Since the first episode, the huge scar on Tanjiro‘s forehead has made him stand out from the rest. Not only does his scar have a distinct shape, but it has also been observed that it has visibly changed shape over time.
Unsurprisingly, his mark is not ordinary but a defining trait that carries with it a generational legacy and crucial power. This article discusses the origin and significance of Tanjiro’s scar on his forehead.
Tanjiro’s scar explained
Tanjiro received the scar during his childhood when he met with an accident. A kettle containing boiling tea was about to fall on his younger brother when Tanjiro rushed to save him. In the process, he injures himself, consequently developing a burn scar on his forehead. In that, it is but an acquired mark that he develops after the accident.
As he grows older and participates in his first fight against the Hand Demon, his scar begins to bleed and change shape. Surprisingly, the anime does not explain the reason behind the situation.
Later, in the Entertainment District arc, Daki sees a visual of Muzan’s memories through his subconscious. As such, she witnesses a man wearing the same Hanafuda earrings as Tanjiro, and also has the same scar as him. Moreover, at that moment, Tanjiro recalls the content of the letter given to him by Rengoku‘s father, Shinjuro.
The letter says that Tanjiro’s mark is something that only chosen people are born with. Wielding this mark means the demon slayer has been singled out to inherit the Sun Breathing technique. Connecting the dots indicates that it is the only technique to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji successfully.
It is also worth noting that Tanjiro’s memories show that his father, too, wielded this scar. Although the anime does not discuss the occurrence of the scar on Tanjiro’s forehead, a similar scar indicates that he did not get the scar by chance. It is too good of a coincidence to assume that both the father and the son wielded similar scars.
The Demon Slayer Mark: Everything to know
The plot intensifies in Demon Slayer season 3, which follows the Swordsmith Village arc. Here, Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji develop a scar similar to Tanjiro’s while fighting the Upper-rank demons Gyokko and Hantengu respectively.
The latest Demon Slayer season 4, which follows the Hashira Training arc, shows Amane Ubuyashiki calling an emergency Hashira meeting. In the meeting, Amane asks Muichiro and Mitsuri about their individual experiences during the scar’s occurrence.
Though Mitsuri is inarticulate while sharing her experience, Muichiro explains that two distinct conditions that marked the occurrence of the scar. He felt that his body’s temperature rose to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, his heart rate increased to about two hundred beats per minute.
These conditions help awaken the scar, which results in heightened senses and boosts one’s physical capabilities. Amane tells the Hashira that although she does not have all the information about the mark, a swordsman who almost defeated Muzan Kibutsuji awakened a similar mark. So, it awakens only when a demon slayer, who is already in possession of the scar, is able to awaken it.
Inevitably, Tanjiro is the only person in the current generation who possesses the mark, and being around him while fighting the Upper-rank demons would have triggered the mark on both Mitsuri and Muichiro.
Muichiro adds that the critical difference between those who develop the scar and those who do not is the matter of survival. Those who choose to fight without giving up awaken the mark as opposed to those who don’t.
Although the anime has not yet discussed the mystery behind the scar, Tanjiro’s mark seems more than a mere accident. The letter that Shinjuro gave him indicates that Tanjiro’s ancestors were close to the inheritors of both Hinokami Kagura and the mark. Such is the significance of the young swordsman in the world on Demon Slayer.
