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A warrior’s ability to slay demons depends on the strength of their Rengoku Sword as there are no two events that are more powerful than those who slay demons. In addition to the series having some of the greatest fight scenes in animation history, the Nichirin swords also represent the spirit of each demon slayer. Of these swords, the Renkoku sword and Tanjiro sword are two of the most recognizable swords. Both swords are more than just weapons to end a demon’s life; they also represent the demon slayer’s bloodline, breathing technique, and “Set Your Heart Afire” philosophy, which all contribute to their overall effectiveness in battle.
Create a Legend: What is a Nichirin Sword?
To fully appreciate the characteristics of the Renkoku and Tanjiro swords, we must first examine the construction of a Nichirin sword. The materials used to create the blade of a Nichirin sword consist of both Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore, which can be found on mountains that have received exposure to direct sunlight. Since the demon’s body is incapable of being exposed to direct sunlight without suffering from permanent death, these swords are the only man-made weapons that can permanently destroy a demon.
The color of each Nichirin sword also changes depending on the individual’s talent and elemental affinities.
The Rengoku Sword: The Flame Hashira’s Representation
The Rengoku Sword is one of the most incredible-looking swords in anime. As the main weapon of Kyojuro Rengoku (the Flame Hashira), the sword embodies his exuberant and passionate spirit, as well as his willingness to protect those he loves.
Blade Design and Appearance
The blade of the Rengoku Sword has an incredibly detailed flame-like pattern (the hamon) on its edge. The colours change from a dark red to a bright, hot orange, resembling the look of a campfire.
Tsuba Design
When people think of the Rengoku Sword, they will likely think of the Tsuba (the handguard). The Tsuba is shaped like a four-petal flame, with a red centre and a bright orange outside; it is the most recognizable handguard in the series. After the events of the Mugen Train arc, it becomes an incredibly emotional symbol of Rengoku and he passes it down to Tanjiro to protect his new sword – the symbol of building on Rengoku’s legacy and protecting the “will of fire”.
Flame Blade Symbolism
The Rengoku Sword is symbolic of Rengoku’s character; it’s a Mark of Leadership and Passion (the notion of “burning”), and the Kanji written on the side of the sword (Akuen Sessatsu) denotes its use by Hashira-level demon slayers (i.e., Destroyer of Demons).
The Development of the Tanjiro Blade: The Evolution of the Black Nichirin Blade
Tanjiro Sword Kamado’s story is also defined by the changes in his weapon as he evolves. The Tanjiro Blade was originally a black blade and was thought of as a bad omen by most of his peers in the Demon Slayer Corps, while the Flame Hashira’s weapon was a bright red colour.
Why is the Tanjiro Sword Black?
In Demon Slayer lore, black blades are untouchable and are usually associated with Demon Slayers that do not live very long. Tanjiro’s sword does have this meaning to it, but as the story progresses, we find that these black blades are linked to the Sun Breathing style (Hinokami Kagura), which is the predecessor of all breathing styles. Since black absorbs all colours in the spectrum, it would be the best material to transfer the heat and energy from the sun properly.
The Changing Shapes of the Hilt and Home
As Tanjiro has had multiple swords, the first sword he had was forged by Haganezuka and was a simple black circle “Tsuba.” At the start of his battle with Akaza and the death of Kyojuro Rengoku, Tanjiro then takes Kyojuro’s flame-shaped “Tsuba” (hilt). As such, we can view Tanjiro as a poetic representation of Tanjiro carrying on the heritage of Kyojuro with respect to Kyojuro’s vision of the Sun and Tanjiro’s representation of the Flame.
Yoriichi Type Zero Discovery
During the events at Swordsmith Village, Tanjiro obtains an ancient blade that was discovered inside of an artificial training doll. This blade, which previously belonged to the legendary Yoriichi Tsugikuni, becomes the ultimate weapon of Tanjiro’s arsenal. After being polished to mirror-like brilliance by Haganezuka, the blade was revealed to have an extensive matte-black surface finished with the word slay engraved into it, in the space between the hilt and blade; thus designating it as the ultimate weapon of justice.
Comparative Analysis of Flame vs. Sun
Both Tanjiro’s sword and the Rengoku sword are extremely powerful weapons, yet they serve two different purposes (strategies) in the fight against Muzan Kibutsuji.
Color Theory: The Rengoku’s red blade represents Flame Breathing, it is representative of a master technique derived from an existing Source Technique. The Tanjiro’s black blade represents the “source” of Sun Breathing.
Fighting Style/Method of Engagement: The Rengoku sword is used for big wide swings and explosive defenses. In contrast, the way that Tanjiro uses the Tanjiro Sword in combination with his use of the Hinokami Kagura form (Sun breathing) is to engage with smooth flowing and straight-motion rotations through the circular plane that the sun moves through.
Legacy: Rengoku’s blade symbolizes an elite family line. On the other hand, Tanjiro’s sword symbolizes the remembrance of a lost history.
The Skill Set of Hotaru Haganezuka
The Rengoku Sword and the Tanjiro Sword both have one thing in common: how they were made. Both katanas have been crafted in the village of swords to be the strongest swords. Hotaru Haganezuka created these swords for Tanjiro and creates each one as though he were creating a child. He folds the steel thousands of times to make sure that both katanas will withstand the incredible weight of the Powerful Breathing Technique of the person who wields them.
Even when Hotaru Haganezuka is being attacked by Upper Moon demons, he was willing to give his life for the sword because he considers the strength of the sword is derived from its creator as well as from the wielder.
Why do so many people love the Rengoku Sword and the Tanjiro Sword?
Generally speaking, the Rengoku Sword and the Tanjiro Sword are popular to have in all their various collectible forms, including as copies and cosplay props, as a result of their visual storytelling aspects and the emotional connection to them when seen through the eyes of the different characters in the story.
To give you an example of this, you can see the personalities of the different characters just by looking at the swords they created.
When you see the sword created by Tanjiro is damaged such as chipped or broken, you can feel and then relate to Goda’s emotional damage.
The design of both swords is a tribute to Japanese sword making heritage, and also have added supernatural characteristics.
Closing Remarks on the Blades of Destiny
The Rengoku Sword and Tanjiro Sword are highly significant within the body of work known as Demon Slayer, as Kyojuro’s sword can be described as the “forever burning fire” which ignites Tanjiro’s development as an individual, whereas Tanjiro’s black blade serves as the “rising sun”, symbolizing the end of the demons’ night.
Regardless of whether you look to the vivid red of the Flame Hashira or the pitch blackness of the Sun Breather for your inspiration, these two swords symbolize that a hero’s most valuable tool is not the metal they wield but rather the spirit that guides their strike. Ultimately, these two blades have done much more than merely cut; They have given a generation of people the inspiration needed to “Set Your Heart Ablaze.”