Hōju no Tama



The Hōju no Tama is a sacred jewel under the protection of In'ei Temple. The temple has many such gems, however this one is both the most powerful and the most important. The jewel contains the slumbering spirit and the sum total of the knowledge of every monk of the temple who has contributed their power to sustain the jewel. Near the end of the life of every Grand Master, they donate their Seikoki and consciousness to the gem and join their predecessors within it. The jewel slumbers unless the proper steps are taken to awaken the sleeping minds the monks of the past. Otherwise it is akin to an incredibly powerful chakra battery, and indeed, can be used to power the defensive barriers of the temple should the need arise. The gem is extremely receptive to strong emotions. One must have a calm mind and a light spirit in its presence, for it will reflect the nature of those under its sway. Should darkness or wrath overshadow the jewel, the consequences will be disastrous.

History and Purpose
This particular gem was created to ensure a means of succession should there not be enough masters to pass on the Seikoki no Chikara. Hozoin In'ei, the aging Grand Master, worried about the survival of his fledgling order in turbulent times. To that end he gathered his strongest disciples, the ones who had undergone the ritual, and set a spherical diamond in the middle of a unique fuinjutsu array. They then replicated and modified the Ritual of The Sanctified Path, very slowly pouring their power into the gem over a period of six days, whilst maintaining a barrier around it to prevent the Seikoki from escaping. One by one, the disciples collapsed when they reached their limit. However, the Grand Master persevered. On the seventh day Hozoin In'ei sacrificed his life and poured the last of his Seikoki, along with the entirety of his life force, into the jewel. Due to its power it was kept secret and locked away, but nonetheless it has become a target for many powerful entities, including hidden villages.

Power
It contains massive amounts of energy, enough to equal a Tailed Beast like Kurama not only in amount but also power level. Unlike a tailed beast, the jewel is a physical object and can be destroyed. It is incredibly dangerous to even users of Seikoki due to its vast powers. Despite their best efforts to keep its existence a secret, knowledge of this artifact and its incredible power began to spread. It is locked away in a concealed Sacred Grotto (In'ei Temple) and protected by multiple barriers. It can never exhaust its supply of energy as it constantly regenerates itself. It is the temple's most precious artifact, as it ensures that the Seikoki can continue to be imparted to others even if the Grand Master and his attendants are all killed. Powerful sealing styles such as the Four Symbols Seal can seal some, or the entirety of the incredibly potent Seikoki no Chikara into human bodies in a similar fashion to the creation of jinchuuriki, with similar effects. In this way, even if the knowledge of the Ritual of The Sanctified Path is lost, the power of Seikoki can still be used by the Temple.

Inspiration and Trivia

 * Taken from a Buddhist ritual object known as the hōju 宝珠 or hōju-no-tama 宝珠の玉. In Japan, this jewel signifies the bestowal of blessings on all who suffer, for it grants wishes, pacifies desires, and brings clear understanding of the Dharma (Buddhist law). This equates to “wealth” in Buddhist philosophy.


 * Many deities are commonly shown holding this jewel (Skt. = Cintamani), including the 1000-Armed Kannon, Jizō Bosatsu, Kokūzō Bosatsu, and Aizen Myō-ō.


 * 財宝を得る. Grants wishes, brings wealth. Often depicted as a single orb with a pointed top, or as a set of three jewels, sometimes with a flame nimbus.


 * The wish-granting jewel has also served historically as one of Buddhism’s most important repositories of Buddhist relics -- the ashes, fingernail clippings, hair, bone, or teeth of the Historical Buddha. They were made in great number in mainland Asia and in Japan, and represent the “internationalization” of Buddhist teachings, as each nation that received the Buddhist philosophies erected numerous stupa designed with jewel iconography or containing a wish-granting jewel.


 * Relates to the Shikon no Tama from Inuyasha and the Hogyouku from Bleach.