Scaramouche from Hoyoverse’s Genshin Impact has a number of alternative names, but one stands out a little more from the rest due to its mystery. So what exactly does Kunkuzushi mean anyways, and how does it mean add to our understanding of Scaramouche as a character?
Kunikuzushi: To Collapse a Country
Kunikuzushi is name that can be broken down thusly: 国 (country;state) + 崩 (to collapse; to crumble). It’s a title that he used before his involvement with the Fatui, which gives plenty of information outright about Scaramouche’s intentions as a character and his motivations. Kunikuzushi wasn’t just a name for a character: it was a promise.
Related: How to get Mirror of Mushin in Genshin Impact
Kunikuzushi in Kabuki and Teyvat
There is a specific niche in a jidaimono play– a kabuki or jorui play that features historical plots, characters, and battles. They’re period pieces in the distant past that can be bombastic and full of action featuring great heroes that fight villains. That’s where『国崩し』comes in– of many jidaimono plays, the villain that tries to overthrow the country is the Kuni Kuzushi. They’re an arrogant and flamboyant, over-the-top character that’s recognized as someone you just love to hate.
In Genshin Impact’s Irodori Festival, there was an introduction to the Five Kasen (Go Kasen), which are heavily inspired by the real like Rokkasen. There’s a lot of implication here in how one of the Kasen, Kuronushi (黒主, “Black Lord”), shares a name with a famous kunikuzushi in the play The Snowbound Barrier (Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Sekinoto) as well as the famous poet Otomo no Kuronushi of the Rokkasen. At the climax of the festival, we end up confirming any suspicion with the visage of Scaramouche’s figure on the artwork of Kuronushi.
It’s crazy to see how far we’ve gone in information since Scaramouche first appeared in Unreconciled Stars. We went from Who is Scaramouche in Genshin Impact? to fighting him as a boss, and now finally as a playable character!
