>>280358913
>Orihime literally means weaver princess, which is why she's part of the sewing/handicrafts club at school, as a reference that would apply even if she wasn't literally named the same as the mythical figure
>Orihime's english-translated name by Kubo himself had her as 'Vega Highwell'. In japanese/chinese mythology, Vega is another name for Orihime obviously
>in one colourspread Orihime's symbolic number is written as 7/7, indicating 7th July which is the date of the Tanabata Festival
>Ichigo's hollow form in the Lust arc is in the motif of a bull/ox, which is a reference to Kengyuu/Altair being a cow-herder in the legend
>Ichigo's birthday is on 15/7, which falls on Obon Festival, which is part of the Tanabata Festival
>in the legend the lovers aren't able to meet if it rains because the rivers would be flooded over and the boatsman can't ferry Orihime to Kengyuu. In Bleach, Ichigo hates the rain.
>for the same reason and as seen in one of the illustrated Karakura town maps, Ichigo and Orihime's homes are separated by a river and connected by a small bridge. In chinese/japanese mythology, Orihime (Vega) and Kengyuu (Altair) are separated by a river (which is a metaphor for outer space, where Vega and Altair are constellations)
>the Bleach pilot chapter had stronger hints to the Tanabata legend, where Orihime and Ichigo are separated at the end because she had died and become a ghost/soul, but it was hinted that she would come back eventually so they can reunite just like the constellations. Ichigo's shihakusho is even given star symbols
>Vega (Orihime) and Kengyuu (Altair) are known as the falling eagle and the flying eagle respectively. The chapter where Orihime confesses to Ichigo and departs to Hueco Mundo is called 'Eagle Without Wings', while the chapter where Ichigo goes to rescue her is called 'Winged Eagles'
We got it, you read a summary of Tanabata and were too much of a simpleton to see its representation in Bleach. Shameful but understandable.