This summary of the world of HXH (and the main feuds of the groups) i had done some time ago (updated since i had some free-time in this period), if someone is interested.
Part 1: Politicians
1) The V5, now V6 (based on G7, G8, G20 etc) that represent the governments of the countries with great economic and social power and control the social world publicly.
2) The 10 Godfathers, instead, controlled the Mafia of the world and the underground activities. They, like the V6, divided the world into 10 territories on the 6 continents
Part 2: Group of 12
The Zodiacs and the Genei Ryodan are the main groups of 12 in the Manga:
1) Zodiacs: Hunters that work in the social world and interact with the V6 politicians. A group of 12 as 11+1 (the vice, Pariston) and + the leader (Isaac Netero or Beyond Netero)
2) Genei Ryodan: Criminals that work in the underground world and interact with the 10 Godfathers. A group of 12 + the leader (Chrollo)
The difference is that:
Part 3: Group of 10
We also have a group of 10 members (weaker and less important) that clash with the group of 12 (stronger and more important):
1) The 10 members of the Expedition Team: Hunters like the Zodiacs that will clash with the Zodiacs to help Beyond Netero. Like the Zodiacs are 11 + 1 (Pariston), this group is 9 + 1 (Pariston)
2) The 10 Inju or Shadow Beasts (a group based on animals), the best fighters of the Mafia Community: Criminals like the Genei Ryodan, they fought and got killed by the Ryodan. The Inju are 10, (as are the Ryodan are 12 precisely, not 11+1 or 9+1 like the Zodiacs and the Expedition Team)
So, in the manga there are:
1) A social/public/legal world that include:
1) Hoikoro family (Royal Family, Legal world)
The Hoikoro family interacts with the V5. Kakin got included inside the V5, and King Nasubi is now a new member inside the new V6
2) Zoldyck family (Assassins, Illegal World)
The Zoldyck family interacted with the 10 Godfathers. As a matter of fact, Silva and Zeno got called by the 10 Godfathers as assassins to kill the Genei Ryodan.
Like Beyond Netero is similar to Isaac Netero (Yang and Yin, White Hair-Black Hair) King Nasubi and his son Benjamin of the Hoikoro family are similar to Zeno and his son Silva of the Zoldyck family.
1) Isaac Netero=Beyond Netero
2) Zeno Zoldyck=Nasubi Hoikoro (patriarchs of Chinese traditions of an important family that interact with Isaac and Beyond Netero).
3) Silva Zoldyck=Benjamin Hoikoro (tall and muscular sons that always follow their father, Zeno/Nasubi)
Main characters
1) Killua=Kurapika: the main character that interacts with the respective families
2) Alluka=Woble: female character that must be protected by the main characters Killua/Kurapika
3) Illumi=Tserriednich: evil elder brother adversaries of Alluka/Woble and the main character Killua/Kurapika
4) Hisoka: "allied/betrayer" of Illumi and Tserriednich that interacts with both the Zoldyck family and the Hoikoro family (he is on Tier 1 of Black Whale since he has connections with princes of the Hoikoro family/Tserriednich)
In short:
Part 5: "Alien species"= Chimera ants and Calamities
The Queen of the ants came from the sea, from the Dark Continent, like the Calamities.
Isaac Netero vs Meruem of Chimera ants from Dark Continent=Beyond Netero vs ???? of Calamities from Dark Continent
In short:
-Isaac Netero interacts with the Zoldyck family (Zeno) and the Chimera Ants
-Beyond Netero interacts with the Hoikoro family (King Nasubi) and the Calamities
Like the Zodiacs and the Ryodan are related to the Expedition team and the Inju, the Zoldyck family and the Hoikoro family are related to the Professional Assassins (with Zeno and Silva) called by the 10 Dons that fought Chrollo
In short:
1) Lower level (less important):
2) Higher level (more important):
There are 6 Assassins, with Silva and Zeno, divided into 2 groups of 3 (since these professional assassins were unnamed in the manga, let's call them Assassins A-B-C and Assassins D-E-F
1) Group 1 (a group of 2+1 like Hisoka and Illumi Zoldyck + Tserriednich Hoikoro)
Netero, Zoldyck and Hoikoro related to the Professional Assassins:
First group
As a matter of fact, Silva and Zeno are seated in the same way as Assassin F and Assassin E. Also, Assassin E and Assassin F work as a couple like Zeno and Silva: Manga and Manga
The group Isaac Netero + Zeno and Silva Zoldyck is the same for the Hoikoro family with Beyond Netero + Nasubi and Bejamin Hoikoro with the same interactions: Benjamin to Nasubi then Nasubi to Beyond Netero:
1) In Yorknew City arc: Chrollo vs Zeno and Silva in order to steal their abilities, but he failed. In this arc: Chrollo vs Kakin (King Nasubi/Zeno 2.0 and Benjamin/Silva 2.0?) in order to steal the 3 sacred treasure that are the basis of the Succession War and then steal an ability to kill Hisoka for good
2) As Isaac Netero fought the Chimera ants, Beyond Netero will fight the Calamities
Second group
Assassin A and Assassin B + Assassin C are similar to Hisoka and Illumi + Tserriednich related to 3 Serial Killers (linking both the Zoldyck and Hoikoro families). The main adversaries of Gon-Killua-Kurapika
This is a scheme to better understand the scheme Togashi used
This is the reason Tserriednich is a dissector-like character, like Johness the dissector (or Assassin A killed by the Indor fish).
