ONE PIECE Analysis! – Summary of the Figarland Family! Is Garling Shanks’ Father? What is His Role? - Manga Analysis

The world of ONE PIECE is ruled by the powerful “Celestial Dragons.”

The Celestial Dragons, also known as the World Nobles, have been controlling the world since the establishment of the World Government by the twenty royal families who defeated the Family of D during the Void Century (excluding the Nefertari family, leaving nineteen families).

This time, let’s delve into one of the twenty royal families, the “Figarland family.”

Table of contents

Figarland Garling (Leader of God’s Knights)
1. Distinctive “Crescent Moon” Appearance
Figarland Shanks (Leader of the Red-Haired Pirates)
1. Does Shanks hold a grudge against the Figarland family?
2. Is the reason for Shanks’ extraordinary strength due to his Figarland family heritage?
Is Garling Shanks’ father?
1. Did Whitebeard and Garling clash on God Valley Island?
2. Why did Garling bring Shanks to God Valley Island?
Was the Figarland family an assassin clan?

Figarland Garling (Leader of God’s Knights)

First, let’s introduce a known character from the Figarland family.

“Figarland Garling” is the Supreme Commander of God’s Knights, essentially the leader of the organization. Since his recent appearance, his height remains unknown, but judging by his appearance, he seems to be in his 60s or 70s.

Figarland Garling was introduced as the “king who was active on God Valley Island.” God Valley Island is where the Rocks Pirates were defeated by the Roger Pirates and Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp 38 years ago. However, it was also a mysterious island that the World Government wanted to conceal.

It can be inferred that the reason the World Government wanted to hide God Valley Island was precisely because Figarland Garling and others were secretly active there. The reason why the Rocks Pirates attacked God Valley Island might also be closely tied to the existence of Figarland Garling.

Is the “God” in God Valley truly referring to a god?

Distinctive “Crescent Moon” Appearance

Indeed, Rocks D. Xebec, who was from the Family of D, must have had a deep grudge against the Celestial Dragons (the twenty royal families). For Rocks, who aspired to become the king of the world, the Figarland family must have been the biggest obstacle. In fact, Garling, described as a king, possesses power on par with the Four Emperors.

Could it be that it was actually Figarland Garling who defeated Rocks?

Furthermore, Figarland Garling’s distinctive appearance features a “crescent moon-shaped hairstyle and beard,” reminiscent of the Kao Corporation’s logo. Since the names of the Five Elders incorporate celestial bodies in the solar system, it seems that Celestial Dragons closer to Imu have settings related to the cosmos.

From this, it can be inferred that Imu and the Celestial Dragons might be a race that came from space (probably the moon).

Figarland Shanks (Leader of the Red-Haired Pirates)

Next, let’s discuss “Figarland Shanks,” the leader of the Red-Haired Pirates and one of the Four Emperors.

For those who may not be aware, it was revealed in the movie “ONE PIECE FILM RED” that Shanks is from the Figarland family, confirming his Celestial Dragon heritage.

The following dialogue between the Five Elders in the movie provided the basis for identifying Shanks as a member of the Figarland family:

Five Elders: “Eliminate the revolutionary seed Uta.”

Five Elders: “Even if she is a Figarland family daughter?”

Five Elders: “What…?!”

At this point, it is assumed that Shanks and Uta are biological father and daughter.

In other words, “the daughter of Figarland Shanks who was kidnapped during the God Valley incident,” hence called “the daughter of the Figarland family.”

Therefore, Shanks‘ full name is ‘Figarland Shanks,’ and it is almost certain that he has Celestial Dragon blood.

This is why the Five Elders allowed a meeting with Shanks at Mary Geoise.

However, it is confirmed that Figarland Shanks is from the “West Blue.” If he were a Celestial Dragon, he should have been born in the Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Yet, just as the Donquixote family descended to the lower world 33 years ago, it’s possible that a long time ago, some Celestial Dragons from the Figarland family also descended. The descendants of these former Celestial Dragons who lived ordinary lives for a long time could very well be the Red-Haired Shanks.

Does Shanks hold a grudge against the Figarland family?

It is possible that Shanks’ mother, who was pregnant with him, was abandoned to the lower world and later gave birth in the West Blue. Although we will discuss the parent-child relationship between Shanks and Garling later, in that case, it is likely that Shanks holds a grudge against the Celestial Dragons.

This might be why Shanks stole the valuable Gum-Gum Fruit (Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika) from CP9 to exact revenge on the World Government. While he conveniently uses his bloodline from the Figarland family to meet the Five Elders, does Shanks genuinely take pride in his lineage?

