A mythological rabbit hole 🐇: The Divine Dragon 🐉 in Sekiro 🏯 : The Sword and the Everblossom
Getting acquainted with the art and mythology behind the Divine Dragon in "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice"
This post is a continuation of the post below
A mythological rabbit hole 🐇 : The Divine Dragon 🐉 in Sekiro 🏯
2024 is the Year of the Dragon. We will be exploring some literature around dragons through this article with the blessings of the dragons 🐲 Inspiration for this post While I was watching this excellent video essay on dragons and Dragonology, I saw the image below flash for a moment. I had to rewind and pause the video to take a good look at the frame.
Today, we shall delve deeper into the remaining two elements of the Divine Dragon and a few relevant examples of Eastern Dragon depictions in popular culture.
The Dragon’s Sword
The Seven Branched Sword and it’s historical significance
The Divine Dragon's sword, known as the Seven-Branched Sword, is a significant element in the game's design and mythology. This sword, with its intricate six-pronged design, is a symbol of the dragon's power and connection to the divine realm. It is a ceremonial sword gifted to an ancient Japanese kingdom by an ancient Korean king, reflecting the historical connections between Japan and Korea.
The Seven-Branched Sword (Japanese: 七支刀, Hepburn: Shichishitō) is a ceremonial sword believed to be a gift from the king of Baekje to a Yamato ruler. It is mentioned in the Nihon Shoki in the fifty-second year of the reign of the semi-mythical Empress Jingū. It is a 74.9 cm (29.5 in) long iron sword with six branch-like protrusions along the central blade. 12
~ Wikipedia
The sword's design, with its sharp edges and glowing aura, represents the divine nature of the dragon and its ability to summon lightning and rainclouds.
The idea of a powerful sword doesn’t interest me to that extent. Swords have always been around for battle but weapons used only for ceremonial purposes and which might even be terrible for battles is something I am really interested in.
We shall delve into ceremonial swords in an upcoming rabbithole.
The Everblossom Tree
The Everblossom tree itself is a cherry blossom tree that is always in bloom, a unique trait since real cherry blossoms only bloom for a brief period in Spring. However, if the Divine Dragon is Seiryu, it makes sense that the Everblossom would always be in bloom as it was kept in a perpetual Spring.1
Sakura Trees and Mono No Aware (物の哀れ)
Sakura Trees and Impermanence
These trees are native to East Asia, particularly Japan, and are highly revered for their beauty and symbolism. The cherry blossom is the national flower of Japan, and it represents the fleeting nature of life, as the blossoms bloom for only a short time before falling to the ground.
Mono No Aware (物の哀れ)
The sakura tree is also associated with the concept of mono no aware, which is a Japanese term that refers to the awareness of the transience of things and the bittersweet beauty of their ephemeral existence. This concept is closely tied to the Buddhist idea of impermanence, which emphasizes the importance of cherishing the present moment and accepting the inevitable changes that life brings.
The Everblossom in Sekiro
Death of the Everblossom
The Everblossom no longer exists in its original form within the game's narrative. It is said to have withered away after someone cut off a branch and took the flowers from the tree. This act of removing the flowers led to the tree's inability to survive, and eventually, the entire tree was lost.
A key item in the game
The loss of the Everblossom is a significant event within the game, as it is tied to the fate of the Divine Dragon and the quest for immortality that drives the game's plot. The Everblossom's branch, known as the Aromatic Branch, is a key item in the game.
The Trope of Divine Trees
The Everblossom tree is a Divine Tree and the trope of Divine trees is well found in popular folklore and literature. Usually a central figure for providing life which after a collapse leads to the collapse of the civilization around it.
Yggdrasil - The Nordic World Tree
For example, the World Tree in Norse mythology is depicted as the Eternal Tree whose roots spread throughout the Earth and are said to grant eternal life.
We will talk more on the trope of divine world trees in an upcoming rabbithole.
Eastern dragons in popular media
Spirited Away (2001)
In this critically acclaimed animated film by Studio Ghibli, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the character Haku is a river spirit who can transform into a flying dragon. 3
Haku's connection to water is central to his identity and powers, embodying the Eastern mythological theme of dragons as guardians of water bodies. 2
Dragon Ball Series (1984-present)
This long-running manga and anime series features Shenron, a magical dragon who can be summoned by gathering all seven Dragon Balls. Shenron has the power to grant wishes, and his serpentine, dragon-like appearance is heavily influenced by Eastern mythology. 4
The series often depicts Shenron emerging from the Dragon Balls with dramatic weather changes, highlighting the mythical connection between dragons, rain, and weather. 2
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2024)
In this open-world action-adventure video game, players can encounter three giant dragons named Naydra, Farosh, and Dinraal. These dragons are associated with different elements and weather phenomena. For example, Farosh emerges from bodies of water and can summon rain and lightning, embodying the Eastern mythological connection between dragons and the control of weather and water. 5
