#Starya thread

[starya16]

Thread about Wanderer's weapon

Hi! I made a thread on Twitter about Scaramouche/Wanderer weapon "Tullaytullah's Remembrance" and how it links Sumeru's Buddhism theme with Inazuma's base on Japanese culture within Scaramouche/Wanderer.

So here it goes! Link of Twitter just in case you want to check there!

First, I started with a little class of History.

In Japan, Buddhism was introduced on 7th Century via Korea previously with China's influence. The stream that reached was Mahayana Buddhism. There was kind of a "civil war" against those who defended native beliefs (Shinto) from foreign ones (Buddhism), but it was mainly on the high class. Here, a map where you can see Buddhism spread.

Buddhism won (even if after it, there will be a syncretism with Shinto's beliefs) and with it, we can see the rise of Buddhist temples in Japan, with continental (specially China) influence. Our main take here are these temples and pagodas.

The next image is from Hōryū-ji, one of the most important temples in Japan. It can be seen from afar, but if you zoom on the squares of the temple, you can see some things hanging from the roof. They are 風鐸 (fuutaku), translated, literally "wind bells"

These bells were meant to be used in temples for strong winds (they're made of bronze, a breeze won't make them ring), for people to know when they can be at risk and find refuge, and also was a symbol of protection from the divine (reason why they're at temples too)

A better image here:

Japan had kind of a tradition making bells, we have reminiscents of Dōtaku, giant (or small, there are many sizes) bells which meaning is still unknown from earlier periods of Japan (Yayoi Period). It is said they could have be used for rituals.

And you don't have to be a genius to see the obvious resemblance with Scaramouche's weapon. The thing is, I think they chose this particular piece of Japanese culture because it mixes Japanese Inazuma (from where he is from) and Sumeru's buddhism (where he is now, his vision is from there, his story now is there)

(Also the element of anemo, the wind, but aside) I think as well they made a beautiful contrast between Shinto and Buddhism (the two main beliefs in Japan) by making Scaramouche Weapon a Buddhist-related element while Yae Miko's one is Shinto-related element, also is her Shrine. She herself is a Miko, a traditional shrine maiden of Shinto shrines.

Lore-wise, Yae Miko and Scaramouche are not best friends (they almost hate each other lmao), but they are related by the same thing: Raiden Shogun, which is for me like the representation of this duality the Emperor had between Buddhism and Shinto in the early ages of Japan. The constrast is so beautiful to me

I wanted to add as well Fuutaku are the inspiration of fuurin, those little bells which you can hang from your window. They are beautiful and they ring easier than the fuutaku haha.

Also there's a take about the handle of the weapon made by another person in twitter, I leave the link here.

I hope you liked it!!