Do you know the 7 deadly sins? A concept incorporated to classify human conditions as vices? Today these 7 sins are heavily emphasized by the Catholic Church, but even Japan, a Buddhist and Shinto country, uses these 7 sins in various works such as anime and manga, to represent things and even characters. In this article, we will talk about how anime and other Japanese works utilize these 7 deadly sins which are lust, envy, greed, gluttony, sloth, pride, and wrath.
Anime represent personalities both indirectly and directly. We can notice that characters are often shaped into some type of personality; sometimes we clearly see something like envy or greed. Some authors directly use these capital sins and make the references very clear. Some characters are fat and greedy, others are nervous, greedy, or overly envious. These personality clichés can be compared to the use of deredere in anime, like the famous tsundere.
In Japanese, the 7 deadly sins are called 大罪 (taizai), which can be literally translated as "great sins."
Among the anime that represent the deadly sins making clear references are:
- FullMetal Alchemist;
- Nanatsu no Taizai (literally 7 capital sins);
- Sin: The Seven Deadly Sins;
- Inuyasha;
- Bleach;
- Digimon;
Table of Contents
Luxuria - Lust - 色欲 (Shikiyoku)
Lust is an emotion of intense desire for the body. It consists of attachment to carnal pleasures, corruption of customs, extreme sexuality, lasciviousness and sensuality.
- Desejo (Fullmetal Alchemist);
- Gowther (Nanatsu no Taizai);
- Mukotsu (Inuyasha);
- Szayel Aporro Granz (Bleach);
- Asmodeus (Angel Sanctuary);
- Lust (Katekyo Hitman Reborn);
- Laylamon (Digimon);
Capital Sin - Sloth - 怠惰 (Taida)
Let's start by talking about my capital sin. This sin demonstrates a lack of willingness to work or act. It also involves negligence, laziness, sloth, delay, slowness, and procrastination. Below is a list of characters known for their laziness and who refer to this capital sin:
- Sloth - (Fullmetal Alchemist);
- King (Nanatsu no Taizai);
- Suikotsu (Inuyasha);
- Coyote Starrk (Bleach);
- Astharote & Astarte (Angel Sanctuary);
- Belphegor (Katekyo Hitman Reborn);
- Belphemon (Digimon);
- Shikamaru (Naruto);
- Gintoki (Gintama);
- Shunsui (Bleach);
- Tanaka-kun
Capital Sin - Envy - 嫉妬 (Shitto)
Envy involves displeasure, hatred, or grief for other people's prosperity or joy. In Japanese it also involves jealousy, so much so that they use the same ideogram. Envy also involves the desire to own and enjoy other people's things, a feeling that provokes desires. Among the characters that represent this personality well are:
- Envy (Fullmetal Alchemist);
- Diane (Nanatsu no Taizai);
- Jakotsu (Inuyasha);
- Nnoitra Gilga (Bleach);
- Leviatã (Katekyo Hitman Reborn);
- Leviatã (Anjo Caído);
- Leviamon (Digimon);
Capital Sins - Wrath - 憤怒 (Background)
Aggression, anger, rage, fury, lack of patience and self-control, revenge and stress are just some of the things that can trigger this cardinal sin.
- Ira (Fullmetal Alchemist);
- Meliodas (Seven Deadly Sins);
- Ginkotsu (Inuyasha);
- Yammy Llargo (Bleach);
- Xanxus (Katekyo Hitman Reborn);
- Barbelo (Angel Sanctuary);
- Daemon (Digimon);
- Bakugou (Boku no Hero);
Pride or Vanity - 傲慢 (Gouman)
Pride involves arrogance, insolence, haughtiness, vanity, dignity, and excessive self-love. It means an exaggerated concept of oneself. Vanity involves the immoderate and unfounded desire to deserve the iration of others. The famous ostentation or vainglory.
- Orgulho (Fullmetal Alchemist);
- Escanor (The Seven Deadly Sins);
- Bankotsu (Inuyasha);
- Baraggan Louisenbarn (Bleach);
- Belial (Angel Sanctuary);
- Superbi Squalo (Katekyo Hitman Reborn)
- Lucemon (Digimon);
Gluttony - Gluttony - 暴食 (Boushoku)
Addiction or defect of eating and drinking too much; gluttony. Figuratively it involves burning desire and suffering.
- Gula (Fullmetal Alchemist);
- Merlin (Seven Deadly Sins);
- Kyokotsu (Inuyasha);
- Aaroniero Arruruerie (Bleach)
- Fly Fish (Katekyo Hitman Reborn);
- Beelzemon (Digimon);
- Beelzebub (Angel Sanctuary);
- Riza (Tokyo Ghoul);
Some other characters are quite greedy and deserve to be mentioned, such as: Luffy from One Piece, Goku (Dragon Ball), Natsu (Fairy Tail), Usagi from Sailor Moon, and even L from Death Note.
Greed - Greed - 物欲 (Butsuyoku)
Greed involves the desire to have things, not just money or material possessions but anything.
- Avareza (Fullmetal Alchemist);
- Ban (Nanatsu no Taizai);
- Renkotsu (Inuyasha);
- Grimmjow Jeagerjaques (Bleach);
- Mammon (Katekyo Hitman Reborn);
- Barbamon
- Mammon (Angel Sanctuary);
- Nabiki (Ranma 1/2);
There are several other characters that represent these deadly sins, but I don't know them all. Do you know some? Leave it in the comments!
