<p><strong>The Soul King by himself is not the key to Soul Society's survival.</strong></p>

<p>It is true that someone of transcendent power needs to act as the linchpin holding the three dimensions (Earth, Soul Society and Hueco Mundo) together. However, that person needs not to be the Soul King himself. </p>

<p>The requirements to become a Soul King are to possess reiatsu from the two spiritually-attuned species (Shinigami and Hollow) combined with a fragment of the Soul King. Alternatively, possessing an organ of the Soul King may also make one a viable candidate for the title of Soul King, even if that person isn't both shinigami and Hollow. </p>

<p>It should be noted that each and every Fullbringer possesses a fragment of the Soul King ; and that their Fullbringer powers derive from that fragment. Even though it is explained within the manga that Fullbringers gain their powers when their pregnant mother is attacked by a Hollow and survives <em>(as explained in Chapter 433, page 10)</em>, that explanation apparently was incorrect. The Hollows attacked the mother BECAUSE their offspring bore a Soul King fragment.</p>

<p>Several characters have been noted (including within the canon-ish Can't Fear Your Own World light novel) to be Soul King candidates :</p>

<ol>
<li><strong>Yhwach :</strong> Since he absorbed the Soul King's entire power, he became a suitable candidate for the very title of Soul King himself. </li>
<li><strong>Ichigo :</strong> Notably possesses both Hollow and shinigami reiatsu. He also mastered Fullbring, thus proving he possesses a Soul King fragment.</li>
<li><strong>Kūgo Ginjō :</strong> Former shinigami and proficient Fullbring user. Upon stealing Ichigo's Fullbring, he also copied his reiatsu structure, thus gaining Hollow properties, as explained by the <a href="https://bleach.fandom.com/wiki/K%C5%ABgo_Ginj%C5%8D" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bleach wiki :</a> "Upon absorption of one's Fullbring, he also incorporates their own Reiatsu into the attack, making it virtually identical to the original user." <em>(Chapter 470, page 8)</em></li>
<li><strong>Jūshirō Ukitake :</strong> Was used as a host body by Mimihagi, the Soul King's chopped-off, conscious right hand. By sacrificing himself and unleashing Mimihagi, he could have taken, theoretically, the Soul King's place (although his attempt thwarted by Yhwach).</li>
<li><strong>Hikone Ubuginu :</strong> A character exclusively developed within the light novel Can't Fear Your Own World. In short, an artificial individual built from shinigami, Hollow and Soul King fragments to achieve transcendent power and take the place of the Soul King.</li>
</ol>

<p>The Can't Fear Your Own World light novel implies that a high amount of spiritual pressure is needed to be a Soul King candidate, although since we are lacking an official translation, I cannot vouch for this information's truthfulness. Likewise, this light novel shows that <strong>a defeated Yhwach has been sealed and now replaces the Soul King</strong>. This information is most likely canonical. If Yhwach had won, it is very strongly implied within the manga (and confirmed in the CFYOW light novel) that Ichigo was to be forced to take the Soul King's place.</p>

<p><strong>TL;DR :</strong> The three dimensions' structural integrity can be preserved if a Soul King candidate is sacrificed to become the linchpin in stead of the original Soul King. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-01T16:41:56.607Z
2020-01-01T16:41:56.607Z
Caelistis
<p>It was once stated in Bleach manga by Urahara that,</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> <em>Urahara details that without the Soul King's existence, Soul Society would be rent asunder. The Soul King is the "linchpin" and if that linchpin is lost, then the world would simply crumble away and that is the way of the world.</em> <a href="http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Soul_King">Wiki</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>But then afterwards, </p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> Yhwach completely absorbs the Soul King.<a href="http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Soul_King">Wiki</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>How does then the Soul society continues to survive into the future? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-02T10:58:09.080Z
If I'm not mistaken, Yhwach got the Soul King's power, so the Soul Society doesn't collapse.
JTR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-02T17:34:00.567Z
True. But then he dies.
SeasonalShot
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-03T02:53:18.000Z
Oh, I think you asked after Yhwach absorb Soul King's power, not after the death of Yhwach. If so, I don't think it's explained in manga at all if Soul King really "dead" or not.
JTR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-03T07:10:26.497Z
@JTR If Soul King was absorbed by Yhwach and Yhwach died without leaving even a trace of his reiatsu, which means he is completely obliterated, then Soul King too is completely gone. Sadly, we might never know how to answer this question since the manga has ended without addressing this issue.
絢瀬絵里
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-03T09:23:15.983Z
@AyaseEri yeah, I'm not matching anime, but I hope there's some explanation in anime. There's so many questions about the end of bleach I think
JTR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-21T08:00:39.673Z
Yeah, no explanation in manga for this one, in fact the manga end so sudden for my taste.
Marcio.Rezende
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-16T15:03:49.633Z
this question is one of the mysteries left by kubo , he has not answered the question anywhere directly , some speculate aizen could've taken his place , while other's speculate that soul society may not need a king considering yhwach's last words ,he said that due to his death the realms of the living and the dead will probably never become one .
paws
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-12T06:40:48.783Z
@絢瀬絵里 Well, given Urahara's message, I would assume it really did fall apart. Ichigo messed everything up. Right from the beginning, without Ichigo, Yhwach wouldn't have gotten to the palace.
SK19
<bleach>
Can the Soul society exist without the soul king?
# Can the Soul society exist without the soul king?
Posted by: username_0 on 2016-09-01
It was once stated in Bleach manga by Urahara that,

