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After surviving the grueling final selection process, new Demon Slayer Corps members receive their uniforms and swords. They also get a talented companion – a messenger bird who will inform them about upcoming missions.
Usually these birds are crows with shiny black feathers. However, a new assassin named Zenitsu Agatsuma receives a little brown sparrow named Chuntaro in return.
This sparrow is a symbol of old Japanese folklore. Crows are often depicted in legends as wise messengers of the gods, guiding heroes in battle. The yatagarasu, or three-legged crow, was particularly revered.
Its three legs contain divine qualities like knowledge, kindness and courage. So in Demon Slayer, crows connect to that folklore and symbolize protection and direction for killers.
Why Zenitsu finds a humble sparrow instead of a beautiful crow remains a mystery. But the little bird, despite its small size, still loyally serves as their messenger on dangerous missions. So when it comes to courage, perhaps looks and looks can be deceiving.
Sparrow Symbolism in Demon Slaying
The crow may have an auspicious heritage in Japanese folklore, but the sparrow represents something different – room to grow. This makes it a perfect fit for Zenitsu's character arc.
When we first meet Zenitsu, he does not adopt the intelligent, courageous qualities of the mythical crows. He is a kind spirit who protects Nezuko but is also overwhelmed by fear, hiding behind those stronger than him.
However, an old folk tale provides insight into the sparrow messenger. In “The Story of the Sparrow with the Cut Tongue”, a cruel man injures a sparrow who then retaliates with clever moves.
Despite its small size and injured tongue, the sparrow displays bold ingenuity.
Similarly, despite being timid at first, Zenitsu has great potential for growth. His sparrow Chuntaro was probably chosen to represent that promise.
Like the sparrow with the cleft tongue, appearances can be deceiving when it comes to inner strength.
So while Zenitsu begins to lack the intelligence and courage associated with the crow, his sparrow foreshadows the development of those heroic qualities within him through his adventurous actions.
The story of the cut-tongued sparrow
The story is about an old woodcutter who rescues an injured sparrow. Despite his kindness, his greedy wife resents having to take care of him.
One day when the woodcutter was out, a hungry sparrow ate some starch. The wife loses her temper – she cuts out the sparrow's tongue and throws it out of her house.
When the woodcutter returns and hears what has happened, he immediately sets out to find the crippled bird. He finds a nest of sparrows, including the one he saved.
To repay his kindness, they give him two chests – one small, one large. Humble and realistic, the woodcutter takes up the small chest. Returning home, he and his wife discover that it is filled with priceless treasures.
His wife, overcome by greed, returns to demand the big box. Impatient to get her prize, she opens it midway through the journey and releases a swarm of snakes.
The horrific scene caused her to fall off a cliff and die. Despite his injury and modest appearance, the sparrow ultimately achieves clever vengeance through the woodcutter's selfless loyalty.
Like the story, Zenitsu and his sparrow Chuntaro may initially seem weak and ineffective in comparison to other assassins.
But as the folklore goes, for those with patience and compassion there is often depth hidden beneath the surface.
Zenitsu and Chuntaro's Hidden Gifts
The Sparrow Folktale contains several morals, but one relates directly to Zenitsu – the treasure chest. Despite her low self-confidence, Zenitsu chose to have a modest, small chest to reflect the way she saw herself.
However, his prodigious Thunder Breathing technique proves powerful enough to defeat stronger demons.
As his confidence grows, his underlying kindness emerges more, as seen when he defends children and demands an apology from the demon Daki for harming a girl.
In a sense, Zenitsu herself symbolizes an ordinary little chest, not valued by everyone except her teacher, yet filled with gifts hidden inside.
Additionally, the sparrow symbolizes community, kindness, and luck in Japan – qualities Zenitsu needs when he feels alone and helpless.
Chuntaro's loyal company provides him with vital reassurance.
While the sparrows' actions inject comic relief into the serious series, the pair have a deeper meaning. Chuntaro reflects how Zenitsu sees himself in the present – but also his future potential.
Like the sparrow with the constant cut-tongue, beneath confidence lies simplicity.
It promises significant growth for the self-proclaimed coward as his adventure continues. In many ways, Zenitsu and his sparrow are two sides of the same coin. Where one is lacking, the other supports, ultimately returning to perfection.
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