Shanshu Prophecy



"Shanshu has roots in so many different languages. The most ancient source is the Proto-Bantu and they consider life and death the same thing, part of a cycle — only a thing that's not alive never dies. It says that you get to live until you die. It says the vampire with a soul, once he fulfills his destiny, will shanshu. Become human. It's his reward."

- Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

The Shanshu Prophecy, as translated by Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, foresees the restoration of a vampire with a soul into a mortal human being. The prophecy is contained in the Scrolls of Aberjian. The prophecy itself first appeared in the episode "Blind Date" and was revealed in the season finale of the show's first season, "To Shanshu in L.A.".

Translated, the word "shanshu" means both to live and to die.

Angel uses this promise of eventually being human again as motivation throughout much of the series.

For years it was assumed that the prophecy was about Angel, even after Spike became the second vampire to have a soul, because Spike was not a Champion. However, after Spike died to save the world, becoming a Champion in the process, who the prophecy was meant for came into question once Spike was re-corporealized.

Angel and Spike discuss the Shanshu Prophecy: "What do you think all this means for that Shanshu boogaboo? If we make it through this, does one of us get to be a real boy? Who are you kiddin'. We're not gonna make it through."

- Angel & Spike

Unknown to Spike however, Angel had earlier signed away "his rights" to the Shanshu Prophecy in order to infiltrate the Circle of the Black Thorn.

However, in After The Fall, Angel is transformed into a human by the Senior Partners to hinder him. Considering his anti-apocalyptic battle in Not Fade Away, it is possible the Shanshu Prophecy has been misinterpreted as a reward for his heroism, instead of a way of hindering him after he takes on the partners.