> *Urahara details that without the Soul King's existence, Soul Society would be rent asunder. The Soul King is the "linchpin" and if that linchpin is lost, then the world would simply crumble away and that is the way of the world.* [Wiki](http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Soul_King)

But then afterwards,

> Yhwach completely absorbs the Soul King.[Wiki](http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Soul_King)

How does then the Soul society continues to survive into the future?
**Tags:** bleach
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If I'm not mistaken, Yhwach got the Soul King's power, so the Soul Society doesn't collapse.  
> **username_0**: True. But then he dies.  
> **username_1**: Oh, I think you asked after Yhwach absorb Soul King's power, not after the death of Yhwach. If so, I don't think it's explained in manga at all if Soul King really "dead" or not.  
> **username_2**: @JTR If Soul King was absorbed by Yhwach and Yhwach died without leaving even a trace of his reiatsu, which means he is completely obliterated, then Soul King too is completely gone. Sadly, we might never know how to answer this question since the manga has ended without addressing this issue.  
> **username_1**: @AyaseEri yeah, I'm not matching anime, but I hope there's some explanation in anime. There's so many questions about the end of bleach I think  
> **username_3**: Yeah, no explanation in manga for this one, in fact the manga end so sudden for my taste.  
> **username_4**: this question is one of the mysteries left by kubo , he has not answered the question anywhere directly , some speculate aizen could've taken his place , while other's speculate that soul society may not need a king considering yhwach's last words ,he said that due to his death the realms of the living and the dead will probably never become one .  
> **username_5**: @絢瀬絵里 Well, given Urahara's message, I would assume it really did fall apart. Ichigo messed everything up. Right from the beginning, without Ichigo, Yhwach wouldn't have gotten to the palace.  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_6 on 2020-01-01. Score: 1
**The Soul King by himself is not the key to Soul Society's survival.**

It is true that someone of transcendent power needs to act as the linchpin holding the three dimensions (Earth, Soul Society and Hueco Mundo) together. However, that person needs not to be the Soul King himself.

The requirements to become a Soul King are to possess reiatsu from the two spiritually-attuned species (Shinigami and Hollow) combined with a fragment of the Soul King. Alternatively, possessing an organ of the Soul King may also make one a viable candidate for the title of Soul King, even if that person isn't both shinigami and Hollow.

It should be noted that each and every Fullbringer possesses a fragment of the Soul King ; and that their Fullbringer powers derive from that fragment. Even though it is explained within the manga that Fullbringers gain their powers when their pregnant mother is attacked by a Hollow and survives *(as explained in Chapter 433, page 10)*, that explanation apparently was incorrect. The Hollows attacked the mother BECAUSE their offspring bore a Soul King fragment.

Several characters have been noted (including within the canon-ish Can't Fear Your Own World light novel) to be Soul King candidates :

1. **Yhwach :** Since he absorbed the Soul King's entire power, he became a suitable candidate for the very title of Soul King himself.
2. **Ichigo :** Notably possesses both Hollow and shinigami reiatsu. He also mastered Fullbring, thus proving he possesses a Soul King fragment.
3. **Kūgo Ginjō :** Former shinigami and proficient Fullbring user. Upon stealing Ichigo's Fullbring, he also copied his reiatsu structure, thus gaining Hollow properties, as explained by the [Bleach wiki :](https://bleach.fandom.com/wiki/K%C5%ABgo_Ginj%C5%8D) "Upon absorption of one's Fullbring, he also incorporates their own Reiatsu into the attack, making it virtually identical to the original user." *(Chapter 470, page 8)*
4. **Jūshirō Ukitake :** Was used as a host body by Mimihagi, the Soul King's chopped-off, conscious right hand. By sacrificing himself and unleashing Mimihagi, he could have taken, theoretically, the Soul King's place (although his attempt thwarted by Yhwach).
5. **Hikone Ubuginu :** A character exclusively developed within the light novel Can't Fear Your Own World. In short, an artificial individual built from shinigami, Hollow and Soul King fragments to achieve transcendent power and take the place of the Soul King.

The Can't Fear Your Own World light novel implies that a high amount of spiritual pressure is needed to be a Soul King candidate, although since we are lacking an official translation, I cannot vouch for this information's truthfulness. Likewise, this light novel shows that **a defeated Yhwach has been sealed and now replaces the Soul King**. This information is most likely canonical. If Yhwach had won, it is very strongly implied within the manga (and confirmed in the CFYOW light novel) that Ichigo was to be forced to take the Soul King's place.

**TL;DR :** The three dimensions' structural integrity can be preserved if a Soul King candidate is sacrificed to become the linchpin in stead of the original Soul King.
---