Togashi wanted to represent the social levels (from the lower to the highest):
-A simple Serial Killer, jailed (Johness)
-A Mercenary/Assassin (Assassin A)
-A Prince (Tserriednich)
Instead Illumi and Hisoka, as the Ryodan members, are also related to characters from horror movies and literature:
For example:
Mainly for the most important characters: Illumi, Chrollo, Hisoka:
Illumi
1) Pinhead
Illumi with his appearance of Gittarackur is based on Pinhead, the Pope of Hell, a Cenobite in the Order of the Gash and the main antagonist of the Hellraiser metaseries by Clive Barker.
The psychopathic and demonic personality of Illumi is based on the cenobites of Hellraiser. He (like the cenobites) uses needles on his head and body, etc. because he feels pain differently from other beings. As a matter of fact, the cenobites were represented as interested in reaching the expansion of sensation with an extremely painful point of sensory overload where pain and pleasure are the same thing through incessant tortures.
Also, Illumi's army of needle people is based on zombies and reanimate corpses because he represents the lord of Hell.
2) Onryo
Illumi represents an Onryo, a Japanese evil spirit/Yurei, principally a female spirit (from this the feminized appearances of Illumi, with long black hair) that became popular with the novel Ring (The Ring) with its movie adaptations and the film series Ju-on (The Grudge).
Sadako and Kayako are the 2 onryo represented in The Ring and The Grudge.
The twisted and selfish love of Illumi for Killua represents the emotions of these kinds of spirits (Onryo), linked to a powerful evil energy created from these twisted feelings even after death.
Hisoka
1) The Grim Reaper/"Death"
This is explicit in the manga. Togashi explicitly represented Hisoka as the Grim Reaper, also the link to the number 4 related to "Death" in East Asian countries (Tetraphobia). Hisoka is the number 44 in the Hunter Exam and the 4 member of the Ryodan since he represents the Grim Reaper/Death
2) Pennywise the Clown (It)
Hisoka is a psychopathic clown that metaphorically wants to eat his victims like Pennywise from IT’s novel. This is the reason he refers to his victims as ripe fruits. He wants (metaphorically) to eat children (Gon and Killua) his ripe fruits.
As a matter of fact, IT/Pennywise is a shape-shifter cosmic entity that takes the appearance of a clown to attract and devour children from Stephen King’s novel IT.
3) Jikininki/Kubikajiri
Hisoka represents a Jikininki or Kubikajiri, a particular kind of undead creature similar to zombies that wants to kill and eat its victims. He resurrected as an "undead" because he is like a Jikininki or Kubikajiri that, according to the folklore, are beings resurrected/reborn from death.
Hisoka is partially based on Miss Fuchi.
The face of Hisoka in chapter 28 is based on the face of Miss Fuchi, a character from the horror stories of the mangaka Junji Ito.
Miss Fuchi is a Jikininki o Kubikajiri that wants to eat her victims; in the same way, Hisoka metaphorically talks about his appetite and his victims as ripe fruits. Hisoka is represented with the intent to kill and metaphorically "eat" his victims/children (like Gon and Killua) because he is similar to Pennywise the Clown and Miss Fuchi the Jikininki.
In short:
4) The Antichrist/Damien Thorn of "The Omen"
Togashi gave to Hisoka the date of birth of 6 June 1971, exactly like Damien Thorn in the original movie "The Omen" in relation to the Antichrist. As a matter of fact, Damien was born on the 6th day of June at 6 o'clock in the morning of 1971 (in relation to 666).
Chrollo
Lucifer + Antichrist
1) Chrollo Lucilfer is represented metaphorically as Lucifer, the leader of the fallen angels and the Prince of Darkness, created a group of monsters (the Phantom Troupe). The main enemy of "God".