So, is Shanks actually a traitorous informant? Will he reveal his fangs to Luffy and the others as a henchman of the Five Elders? After his conversation with Roger upon returning from Laugh Tale, could the reason for Shanks‘ tears be related to his bloodline with the Figarland family?

Now that it is revealed that Shanks is a descendant of the Celestial Dragons (Figarland family), his feud with Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach) carries the implication of being a confrontation between the “Family of D.” and the Celestial Dragons. Does this mean Shanks is indeed an enemy of Luffy and his friends?

Is the reason for Shanks’ extraordinary strength due to his Figarland family heritage?

It is unclear how much Celestial Dragon blood flows in Shanks, but his extraordinary strength might indeed stem from his origins as a former Celestial Dragon. The Figarland family appears to be exceptionally strong, and considering the strength of Imu and the Five Elders, who are formidable enough to make Sabo flee, it is natural to assume that the Celestial Dragons as a whole are powerful.

In fact, Saint Charlos, with his height of 230 cm, is surprisingly physically robust. Despite being beaten by Sai and Leo of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, he boasts mysterious durability, indicating that the Celestial Dragons might possess potential akin to the Mink Tribe or the Lunarian Tribe.

If the Celestial Dragons are inherently strong as a species, the circumstances and battle conditions in the final stages of ‘ONE PIECE’ will undergo a dramatic change.

Is Garling Shanks’ father?

Next, we explore the theory that Garling is Shanks‘ father.

Given that Garling was active in the battle on God Valley Island 38 years ago, he should be around the same age as Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, Kaidou, and Big Mum. Therefore, Saint Figarland Garling is estimated to be in his 60s to 70s currently.

Since Shanks is currently 39 years old, there is no age-related inconsistency if Garling is his father. It has been confirmed in ‘ONE PIECE FILM RED’ that Shanks was found by the Roger Pirates on God Valley Island, suggesting that Garling might have placed Shanks in a treasure chest to help him escape.

Did Whitebeard and Garling clash on God Valley Island?

Additionally, Whitebeard (Edward Newgate) was a member of the Rocks Pirates, who were annihilated on God Valley Island. Whitebeard mentioned that his wound ached when he saw Shanks’ face. Could the one who inflicted that wound on Whitebeard have been none other than Figarland Garling?

While Garling’s face is hidden behind sunglasses, if he has a genetic connection to Shanks, Whitebeard’s statement would make sense. This suggests that Shanks‘ Celestial Dragon lineage was a well-known secret among some pirates.

However, Garling’s hair color appears to be either white or blonde. Although currently depicted only in monochrome, this hair color is distinctly different from Shanks‘ red hair. While it could be due to aging, Big Mum’s hair remained bright pink despite her age.

Why did Garling bring Shanks to God Valley Island?

Meanwhile, Shanks‘ birthplace has been confirmed as the West Blue. If Shanks is of the Figarland family bloodline, he should be a Celestial Dragon. Why was he not raised in the Holy Land Mary Geoise? Why was he on God Valley Island, located in the Grand Line?

It is logical to assume that Figarland Garling brought Shanks, who was born in the West Blue, to God Valley Island. While it’s unclear if Garling fathered the child in the West Blue, Shanks was ultimately left to escape during the large-scale battle on God Valley Island.

However, the specific plan the Celestial Dragons (specifically the God’s Knights) intended to carry out on God Valley Island is unknown, making it unclear why Shanks was brought from the West Blue. Still, Garling’s exclusive ideology was unmistakably Celestial Dragon.

Considering why Shanks was born far away in the West Blue, it seems plausible that he was intended to be raised as a disposable warrior. Therefore, Shanks likely harbors resentment towards the Figarland family and the Celestial Dragons.

Was the Figarland family an assassin clan?

Upon delving into Garling’s true identity, we can glimpse the role that the Figarland family has shouldered for generations.

In conclusion, it is predicted that the Figarland family were royals who made a living through “assassination business” over generations. Considering both Garling and Shanks‘ extraordinary strength, it is natural to assume that the Figarland family as a whole has been strong for generations. Garling’s current role in God’s Knights suggests that they have been doing similar work for a long time.

During the Void Century, they defeated the highly advanced Family of D, but among the 20 royal families, there were likely “militant” royals as well as more moderate ones. It is hard to imagine that all 20 kingdoms, including the Nefertari family, necessarily boasted high military power.

In fact, the punch of the Prodence Kingdom’s King Elizabello, who appeared in the Dressrosa arc, had the power to blow away even the pirates of the Four Emperors. Similarly, or perhaps even more so, the Figarland family must have been militant royals for over 800 years. It is due to this lineage that Shanks is so powerful.