Kyoshin/Main

> *"To live as a soldier or die as a hero. To protect the past or fight for the future. To strive for the heavens, or carve a path to hell. The crux lies in everyone's heart, but it is also a gift."*
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> *"The ability to choose and adapt... to be neither or both. To breathe and fight like the wind. This is our freedom."*
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## Kyoshin/Main

* Kyoshin profile
* Hero

## Stats

### Sprint Speed

7.5 m/s

**Kyoshin** are a playable hero class in For Honor.

## Overview

Children with unusual characteristics are sometimes believed to be born Yokai and treated as outcasts among their peers. But one of the ways for them to survive is to join the Kyoshin priests. In an isolated temple deep in the Myre, these abandoned infants find a new home among people who can understand and nurture their potential. Becoming apprentices of the elder Kyoshin, they follow an ascetic training to expand their physical, mental and spiritual abilities. When they reach adulthood, they go through a ritual called the ‘Heavenly Revelation’ where, according to legends, they must let their body be possessed by Samurai deities. While traveling between realms and learning secrets about the spiritual world, they vow to serve nature’s harmony, and finally return to humanity blessed with transformative powers.

Before the great drought, the Kyoshin were rumored to be masters of disguise – they could be anyone, anywhere. Some warriors doubted they even existed. Yet the great catastrophes and new conflicts in Heathmoor forced the Kyoshin to leave their temple. While many warriors try to choose between good and evil, the Kyoshin are determined to keep the balance of nature and will join any side to achieve their goal.

## Armor

The Kyoshin are masters of disguise, dressing as either other warriors or as civilians. Their main attire is the robes of the Samurai high class. This attire is the *kamishimo* ensemble, which includes a *kimono* top, the *kataginu* jacket, and *hakama* pants. To hide their supernatural eye, they wear a partial blindfold. For protection, they wear metal shoulder plates and forearm guards.

## Weapon

**Shikomizue Blade and Scabbard** - A single-handed sword that is concealed within an undecorated scabbard. Due to its straight edge, the concealed weapon can deceivingly look like a harmless stick until it is drawn. The Kyoshin use this blade both in the overhand and underhand grip.

## Known Kyoshin

* Tozen (?)
* TBA

## Trivia

* The name of this Hero, "Kyoshin" (虚心), translates to "impartiality" or more literally "void heart," as already noted on the Visions of the Kyoshin event page. This name reflects the neutral nature that the Kyoshin hold.
* Prior to their release, and after the Visions of the Kyoshin event, the Kyoshin warriors could be seen as mirages on all maps, either running around or performing certain moves. One week prior to the Hero's release, the model was swapped out for the Kyoshin Hero instead.
	+ Some of the moves performed by these mirages were either taken from other Heroes' animations or from the Kyoshin's own animations.
* The Kyoshin's Reveal Trailer marks the first time non-English voiceover is used for the trailer, in this case in Japanese.
	+ The following is the Japanese transcript of the voiceover: "兵士として生きるか、英雄として死ぬか。過去を守るか、未来のために戦うか。天国を目指すか、地獄への道を歩むか。信念は皆の心の中にある、そして与えられたものもある。それは選び適用する能力．．．誰でもないか誰でもあるものとなり。風のごとく呼吸し戦う。これが我らの自由だ。"
* One of the primary Kyoshin's influences is the "blind samurai" archetype, with heavy influence from Zatoichi, a well-known fictional hero in Japanese media. Zatoichi is known for being a blind master swordsman who uses a Shikomizue (仕込み杖; *shikomidzue*, lit. "prepared cane") famously in a reverse grip when using the blade. This influence is most apparent in the Kyoshin's main reveal artwork where the Kyoshin is shown sheathing the blade vertically in front of their face, a pose that Zatoichi is known for in some depictions.
	+ The Shikomizue is categorized as being a Japanese swordstick, canes that conceal a blade. In Japan, it is part of a larger family of Japanese blades known as the Shikomigatana (仕込み刀; lit. "prepared sword"), which includes any blade hidden in a variety of disguises.
	+ Aside from the "blind samurai" archetype, the Kyoshin has some heavy influences from Japanese historical dramas known as "*jidaigeki*" (時代劇). Most of these shows featured dramatic fights between samurai and other swordsmen in medieval Japan, typically set during the Edo period. Some of the dramatic influences have carried over to anime, which is likely another influence for the Hero.
	+ Other influences include the Yamabushi warriors and certain Buddhist deities, particularly Asura (a group of power-seeking deities) & Marishiten (a celestial being associated with the light and sun).
* Unlike other Heroes before, Kyoshin is the first Hero to feature a functioning scabbard, both in the sense of being used in a moveset but also working as a proper sheathe for the Hero's blade. Until now, other Heroes who used weapons held in a manner as if sheathed (such as Orochi and Warden) had foregone the use of a scabbard due to engine/animation limitations.
	+ The Hero also features a unique method of incorporating sleeves for the Hero. While "Arms" on all other Heroes embody the entire arm from shoulder to fingertips, Kyoshin's "Arms" armor only consists of the shoulder plate and the gauntlet; the presence of sleeves (and arm wrapping) is dependent on the Chest armor selected. This contrasts previous Heroes who either were made to not have sleeves (ie. Shugoki) or had sleeves that didn't meld well when mismatched with different Chest armor pieces.

