Sōryūha

Sōryūha
Sōryūha
Nihongo	蒼（そう）竜（りゅう）破（は）
Name meaning	Blue Dragon Blast
English TV	Dragon Strike (3rd movie and 4th movie) Azure Dragon Wave Twin Azure Dragon Wave (evolved version) Shooting Star Azure Dragon Wave (combined with the Grim Comet's infinite demonic/stellar energies)
Skill information
Inventor	Sesshōmaru
User(s)	Sesshōmaru Towa Higurashi
Weapon(s)	Tōkijin Tenseiga (movie only) Kikujūmonji (replica) Zanseiken
Similar Techniques	Crimson Dragon Wave
Debut
Anime Debut	Episode 169
Movie Debut	Swords of an Honorable Ruler

“

Remember this well, Towa. Your attack, the Azure Dragon Wave, was created by Sesshōmaru. But you have made it your own by giving the dragon twin heads. From this day forward, you shall call it the "Twin Azure Dragon Wave".

”

—Kirinmaru to Towa

Sōryūha (蒼（そう）竜（りゅう）破（は）, Dragon Strike / Azure Dragon Wave, "Blue Dragon Blast") is the signature move of Sesshōmaru's Tōkijin. A powerful burst of yōki is released and takes the form of a dragon. It draws its energy directly from Sesshōmaru, and varies in strength. It is even capable of overcoming the Tessaiga's Backlash Wave. Sōryūha is Sesshōmaru's ultimate attack.

Towa was able to use this move by enhancing her own demonic energy from the silver Rainbow Pearl to form an energy blade on a Replica of Kikujūmonji after it had broken. By harnessing her full demonic powers to their highest, she also able to unleash two dragon waves at once after witnessing the death of Setsuna at the hands of the Beast King of the Eastern Lands, Kirinmaru. He called it Sōtō no Sōryūha (双頭の蒼竜破（そうりゅうは）, Twin Azure Dragon Wave, "Double-headed Blue Dragon Strike").

Towa was able to use this move by enhancing her own demonic energy to form an energy blade on a Replica of Kikujūmonji after it had broken, without the silver Rainbow Pearl, and since it and the others have become Zero's tears that Setsuna have severed the thread of fate between her and the spirit of their grandfather Tōga. An additional strengthened version appears when combined with the infinite amounts of supreme demonic energies of the mystical Kyūyōkon Root and that of the Grim Comet itself. Towa called this upgraded attack of hers Ryusei no Sōryūha (流れ星蒼（そう）竜（りゅう）破（は）, "Shooting Star Azure Dragon Wave") as it contains the infinite powers of the very stars.

Trivia

• It is not shown in the manga.
• It is also used in the two PlayStation 2 games: The Secret of the Cursed Mask and Feudal Combat.
• In the third movie, Sesshōmaru is shown using Sōryūha with Tenseiga, although the movies are non-serial.
• In episode 169, Sesshōmaru calls this technique "Azure Dragon Wave".
  • In "episode 8 of Yashahime, Riku stated that Towa must use the demon energy blade by the "Azure Dragon Wave" to defeat Kyūki, something he then had referred to as being "half-assed" in comparison of the one used by its originator.
• The Sōryūha is a reference to the holy Azure Dragon of Chinese legend who opposed the four evil Taotie, themselves represented by the Four Perils.