Why do all Shinobi's lose their left arm?

[Justin_760]

Anyone else wonder this? Of the few Shinobi's explicitly referred to in the game, most have not only lost a limb, but their left arm. Sekiro, the Buddha Sculptor, and "The Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley" Shinobi that's mentioned in the axe prosthetic item description.

Anyone know of a lore/story explanation for this? Seems to be more than coincidence, it must be important. The axe item description only gets a small window to fit a paragraph of text, and in that small amount of space they specifically mention the shinobi it belonged to lost his left arm, its gotta mean something.

[Efesell]

If the prosthetic is relatively common, and it seems to be judging from several enemies you fight, then it may simply be that it's designed to sacrifice your non-dominant arm.

No lefties in the Shinobi, maybe.

[Justinyl]

引用自 Justin_760：

Anyone else wonder this? Of the few Shinobi's explicitly referred to in the game, most have not only lost a limb, but their left arm. Sekiro, the Buddha Sculptor, and "The Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley" Shinobi that's mentioned in the axe prosthetic item description.

Anyone know of a lore/story explanation for this? Seems to be more than coincidence, it must be important. The axe item description only gets a small window to fit a paragraph of text, and in that small amount of space they specifically mention the shinobi it belonged to lost his left arm, its gotta mean something.

The shinobi has the tendency to become shura from killing too much, but they can only become a true shura with intact limbs, thus they all lose their non-dominant arm as a preventive measure. Just like how Isshin cut of the sculptor arm to prevent him from becoming shura.

[Phun]

Seems intentional that this theme recurs so often. Some of the ministry shinobi you fight use a one-armed fighting style with lots of centrifugal swings and kicks.

[Larry]

Because this game is actually the story of Yoshimitsus.

[Abtorias]

Vaati plsss

But seriously, it's probably intentional. Kind of like in Bloodborne where some NPCs or enemies wouldn't have eyes.

[Justin_760]

引用自 Niō (仁王) J：

引用自 Justin_760：

Anyone else wonder this? Of the few Shinobi's explicitly referred to in the game, most have not only lost a limb, but their left arm. Sekiro, the Buddha Sculptor, and "The Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley" Shinobi that's mentioned in the axe prosthetic item description.

Anyone know of a lore/story explanation for this? Seems to be more than coincidence, it must be important. The axe item description only gets a small window to fit a paragraph of text, and in that small amount of space they specifically mention the shinobi it belonged to lost his left arm, its gotta mean something.

The shinobi has the tendency to become shura from killing too much, but they can only become a true shura with intact limbs, thus they all lose their non-dominant arm as a preventive measure. Just like how Isshin cut of the sculptor arm to prevent him from becoming shura.

What is Shura? Remember the sculptor mentioning it, googled it and it said it was some kind of government but that doesnt make sense.

[Sparrowhawk]

引用自 Justin_760：

引用自 Niō (仁王) J：

The shinobi has the tendency to become shura from killing too much, but they can only become a true shura with intact limbs, thus they all lose their non-dominant arm as a preventive measure. Just like how Isshin cut of the sculptor arm to prevent him from becoming shura.

What is Shura? Remember the sculptor mentioning it, googled it and it said it was some kind of government but that doesnt make sense.

I'm not sure, either. Genichiro was referred to as a Shura for using heretical means to empower himself with the Lightning of Tomoe, but that's all I can remember.

[Efesell]

引用自 Justin_760：

引用自 Niō (仁王) J：

The shinobi has the tendency to become shura from killing too much, but they can only become a true shura with intact limbs, thus they all lose their non-dominant arm as a preventive measure. Just like how Isshin cut of the sculptor arm to prevent him from becoming shura.

What is Shura? Remember the sculptor mentioning it, googled it and it said it was some kind of government but that doesnt make sense.

It's a Japanese way of referring to an Asura, a Buddhist demigod of war, anger, violence, all that jazz. Whether it is more specific in Sekiros lore background I dunno but Buddhism is a pretty relevent part of the game perhaps not.

[Ashgan]

I don't think cutting the arm is a preventative measure, because Sekiro has the ability to become Shura in spite of missing his arm. That said, I'm not sure what determines whether one can succeed or fail at becoming it. The Demon of Hatred, for instance, used to be a one-armed shinobi who is said to have "failed" to become a true Shura and so became a demon instead.

@Justin_760 Becoming Shura is synonymous with becoming an unstoppable murder-machine, overcome by insatiable bloodlust. In the eponymous ending, Sekiro is said to kill thousands in his rampage.

That said, I don't know what the deal with the arm-loss is either, but I also picked up on the commonality of it. It could be that the prosthetic is considered a more powerful tool than a normal arm, and so shinobi are willing to replace it with the prosthetic. Kind of like feudal Japan cyberpunk, getting augmented. Or how in Assassin's Creed the assassins used to cut off one of their fingers so they could use their signature knife. Sekiro didn't lose his arm on purpose but I guess he got lucky it was exactly the right limb.

Maybe Vaati has a better guess though. :'D

[Pimpshiza]

I picked up on the Shura details a bit. But on a higher level, as gleaned from my partial playthrough, fighting other shinobi whether they have one arm or not is metaphorically like penance. It is built into growing stronger when you confront your memories once beating bosses. Growing stronger is not necessarily a good thing. Ask The Sculptor, carve an idol.

