Demon Slayer: The Colors of the Nichirin Sword
An essential weapon in the Demon Slayer universe, the Nichirin blade is a customized katana made from fictional materials Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Ore that allows it to capture sunlight and alter color. The hue of the blade is thought to expose the person's natural inclination for a specific Breathing Style, which are combat moves inspired from the ancient Sun Breathing.
The Relevance of Colors
A Nichirin sword's hue usually indicates the Breathing Style the user excels in. Water Breathing, for instance, is connected with a blue blade; Fire Breathing with red; Thunder Breathing with yellow; Stone Breathing with gray; Wind Breathing with green. Covering most of known Nichirin swords, these five forms are the most often used ones.
There are exceptions, though. The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, performs a particular Water Breathing variant that produces a light purple or lavender blade. The black Nichirin sword of Tanjiro Kamado links with the Sun Breathing, the source of all Breathing Styles.
Variations Past Colour
Another layer to their unusual color characteristics is the exhibition of complex patterns or marks by nichirin swords. Though not totally yellow, Zenitsu Agatsuma's blade reflects his Thunder Breathing with a branching lightning bolt pattern.
Furthermore varying from a katana is the design of a Nichirin sword. Whereas Shinobu's weapon is a rapier, fit for her poison-based fighting, Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, uses a whip-like blade. Additional unusual weapons are enormous cleavers, serpentine blades, and even a chain-axe. Genya Shinazugawa even uses a shotgun firing "Nichirin shells," projectiles created from the same substance as the swords themselves.
A range of colors
The spectrum of Nichirin sword colors transcends the five fundamental hues. The orange-ish blades of Tengen Uzui mirror his particular Sound Breathing. Kanao Tsuyuri's light pink sword goes with her Flower Breathing. These odd colors draw attention to the several Breathing Styles used in the Demon Slayer Corps.
Although original colors are appealing, they have little bearing on strength. The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, carried a regular red Nichirin sword; the Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, carried a dark blue one. Their mastery of their particular Breathing Styles pushed them to the ranks of Hashira, therefore demonstrating that a basic color does not limit the ability of a demon slayer.
The Conundrum of Nichirin Swords
The wielder of a nichirin sword will affect its hue. For each of them, the sword Tanjiro and Muichiro Tokito found—the Mist Hashira—showered varied hues. Reflecting their different Breathing Styles, Muichiro's became a drab gray while Tanjiro's blade turned black. This suggests that the blade might be able to interact with its owner by perhaps sensing their expertise and affinity.
The special qualities of Nichirin swords become more underlined as a slayer reaches the rank of Hashira. By now the blade bears a mark reading "Destroyer of Demons," evidence of their mastery and will to vanquish demons.
Reflecting the individual's relationship to their Breathing Style and stressing the variety of techniques within the Demon Slayer Corps, the color of a Nichirin sword is an interesting feature of Demon Slayer. It reminds us that, as the strong Hashira shows, even the most often occurring hues may be used with great mastery.
