a proper name) multiple major Ancient Near East deities.
Rou is the Kaiōshin of Universe 9. He is known for using vulgar language unfitting of a Kaiōshin, but he thinks himself clever[38] and tends to make fun of other universes.[39]Rou's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Louhi (ロウヒ rouhi), a wicked queen and witch of Finnish mythology, is a likely source for his name. "Rō" (老 meaning "old" or "elder") has been used before in the series in reference to the Elder Kaiōshin who had been locked away in the Z-Sword several generations prior.
Gowasu is the elderly Kaiōshin of Universe 10. He takes the Northern Kaiō of Universe 10, Zamasu, as an apprentice, but Zamasu betrays him, killing him and stealing a Time Ring to carry out his evil plans. "Gowasu" (ごわす) is an archaic Japanese verb meaning "to be", often used to show gratitude, respect, and humbleness toward another speaker. As Gowasu was introduced prior to the Tournament of Power and shares a similar naming scheme as Zamasu, his name does not follow suit with the other Kaiōshin names.
Cae is the Kaiōshin of Universe 11. He is a gentle Kaiōshin with a strong sense of justice who values life.[40][41] He is known for being kind-hearted and taking everything positively.[42] Cae's name likely comes from the 界 (kai) in "Kaiōshin" meaning "world".[41] Additionally, many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Caenus (カイネウス kaineusu) of Greek mythology is a possible source for this name, or one of any number of gods whose names begin with "Kai" or "Cae".
Ag is the Kaiōshin of Universe 12. Known for saying virtuous things, he aimed to take his already-mature universe to greater heights in the Tournament of Power.[43][44] Ag sees his universe's exemption from the tournament as an affirmation of his superiority as a god.[45] Ag's name pun is unknown, but many Kaiōshin appear to have been named after deities, and Agni (アグニ aguni), the fire god of Hinduism and Indo-European mythologies, is a likely source for his name.
