The Japanese Katana Sword
There are few weapons that carry the same mystique as the Japanese sword.
It is forged under rites that are directly connected to Japan's Shinto religion, and labeled the "Soul of the Samurai," the Japanese sword serves as both a work of art and as a deadly weapon.
For literally hundreds of years, the Japanese sword also served as a symbol of rank for the Samurai class.
According to legend, there was a swordsmith by the name of Amakuni that created the first true Japanese sword sometime around 700A.
D.
Although there were small changes in the overall design of the blade during the next thousand years the actual shape of the weapon has changed very little since it was invented.
I do not believe that there will ever be a weapon that will fill the dual role or last as long as the Japanese Katana sword has.
A lot of that may have to do with the fact that no one ever sees the romance of single combat anymore, we prefer to use weapons to just kill from as far away as possible.
We will never again see the likes of the men and weapons like we have for the past 1000 years.
The Japanese sword came in varying lengths and, depending on the swordsmith that created the blade, had various degrees of curvature to the blade itself.
The Katana sword is the name most commonly used by people to describe the Japanese sword.
However, in truth there are several different types of swords and they are called: Katana (a single edged curved long sword favored by the Samurai starting around the 1400's, the Wakizashi is the shorter single edged sword that was usually paired with the Katana, the Tsurugi was a double edged long sword, the Nodachi or Otachi were older and longer singe edged swords.
And due to the similar methods of the way they were forged the pole-mounted weapons called Naginata and Yari were part of the same family.
These weapons of a previous time are still seen, manufactured, and purchased even today.
The process of making them truly dictates the value and cost of these splendid weapons.
In Japan there are still a few hundred swordsmiths today that create, forge, temper, and produce these beautiful pieces of art.
Japan still holds a yearly competition which allows these masters to show their wares and compare them with other swordsmiths around the country.
It is forged under rites that are directly connected to Japan's Shinto religion, and labeled the "Soul of the Samurai," the Japanese sword serves as both a work of art and as a deadly weapon.
For literally hundreds of years, the Japanese sword also served as a symbol of rank for the Samurai class.
According to legend, there was a swordsmith by the name of Amakuni that created the first true Japanese sword sometime around 700A.
D.
Although there were small changes in the overall design of the blade during the next thousand years the actual shape of the weapon has changed very little since it was invented.
I do not believe that there will ever be a weapon that will fill the dual role or last as long as the Japanese Katana sword has.
A lot of that may have to do with the fact that no one ever sees the romance of single combat anymore, we prefer to use weapons to just kill from as far away as possible.
We will never again see the likes of the men and weapons like we have for the past 1000 years.
The Japanese sword came in varying lengths and, depending on the swordsmith that created the blade, had various degrees of curvature to the blade itself.
The Katana sword is the name most commonly used by people to describe the Japanese sword.
However, in truth there are several different types of swords and they are called: Katana (a single edged curved long sword favored by the Samurai starting around the 1400's, the Wakizashi is the shorter single edged sword that was usually paired with the Katana, the Tsurugi was a double edged long sword, the Nodachi or Otachi were older and longer singe edged swords.
And due to the similar methods of the way they were forged the pole-mounted weapons called Naginata and Yari were part of the same family.
These weapons of a previous time are still seen, manufactured, and purchased even today.
The process of making them truly dictates the value and cost of these splendid weapons.
In Japan there are still a few hundred swordsmiths today that create, forge, temper, and produce these beautiful pieces of art.
Japan still holds a yearly competition which allows these masters to show their wares and compare them with other swordsmiths around the country.
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