Japanese Samurai Sword
The Samurai Sword is unique in it’s appearance. There is perhaps, no
more recognizeable weapon than that of the Samurai Sword. It’s long
slender blade with a history of discipline and honor in the form of the
“Bushido” or their ethical code, coupled with the fine craftsmanship, is reason
enough to make this a highly sought after weapon and work of art. The term
“Samurai Sword” is a misnomer however. The Samurai Sword has become
synonymous with the Samurai’s sword the “Katana” with it’s shorter companion the
“Wakizashi”. Together they form what is referred to as the “Daisho”.
The Samurai were the warrior class that sprang from the early 7th-9th
centuries as a result of the Emperor’s need to quash the rebellions within his
kingdom. Powerful clans leaders, led their warriors adept at both mounted
and ground fighting at the request of the emperor. Constant fighting among
the clans created the need for different groups to band together for safety.
The need for power directed their efforts towards aristocratic arrangements via
marriages thus propelling the Samurai to attain a need for education to
accomplish his goals. Thus the Samurai were expected as a class and
amongst one another to be highly educated as well as adept at their warrior
craft.
The Samurai Sword although used with great elegance and skill by the
Samurai did not achieve it’s legendary status until the Japanese sword makers,
developed a new method to improve the Samurai Sword. Steel which is
carbonized-iron, could not hold an edge and was brittle. The Japanese
sword makers created a composite blade that could both hold and edge and
maintain the flexibility required during combat by using two layers of a hard
and a soft steel. This paradigm shift, created a Samurai Sword that was
amazingly adept for it’s intended purpose.
Today the Samurai Sword is a piece of history, and beauty. The
Samurai Sword displayed brings a reverence and sense of honor borne out by
centuries of elite warriors that have gone before. And so the Samurai
Sword continues to be a highly sought after weapon, and a highly regarded work
of art. The Samurai Sword is truly a unique and powerful display of noble
and vaunted history.
