What is the Truth behind Tanjiro’s Scar? Why does it change? and What are the Powers of Demon Slayer Mark?

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has been popular among fans for its great visuals and gripping storyline since its inception.

One of the most common questions any fans have on their mind is how did Taniro get his scar in Demon Slayer anime? 

As you all know by now, Tanjiro Kamado is the main protagonist in the anime series and is the most central character in the anime series. 

His life turned upside down when one day, his whole family was slaughtered by Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji, and his sister Nezuko was turned into a demon.

Tanjiro managed to survive somehow and vowed to protect his sister Nezuko and join the Demon Slayers Corps to protect humanity from these Demons. 

Suppose you are looking for the answer to how Tanjiro got his scar on the forehead in Demon Slayer and why his scar changed its shape in each season?

In that case, you have managed to land on the right page as in this article; we will explain how Tanjiro got his scar on his forehead and how his scar changes its shape from time to time. So without further ado, let us get started.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- how did Taniro get his scar?

When Tanjiro met Senjuro and Rengoku’s father Shinjuro in Demon Slayer Entertainment District Episode 1, Kyojuro Rengoku’s father Shinjuro, the former Flame Hashira, attacked Tanjiro and called him the wielder of the legendary Sun Breathing Technique, from which all other breathing techniques had derived. 

Kyojuro thought Tanjiro was the wielder of Sun breathing techniques, the most powerful breathing technique in the anime series.

The breathing series was previously used by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who also had a scar similar to Tanjiro. 

Based on that fact, Shinjuro had assumed that Tanjiro was one of the descendants of Yoriichi, and he is also the wielder of sun breathing. 

When Senjuro asked Tanjiro about the scar in the same episode, was it indeed a birthmark? Tanjiro replied that it wasn’t a birthmark.

He got this mark when he tried to shield his brother, Takeo, knocked down a brazier, and as a result, he got this mark.

So technically, Tanjiro got this scar as a burn mark when he tried to defend his brother when a brazier fell, so it was not a birthmark for Tanjiro.

But for Yoriichi Tsugikuni, one of the most powerful Demon Slayers who defeated Muzan, he got his scar as a birthmark.

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Why did Tanjiro’s Scar change in Demon Slayer? 

Tanjiro’s scar in the Demon Slayer anime series changes throughout the series.

When he first got the scar, it was by accident as he wanted to save his little brother from the brazier.

Later on, when he started the demon slayer member corp training, and Sakonji trained him, his scar from that time started growing across his forehead. 

In the recent episode of Demon Slayer, where Tanjiro had fought with Gyotaro, he awakened the Demon Slayer mark again and the scar we saw growing across his face. After the fight, it went back to its original shape. 

Tanjiro earlier also awaken the power of the demon slayer mark in a couple of instances one versus Rui and versus Akaza in the Mugen Train arc. 

There are several stories associated with the Demon Slayer mark.

First, this mark is only activated to the Demon Slayers who have faced life-endangering situations of having a heart rate over 200 BPM and a body temperature of 39 degrees celsius.

This scar gives the Demon Slayer some extraordinary powers.

These powers are far too deadly than any Demons of Twelve Kizuki (except Muzan and the Upper Demon Moon 1 Kokushibo) 

Tanjiro activated this demon slayer mark when he fought against Rui, one of the lower moon demons, with his fight against Akaza as well and finally in the Entertainment district arc against his battle with Gyutaro.

Here Tanjiro not only activated the mark but also managed to behead Gyutaro with the power of the demon slayer mark. 

In the last fight against Gyutaro, we saw that Tanjiro’s blade had turned crimson red, which was the only reason why Tanjiro could defeat Gyutaro’s quick generation abilities and decapitated his head. 

How did Tanjiro’s scar change in Demon Slayer? 

Initially, Tanjiro got the scar by accident when he tried to save his brother Takeo from falling hot brazier. 

