The Sword of Irochi (SPOILERS!)

[Dryden-san]

I will once again stress that anyone who hasn't seen the whole series should steer clear. Since I'm talking about events from the final episodes of the series, I can't help but mention spoilers for the entire thing.

So quit reading if you haven't seen it all.
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I told you to quit it.
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Anyway, as I was saying, at the end of series Murakumo transforms into Irochi. (I told you to quit reading.) The question here is how he can possibly be Irochi if they, A: already killed him back in episode 1, and B: Kusanagi already has all the matama from that particular aragami.

Now, I happen to know enough Japanese Mythology to point out something interesting: the names Murakumo and Kusanagi are both names given to one particular sword. That is the sword pulled from the dead Irochi's tail by Susano-oh in the legend of Kushinada-hime. Susano-oh names the sword "Murakumo-no-tsurugi," or "Thick-mist-sword." Later on, one of the early emperors uses the sword to escape a wildfire by cutting away the gras that is the fire's fuel. Afterwards, he renames the sword "Kusanagi-no-tsurugi," or "Grass-cutting-sword." In other words, both Murakumo and Kusanagi are named for the sword of Irochi. Irochi, the same Aragami who created them in the series. Also, since his full name is Mamoru Kusanagi, the meaning of his name is loosely "guardian grasscutter." "Guardian," that is, Mamoru refers to the protective role he plays for both Kaede and Momiji, while "grasscutter," refers to his destruction of aragami, who are so intimately connected with plants.

A further, though incidental, observation: the sword in the legend is NOT a katana, which is what people think of when you say a Japanese sword. A "tsurugi" is more of a broadsword-ish weapon. Why does this matter? The sword that Kaede touches to Susano-oh just before the rite of Matsuri begins: you only see it that one time, and only then for a few seconds. Yet it is a dead-ringer for a tsurugi-type sword. Perhaps this is the sword of legend?

Now all this, while demonstrating how intricately Japanese legend is mixed into Blue Seed, does not answer the fundamental question: how does Irochi come back to life and assume the form of Murakumo? I have to admit I'm stumped on this one. Any theories?

[isamudyson]

First of all that's a quite impressive post. I didn't know exactly what the names ment but I figured there was some meaning to them.

When regular Aragami are killed it's necessary to destroy the matama otherwise it will find a new host and turn the new host into a new Aragami. When Irochi was "killed" by the plasmids no matamas were destroyed. So I figure that his soul or whatever continued to exist. Also in the same episode when Kusanagi has the flashback to when Irochi gives him the 7 matamas Irochi says he's giving seven of his families souls. So Kusanagi's matamas aren't Irochi's own otherwise Kusanagi would be Irochi. Also Irochi gives 1 matama to Momiji when he "kills" her to keep her alive. Apparantly Irochi has access to many matamas since he is the main Aragami.

That's how I figure it works.

[Dryden-san]

You're right, he did say they were his family's souls. I assumed at the time that since the legend referred to an eight-headed serpent, all the heads in the Kusanagi flashback must belong to Irochi. But family members can look alike can't they? And they never did destroy the matamas when he attacked the school, only the host body.

Perhaps in the first epsiodes Irochi appears as he does because he is using a tree as host. Murakumo's transformation then, could be viewed as his true form: one not affected by the forn of the host he inhabits.

[kusinagi-kun]

Originally posted by Dryden-san
You're right, he did say they were his family's souls. I assumed at the time that since the legend referred to an eight-headed serpent, all the heads in the Kusanagi flashback must belong to Irochi. But family members can look alike can't they? And they never did destroy the matamas when he attacked the school, only the host body.

Perhaps in the first epsiodes Irochi appears as he does because he is using a tree as host. Murakumo's transformation then, could be viewed as his true form: one not affected by the forn of the host he inhabits.

also of particular importance are the facts that

1.) other Aregami do exist without the legend (they were the first, Irochi was the main one)

2.)the "family" reference is entirely correct. Kusinagi's mitamas come from a relative of Irochi, one who did not see things the way Irochi did. and entrusted the power to stop him to Kusinagi-kun.