[Yian Yan]

引用自 Justin_760：

Anyone else wonder this? Of the few Shinobi's explicitly referred to in the game, most have not only lost a limb, but their left arm. Sekiro, the Buddha Sculptor, and "The Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley" Shinobi that's mentioned in the axe prosthetic item description.

Anyone know of a lore/story explanation for this? Seems to be more than coincidence, it must be important. The axe item description only gets a small window to fit a paragraph of text, and in that small amount of space they specifically mention the shinobi it belonged to lost his left arm, its gotta mean something.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Sculptor IS the Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley. He tells you he grew up training with his lady friend in the Sunken Valley. He's called Orangutan. It might be slightly less commonplace than you think. Although not that much less common, I suppose.

[ahaha.wav]

Because it wouldn't be a Miyazaki game without at least one Berserk reference.

For real though I'm pretty sure the Sculptor and the Bounding Monkey are the same person, everything else is just plot convenience/the usual cyclical theme Miyazaki's writing has.

[flyingsaucers]

引用自 Ashgan：

I don't think cutting the arm is a preventative measure, because Sekiro has the ability to become Shura in spite of missing his arm. That said, I'm not sure what determines whether one can succeed or fail at becoming it. The Demon of Hatred, for instance, used to be a one-armed shinobi who is said to have "failed" to become a true Shura and so became a demon instead.

@Justin_760 Becoming Shura is synonymous with becoming an unstoppable murder-machine, overcome by insatiable bloodlust. In the eponymous ending, Sekiro is said to kill thousands in his rampage.

That said, I don't know what the deal with the arm-loss is either, but I also picked up on the commonality of it. It could be that the prosthetic is considered a more powerful tool than a normal arm, and so shinobi are willing to replace it with the prosthetic. Kind of like feudal Japan cyberpunk, getting augmented. Or how in Assassin's Creed the assassins used to cut off one of their fingers so they could use their signature knife. Sekiro didn't lose his arm on purpose but I guess he got lucky it was exactly the right limb.

Maybe Vaati has a better guess though. :'D

The Demon of Hatred is the Sculptor transformed into a Shura. Siding with Owl turns Sekiro into a Shura.

Cutting off the arm is not a preventative measure to keep a shinobi from becoming Shura, it's a punitive measure meant to kill or maim the shinobi to the point where they can't fight effectively anymore, which is why Dogen spent his life perfecting the shinobi prosthetic, so that the Sculptor could become whole again.

[Sansei Muramasa]

引用自 Justin_760：

Anyone else wonder this? Of the few Shinobi's explicitly referred to in the game, most have not only lost a limb, but their left arm. Sekiro, the Buddha Sculptor, and "The Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley" Shinobi that's mentioned in the axe prosthetic item description.

Anyone know of a lore/story explanation for this? Seems to be more than coincidence, it must be important. The axe item description only gets a small window to fit a paragraph of text, and in that small amount of space they specifically mention the shinobi it belonged to lost his left arm, its gotta mean something.

If it's not left arm, how are they supposed to (F)or (A)cademic (P)urpose with their right hand?

[Aigle1705]

well basicly only 2 shinobi lost their left arm.

sekiro n the sulpturer, who is sekiro too if you believe the Immortal Severance ending.

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sekiro loses this arm thx to genichiro during the intro

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the skulpurer lost his arm thx to isshin sama, both skulpturer n isshin tell you once you diliver some sake. there also are referenzes on combat technics, not sure i guess it was the ashina cross

引用自 Unrefined Sake at skulpturer：

"Don't mind if I do. Hmm... ......... ... No, it's damn good. Ahhh! But it does make my old wounds ache. Yes. And this sake was a favorite... of the man who cut it off. Lord Isshin. ......... He... did it for my sake. Ahhh. I was on the verge of being consumed... ...Shura. Well, whether you believe me or not, that's for you to decide. But you'd do well to beware... Shura's shadow."

they even give you the technique used

引用自 ashina cross combat art：

Draws a cruciform cut in the blink of an eye; so fast it could sever the arm of Shura, or so boasts Isshin Ashina.

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bout the axe, that shinobi is the skulpurer as well

引用自 axe of the monkey：

Once the favoured weapon of a shinobi known as the "Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley", it was lost along with his left arm.

引用自 Monkey Booze at skulpturer：

"... Monkey Booze, is it? Haaa! It burns the throat, same as ever. This really brings back memories. I trained in the techniques of the shinobi in the valley where the monkeys dwelled... ... No. There was two of us. We were rogue Shinobi... There was no proper master for the likes of us. That's why we went to the valley. To run, to jump, to clash swords... where one slip would mean your doom. That was how we trained. ... We came to move exactly as monkeys did after a time. I'd drink this Monkey Booze whenever I tired of training. And I'd listen to the howl of my partner's whistling finger while I drank. It was from his unique ring... Whistling through that ring... Would fill the valley with a somber melody. Strangely enough, I enjoyed that sound. I listened to it so often."

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demon of hatred

you might know thiis already if you reached him n listened carfully.
he is the skulpturer
and if you look back carefully or talk / listen to the right people you might notice this pretty soon in the game.
- the tempel itself is studded with japanese bann-seals. sth is supposed to be locked away in there. the skulpturer.
- if you are on the purification path, emma will call him orang-utan. which is a pretty decent spoiler.
- if you give monkey booze to emma she ll even tell you that he saved her once.

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divine dragon

he has a large scar on the chest and no left arm.
guess why, he shares the wounds of the dragonblood. kuros cut n sekiros arm.