Shéndàqún

The Shéndàqún (神大群 (魂ホスト), Shenudakun; Traditional Chinese for "Soul/Spirit Host", Japanese for "Departed-Spirit Vassal") are a lineage of Human mediums that were able to detect the supernatural existence of various souls; said to be the predecessors to the Onmyōji. Using this unique awareness, they managed to acquire mystical powers from their departed loved ones in order to fend off Hollows. Because keeping the souls of dead humans in the World of the Living would mean tampering with the balance between the worlds, the founding members of the Gotei 13 were sent to eliminate them all. Ironically, they are said to be remarkably similar to the Shinigami.