Sun Breathing

The **Sun Breathing** *(Hi no Kokyu)* is the first, and the origin of all Breathing Styles. It was created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and later lost to time, being only recorded in a ritual dance passed on to the Kamado Family by the name of **Dance of the Fire God** *(Hinokami Kagura)*.

## **Overview:**

All other Breathing Styles are derived from it as the result of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, its creator, modifying it to suit the individuals he taught who were unable to use it.

Both the Hinokami Kagura and Sun Breathing are Breathing Styles that mimic the sun and replicate it with the user's movements, techniques, and abilities. All techniques and forms are extremely varied and have no set pattern, making it the most versatile and effective against demons. Users of Sun Breathing visualize themselves seemingly manipulating solar flames when unleashing its techniques.

Upon seeing Yoriichi perform the twelve forms through his ancestor's memories, Tanjiro realized that, despite being replicated with a surprising degree of accuracy for hundreds of years and his own mastery of Hinokami Kagura, Hinokami Kagura had unnecessary movements, such as different wrist angles, footwork and breathing rhythm, compared to the Sun Breathing directly performed by Yoriichi.

The Sun Breathing can be performed by a regular Katana, and Nichirin items possessed by Sun Breathing users will turn black.

## **Known Techniques:**

The Sun Breathing was originally created with 13 total techniques. The last of which was merely a consistent repetition of all prior Forms. Tanjiro Kamado went on to develop two new techniques, and edit the First Form. Note that Yoriichi Tsugikuni's versions of the techniques are not defined by the Form system that Tanjiro's use.

* **Dance** *(Enbu)* - The user performs a singular downwards vertical slash in an arcing motion.

* **First Form: Dancing Flash** *(Ichi no Kata: Enbu Issen)* - An edited version created by Tanjiro Kamado, designed to replace the original, as he was incapable of replicating the same level of power than Yoriichi had while using it. This form uses a dash alongside the regular attack

* **Second Form: Clear Blue Sky** *(Ni no Kata: Heki-Ra no Ten)* - The user spins their body horizontally to deliver a 360° slash.

* **Third Form: Raging Sun** *(San no Kata: Retsujitsu Kokyo)* - The user unleashes two horizontal slashes to hit or defend from incoming attacks.

* **Fourth Form: Burning Bones, Summer Sun** *(Shi no Kata: Shakkotsu En'yo)* - The user unleashes a large circular slash that defends from imminent frontal attacks.

* **Fifth Form: Setting Sun Transformation** *(Go no Kata: Shayo Tenshin)* - The user backflips into the air to deliver a powerful upended sword slash that aims to decapitate their target.

* **Sixth Form: Solar Heat Haze** *(Roku no Kata: Hirin Kagero)* - The user charges towards the target, unleashing a horizontal slash seemingly covered in haze that fails to land, but actually does hit the target.

* **Seventh Form: Beneficent Radiance** *(Shichi no Kata: Kiki Onko)* - The user spirals into the air and delivers a powerful slash that surrounds the enemy.

* **Eighth Form: Sunflower Thrust** *(Hachi no Kata: Yokatotsu)* - The user unleashes a single thrust attack with the point of the blade.

* **Ninth Form: Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance** *(Ku no Kata: Nichiun no Ryu Kaburimai)* - The user unleashes a continuous fast and powerful sword attack that is capable of decapitating multiple targets at once.

* **Tenth Form: Fire Wheel** *(Ju no Kata: Kasha)* - The user leaps behind the opponent and spins in the air downward, releasing a sword attack in a circular motion.

* **Eleventh Form: Fake Rainbow** *(Ju Ichi no Kata: Gen'nichi Ko)* - The user performs high-speed twists and rotations, thus creating afterimages used mostly to evade attacks. The afterimages work most effectively on enemies with good vision.

* **Twelfth Form: Flame Dance** *(Ju Ni no Kata: Hono Enbu)* - A two-combo strike which starts with a vertical slash and then a horizontal one right after.

* **Thirteenth Form: Dance of the Fire God** *(Ju San no Kata: Hinokami Kagura)* - The user continuously performs all twelve forms of Sun Breathing in repetitive succession to increase the accuracy and agility of its movements while reducing fatigue. This form was created solely for killing Muzan Kibutsuji.

* **Fourteenth Form: Scorching Rush** *(Ju Shi no Kata: Hayagake Giri)* - The user rushes forward with a flaming sword and performs five consecutive slashes against the opponent's weak points.

* **Fifteenth Form: Phoenix Flash** *(Ju Go no Kata: Shunten Giri)* - The user descends, either after hopping or from high ground, where they perform a massive overhead circular slash.

## **Trivia:**

* Tanjuro Kamado is not cited as an user since he only knew the incomplete Hinokami Kagura, rather than the complete Sun Breathing.
* Both Fourteenth and Fifteenth Form are derived straight from The Hinokami Chronicles videogame.
* The Thirteenth Form does not have a canon name. In the story, Tanjiro decided to name it after the reason why the technique even survived.