I just wanna get it out of the way first that I currently have any strong opinion in regards to who I believe win. I'd say I'm neutral. So I hope this doesn't get toxic or anything. I just wanna give my opinion in regards to this Domain Expansion convo. Not the actual result of the match.
While I can certainly see where you come from, CT indeed do get stronger with hand gestures and chants. But do you think it would be fair to not consider barrier techniques Cursed Techniques to begin with? Cursed Techniques are in reference to innate techniques. The ones engraved into the brain of the user at birth. Whereas barriers are constructs of Cursed Energy which as stated in your scan, anyone can learn. Domain Expansion is a culmination of the two. The barrier being the "base", with the Cursed Technique being imbued into it to create a sure-hit effect. I think it'd be fair to say they could chant, and perhaps strengthen the sure-hit effect of the Domain, since that is explicitly a Cursed Technique. But I feel it may be a stretch to assume chants play a role in Domain clashes? If this was narratively important as you believe it to be, I feel it would've been highlighted in-universe. Especially in Gojo and Sukuna's battle with how much depth it goes into the Jujutsu system. Now, granted I'm not caught up since I'm a physical manga reader (I've only spoiled myself with the Gojo vs Sukuna fight), so I may change my mind as I read, but this is something I feel you should consider.
Extending the principle to something that in-universe is explicitly different is a assertion of its own to be fair. One would need evidence to suggest why that rule would apply to a technique that is inherently different. I would argue that complicates things rather than simplifying it when you start muddying the rules of Jujutsu into a more unified system when it's shown to be more nuanced imo.
What I will say though, is there might be evidence that Domain Expansions can be strengthened in clashes early on. But I'm not 100% certain. IIRC, there's a segment where Akutami explains how a Curtain (Another barrier techniques not imbued with a CT) can be strengthened or have rules set on it that might have evidence that barriers in and of themselves can be strengthened? Another way I think you could prove barriers get stronger with incantations is if you prove raw Cursed Energy can be strengthened with chants, given barriers are constructs created from Cursed Energy. So if Cursed Energy can be strengthened with chants, then it should follow suit that barriers would then as a result also be strengthened.
I have no strong position in regards to if I believe Domains can be strengthened with chants or not since I am not nearly informed enough to confidently make a deduction (Since again, I am not caught up). This was more just a conjecture on my behalf since I felt this convo was getting toxic and wanted to try and provide evidence and suggest evidence in favor of both sides.
That said, have a nice night or day ya'll.
Well, I understand your concerns, which is why I posted these scans earlier. Barriers are important to Domains; Barriers have chants and signs. Sorcerers reducing that and employing them in their domain is what makes their skillset. You know they need to chant DE in order to cast the domain, though there might be highly possible even further chants for Barriers. If a normal curtain/barrier has long chants even without sure-hit effects, it's illogical to assume the pinnacle of jujutsu DE is just two words, and they get the highest output with that only. Also Gojo states more polished Domain. Only way you can create good domain is based on Barriers conditions and range. Which suggest highly Chants and signs are at play.
Also, if we pay attention to Gojo vs. Sukuna, both have their signs active, trying to overpower one another. They are not shown chanting anything here. In Sukuna's case, his stomach mouth chants the incantations. It's mentioned in the same panel that chanting with a single mouth would strain the user, hence Sukuna has an advantage over others. It explains why other sorcerers don't consistently chant incantations for everything they use.
Yuta and Yuji were reducing Sukuna's CT (HWB) output, and Sukuna was using chants and signs to keep it up. Note that this is an Anti-Domain technique. There is also the fact that Sukuna is increasing Domain Amplification output. DA is technically DE without Sure Hit. DA > SD.
HWB is the original SD. We do know Simple Domain is also a small form of domain depending on barrier conditions. What I'm saying is, if Anti-Domain Technique, which has barriers but still can be increased or decreased based on chants, it should be logical to say Domains also should be capable of. From what we understand, full chants & signs output = 80% in Gojo's case. In Sukuna's case, it's 120%. But normally during fights, they would shorten that because, you know, full chanting takes too much time.
Also look at Kenny's Hand sign when he used DE. Later when changes it and crushes Yuki's SD.
Bonus:
His basic dismantles already amped by True form with signs you can clearly see the difference of him sending dismantle without signs and with signs. Narratively this would mean these dismantle with signs are above his normal dismantle without signs
I would also like to address this HWB. He uses 4 hands signs. So DE with 4 hands wouldn't be same as 2 hands. Signs would indeed play a very big role.