Tanjiro activated the demon slayer mark during his fight with the Hand Demon. Later during his battle with Rui, he used Hinokami Kagura for a few seconds he activated the scar.

Much later, in the fight with Upper Demon 3, Akaza Tanjiro activated his demon slayer mark again. And lastly, in the newest episode of the Entertainment district arc, during his fight with Upper Demon 6 Gyutaro, he activated the Demon Slayer mark completely where his Nichirin Blade turned Crimson red decapitated the head of Gyutaro with the powers of the Demon Slayer mark. 

Tanjiro’s curse wasn’t a birthmark which was the case for Yoriichi. But one thing was sure that he was directly related to Sun Breathing because his family was taught a ceremonial dance known as Hinokami Kagura by Yoriichi, who was extremely close friends with Tanjiro’s family. 

The unlocking of Demon Slayer marks happens in three conditions.

1. The Demon Slayer must have gone through life-threatening situations such as a heart rate over 200 BPM and a Body temperature of 39 degrees celsius. 
2. The User must be related to the User of Sun Breathing which was precisely the case for Tanjiro and during his fight with Gyutaro when he almost faced life-threatening circumstances that resulted in activation of his Demon Slayer Mark.

What is the power of Demon Slayer Mark? 

There are three powers associated with a Demon Slayer Mark: whoever activates the demon slayer mark first their colour of the Nichirin blade gets changed to Crimson red colour, which is an enhanced ability that restricts the regeneration powers of the Demon when cut through the Nichirin blade. 

E.g., Tanjiro used this power to slay Gyutaro’s head in the Entertainment District Arc Episode 10. 

The Demon Slayer mark also gives its superhuman user speed, strength, and enhanced breathing techniques beyond the usage of normal breathing styles. 

E.g., In the case of Tanjiro, he used the power of the sun breathing technique Hinokami Kagura to defeat Gyutaro. 

Once the demon slayer mark is activated, the user gets powers from the outside world, which increases muscle power, blood flow inside the joints, and hyper perception. Using this, the user can easily track the movements of the Demons and can counter-attack. (This we haven’t seen in action in the Demon Slayer Anime series so far)

Are there any disadvantages of the power of Demon Slayer Mark? 

There are certain disadvantages of the powers of Demon Slayer marks, but none of them is proven to be true. 

Kokushibo, the Upper Demon Moon 1, stated during his fight against the Stone Piller Hashira Gyomei Himejima and the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, Kokushibo said that the Demon Slayer mark is a curse.

This technique puts strain on your body to achieve greater strength, and sometimes it backfires to the Hashiras or the person using that technique. History states no person who has unlocked the Demon Slayer mark has lived more than 25 years. 

But the statements by Kokushibo doesn’t seem to hold true from a relevant standpoint reason being Kokushibo’s brother Yoriichi Tsugikuni who was the user of the Sun Breathing technique from which the other breathing techniques were derived, activated his Demon Slayer mark before the age of 25, and he lived for 85 years, so the statement given by Kokushibo is not correct. 

Will Tanjiro Kamado surpass Yoriichi in Demon Slayer? 

Yes! Tanjiro will be going to surpass Yoriichi as he will be the perfect user for both Sun breathing and the Water breathing technique.

Plus the Demon King version of Tanjiro is the strongest and the most powerful character in the whole Demon Slayer universe. So it is safe to assume that Tanjiro will definitely surpass Yoriichi. 

What other uses apart from Tanjiro, Yoriichi activated their Demon Slayer Mark? 

You would be happy to know that a few other Hashiras have also activated the Demon Slayer mark in the anime series. 

They are Kokushibo aka Michikatsu Tsukiguni (Yorrichi’s brother), the Stone Piller Hashira Gyomei Himejima, The Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, The Snake Hashira Obanai Iguro, The Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa, The Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka and The Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji. (Noted by Kimetsu No Yaiba Fandom)