Terminology

This page lists the various terminology used in Shaman King.

Guardian Ghost
Guardian Ghosts are spirits that accompany shamans and allow them to use various skills such as Soul Integration and Over Soul. Depending on the shaman, this Guardian Ghost can be treated as a friend and loyal companion or as a slave. The relationship between a Guardian Ghost and their shaman can also affect their ability to fight because the Guardian Ghost can choose to disobey their shaman if they do not approve of what they are doing, leaving the shaman to fend for themselves.

Furyoku
Furyoku (巫力), called Mana in the English version of the Manga series, is a term used to determine the measure of sixth sense a person possesses. This can be increased by having a near-death experience such as when Asakura Yoh went into the Yomi Cave to train. With this power, a shaman can produce an Over Soul. More Furyoku level which means more control over one's guardian ghost and more powerful forms of the Over Soul.

Reiryoku
Reiryoku (靈力), or Ghost Power, is a term used to determine spiritual power and strength that a ghost possesses. This power is manifested in the form of magic and supernatural ability (e.g. Kororo's Cryokinesis). A shaman must be careful consideration when creating an Over Soul with high Reiryoku because a spirit's Reiryoku level determines how much shaman's Furyoku is needed to form an O.S

Manjien
The Manjien (万辞苑,) or Mantannian Dictionary in the English version of the manga, is a compendium of all human knowledge that Manta frequently consults to find information on people, cultures, and other subjects. The book's Japanese name blends Manta's name with the word Kōjien (広辞苑), the name of a famous dictionary.

In the English version of the 2001 anime series, as the book is called The Knucklehead's Guide to Shamans and Spirits

Seirei-class
Seirei-class (Sacred Souls in the English version of 2001 Anime series, or 'Nature Spirits') is the classification for spirits who have existed for 500 years or more and whose souls have shed their physical attachment to achieve their purest form. Sacred--or 'higher'--spirits are more appropriately ghosts who have ascended beyond their ego, enabling them to assume any form or shape freely. After this "ascending", the spirit does not have to become stronger since this is the highest form of power. Only the shaman has to train and grow stronger.

Kami-class
Kami-class (God class) is the classification of the most powerful ghosts in Shaman King. Sixteen are known to exist at this time: the Great Spirit, Spirit of Fire, Spirit of Earth, Spirit of Rain, Spirit of Wind, Spirit of Thunder, Big Chief, Shamash, Dainichi Nyorai, Jizoh Nyorai, Batoh Nyorai, Fudo Myooh, Gundari Myooh, Aizen Myooh, Asura and Dai Tengu. These ghosts have near bottomless power and can grow stronger by eating other ghosts. The problem is that these ghosts require a lot of Furyoku to keep themselves going. The shaman who controls one of these must be incredibly strong and be extremely cautious around them since they will eat any spirit that comes in their way.

Hitodama Mode
Hitodama Mode (Spirit Ball form in the English version of the 2001 Anime series) is the form of most spirits take before performing any kind of Over Soul. When in this form the spirit takes the form of a small ball, sometimes with a fiery tail and only their faces and a few small details are present. Sometimes the Guardian Ghost takes this form even when they are not about to use Over Soul, most likely this is for them to take less space.

Soul Integration
Soul Integration (or "Spirit Integration/UnityFusion") is the act of channeling a spirit into the shaman's body and allowing them to take over the body for as long as necessary. Because it is a form of possession and it does not manifest the spirits in the real world, this technique barely uses Furyoku.

Over Soul
An Over Soul (O.S. for short) is the result of a Shaman placing his guardian ghost into an object (Medium) to create a powerful weapon or to manifest the ghost into the real world.

Shaman Medium
A Shaman medium is an object that is used for Over Soul. This could be anything but usually reflects the guardian ghost-like Amidamaru's katana, Harusame or Tao Ren's Kwandao. Sometimes the medium is changed to reflect a power increase of the shaman or guardian ghost's power increase. This was the case with both Asakura Yoh and Tao Ren since they both needed a second medium for a power increase and for new techniques.

Patch
The Patch (Dobie in the English version of the 2001 anime series) are a Native American tribe that officiates the Shaman Fight. The Patch is known to be good shamans and has developed their own shamanic techniques. The Patch is unfortunately known to be very poor; the ten officiants have complained about this but the reason why they are so poor is that every five hundred years they must put up the penniless shamans in hotels and fix the damage the fights caused to the right location. The Patch has a policy of 'make do on your own' to the officiants which creates a few problems for them.

Jiang Shi (Kyonshi)
The Jiang Shi (Zombies in the English version of the 2001 anime series) are zombies that the Tao Family uses alongside ghosts. They are created from reasonably intact corpses or freshly dead people.