* Eye Colour Change (Bottom Row show matching team colour)
* Hair Colour Change base on Material
1/2
* Just like the Warmongers and Gryphon before, the Kyoshin is a genderlocked Hero but features Alternate armor variation.
	+ For the most part, Alternate armor variations are an "infantry grade" visual counterpart to their normal variant, featuring no vest or chest armor and less flare.
	+ Kyoshin also features two other customization options unique to them. On some sets, their eye colours will change with your selected Team Colour. Meanwhile, on some of their Alternate sets, their hair colour will change with the selected Material. Some helms will have one or the other, while others will have none or both.
* The Kyoshin has some relations to Tozen from the Story Campaign.
	+ During the Warrior's Den Reveal Stream on July 15th, 2021, it was mentioned that the Kyoshin's existence were meant to explain the mystical techniques that Tozen could use during his boss fight, such as the "shadow clone techniques." This may be pointing to the possibility that Tozen was in fact a Kyoshin warrior at some point, if not still a Kyoshin at the time of his death. If not a Kyoshin, he might have had connections to the Kyoshin warriors that they would disguise themselves as his clones for the technique.
	+ The Kyoshin's Kaze Stance and Sajin-Arashi (dodge bash) are similar to Tozen's Blade Twirl stance and signature knockdown Kick.
		- Possibly because Tozen is classified as an Orochi in the Story Campaign, the Kyoshin also borrows animations from the Orochi, such as with their side dodge attacks and their guardbreak throw animations.
	+ One of the armor sets available to the Kyoshin is based off of Tozen's look, both his armored and unarmored look. The armored look unfortunately lacks Tozen's helmet.
* The Kyoshin's default Signature, "Serene Return," may be a homage to Himura Kenshin, the protagonist of the action historical-fiction manga series, *Rurouni Kenshin* (るろうに剣心; also known as "Samurai X"), as the Kyoshin assumes a battle stance that is similar to the "Battoujutsu stance" (抜刀術の構え; *battou-jutsu no kamae*) Kenshin commonly takes, particularly the live action movie adaption's version of the stance.

