Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice could be interpreted as an allegory for expelling the "infestation" of Chinese/Buddhist culture (Dragon's Heritage) in Japan which peaked during the Heian period and began declining during the game's timeframe until the late Edo period & shinbutsu bunri.

Of the game's antagonists, Genichiro is clearly portrayed as an honorable yet misguided man who only cares for the prosperity of his nation and people. Contrast that with the only unambiguously evil people in the game: the Senpō Buddhist monks, who experiment on and corrupt kids.

When following the path to the Dragon's Homecoming ending, the Divine Child of Rejuvenation literally says the Dragon's Heritage came from the West, does not belong in Japan, and must be sent back where it belongs.

This interpretation only just hit me today so I have to ruminate on this for a while. I would highly recommend anyone interested to look into shinbutsu-shūgō/shinbutsu-konkō, the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism until the Meiji Restoration. Puts some game depictions in context.

Thinking of the Tengu of Ashina and how Zen Buddhism syncretized formerly benign native yōkai traditions like Tengu into evil spirits hostile to the buddha. Ashina as symbol of traditional Japanese culture in tension with Chinese influence.

I find it interesting that most Japanese dragons are syncretized from native legends that weren't about dragons; serpents, sharks, turtles, etc. Legit dragons as we know them came to Japan from China.

Wondering how this relates the Great Serpent & Divine Dragon. Clear parallels.

BTW it isn't just the pernicious Chinese. You also defend glorious Nippon gorls from nosy gaijin and big black cock.