In many villages of Kunitsu-Gami, we see statues of the Goddess.
It's definitely the Goddess because it's seen in the center of the Great Cherry Tree, where the mikoshi was carved from.
We can probably assume Yoshiro's clothing is meant to resemble the Goddess.
I ended up thinking of the ending again.
Doesn't it seem like the Messenger is returning the mask of the Goddess back to Her?
It really appear as though Yoshiro becomes the Goddess and then sends herself as the next Messenger. (Or does Soh take up her duty once again? If so, who is she? A female samurai's spirit?)
Here we have a flower with the sun. Flowers symbolize the Maiden/Maidens. It's in the center of the sun.
If the Maiden is used to purify the land by becoming the Goddess...does she become the agricultural Goddess?
I've been working on a new post with Soh as the agricultural Goddess(the Mountain Goddess is said to descend as the agricultural Goddess. They are one in the same), that descends and fuses with the Maiden.
But perhaps Yoshiro is meant to be the agricultural Goddess since it's the Goddess shrine maidens were said to fuse with?
When the villagers leave offerings to Yoshiro, she gives them to Soh because the Villagers are worshiping Soh through Yoshiro as they are seen as one in the same.
It's why they sync up in battle, too.
My original thoughts were that Soh, the agricultural Goddess and descended Mountain Goddess, fuses with Yoshiro, and Yoshiro becomes the next Goddess, the proof being her inheriting the mask.
Something new caught my attention though.
Cursed Soh's wheel. It's called 光輪. Korin.
Let's look at Homonyms.
こうりん
[noun] descent of a god from heaven to earth
[noun] (respectful) arrival
[verb] (of gods) to descend from heaven to the earth
[verb] (respectful) to appear; to arrive
I found this word: tensonkourin 天孫降臨
(n) the descent to earth of the grandson of the sun goddess.
Regarding Soh's descent...it means to descend from a high place, like a mountain, but not from heaven. To descend from heaven is 降臨. (The homonyms I posted)
It's said Yoshiro descends alongside Soh. (I interpreted this to be talking about the former Maiden(a Yoshiro) wearing the mask and descending alongside the Agricultural Goddess(Soh) who she is fused with. Especially when looking at what she can do when she loses all her health or Yoshiro is unwell.
She can still guide Villagers(Yoshiro) and bestow masks(Soh). With the mask, she is the Goddess.
But what if Yoshiro is actually related to the Goddess?
What's with the magatama on her chest?
Does the Goddess accept her as a descendant in order for her to be an abode?
Soh is quite cold to Yoshiro at times. Due to her dutiful nature and stoic personality. It's just business. But they seem to have fun in the tent together, and Soh provides comfort at times. They don't speak because they communicate telepathically. Soh also doesn't speak English, she speaks the language of the spirits. (The language we hear the Seethe and Shaman and Ascetic use)
She's definitely the Goddess, as it's confirmed by the developer we play as her.
In my post on their names(which is now a bit outdated), I mentioned Soh contains the spirits of 7 Maidens. This is possibly still true? Or they all merge into one.
Merging?
The first reminds me of the impurity pattern.
So her heavenly self becomes corrupted through merging with Maidens because the agricultural Goddess and Mountain Goddess are one in the same...
After looking at some in-game statues, it seems merging was the intention. I will post about it as soon as I can get better shots of the carvings.
I wonder if these are all sacrificed Maidens?(And I'm wrong about 7 only)
Or is it just those who have passed?
I'm actually changing my mind about the 7 Maidens being one with the Goddess as Soh is dismissed from her service in the normal ending, which represents a normal cycle.
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