The Legend of Shitogi 鍔

Kindness, love, care and goodness — these are the attributes bestowed upon the proud and majestic peacock by the Kami gods who govern the spirit world — before it was placed down into the mortal plane at the dawn of mankind. With its hundred eyes, the divine bird of the Bodhisattva could see the compassion within the hearts of those seeking enlightenment, and helped guide them toward eternal bliss.

However, as millennia passed, the world became colder and more unforgiving. Love and harmony gave way to hatred and anger, so the Kami swooped down to collect the noble peacock from the earth, bestowing it with new powers. The graceful guardian then became a protector against calamity and disaster, alerting those nearby to the poisonous creatures that hide in the dirt, and consuming them with no ill effect.

This was still not enough, and as the world grew yet harsher the Kami swooped down one last time. This time they fortified the Heart of the Peacock to keep both itself and mankind safe from all of the new dangers that plagued them. In doing so the Peacock spread out its plumage and was transformed into a solid gold tsuba — wrapping itself around the blades of all the men and women who fought in the mortal wars, so that it might stay their hand and keep their hearts pure.

But mankind continued to fight regardless, and the peacock became prideful and arrogant along with them. Now the Kami grow restless as they wake in the spirit world, ready to take whatever action they must to rescue their beloved symbol of nobility and return it to peace.

For the peacock can protect against man, but not gods.