Demon Slayer: How Muzan Became A Demon, Explained

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Summary

  • Sunlight is the demons’ only weakness
  • Muzan is the first demon and fears death
  • Muzan became a demon to avoid dying

In a revamped Japan during the Taisho Era, “Demon Slayer” unfolds as an intriguing blend of history and fantasy where humans coexist with dangerous demons. The Demon Slayer Corps, established to combat these threats, strives to safeguard humanity. Each demon possesses unique abilities and varying degrees of power; however, they share a common vulnerability: sunlight. Exposing them until dawn is the sole effective strategy to vanquish even the most potent demons.

In the universe of “Demon Slayer,” all demons originated from one source – the first demon, Kibutsuji Muzan. This character serves as the central villain and the originator of all the world’s demons. Due to this role, Muzan is referred to as the Demon King and heads the Twelve Kizuki, the most powerful demons on Earth. However, even Muzan didn’t spring into existence as a demon; he was not born one. Therefore, we are left wondering: How did Kibutsuji Muzan transform into a demon?

Be advised that the information ahead could reveal plot details from the ‘Infinity Castle’ arc of the Demon Slayer manga. If you haven’t finished watching the anime and prefer not to be spoiled, it would be best to proceed with caution. Enjoy responsibly!

Who is Kibutsuji Muzan?

The Man Who Feared Death

Character Kibutsuji Muzan
Series Demon Slayer
Anime Debut Episode 6
Manga Debut Chapter 11

In the world of “Demon Slayer”, whether through the manga or anime, Kibutsuji Muzan is initially presented as a man seemingly devoid of vulnerabilities. On one side, he exudes sophistication, good looks, and charm; on the other, he’s merciless, fearsome, and lethal. His actions have tragic consequences for Tanjiro’s family, as he was the one who killed them and transformed Nezuko into a demon. This act serves as the catalyst for Tanjiro’s quest for revenge. Furthermore, Muzan holds the title of Demon King, and since he is the origin of all demons, as long as he lives, the demon infestation will continue unabated.

In the tale of “Demon Slayer”, it becomes clear that Muzan is not just a brutal, violent being as it may seem. He harbors a deep fear of death, which drives his actions. His ambition is absolute immortality, striving to overcome the one vulnerability he shares with all demons – their weakness to sunlight. Although Muzan appears invincible due to his immense power, he acknowledges this weakness as his Achilles’ heel. This vulnerability limits him during daylight hours, providing the Demon Corps with a strategy to defeat him.

In “Demon Slayer” Chapter 98, Muzan expresses a profound thirst for life to the demon Gyokko. Every action and strategy he undertakes is driven by this insatiable longing to conquer death and escape the human dread of mortality.

One aspect I strongly dislike is the concept of change, whether it involves circumstances, physical form, or emotions. More often than not, any shift feels like a step backwards, a deterioration, or a decline. On the contrary, what I appreciate is stability and permanence; if something remains unchanged forever, I find it to be in its most ideal state.

Muzan yearns for everlasting existence, seeking a flawless state. However, he didn’t start off as a near-immortal demon; instead, like all humans, he had vulnerabilities of his own.

Was Muzan a Human?

How Did He Become a Demon?

Kibutsuji Muzan lived as a human during Japan’s Heian Period, which spanned from 794 to 1185. This is important to note because “Demon Slayer” takes place in the Taisho Era, between 1912 and 1926. By the time the story unfolds, Muzan has already transformed into a demon for over a thousand years, and the demons he’s spawned have wreaked havoc on the world for centuries under his control.

From the very beginning of his existence, Muzan faced numerous challenges as he struggled against death even within his mother’s womb. In the end, vanquished by the sun following a fierce battle with Tanjiro, Muzan disclosed that his heart had ceased to beat before birth, rendering him stillborn. Miraculously, it was his indomitable will to survive that allowed him to take a breath before being cremated.

In the captivating world of Demon Slayer, I found myself delving into the heart-wrenching tale of Muzan Kibutsuji as portrayed in chapter 127 of the manga. As a teenager, Muzan was on the brink of death, with his life expectancy dropping to near zero by age 19. A compassionate doctor, refusing to let fate decide, concocted a miraculous elixir from the enigmatic blue spider lily. Little did Muzan know that this “gift” would be his lifeline until he grasped its significance too late.

Overwhelmed by despair and the realization that his lifelong struggle against death was futile, Muzan, in a fit of rage, took the life of the very doctor who had tried to save him. This chilling moment serves as an ominous prelude to the malevolent journey that lies ahead for Muzan in the Demon Slayer universe.

In Demon Slayer Chapter 127, it’s revealed that Muzan soon understood that the doctor had essentially empowered him instead of healing him. The medicine from the blue spider lily had not cured his ailment but rather enhanced his strength and removed the disease.

Muzan believed he had acquired a robust physique, but encountered an issue: he was unable to traverse under the sun. He understood that exposure to sunlight would be fatal for him. Regarding his desire for human flesh, it didn’t pose much of a challenge for Muzan since consuming humans addressed his problems.

What remained with him were vulnerability to sunlight and an urge to consume humans. He evolved into the first demon. Despite his weakness to sunlight, he was not invincible, nor did he possess a flawless physical form. This prompted him to seek out the mysteries of the blue spider lily in order to overcome these limitations. However, with the physician deceased, Muzan could neither duplicate nor perfect the remedy, nor learn how to farm the flower.

In the final stretch of “Demon Slayer,” I found myself observing Muzan’s relentless pursuit, a quest ignited by his profound fear of death and unyielding ambition for an imperishable, flawless physique. His fascination with Nezuko intensified when he discovered her extraordinary feat of subduing the sun, something no demon had managed in over a thousand years. Intrigued, Muzan became fixated on finding her and deciphering the secrets she harbored that had eluded him for so long.

Muzan’s transformation into a demon was not a choice but rather an unwanted consequence – a desperate attempt by a physician to save his life and stave off death. Although this intervention granted him a supernatural lifespan far surpassing human limitations, it came with the fatal flaw of vulnerability to sunlight, eventually sealing his doom.

Watch Demon Slayer now on Crunchyroll.

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2025-03-13 02:38