This page lists the various terminology used in Shaman King.
Guardian Ghost[]
Guardian Ghosts (持霊 Mochirei) 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 (VIZ, Kodansha: Mana) 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 levels, which means more control over one's guardian ghost and more powerful forms of the Over Soul.
Reiryoku[]
Reiryoku (靈力), or Ghost Power (
Manjien[]
The Manjien (万辞苑 Manjien, VIZ, Kodansha: Mantannian Dictionary) 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 Kōjien (広辞苑), the name of a famous dictionary.
In the 4Kids version of the 2001 anime series, it is a book of ghost stories, titled The Knucklehead's Guide to Shamans and Spirits.
Seirei[]
Seirei (精霊 Seirei, lit. "Refined Spirits") are spirits that have refined themselves,[2] shedding their physical attachment to achieve their purest forms. Because these spirits have ascended beyond their egos, they are capable of freely assuming alternate forms and shapes.[3] Most of them evolve from animal and plant spirits,[4] so Seirei are considered forces of nature in some cultures.[5]
This refinement process usually takes centuries;[2] however, there are unique circumstances where far less time was required, such as the human ghost Kurobe Tamiko transforming into a koropokkuru and ascending within four years.[6]
The term has had various translations from official publishers: VIZ used "Luminous Spirits", "Higher Spirits", "Familiars", and "Pure Spirits", while 4Kids used "Sacred Souls".
Kami-class[]
Kami-class ("God class") is the classification of the most powerful ghosts in Shaman King. These ghosts have near bottomless power and some 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.
Hitodama Mode[]
Hitodama Mode (4Kids: Spirit Ball form) is the form 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/Unity Fusion") 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 their guardian ghost into an object 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, such as Amidamaru's katana, Harusame, or Bason's guandao, Basontou. Sometimes the shaman 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 (4Kids: Dobie) are a Native American tribe that officiates the Shaman Fight. The Patch is known to be good shamans and have 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 (4Kids: Zombies) are zombies that the Tao Family use alongside ghosts. They are created from reasonably intact corpses or freshly dead people.