Ryuseigai, the city of the shooting/fallen stars, is metaphorically the city of the fallen angels (the Ryodan members) that followed Lucifer (Chrollo). This city of shooting stars/the fallen angels in the manga is based on the historical/theological Valley of Hinnom/Gehenna, the prototype of Hell.
2) Antichrist (like Hisoka): The reversed cross, the black dress, the 12 apostles etc
Chrollo vs Hisoka:
1) Jesus Christ vs Antichrist/Anti-Christ vs Jesus Christ (it can be read in both ways)
2) (Chrollo) Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness, the leader of monsters/the Ryodan vs. (Hisoka) The Grim Reaper/Death + the Clown (IT), the worst of all monsters (the apotheosis), the cosmic entity enemy of “God” like Pennywise from the novel "It".
Like Chrollo, who represents Lucifer, the enemy of "God", Hisoka represents Pennywise/It. In the cosmology of Stephen King's novels, Pennywise/IT is the destroyer of worlds, a cosmic entity from unknown origins, enemy of “God” (called The Other) and the Tortoise, the creator. From this also the name Hisoka (ヒソカ) that means “secret/mystery.”
Also:
Part 1: Politicians
1) The V5, now V6 (based on G7, G8, G20 etc) that represent the governments of the countries with great economic and social power and control the social world publicly.
Part 2: Group of 12
The Zodiacs and the Genei Ryodan are the main groups of 12 in the Manga:
1) Zodiacs: Hunters that work in the social world and interact with the V6 politicians. A group of 12 as 11+1 (the vice, Pariston) and + the leader (Isaac Netero or Beyond Netero)
2) Genei Ryodan: Criminals that work in the underground world and interact with the 10 Godfathers. A group of 12 + the leader (Chrollo)
The difference is that:
- The 10 Godfathers wanted to kill and destroy the Genei Ryodan
- The Zodiacs follow the orders of the V5/V6 and work for them
Part 3: Group of 10
We also have a group of 10 members (weaker and less important) that clash with the group of 12 (stronger and more important):
1) The 10 members of the Expedition Team: Hunters like the Zodiacs that will clash with the Zodiacs to help Beyond Netero. Like the Zodiacs are 11 + 1 (Pariston), this group is 9 + 1 (Pariston)
2) The 10 Inju or Shadow Beasts (a group based on animals), the best fighters of the Mafia Community: Criminals like the Genei Ryodan, they fought and got killed by the Ryodan. The Inju are 10, (as are the Ryodan are 12 precisely, not 11+1 or 9+1 like the Zodiacs and the Expedition Team)
1) A social/public/legal world that include:
- V6 (Politicians that control the world legally)
- Zodiacs (A group of 12 based on animals that follow the orders of the V6)
- Expedition team (A group of 10, not based on animals. They don't follow the orders of V6 and clash with them)
- 10 Dons/Godfathers (politicians that control the world illegally)
- Genei Ryodan (A group of 12 not based on animals; they don't follow the orders of the 10 Dons and clash with them)
- Inju (A group of 10 based on animals that follow the orders of 10 Godfathers)
- The Zodiacs (a group of 12 based on animals) follow the order of V6 against Beyond Netero's Team (a group of 10, not based on animals)
- The Genei Ryodan (a group of 12, not based on animals) attacked and stole from the Mafia Community/10 Dons and clashed with the Inju (a group of 10 based on animals) that follow the orders of the 10 Dons
1) Hoikoro family (Royal Family, Legal world)
The Hoikoro family interacts with the V5. Kakin got included inside the V5, and King Nasubi is now a new member inside the new V6
2) Zoldyck family (Assassins, Illegal World)
The Zoldyck family interacted with the 10 Godfathers. As a matter of fact, Silva and Zeno got called by the 10 Godfathers as assassins to kill the Genei Ryodan.
Like Beyond Netero is similar to Isaac Netero (Yang and Yin, White Hair-Black Hair) King Nasubi and his son Benjamin of the Hoikoro family are similar to Zeno and his son Silva of the Zoldyck family.
- Isaac Netero (White hair and beard =Yang/White side)
- Beyond Netero (Black hair and beard = Yin/Black side)
- Isaac Netero (White hair-White beard) and Zeno Zoldyck (White hair-White Chinese mustache that follows the Chinese culture)
- Beyond Netero (Black hair-Black beard) and Nasubi Hoikoro (Black hair-Black Chinese mustache that follows the Chinese culture):
1) Isaac Netero=Beyond Netero
2) Zeno Zoldyck=Nasubi Hoikoro (patriarchs of Chinese traditions of an important family that interact with Isaac and Beyond Netero).