### Translation

* "Shinkiro" (蜃気楼; *shinkirou*) translates to "Mirage," the same name as the season this Hero was released during.
* "Gyakufu" (逆風; *gyakufuu*) translates to "headwind."
	+ In Kenjutsu, it is also a term used for an upwards strike; in some practices, the move includes the criteria that it is used as a counter move against an opponent performing a downward swing, by hitting the opponent's hands.
* "Hachifu" (八風; *hachifuu*) can refer to one of two definitions:
	+ A buddhist phrase that refers to "the eight things that can hinder one's own Enlightenment."
	+ A general term referring to the eight winds (eg. the eight wind directions).
* "Aoarashi" (青嵐; lit. "blue storm") translates to "mountain air" or more literally "blue storm" which refers to when the wind carries a lot of fresh leaves at the start of the summer.
* "Haninei" (半陰影; *han'in'ei*, lit. "half-shade shadow") translates to "penumbra."
* "Kokuei" (黒影) translates to "dark shadow."
* "Sajin-Arashi" (砂塵嵐; lit. "sand dust storm") translates to "sand storm."
	+ The quote for this move, "生滅流転" (*shoumetsuruten*) is a four-word idiom for "all things continue to go through change, between life and destruction."
* The "Kaze" (風) in "Kaze Stance" literally means "wind." Each of the stance's attacks are named after a kind of wind:
	+ Hakaze (羽風; lit. "winged wind") has the meaning of "wind that blows for birds and insects to fly."
		- For the quote said during Hakaze, "血風剣," "血風" means literally "bloody wind" and figuratively "wind bloodied by the battlefield it passes through."
	+ Tengukaze (天狗風; lit. "the Tengu's wind") has the meaning of "a sudden whirlwind that blows." This originates from how the mythical Tengu youkai are capable of blowing gusts of wind with their magical feather fan and are sometimes attributed to those gusts in real life out of superstition.
	+ Mujounokaze (無常の風; *mujou no kaze*, lit. "wind of impermanence") has the meaning of "the way how impermanence leads to one's eventual death is just like how the wind scatters flower petals and blow out flames."
		- The quote said during Mujounokaze, "迅雷風烈," is a four-word idiom for "rapidly changing situation" or "swift action."
* The Fujin (風神; *fuujin*) in "Fujin Cuts" and "Fujin Force" translates to "wind god."
* "Kagerou" (陽炎) translates to "heat haze."
* "Hikarimore" (光漏れ) translates to "light leak" or "seeping light."
* "Hikari to Kage" (光と影) literally translates to "light and shadow."
	+ The quote used for this Feat is the same voiceover heard at the end of the Mirage Season's trailer.
* "Mugen Houyou" (夢幻泡影; lit. "dream, mirages, foam, shadow") is a Buddhist four-character idiom that is meant to be read as "transience" as the four mentioned items are representative of transient things in life.
* The Emote "Itazurazuki" translates to "(a person who) likes mischief" (いたずら好き).
* The Revive line, "陽はまた昇る," has a meaning of "if the sun falls, it will rise again." This quote has similar themes to impermanence.
* The Revive line, "世の中は地獄の上の花見かな," is a famous quote by the Edo period Japanese poet and lay Buddhist priest Kobayashi Issa. The quote means "The world is cruel, terrible, and miserable, and any joy or peace found is temporal much like a flower-viewing picnic over Hell."

