Many people may know about the Red Spider Lily flower that is commonly associated with death or final parting, but in Demon Slayer, the series presents an unique twist to the said flower. What was known as the Red Spider Lily is now mythified as the Blue Spider Lily within the series, and interestingly, it is not associated with death.
Blue Spider Lily is known for its medicinal qualities, which is why it could heal Muzan Kibutsuji of his mysterious illness. However, it came at the price of his demonification. Given that the Blue Spider Lily also had the ability to nullify a demon’s weakness to sun, Muzan actively pursued the search for the flower. But all in vain. Despite searching for it all over Japan, the flower that was so important to him grew in an area that was known to a member of the Kamado family. Now, whether or not this is the reason why he may have killed the Kamados is a topic for a different day, but the connection between one of the Kamados having the knowledge of Blue Spider Lily’s growth and Muzan killing them and setting the catalyst for Tanjiro to develop the narrative is indeed intriguing.
Other than Muzan and Akaza, two Kamado members knew about the growth of Blue Spider Lily in Demon Slayer
Spoiler. So disappointing, Akaza. He failed to find the blue spider lily and failed to kill every single demon slayer. #DemonSlayer pic.twitter.com/2hJFfFP1d2
— greenseeker (@greenseeker1) December 5, 2021
The importance of Blue Spider Lily was first stressed in the Entertainment District arc when Muzan tasked the Upper Rank Three, Akaza, demon to find the Blue Spider Lily. Now, to discuss its value to Muzan, one would probe into Muzan’s history. As mentioned earlier, Blue Spider Lily was instrumental in Muzan’s cure, where the properties of the flower were mixed into his medicine and fed to him by the doctor looking after Muzan.
While the effects of the flower surely cured Muzan of his deadly disease that could’ve killed him before the age of 20, it also removed his humanity to the point that he became the first demon known to mankind in the Demon Slayer-verse. Muzan started craving human blood and flesh and developed a vampiric quality where he had fangs and became weak to sunlight. In fact, stepping under the sun would mean the disintegration of his body. However, the Demon King wasn’t satisfied with it and wanted to be immune to sunlight. This, again, is connected to Blue Spider Lily, whose consumption is known to make demons resistant to the effects of the sun.
Blue spider lily pic.twitter.com/wxQjSPZJvM
— 逢樹ひろ (@kasui21) September 3, 2021
Muzan spent centuries searching for the flower but couldn’t find it. This is because the Blue Spider Lily is a rare species of flower that only blooms during daytime for two to three days a year, after which it shrivels and turns into something that resembles a horsetail weed. However, the blooming of Blue Spider Lily is not guaranteed due to extreme weather conditions, the growth may be hindered. Given its rarity and daytime growth, it explains why Muzan was unable to find it.
On the other hand was Kie Kamado, who knew about when and where the Blue Spider Lily bloomed. She even showed it to her eldest son, Tanjiro, when he was young. This memory was seen in a flashback when Tanjiro was briefly able to recall it during his fight with Rui, Lower Rank Five, during the Mount Natagumo arc. However, this raises the question – had Muzan turned Tanjiro into a demon instead of Nezuko, would he have been able to get the Blue Spider Lily easily and become immune to sunlight?
Gotouge did not know a damn thing about what they were doing and for some reason rushed to get to the end for no reason. There are other things that got dropped or went nowhere. Like Tanjiro seeing a blue spider lily when his life flashed before his eyes against Rui.
— Naga (@naqahead) May 26, 2023
This question demands a specific study in a separate article, but for now, what’s important is that Muzan was unsuccessful in finding the Blue Spider Lily. Moreover, he couldn’t even find it even at the end, which is why he disintegrated under the sunlight after being defeated by Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps.
Another thing about Blue Spider Lily within the Demon Slayer-verse is its speculated symbolism. For Red Spider Lily, the flower is generally perceived as someone having achieved salvation. The flower commonly means death, but if one takes into account the cultural history of Japanese folklore, one would know that rebirth is a common factor. So, the cycle of life is succeeded by death, and after that, life follows again. Therefore, aside from meaning abandonment and parting, Red Spider Lily signifies rebirth. In fact, when the flower facilitates the passing of the souls over the Sanzu River, on whose shore the flower grows.
kny spoilers //
gotouge is going to be like …
the kamados drank blue spider lily tea EVERY year during the dance of the fire god ceremony.And that’s why they are immune 😀 pic.twitter.com/XGHQntkhjV
— amber ♡ (@tanijrou) April 5, 2020
Contrary to this, Blue Spider Lily has no such motives or symbols. Given it is a rare species of flower within Demon Slayer, not much has been explored about it. However, while the Red Spider Lily meant salvation, it is theorized by the fandom that Blue Spider Lily means damnation. If one takes the example of Muzan, the flower may have cured him of the unknown deadly disease, but it also made him immortal by turning him into a non-human and susceptible to sunlight. There is a gift, but there is also a curse, the effect of which outlast the boon as the Demon King desperately looked for Blue Spider Lily. Alas! What could’ve given him the perfect body was never achieved by him, even in his supremely powerful state, and thus he met his demise.