3) Silva Zoldyck=Benjamin Hoikoro (tall and muscular sons that always follow their father, Zeno/Nasubi)
Main characters
1) Killua=Kurapika: the main character that interacts with the respective families
2) Alluka=Woble: female character that must be protected by the main characters Killua/Kurapika
3) Illumi=Tserriednich: evil elder brother adversaries of Alluka/Woble and the main character Killua/Kurapika
4) Hisoka: "allied/betrayer" of Illumi and Tserriednich that interacts with both the Zoldyck family and the Hoikoro family (he is on Tier 1 of Black Whale since he has connections with princes of the Hoikoro family/Tserriednich)
In short:
- Gon-Killua-Kurapika= Main characters
- Hisoka-Illumi-Tserriednich= Adversaries
- Killua (and Alluka) vs Illumi for the Zoldyck family/Kurapika (and Woble + Marayam?) vs Tserriednich for the Hoikoro family
Part 5: "Alien species"= Chimera ants and Calamities
Isaac Netero vs Meruem of Chimera ants from Dark Continent=Beyond Netero vs ???? of Calamities from Dark Continent
In short:
-Isaac Netero interacts with the Zoldyck family (Zeno) and the Chimera Ants
-Beyond Netero interacts with the Hoikoro family (King Nasubi) and the Calamities
Like the Zodiacs and the Ryodan are related to the Expedition team and the Inju, the Zoldyck family and the Hoikoro family are related to the Professional Assassins (with Zeno and Silva) called by the 10 Dons that fought Chrollo
In short:
1) Lower level (less important):
- Expedition Team (A group of 9 +1)
- Inju (A group of 10 based on animals that work for the 10 Dons)
- A group of Professional Assassins formed by the 10 Dons
2) Higher level (more important):
- Zodiacs (A group of 11 +1 based on animals that work for the V6)
- Genei Ryodan (A group of 12)
- Important families that work as "Professional Assassins" (Netero + Zoldyck + Hoikoro + Hisoka)
There are 6 Assassins, with Silva and Zeno, divided into 2 groups of 3 (since these professional assassins were unnamed in the manga, let's call them Assassins A-B-C and Assassins D-E-F
1) Group 1 (a group of 2+1 like Hisoka and Illumi Zoldyck + Tserriednich Hoikoro)
- Assassin A (the one killed by Chrollo's Indor Fish) (Yang, White Hair)
- Assassin B (the one with a the tattoo on his eye) (Yin, Black hair)
- Assassin C (the one with a Mask) (Yang, White Hair)
- Assassin D (the one with a big nose) (Yang, White Hair)
- Assassin E (the one with the Chinese mustache) (Yin, Black hair)
- Assassin F (the one with a scar on his face) (Yang, White Hair)
Netero, Zoldyck and Hoikoro related to the Professional Assassins:
First group
- Silva Zoldyck, similar to Assassin F (Taller)
- Zeno Zoldyck, similar to Assassin E (shorter with a Chinese mustache and Chinese dress)
- Isaac Netero similar to Assassin D with a Big Nose like Isaac. Isaac Netero is the last member of this triad of assassins with Zeno in the Chimera ant arc: Silva and Zeno vs Chrollo + Zeno and Isaac Netero vs Meruem
The group Isaac Netero + Zeno and Silva Zoldyck is the same for the Hoikoro family with Beyond Netero + Nasubi and Bejamin Hoikoro with the same interactions: Benjamin to Nasubi then Nasubi to Beyond Netero:
1) In Yorknew City arc: Chrollo vs Zeno and Silva in order to steal their abilities, but he failed. In this arc: Chrollo vs Kakin (King Nasubi/Zeno 2.0 and Benjamin/Silva 2.0?) in order to steal the 3 sacred treasure that are the basis of the Succession War and then steal an ability to kill Hisoka for good
2) As Isaac Netero fought the Chimera ants, Beyond Netero will fight the Calamities
Second group
Assassin A and Assassin B + Assassin C are similar to Hisoka and Illumi + Tserriednich related to 3 Serial Killers (linking both the Zoldyck and Hoikoro families). The main adversaries of Gon-Killua-Kurapika
- Tserriednich Hoikoro= Assassin A (both dissectors and murder addicts)
- Illumi Zoldyck=Assassin B
- Hisoka (The Star and drop on his face: Mask of Comedy and Mask of Tragedy)=Assassin C (The Masked man)
This is a scheme to better understand the scheme Togashi used
This is the reason Tserriednich is a dissector-like character, like Johness the dissector (or Assassin A killed by the Indor fish).