## Quotes

### Combat

* **Japanese:** 生滅流転 (shoumetsuruten)- **English:** "Life and destruction flows in a cycle."
	+ Sajin-Arashi (Dodge Bash)
* **Japanese:** 無駄だ (muda da) - **English:** "Futile."
	+ Aoarashi (In-chain Bash)
* **Japanese:** すべて無駄 (subete muda) - **English:** "All (of what you do) is pointless."
	+ Guardbreak Throw
* **Japanese:** 未熟な (mijuku na) - **English:** "Unskilled."
	+ Parrying
* **Japanese:** 急くな (seku na) - **English:** "Don't be hasty."
	+ Entering Kaze Stance
* **Japanese:** 風神招来せし (fuujin shourai sesshin) - **English:** "Let the wind god be invited."
	+ Tengukaze (Kaze Heavy Attack)
* **Japanese:** 血風剣 (keppuu-ken) - **English:** "Bloody Wind Blade"
	+ Hakaze (Kaze Light Attack)
* **Japanese:** 迅雷風烈 (jinrai fuuretsu) - **English:** "Violent Thunder and Fierce Wind"
	+ Mujounokaze (Kaze Zone Attack)
* **Japanese:** 白刃一閃 (hakujin issen) - **English:** "Flash of a drawn sword!" or "White blade, one flash!"
	+ Fujin Cuts (Kaze Attack Light follow-ups)
* **Japanese:** 烈風の如し (reppuu no gotoshi) - **English:** "(Cutting) like the gale."
	+ Fujin Force (Kaze Attack Heavy follow-up)
* **Japanese:** 何 (nani) - **English:** "What?"
	+ When Guardbroken
* After performing a Chain Finisher:
	+ **Japanese:** 巡るは剣力 (meguru wa kenriki) - **English:** "Wandering gives me power."
	+ **Japanese:** 終わりだ (owari da) - **English:** "This is the end."
	+ **Japanese:** 無常なり (mujou nari) - **English:** "All is transient."
	+ **Japanese:** すべては儚き夢 (subete wa hakanaki yume) - **English:** "Everything is a fleeting dream."
	+ **Japanese:** 恐怖こそ雅 (kyoufu koso miyabi) - **English:** "Fear itself is elegance."
	+ **Japanese:** 露の命か (tsuyu no inochi ka) - **English:** "What a fragile life."
	+ **Japanese:** 怖気は消えるか (ojike wa kieru ka) - **English:** "Will dread disappear."
* Upon dodging/blocking three times without being hit:
	+ **Japanese:** 小賢しい (kozakashii) - **English:** "Clever, aren't you."
	+ **Japanese:** 無様な (buzama na) - **English:** "How clumsy."
	+ **Japanese:** 哀れな (taware na) - **English:** "What a pity."
	+ **Japanese:** 無駄だ (muda da) - **English:** "Futile."
* Idle while in-lock with an enemy:
	+ **Japanese:** 恐れるものは無し (Osorerumono wa nashi) - **English:** "There is nothing to fear."
	+ **Japanese:** 何たる蛮勇よ (Nantaru Banyuu yo) - **English:** "What barbaric courage."
	+ **Japanese:** 失うものは無し (Ushinau mono wa nashi) - **English:** "There is nothing to lose."
	+ **Japanese:** まだ血を流すか (Mada chi wo nagasu ka) - **English:** "Do you wish to continue drawing blood?"
	+ **Japanese:** すぐに終わる (Sugu ni owaru) - **English:** "This will soon be over."
	+ **Japanese:** 宿命と呼ぶべきか (Shukumei to yobubeki ka) - **English:** "Should this be called fate?"
	+ **Japanese:** 何処ぞで見たか (Dokozo de mita ka) - **English:** "Did you see me elsewhere?"

### Feats & Others

* Arrow Strike Feat:
	+ **Japanese:** 狙え放て (nerae, hanate) - **English:** "Aim, release!"
	+ **Japanese:** 弓隊　(yumi-tai) - **English:** "Archers!"
	+ **Japanese:** 撃て (ute) - **English:** "Fire!"
* Hikari to Kage Feat
	+ **Japanese:** 天運、我にあり (Ten'un, ware ni ari) - **English:** "Heavens, be with me" or "The Heavens are with me."
* Mugen Houyou Feat
	+ **Japanese:** 何たる蛮勇よ (nantaru ban'yuu yo) - **English:** "What barbaric courage."
* Arrow Storm Feat
	+ **Japanese:** 射手、撃て (shashu, ute) - **English:** "Archers, fire!"
	+ **Japanese:** 蹴散らせ (kechirase) - **English:** "Make them scatter!"
	+ **Japanese:** 者共、放て (monodomo, hanate) - **English:** "All of you, release!"
* Fear Itself Feat
	+ **Japanese:** 恐れるものは無し (osoreru mono wa nashi) - **English:** "There is nothing that I fear."
	+ **Japanese:** 怖気は消えるか (ojike wa kieru ka) - **English:** "Will dread disappear."
	+ **Japanese:** 恐怖こそ雅 (kyoufu koso miyabi) - **English:** "Fear itself is elegance."
* When Revived:
	+ **Japanese:** かたじけない (katajikenai) - **English:** "Much appreciation."
	+ **Japanese:** 恩に着る (on ni kiru) - **English:** "I am most grateful."
	+ **Japanese:** 儚き夢か (hakanaki yume ka) - **English:** "What a fleeting dream."
* When Respawning:
	+ **Japanese:** 陽はまた昇る (hi wa mata noboru) - **English:** "The sun will rise once more."
	+ **Japanese:** 世の中は地獄の上の花見かな (yo no naka wa jigoku no ue no hanami kana) - **English:** "The world is like a flower-viewing picnic above Hell."
	+ **Japanese:** 諸行無常なり (Shogyoumujou nari) - **English:** "I am impermanence" or "All is impermanent."