The Supreme Kais (界王・界王神, Kaiōshin) are the Shin-jins who have the ultimate duty to protect the universe. They possess godly powers and live in the Sacred World of the Kais. They far outclass the regular Kais as while the lower Kais watch over the living world, the Supreme Kais watch over both the Other World and the living world.^[1]

Overview

Origins

All of the Kaioshin were originally born on the Planet Kaishin as Shin-jin. When a Kaiju tree grows an incredibly rare golden fruit, this means that a Kaioshin will be born. Unlike the normal Shin-jins, who can possibly become normal Kai, the Shin-jins born from the special gold fruit have far more power and longer lifespans, up to millions of years longer than the average member of their race, whose lifespans is around 75,000 years.^[2]

Protectors of the Universe

Each of the Supreme Kais once ruled over a quadrant of the entire universe (Other World and living world), with a Grand Supreme Kai overseeing them and who ruled over the entire universe (the same way that the regular Kais rule over their individual quadrants of the living world, with a Grand Kai in charge of the four of them). Each Supreme Kai oversaw the regular Kais in his/her quadrant of the universe.

According to Supreme Kai (Eastern Supreme Kai) in the manga, each of them were a thousand times more powerful than Frieza, but all except for him were killed or absorbed by Majin Buu in 5 Million Before Age, resulting in the mindless killing machine seen in the first two forms of Buu being "tamed" into becoming the innocuous fat Majin Buu first shown in the series.

Like the regular Kais, the Supreme Kais are among the few living residents in Other World. However, they can still die but since they are already in Other World, it doesn't really affect them in the long run, unless they are somehow obliterated or absorbed. Unlike regular Kais, who (like King Kai) had to visit King Yemma after his death by Cell in the anime, Supreme Kais (like Old Kai) also receive halos after death, but are never forced to visit the giant ogre. This is likely due to the incredible supremacy such Kais have over King Yemma in comparison.

Known Supreme Kais

• Old Kai
• Grand Supreme Kai
• Northern Supreme Kai
• Eastern Supreme Kai (aka Supreme Kai)
• Western Supreme Kai
• Southern Supreme Kai

Trivia

• The Kai seem to be based on the guardians of the direction from Hindu scriptures. There are generally four main guardians, with an additional six, who govern and protect space. The Supreme Kai are based on the guardians Isana (northeast), Agni (southeast), Vayu (northwest) and Nirrti (southwest), with Grand Supreme Kai being derived from Visnu (nadir).

References