h2g2 - The Samurai Sword - A364213
The History
The swords constructed for the Samurai were thought to have powers and lives of their own. Mythology gives the creation of the first sword as a weapon created by the god Izanagi who used it to kill his son the Fire God. This was because he had caused Inzanami, his mother, such extreme pain at birth that she abandoned Inzanagi, and crept away to the underworld. Inzanagi also had a daughter, Amaterasa Omikami, the Sun Goddess, who gave the sword to her grandson Ninigi-no Mikoto. He was given this to reign on Earth, and this was the first sword to arrive in Japan, according to mythology.
The sword obviously meant a lot more than just a weapon to the Samurai. They showed respect to the sword and even developed a strict code of etiquette for handling and maintaining them. Soldiers defeated in battle prayed at the shrines of the War God Hachiman, asking why their swords had lost their spirit.
Because of the importance of the sword and the mystical significance attached to them, the swordsmith was an honoured and highly respected class. The swordsmith was a very dedicated and religious man who took great pride in his work.
One of the great things about the Samurai sword is the keen sharpness of the blade. One story tells about famous swordsmiths who were considered almost equal in skill. They decided to have a contest to see who could make the better sword. As a test for the sword, it was held upright in a swift running stream and every dead leaf that drifted against the edge of the sword was cut neatly in two.
The swords constructed for the Samurai were thought to have powers and lives of their own. Mythology gives the creation of the first sword as a weapon created by the god Izanagi who used it to kill his son the Fire God. This was because he had caused Inzanami, his mother, such extreme pain at birth that she abandoned Inzanagi, and crept away to the underworld. Inzanagi also had a daughter, Amaterasa Omikami, the Sun Goddess, who gave the sword to her grandson Ninigi-no Mikoto. He was given this to reign on Earth, and this was the first sword to arrive in Japan, according to mythology.
The sword obviously meant a lot more than just a weapon to the Samurai. They showed respect to the sword and even developed a strict code of etiquette for handling and maintaining them. Soldiers defeated in battle prayed at the shrines of the War God Hachiman, asking why their swords had lost their spirit.
Because of the importance of the sword and the mystical significance attached to them, the swordsmith was an honoured and highly respected class. The swordsmith was a very dedicated and religious man who took great pride in his work.
One of the great things about the Samurai sword is the keen sharpness of the blade. One story tells about famous swordsmiths who were considered almost equal in skill. They decided to have a contest to see who could make the better sword. As a test for the sword, it was held upright in a swift running stream and every dead leaf that drifted against the edge of the sword was cut neatly in two.
Originally posted by MonsieurM
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Enjoy the Harmonic Math:
Japanese sword - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here is a list of lengths for different types of swords:[17]
Nodachi, Ōdachi, Jin tachi: 90 cm = HM 9 and over (more than three shaku)
Tachi, Katana: over 60.6 cm = HM 3 (more than two shaku)
Wakizashi: between 30.3–60.6 cm = HM 6 - HM 3 (between one and two shaku)
Tantō, Aikuchi: under 30.3 = HM 6 cm (under one shaku)
Nodachi, Ōdachi, Jin tachi: 90 cm = HM 9 and over (more than three shaku)
Tachi, Katana: over 60.6 cm = HM 3 (more than two shaku)
Wakizashi: between 30.3–60.6 cm = HM 6 - HM 3 (between one and two shaku)
Tantō, Aikuchi: under 30.3 = HM 6 cm (under one shaku)
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