The Demon Slayer Flowers: Manga Origin and Powers Explained

 

Whether it’s from the manga, the anime, or simply hearing about the buzzing popularity of Demon Slayer, chances are you’ve caught a glimpse of the story’s famous purple flowers. These vivid Wisterias play a pivotal role in the plot as a safeguard to the sword-wielding heroes. But the Japanese Wisteria flower also contains a rich, real-life history that inspires its Demon Slayer origins.

Demon Slayer follows protagonist Tanjiro Kamado as he trains to battle and defeat local demons. His journey is spurred by the events of 2016’s Kimetsu no Yaiba: Zankoku, in which Tanjiro returns home from market to find his family has been slain by a demon. His only living relative, his sister, has been turned into a demon and he vows to save her to restore his remaining family. Through his rigorous journey, Tanjiro learns that the Demon Slayer Corpse utilizes Wisteria flowers as both offensive and defensive tactics against their eternal demonic enemies. It also appears as a crest as a means of a visual motif throughout the manga and anime.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

The Demon Slayer Corps – a secret operative group – consists of highly skilled swordsmen  trained in the art of killing demons. Within the Corpse are several pillars, each specializing in a breathing technique that aims to amplify a fighter’s ability.  In order for trainees to graduate into higher ranks of the corps, they must pass the final selection. This involves surviving seven days on a demon-filled mountain that echoes real-life Mt. Fuji. Real Japanese Wisteria flowers do bloom on Mt. Fuji and serve as a direct inspiration to Demon Slayer’s manga and anime depictions of the iconic flower tunnels. Both the manga and anime have Tanjiro arrive to complete his test, in a breathtaking environment of a red gate and glowing Wisteria flowers at the base of Mt. Fujikasane. He learns that the flowers repel demons and that he’ll have to face-off against them on the mountain’s flower-less region. He also learns, through the insect pillar of the Demon Corps, that while the Wisteria flower itself can’t kill a demon, the poison from the flower’s seeds can. This is also inspired by real-world Wisterias; they contain toxins in the petals and poisons in the seeds.

Culturally, Wisterias are used in Japanese Kabuki theater for the ‘Wisteria Maiden’ dance. It serves as a symbol of love, unity, and sorrow. Because they grow on Mt. Fuji they also serve as a symbol of nobility due to their purple, regal hue and high altitude. These real-life inspirations directly tie into Demon Slayer’s Wisteria lore. As a thanks to the Demon Slayer Corps for saving them, the Fuji family  adopts a crest that centers the Kanji for ‘Fuji’ inside of a round-arching Wisteria branch.

The Corps now knows they’ll always have allies and a safe-haven under the Wisteria symbol. The toxins and poison of the flower provide both unity and protection for humans against their demon assailants. Shinobu Kocho of the insect pillar is a character who makes the most of this flower, even going so far as to integrate its poison into her physiology as a means of powering-up for her next battle. This makes her scratches and blood deadly to demons. She even figures out how to concoct a healing medication from the poisonous Wisteria flower, reversing the affects of humans-turned-demon. There’s little this versatile flower can’t do.

Spider-Man Fans Bring Back Peter Parker’s Best Green Goblin Insult

About The Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *