Possible Jhin Origin??

Cosmic Khada·10/31/2019, 4:46:03 PM·4 votes·7,812 views

So I know it's been almost half a decade since Jhin initial release, but I've been diving into the lore(the recent anniversary music release reignited that spark) and really trying to find clues and bits as to who he is, and WHY he is. I have a deep love of all lore and especially Jhin's. Given that he is so much of a character compared to other champions, it was a bit frustrating and painstaking to piece anything together from "accidental" Rioter hints, leaks, fan fiction, but I think I finally have a theory which may or may not have already been vocalized, however upon having the idea I went straight for boards. If this isn't what was had in mind, or if it's only vaguely similar, then I suppose it could be a good fan fiction. If this IS correct, then there are definitely spoilers ahead for a future plot twist!

So, while reading I found these bits that seem to point at something. It is stated that Jhin didn't simply learn his combat prowess from anyone, but specifically, his father's martial arts school, which was outperformed only by Doran's Wuju school. I can see his possible being banished from his father's school due to his sickness. At which point, perhaps he went to the one place that he could hide while being watched: Theatre. So he travels, kills, hones his craft. Gains notoriety. Eventually, Something needs to be done as things are only getting worse. So, the Ionian people go to Kusho, acting Eye of Twilight, head of the Kinkou Monastery, father to Shen and mentor to Zed . Upon hearing of the man's acts, he pauses, and declines the mission. Obviously, this would cause the ones who requested his help distress, but it would keep them from also unwittingly telling Jhin that Kusho was coming. Jhin is a perfectionist, and has probably one of the greatest strategic minds in the lore. He has to, as nobody was able to find him, except for Kusho, regarded as a literal living legend at the time. Shen faltered in his joy, and Zed seemed to gain anxiety or trauma from the sightings of the killings. Neither of them could find a lead. Kusho, his red hair turned white, was again, the only one who could find him. Why? What was special there? Being able to commune with spirits, I doubt the Eye of Twilight didn't know that it wasn't truly a Demon from the start. No, Kusho knew what he was hunting, and he knew he couldn't let Zed kill him. Because Jhin has red hair.

When Zed killed Kusho, he did so after learning some of his master's personal secrets. That event, when Kusho held him back and Shen(whom he viewed like a brother) backed down, stayed with Zed, and confused him. It bothered him that a man so cruel and sadistic would be allowed to stay alive, when lesser villains were cut down without a second thought, befitting of the Spirit Judge(let's be honest, that's what the EoT is). He wracked his brain trying to understand why Kusho would refuse death for such a monster. Later, Zed sought greater powers to beat Shen in a sparring match, and found Shadow. But simply knowing about a power, or even the idea of Kusho using it in the past but forsaking it, isn't enough reason for a mind like Zed's to kill his own father figure. He didn't want to kill anyone, just become a great ninja and protect Ionia. But, Kusho told him something that made Zed truly snap and embrace darkness. Perhaps, I wonder, Kusho told Zed how he knew where to look for Jhin? Perhaps he told a story of illegitimate brothers?

By now I'm sure the direction of this is clear. Zed is 4 years younger than Jhin, and if I recall correctly, he may be a year older than Shen as well. During his childhood, if he were illegitimate, I could see Kusho keeping Jhin's identity secretive. He would be unaware of the twisted thoughts in Jhin's mind until their "manifestations" became noticeable, training him all the while, possibly to be the next Eye. Shen would be born, while Jhin would train and become more twisted. By the time Shen could officially begin training(maybe 10-12 years old?) and thus truly meet Jhin in the monastery, Jhin was already maybe 15 -17 year old. Given Ionia's tendency away from violence and executions at the time, and Kusho's unwillingness to kill him, Jhin would have been exiled for his cruel act of "accidentally" killing one of the other students. Or perhaps it was an animal, and they were mortified to that point anyway because of what he did to it. Zed and Shen would begin their training afterward. A few years later, Jhin resurfaces. This time using his father's arts to create gruesome, terrifying displays of carnage.

So Rito, have I gotten close to it? Is Master Kusho Jhin's father?

11 Comments

Poppy WebMD10/31/2019, 7:26:23 PM2 votes

A bit of a stretch but with Jhin, anything is possible. I like it!

4 Step Cadence10/31/2019, 7:15:55 PM1 votes

First of all, fan fiction goes in concepts and creations. This sub-board is for official canon lore discussion. Second of all, this theory is so out there that I'm not even sure if I can decode it properly.

So I'm not going to because I'm going to give myself a headache. But, here's this for you.

  • Jhin was already the Golden Demon by the time he was in his late teens. He was captured when he was in his early 20s.

Second of all... W-What? Where did you even get this idea?

Magnesium1411/1/2019, 12:33:38 AM1 votes

Lovely theory you get here, would be a shame if I broke it Sorry, but as you said Master Kusho is a literal god I dought this took place As Shen says "the eye is blind to prejudice" so I dought Master Kusho would've let Jhin live Not to mention Riot always provides more information in such cases I think its just that one of these cases where its just that a random cliff hanger Yes, I'm open to your theory, and respect it, really good job on it, but I just heavily dought it, cause despite how probable it is it seems so abstract from any real answer

IlyaK198611/3/2019, 2:04:47 AM1 votes

This potato is raw.

Cosmic Khada11/20/2019, 7:33:44 PM1 votes

Okay, Zed comic is out today, and a LOT of holes that allowed for this theory to be possible are being filled. In fact... I'm seeing some lore aspects here getting possibly retconned for the new comic. I'm excited as hell my boi Khada has his own spot in Marvel now, and I'm even more excited to see how this all plays out :)