和月伸宏創作主角緋村劍心的原型正是幕末年代人稱四大人斬之一的河上彥齋 (詳情請參考The Rōnin篇章)。他與宮部鼎藏稔熟，而河上彥齋正前往京都誓要向新選組報復之際，行動前卻受人委託刺殺佐久間象山。他於京都木屋町，在人來人往的街道上把身穿洋裝及騎在馬上的佐久間象山一瞬間斬下來，並消息於人群中。相信和月伸宏也是透過他跳躍中斬下騎馬者的動作姿態，而創作了劍心以揮劍及身體動作速度取勝的的飛天御劍流。

河上彥齋與宮部鼎藏皆是熊本藩士，隨後到長州學習及生活，宮部鼎藏更受教於吉田松陰的私塾，亦稱松下村塾。吉田松陰是長州藩及明治維新的精神領袖及理論奠基者，其想法思維對維新派影響深遠。在一九九六年和月伸宏的訪談中，他透露劍心是被長州藩的自由風氣所吸引，並立志在維新運動中與長州藩為伍。而他所指的自由風氣大概是吉田松陰倡導的世界觀。

Upon a better understanding of how great and talented Sakuma Shōzan was , Kawakami Gensai was confused if his assassination would be justifiable. This triggered his reflection on the rationality of killing and, similar to what Himura Kenshin was going through in his wandering days, he experienced a psychological struggle and vowed eventually not to kill.

Kenshin initially sought to overthrow the shogunate and create a new era through assassination of an important official, saving people from the turmoil of war to a place of peace and happiness. However, when he learnt that Yukishiro Tomoe, whom he loved, was actually the fiancée of the assassinated, he fell into self-blame and questioned whether his ideal of creating a new era through assassination was just wishful thinking. The reality was that those who were originally happy were down to helpless and agonized state due to the assassination. Himura Kenshin, just like Kawakami Gensai, was trapped in the dilemma of killing or not killing.

Excerpt from the manga of Rurouni Kenshin

In addition to Himura Kenshin's appearance being based on historical figures, other characters are as well, including the former third unit captain of the Shinsengumi Saitō Hajime. In the story of the eleventh year of Meiji, he has become a police officer and acts as either an enemy or a friend with Kenshin, subject to the progress of the plot. The name of Sanosuke Sagara was derived from the tenth unit captain of the Shinsengumi, Sanosuke Harada. His personality is also bold and impulsive, tending to solve problems with force, and he also miraculously survived many disasters (Sanosuke Harada survived seppuku when he was young, and there are also records of him surviving the Battle of Ueno in the Boshin War, and later became the leader of bandits in the mainland China. In the movie version, Sanosuke Sagara's showdown with Anji is absolutely indestructible to certain extent). The role design of Seta Sōjirō is based on the common understanding of character of the first unit captain of the Shinsengumi, Okita Sōji. His swordsmanship is top-notch, and he is optimistic, always smiling, and he is equipped with Kiku-ichimonji sword.

Excerpt from the manga of Rurouni Kenshin

The portrayal of Shinomori Aoshi, a former Oniwabanshū member, is quite vivid. The Oniwabanshū was a historical association consisted of a group of highly skilled ninja who served as guards and spies for the shogunate, executing a range of secret escort missions. The Oniwabanshū was established by the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Yoshimune in 1716. He was a simple and meticulous person in nature, and seeing that the current officials in power were mostly remnants of the previous rulers, he took the initiatives to eliminate their influence to avoid any potential power struggle in long run. His own safety was entrusted to the Oniwabanshū. After more than a hundred years of history, the Oniwabanshū also came to an end with the fall of the shogunate. Shinomori Aoshi is a fictional character, but what he experienced is the helplessness faced by the Oniwabanshū: Tokugawa Yoshinobu promised Edo Muketsu Kaijō (a.k.a. opening of Edo Castle), which meant that the tactically skilled Oniwabanshū could not prove themselves in battle and had to leave the stage of the shogunate without a single fight. In the manga, Shinomori Aoshi has always been chasing to fight with Himura Kenshin, striving for the title of the strongest for himself and his companions, and it is precisely due to the implementation of historical event of the Edo Muketsu Kaijō, that he could only watch in vain and declare failure without resistance.

Excerpt from the manga of Rurouni Kenshin