Japanese Sword Background

Japanese Sword Series 1

As mentioned in one of the three sacred treasures, Japanese sword is said to represent the spirituality of the Japanese rather than just a weapon. Since ancient era, Japanese swords have been considered to exterminate evil spirits and possess strong vitality and spiritual power. At shrines all over Japan, it has been common practice to dedicate swords for prayers. Japanese swords account is more than 10% of the many arts and crafts designated as the Japanese national treasures.

Nitobe Inazo might be familiar with you with a 5,000 yen bill and he might be more famous in overseas with his English book “Bushido.”  He admonishes about using a sword as the most stupid act as a samurai in his book.

The Satsuma bushi tied up a brim of the sword by a paper string and he could not draw out his sword in thoughtless. Once he drew his sword, there was a risk to fall into the world of the massacre to kill each other. There is a game in your sheath; e.g. you should not fight drawing out your sword from sheath. They warned against drawing out their swords for a battle. In other words, the Japanese swords have the wish to control the conflict and create a peaceful word.

You cannot find blade spills on the Japanese sword which have been coming for a long time of more than 500 years old ones from the civil strife era. It is the proof that was not used as a weapon after all.

To be continued…

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