It is possible that Master Tengen had the ability to avoid the disastrous events of the Culling Game in Jujutsu Kaisen, but opted not to do so. While their motives may be comprehensible, they are not satisfactory.
The fandom of Jujutsu Kaisen has been engaged in multiple discussions and hypotheses regarding Master Tengen since their debut. Despite existing for more than a millennium, very little information is available about this enigmatic character’s personal life. Consequently, readers find it challenging to determine their genuine intentions and objectives.
It appears evident that Tengen and Kenjaku, the villain in the story, had some sort of close relationship or friendship in the remote past. This has created doubt among fans about Tengen’s involvement in the lethal Culling Game and whether they truly support those fighting against Kenjaku. The latest chapter, 220 of Jujutsu Kaisen, slightly resolves this enigma, but unfortunately, it doesn’t portray Tengen in a favorable manner.
Allowing Kenjaku’s culling game has done more harm than good, according to Tengen
From their interactions in Jujutsu Kaisen, it appears that Tengen and Kenjaku are not on opposing sides, but neither are they working together. In Chapter 220, as they talk about the Culling Game, a certain level of mutual admiration can be detected between them. Kenjaku discloses that Tengen could have thwarted his plans for the Culling Game by just deactivating four specific barriers following the Shibuya Incident. These barriers play a crucial role in restraining the spread of Curses in Japan.
Tengen is confident they made the correct decision by letting the situation unfold as it did, but it could have negative consequences in the future. Tengen’s main rationale for their choice was to prevent numerous human casualties from disabling the barriers. However, despite this decision, many individuals still lost their lives during the Shibuya Incident and even more perished after the Culling Game commenced.
Master Tengen took a huge risk by placing all his hopes on protagonist Yuji Itadori and his companions to defeat Kenjaku, but his expectations were too high. It was impractical to anticipate so much from a team comprising mainly of adolescents, particularly given the extent and duration of Tengen’s acquaintance with Kenjaku.
Tengen hoped the game’s culling would reduce casualties
Regarding Tengen, it must be acknowledged that the teenagers he is dealing with possess exceptional intelligence and power, with some even being recognized as the most formidable sorcerers in Jujutsu Kaisen. While his apprehension for the potential loss of life resulting from the removal of barriers is commendable, it is somewhat misguided. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Tengen was unaware of the slim chance of defeating Kenjaku. It appears somewhat unnecessary to risk the occurrence of the Culling Game to avert a few human fatalities when the very essence of the event is to eliminate individuals.
Although the casualties are extremely unfortunate, some people believe that they would be justified if it meant stopping Kenjaku’s plans in the end. The antagonist is currently close to achieving their goals while Sukuna is causing chaos, making the situation increasingly urgent. It is likely that the situation will become even direr in future chapters. While Tengen’s decision not to prevent the Culling Game was understandable, it appears to have been the wrong choice.
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