Togashi wanted to represent the social levels (from the lower to the highest):
-A simple Serial Killer, jailed (Johness)
-A Mercenary/Assassin (Assassin A)
-A Prince (Tserriednich)
Instead Illumi and Hisoka, as the Ryodan members, are also related to characters from horror movies and literature:
For example:
- Uvogin=The Wolfman/Werewolf
- Franklin= Frankenstein's monster
- Shizuku=The Bride of Frankenstein's monster
- Bonolenov=The Mummy
- Pakunoda=The Witch (from this, her first apparition in the manga as an ugly witch with a long nose) Manga
- Feitan= The Vampire
- Phinx= The Sphinx
- Kortopi=A particular kind of Yuki-Onna: Yuki-Onna=Kortopi
- Kalluto=A Zashiki-Warashi: Zashiki Warashi
Mainly for the most important characters: Illumi, Chrollo, Hisoka:
Illumi
1) Pinhead
The psychopathic and demonic personality of Illumi is based on the cenobites of Hellraiser. He (like the cenobites) uses needles on his head and body, etc. because he feels pain differently from other beings. As a matter of fact, the cenobites were represented as interested in reaching the expansion of sensation with an extremely painful point of sensory overload where pain and pleasure are the same thing through incessant tortures.
Also, Illumi's army of needle people is based on zombies and reanimate corpses because he represents the lord of Hell.
2) Onryo
Sadako and Kayako are the 2 onryo represented in The Ring and The Grudge.
The twisted and selfish love of Illumi for Killua represents the emotions of these kinds of spirits (Onryo), linked to a powerful evil energy created from these twisted feelings even after death.
Hisoka
1) The Grim Reaper/"Death"
2) Pennywise the Clown (It)
As a matter of fact, IT/Pennywise is a shape-shifter cosmic entity that takes the appearance of a clown to attract and devour children from Stephen King’s novel IT.
3) Jikininki/Kubikajiri
Hisoka is partially based on Miss Fuchi.
The face of Hisoka in chapter 28 is based on the face of Miss Fuchi, a character from the horror stories of the mangaka Junji Ito.
In short:
- Hisoka=Pennywise (It) and a Jikininki/Kubikajiri (like Miss Fuchi)
- Illumi=Pinhead and an Onryo (like Sadako and Kayako)
4) The Antichrist/Damien Thorn of "The Omen"
Togashi gave to Hisoka the date of birth of 6 June 1971, exactly like Damien Thorn in the original movie "The Omen" in relation to the Antichrist. As a matter of fact, Damien was born on the 6th day of June at 6 o'clock in the morning of 1971 (in relation to 666).
Chrollo
Lucifer + Antichrist
1) Chrollo Lucilfer is represented metaphorically as Lucifer, the leader of the fallen angels and the Prince of Darkness, created a group of monsters (the Phantom Troupe). The main enemy of "God".
Ryuseigai, the city of the shooting/fallen stars, is metaphorically the city of the fallen angels (the Ryodan members) that followed Lucifer (Chrollo). This city of shooting stars/the fallen angels in the manga is based on the historical/theological Valley of Hinnom/Gehenna, the prototype of Hell.
2) Antichrist (like Hisoka): The reversed cross, the black dress, the 12 apostles etc
Chrollo vs Hisoka:
1) Jesus Christ vs Antichrist/Anti-Christ vs Jesus Christ (it can be read in both ways)
2) (Chrollo) Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness, the leader of monsters/the Ryodan vs. (Hisoka) The Grim Reaper/Death + the Clown (IT), the worst of all monsters (the apotheosis), the cosmic entity enemy of “God” like Pennywise from the novel "It".
Like Chrollo, who represents Lucifer, the enemy of "God", Hisoka represents Pennywise/It. In the cosmology of Stephen King's novels, Pennywise/IT is the destroyer of worlds, a cosmic entity from unknown origins, enemy of “God” (called The Other) and the Tortoise, the creator. From this also the name Hisoka (ヒソカ) that means “secret/mystery.”
Also:
- Chrollo=Anti-Christianity: The reversed cross, the name Lucifer, etc.
- Hisoka=Perversion of Christianity (his resurrection like Jesus etc): some cases of pedophilia in the Christian church. Hisoka's sexual perversions also related to Gon and Killua are subtly linked to cases of pedophilia of clergy and the Christian church
