Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4957813-20131113141215

So as of this chapter, we have discovered that those who stole Bankai do not believe it to be alive. For Cang, he just doesn't believe in it in general. Bambietta on the other hand, came to this conclusion when in possession of Komamura's Bankai. As we all know that each Zanpakuto has its own spirit, and therefore life, this isn't true. So the Medallion must affect the Zanpakuto spirit in some way. If the thief can't detect life from it, then the thief must not have stolen the spirit itself. However, Hitsugaya was also unable to detect Hyorinmaru's presence in his Zanpakuto. This must mean the Medallion, in stealing Bankai, must affect the spirit in some way that leaves it undetectable by either the original or the thief, as if the spirit was lifeless. 