My theories: We replay one cycle, over and over. Soh, having the ability to rewind time, uses the mirror and rewinds to the very beginning. Yes, there are many cycles but all the actors are the same.
Soh is Yoshiro's soul and Divine Self.
About time: The journey lasts a full year. The season's change, as told by the sweets and the various stages we proceed through.
We know Soh can rewind time. Maybe even fast forward it, if gameplay mechnaics are lore accurate.
Throughout the game, Soh never seems surprised at Yoshiro becoming defiled, instead seeming completely calm, as if perhaps she's witnessed this countless times already.
Yoshiro herself, seems aware during certain moments, like this:
It's painful when the defilement spreads but her face shows one of acceptance and even knowing.
By the 8th cycle, we gain Cursed Soh skin.
Using it, Cursed Soh and Soh are one in the same now. Soh has made peace with the darkness, using it instead of fighting it. The eternal pool of sunlight.
The pure maiden and the festering seethe, on friendly terms now.
Soh/Yoshiro and Cursed Soh. Cursed Soh is Defiled Yoshiro.
(and one of the beliefs about how if one cannot let go of a vice, to direct it towards a greater cause. I believe this is a Buddhist belief. One of the reason's why this game is the sister to Sekiro, because Wolf's journey is a little similar. I might write a post about him.)
8th is an auspicious number in some beliefs. Buddhism included.
A little about mirrors...
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| A shinto mirror besides her |
Amaterasu uses a mirror in Okami because it's associated with her but also, she reflects her Divinity using it which aids in banishing evil.
When Soh's form breaks, it shatters, like a mirror. Yoshiro's concentration and inner silence is disturbed.
Soh as Yoshiro's soul and her indifference: The soul's aura extends into the future and the past, explaining Soh's power over these things and her indifference to them.
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| Kunitsukami |
Why is this called Kunistukami? Because Soh is the reflection of the Divine within Yoshiro and is made manifest through the ritual. Yoshiro herself is also messenger of the Deity. They descended as one, and were split into Yoshiro and Soh.
The soul is meant to be your other half, the piece that completes the puzzle. It is the Adam/Eve to your Adam/Eve. Your helper is naturally stronger than you, hence why the soul possess all these abilities meant to aid you.
But to split the Maiden's soul from her and let it fight evil results in Cursed Soh. Gaze into the abyss...and it gazes into you. The Maiden is pure and the purest white becomes the blackest black.
But I think the story of Kunistu-Gami isn't straight forward. It has multiple meanings.
Soh as the previous Maiden now guiding this generation's Maiden...
She can only guide her to the same fate...until she puts an end to it. 'We must be better and do better'.