Breathing Techniques in Demon Slayer have a secret that fans might not know

With the Demon Slayer series at the peak of its popularity, the show has featured some of the most unique aspects ever created in any anime that have excited the fandom. With an intriguing storyline and stunning visuals, one of the most interesting parts of the series is the concept of Breathing Forms.

A unique form of attack in the Slayer's arsenal, the Breathing Forms are beautiful, as well as some of the strongest and most effective forms of offense in the Demon Slayer series. However, the representation of the said ability can also be misleading, as some fans might not know this one truth behind them.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer anime and manga.

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Demon Slayer's hidden truth behind the Breathing Forms shown in the series

While impressive and effective as they are, the Breathing Forms from Demon Slayer are represented with stunning visuals that represent an element based on different individuals. Each Hashira or other users, including the demon Kokushibo, has their Breathing Forms based on their personalities and character traits.

However, one of the biggest misunderstandings created by the series was in the visualization of the Breathing Forms. While for aesthetic purposes, the attacks using the Forms were shown manipulating the elements, it is a known fact of the series that the Breathing Forms are not what they seem like, and do not conjure any natural elements when used.

The Breathing Forms used in the Demon Slayer series are the metaphorical representation of the powers each individual possesses and are based on their personality. For instance, Kyujuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, did not conjure flames with his attacks but was represented as such for visual purposes.

Each Hahira and the characters who represented a Breathing Form in the series were based on elements that they represent the best. Continuing the example of Rengoku, he had a fiery attitude and a radiating aura to his personality, alongside a burning passion towards his duties, which landed him as the Flame Hashira, and henceforth, his attacks were represented by Flames.

In the same breath, every other Hashira's unique position and designation determined their elemental representation title and their Breathing Form attacks. For characters other than the Hashira, like Tanjiro and Zenitsu, they simply adapted with key incidents and the narrative.

Tanjiro's Water Breathing can be coincided with the fact that he was taught by Sankonji Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira, and his later usage of Sun Breathing comes from his family lineage and ties with Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the creator of Sun Breathing Form. Similarly, Zenitsu's training under Jigoro Kuwajima also explains his adaptation to Thunder Breathing.

Coming back to the Hashira, one of the most frequently asked explanations is that of Muichiro Tokito's fight against Gyokko, where he was appearing and disappearing into the mist while attacking. As mentioned, Muichiro did not conjure mist during his fight, but was moving so fast that he created the illusion of fading away and reappearing to land an attack.

Similarly, the subsections of the Breathing Techniques known as forms are also just variations of attacks, and again, do not conjure any elements. The most elaborate example would be Giyu Tomika's 11th Form- Dead Calm. While visually he shows to be standing in a pool of water, he is focusing his senses, increasing his extrasensory perception to predict incoming attacks.

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Final thoughts

It has been a recurring theme in several anime series to use powerful visual representations for attacks, enhancing the viewing experience and visually measuring the power and intensity of an attack.

While Demon Slayer has done that same and some can argue it as misleading, it has undoubtedly worked towards the series' favour and helped it gain such an enormous fandom.

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