Today I want to talk about Kisaki's hair. The head of Genryumon hos long black hair, that if it were to be let down entirely would go down to her thighs. However, her hair is instead tied up in two hairbuns, full enough to make painters envious, yet with tied hair long enough to find company with shadows. Her hair is complemented with two butterfly hairpins- a smaller azure one, trailed by a bigger one that is mainly black, but with upper parts gold and lower parts blue. Much like how the sun rises and the birds sing, so too does Kisaki have symbolism in her outfit. There are many interpretations the pair could have- fortune, for example, due to butterflies being homophonic with multiplying in the Chinese tongue- thus, to bring in fortune and let it remain. Their grace, colors and elegance makes them also symbolize beauty. Another, Kisaki alludes to, the specific text being the Zhuangzhi. To elucidate, Zhuang Zhou dreamt he was a butterfly, flying about the world, happy and free, unaware of itself being Zhuang Zhou. He awoke suddenly, though, and was without doubt Zhuang Zhou. But he couldn't help but wonder. Is the butterfly him, and it is his dream? Or is he the butterfly, and he its dream? Perhaps they are one and the same. This tale has certainly had effect on Kisaki- one who occasionally leaves her cocoon and flies about, unconstrained in being Ryuuge Kisaki of Genryumon, but rather someone else. It can also represent hope, as the butterflies that dance in the air show the beauty and joy of life, encouraging someone to go forwards to their dreams. Finally, a pair of butterflies that fly together is also known as a symbol of love, as a pair of butterflies stay close, accompanying one another under a blue sky, much like lovers will walk, hand-in-hand, step by step, through life. This is known as the Butterfly Lovers, wherein the protagonists, upon having to deal with one of their parents marrying them off to a wealthy merchant, causes the man to succumb to illness, and the woman's wedding gets stopped at his grave. She pays respects, asking for the grave to open, to which it does, and she joins her beloved, both having their spirits as a pair of butterflies, flying under the blue sky, inseperable thereon. Perhaps, when senses descend and only thought remains, there is a lady who lives as a caged bird in the finest cage. But the bird wishes to be free like a butterfly, even if that means not having such wealth of seed. Because to be free, especially with someone gentle yet firm like a tree, would be the ultimate happiness. But, until it is no longer a moonlight dream, it will only be possible to be a butterfly in neverland.
The dragon of Shanhaijing also has juxtaposition in her attire, more explicitly shown in her qipao. The graceful and elegant butterfly, with a great dragon of gold that goes around her. Note that since this is an eastern dragon, it has the typical whiskers- her hairbuns, having such length, could be a representation of this, giving Kisaki wisdom and power, yet the butterflies give courage and love to fulfill the dreams of Shanhaijing.
Kiki is a different hairstyle- see, there are no hairbuns, as they would be unable to be worn with the hat. If you look closely, you can see that the twintails she holds are now worn thicker, not in the style of a ferocious dragon's whiskers, but instead as a simple child's hair. Such is the crux of symbols, senses, and dreams. When a black animal is seen, to some it is of the most elegant appearances in the natural world- to others, it is a harbinger of ill winds. Is the black butterfly, when it beats its wings, doomed to cause a tornado? Should it be condemned for this possibility, when it may be but a butterfly, born being just? Or should the gaoler go to the typhoon for its transgressions? These questions all do not consider current conditions- what if the butterfly was already in a storm, and had no choice but to fly for safety? If the butterfly then stopped the storm and upended nature, is it wise, or a fool for going against the natural order? And what if the typhoon triumphantly tries to return from the mountains whence it came, whipping water along with it? I believe that, in these cases, the best idea is the rational one- the butterfly is a butterfly, and the typhoon a temporary storm. Past it, in the eye of it, there is a calm.
Finally, Kisaki has an oddity in that a 4koma shows her pajamas. This is significant, for it shows not a butterfly, not a dragon, but Ryuuge Kisaki. Her hair indicates well rest- slight mess from occasional stirring, yet neither tossing nor turning from nightmare or insomnia.
Kisaki's hair is well-cared for, and by her own hand. She may be sickly and mysterious, but she is neither sloppy nor mundane. Her hair, is impossible to truly smell due to the lingering scent of incense, yet there's a harmony in it. Vitality and energy in peaches, relaxed and calm in lotuses. Or perhaps this scent is a dream?