![]() Certainly a katana with beautiful decorative koshirae was an expression of art and was a visible sign of wealth and status. The samurai was only allowed to do so in public. Apart from swords, bows (yumi), spears (yari), naginata (halberd) and kama were also used.īecause the samurai was a class in ancient Japan, carrying a sword gave it social status. Also very well known are the wakizashi, odachi, nodachi and tsurugi. In fact there are many types of Japanese swords that differ in size, application and shape. Most people's imagination is captured by the Japanese sword or katana. Meditative Zen techniques were used to relate the fear of death or pain. A large part of the training lay in strengthening the spirit which then flowed through the blade of the sword. ![]() The secret to successful use of the sword was not the samurai's physical strength but more the mental aspect which was formed by balance between body and mind. The sword appeared early in Japan's history and as the samurai became more important the sword represented the attitude towards life and the code of honor or bushido. Traditional blacksmiths used rituals and techniques to attribute powers of spirits, gods, ancestors or natural forces to the samurai sword through Shintoism. That the sword belonged to these is not at all surprising because in addition to being a deadly weapon, it is also an expression of art and craftsmanship.īecause of its long history, the Japanese sword is surrounded by mysticism and mystery which has risen to great heights. Among the emperors of Japan were the three sacred treasures, the sword Kusanag, the mirror Yata no kagami and the jewel Yasakani no magatama.
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