After passing the test, Kagome and Inuyasha returned to find that Naraku had already captured Kikyō. Chinese Bellflower Kikyō using her spiritual powers offensively. Kikyo, meaning “pentagram”, is an important symbol in Taoism because each of the five petals represents the five elements of the Tao – wood, water, fire, metal and earth. Kikyō wore a white jacket with sode-kukuri (cords) through the sleeves and open shoulders (similar to Inuyasha's and Jaken's outfits). Kikyō is a plain Kikyōmon. Fifty years later, an Oni witch named Urasue stole Kikyō's remains and some graveyard soil to create a new body for her out of clay and bones. Because of this, the decorative motives and fabrics that embellish these garments have garnered great significance throughout history. He used these spiderwebs as a way to contaminate and weaken Kikyō. Kikyō returns to Naraku's castle, breaking the barrier he had erected to keep Inuyasha away. It symbolizes heartfelt emotions. Evil is good. For a time, Kikyō seemed to be on Naraku's side since she handed him Kagome's Shikon jewel shards, to which this action caused Inuyasha to accuse Kikyō of betrayal. If there is one thing which immediately comes to mind when one thinks of Japanese symbols applied on materials is without a doubt – a kimono. Species He told her that time continues for the living, but it does not continue for the dead, thus the dead do not belong in such a place, and such an existence is tragic. She was loved by the children and the villagers respected her. Wanting to be a normal human, Kikyō asked Inuyasha if he would use the Shikon no Tama to become a human and to be with her. The bellflower (Platycodon grandiflora) is also known as the Chinese bellflower or balloon flower. Inuyasha sympathized with her and asked Kikyō to meet him again the next day to receive a gift. However, Urasue was disturbed to find out that the body she created would not entirely animate without its spirit and soul. Platycodon will grow in any good well-drained soil, but prefers sandy soil. The monk was killed by a piece of the demon that struck him in the neck. She had developed a new-found hatred that she never had when she was alive. Much later, villagers told Inuyasha's group of a mysterious person known as Saint Hijiri who was rumored to be extremely powerful. Episode 1 He confronted Kikyō, and when she asked him what his true objective was, he responded by wounding her chest, belittling her inability to bleed, and pushed her into a river of his poisonous miasma, presumably killing her. In Japan, the Balloon Flower, which is called “kikyo”, is a very popular plant. Kikyō managed to retain a part of her soul though, and thus was able to escape into the mist, where she was pursued by Inuyasha. This drove Kikyō to fuse the soul of Midoriko, the all-powerful priestess who created the sacred Shikon jewel, into her own body to close her wounds and hold out the miasma until she could defeat Naraku before she died. Impure is pure. She figured out that Naraku was a half-demon and that he still possessed Onigumo's heart, whose owner still had feelings for her. At night, she was amazed to see two novice monks get past the barrier she had conjured up while recovering. Had Naraku absorbed the completed Shikon Jewel, Kikyō's light would have purified it and killed Naraku. However, Kikyō had already realized Naraku's plan and remained under her own incredibly strong and powerful spiritual barrier. Meanwhile, Onigumo is met by a spider demon who offered to fulfill his dreams of mobility, obtaining the Sacred Jewel, and attaining the lovely Kikyō herself. Embroidery was originally used for decorating items used during spiritual and religious ceremonies. However, Naraku desired a corrupted Sacred Jewel and wished for Kikyō to kill Inuyasha herself, and thus resorted to manipulation to set their plan astray. Saddened, Kikyō gave up on living in the village and left, apologizing to Sayo for scaring her. However, Kagome was able to reach Inuyasha with her voice in time, and Inuyasha left Kikyō to free Kagome from the tree. Following the battle, a guilt-ridden Kikyō suggested using the Shikon Jewel to turn Inuyasha into a human, an offer to which Inuyasha agreed. Killed by Naraku - While Kikyō has a vengeful, distrustful and stoic personality, Kagome has a kind, cheerful, forgiving and open-hearted personality. Naraku is the man who tricked Kikyō into betraying Inuyasha. I am a priestess who is unable to leave this world and reach the sacred place. The Jewel was purified before it entered Naraku's body, but Naraku won against Kikyō's powers and successfully contaminated the Shikon Jewel, rendering Kikyō completely powerless and on the verge of death. A curious monk sensed something abnormal about the resurrected priestess and intended to find out her true nature. Toki Kikyō is a variant used by the Toki clan, the Akechi clan, among others. Kikyō's kosode would be very much like a modern Kendo or Naginata Keikogi, with the sleeve fitting somewhat closely like a modern loose shirt and extending slightly past the wrist. Rumiko Takahashi stated that she chose Kikyō's name basing on the language of flowers, as the Chinese Bellflower's meaning is "unchanging love.". Symbols and motives have always been an integral part of Japanese art, both in traditional and modern designs. The wide range of benefits that can be gained by using this plant are based on the volatile active ingredients found in the root. At the end of the series, it is revealed that Naraku's true wish on the Sacred Jewel had been to have Kikyō's love but it was not granted. Having had strong spiritual power in life, Kikyō was revived by the necromantic arts of the yōkai sorceress Urasue. However, Kikyō decides to leave the task of defeating Naraku to Inuyasha's group and transfers her speck of purity from the complete Shikon Jewel into Kohaku, so that he may live. Manga Debut Right before Kikyō's death, Kikyō gives Kagome her own bow and wishes Kagome well, asking her not to cry as Inuyasha takes her off. Alias She wanted to live peacefully in the village, but was troubled by the thought that even such a simple existence may be forbidden. All Kikyō wanted in the end was to live together with Inuyasha as a normal woman, but in the end, she was killed yet again by Naraku. She quickly realized that it was because her spirit and soul had already been reincarnated into another body, and that Kagome's soul, being the reincarnation of Kikyō, was needed in order to completely animate Kikyō's clay body. Kikyō was a beautiful pale-skinned woman with long black hair that was often tied into a low loose ponytail by a white ribbon with bangs hanging above over forehead and brown eyes. Though Naraku declared his victory and Kikyō's defeat, Kikyō thinks to herself that Naraku will find out about that after he dies as she had let a sliver of purifying light in the Shikon Jewel. Kikyō attacking with the base of her bow. At first they battled each other, but as time went on they both fell in love. This was a deliberate fashion effect. burning perfume incense, coloring her lips and cheeks, etc.). Skin color Spiritual PowersPurificationSpiritual Awareness The pair encountered a band of half-demons but were attacked by the Shitōshin. Kikyo, or Japanese bellflower, is the botanical theme of the 2007 Japanese Festival. Inuyasha suffered a heartbroken depression of losing Kikyō, as he wanted to protect her forever; he suffered from self-inflicted insomnia for some time because he did not want to constantly see Kikyo in his dreams, which he found too painful. Although she died, her light saved Kohaku instead of destroying Naraku after her death. The slits on the side of her hakama, and the openings at the sleeves and shoulders of her hitoe (jacket) showed the white kosode she sported. They next day, after Inuyasha gifted her with his deceased mother's rouge, Kikyō decided against placing the beads of subjugation on him.