The Grand Line and the Red Line: Uncovering the Mysteries of the Oceans that Form the Backbone of the One Piece World
- Ka T
- Aug 30, 2024
- 5 min read
The world of One Piece is made up of a vast ocean and huge continents that divide it. At the center of it are the Grand Line and the Red Line. These oceans and continents are the core of the story's setting, forming the background of the epic adventures of the pirates. In this article, we will take a deeper look at how the Grand Line and the Red Line support the world of One Piece, their geographical importance, and the role they play in the story.
1. The Grand Line: The Great Route at the Center of the Adventure
The Grand Line is the main setting of the story of One Piece, and is also called the "Grand Route." This sea is home to dangers that are unthinkable in normal sailing, and many threats await, including strange weather, powerful currents, and ferocious sea kings. Therefore, conquering the Grand Line is both an honor and a dream for pirates.
There are two "roads" on the Grand Line, and adventurers call the first half "Paradise" and the second half "New World." The first half, "Paradise," is still relatively easy to navigate, and those who make a name for themselves here challenge the New World. Meanwhile, the second half, "New World," is a more harsh and unpredictable environment, and is a dangerous area of sea ruled by powerful pirates known as the Four Emperors. To navigate the Grand Line, a special compass called a "Log Pose" is required, and since each island has a different magnetic field, a normal compass cannot be used.
2. Red Line: A huge continent that divides the world in two
The Red Line is a huge continent that circles the Earth, intersecting with the Grand Line. This continent plays a role in dividing the world's oceans into four, forming the four seas (Blue) of the North Sea, South Sea, East Sea, and West Sea, as well as the sea area that includes the Grand Line. Due to its enormous size, the Red Line is difficult to cross by normal means, so pirates enter from the entrance to the Grand Line, "Reverse Mountain."
At the top of the Red Line is the "Holy Land of Mariejois," which is positioned as the headquarters of the World Government. The world's ruling class, known as the Celestial Dragons, live here, and it functions as the center of the World Government. There is no doubt that the existence of the Red Line has a major impact on the political and military power balance of the world. In addition, Fishman Island is located underground of the Red Line, and it also plays an important role in connecting different ocean areas through the seabed.
3. Reverse Mountain: Crossroads of the Seas
Reverse Mountain is an important place as an entrance to the Grand Line. Reverse Mountain is a river that exists on the Red Line, and a mysterious phenomenon occurs in which water flows backwards from the four seas and flows into the Grand Line. Pirates can use this reverse flow phenomenon to set foot on the Grand Line. However, passing through here is difficult, and many ships run the risk of being wrecked on Reverse Mountain.
Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates also passed through Reverse Mountain to enter the Grand Line. This is the true beginning of the adventure, and it is also a scene that marks a major turning point in the story.
4. Laugh Tale: The End of Adventure
Laugh Tale is the final point of the Grand Line and the ultimate island that all pirates aim for. According to legend, Laugh Tale is said to be the place where the One Piece treasure is hidden, and the Pirate King Gol D. Roger is said to be the only person who has reached this island. Laugh Tale is located at the end of the Grand Line, so you will need to overcome many difficulties to reach it.
Many pirates and the World Government want to know its location because a mystery that is at the heart of the story is hidden in Laugh Tale. The path to Laugh Tale is written on a stone monument called the Road Poneglyph, and it is a difficult adventure to find out its location only by collecting all four Road Poneglyphs.
5. Rulers of the New World: The Four Emperors and the Pirate Alliance
In the second half of the Grand Line, in the New World, four powerful pirates called the Four Emperors rule the seas. Each of the Four Emperors has their own power and reigns at the top of the pirates in the New World with their great power. Characters such as Big Mom, Kaido, Shanks, and Blackbeard are at the center of the power balance in the New World, and their actions affect the entire world.
The Four Emperors are not just strong, but each of them acts with their own goals and beliefs, and the power struggle in the New World is an element that further increases the tension of the adventure. The pirate alliances and wars in the New World show a large-scale development different from the first half of the Grand Line, emphasizing the grandeur of the story.
6. Mariejois and the World Government: Rulers of the Red Line
The Holy Land of Mariejois, located at the top of the Red Line, is the center of the World Government and is home to the ruling class called the Celestial Dragons. The Celestial Dragons are the descendants of the 20 former kings and are the ones who effectively control the World Government. They look down on other people and treat them as slaves on a daily basis, and their arrogant attitude is often called into question in the story.
As the political center of the world, Mariejois tries to maintain world order by making full use of its military power and information network. The conflict between the World Government and pirates is a major theme in the story of One Piece, and the existence of the Celestial Dragons is also a symbolic element of this conflict. The actions of those who oppose the Celestial Dragons and the Revolutionary Army add a deep drama to the story and raise interest in the truth hidden behind the world.
7. Fishman Island: An Underwater Paradise Spreading Under the Red Line
Located 10,000 meters below the surface of the sea, under the Red Line, Fishman Island is a place where fishmen and mermaids coexist. Fishman Island is a beautiful underwater city protected by underwater volcanoes and coral reefs, where fishmen and mermaids have developed their own unique culture. However, due to persecution and slavery by humans over the long history, the fishmen have a strong distrust for humans.
Fishman Island is an important stopover point for adventurers traveling along the Grand Line, and also a place that symbolizes the relationship between fishmen and humans. As Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates visit Fishman Island and interact with the fishmen, the story focuses on the theme of reconciliation and coexistence between races. Through characters such as Queen Otohime and Jinbe, the importance of bonds that transcend race is depicted.
Summary
The Grand Line and the Red Line are important elements that shape the world of One Piece, and they have created many dramas as the stage for adventure. The geographical characteristics of these seas and continents, and the culture and social structure that spread there, make the story even deeper and more fascinating. It will be even more exciting to see how the various islands and countries encountered along the Grand Line, and the secrets hidden in the Red Line, will affect future developments. The existence of the Grand Line and the Red Line is essential to understanding the world view of One Piece, and is a major factor in making the adventure appealing.
References
Eiichiro Oda "ONE PIECE" Shueisha
Anime "ONE PIECE" Episodes
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