I spent a year in the Orient, many years ago. I was just 20-years-old and for reasons that I can’t fathom, my parents let me take off by myself to tour around Asia. Of course, I had a sister living in Taiwan at the time and would spend most of my time with her and her family, so I assume they felt it was reasonably safe.
I had managed to get an open ended airline ticket that could be used to stop over where ever I wanted and I could stay as long as I wanted and then move on to the next destination. I saved Japan for the last stop on the return trip. I only stayed there a few days and regretted that I didn’t plan a longer stay there. I took the bullet train from Nagasaki to Tokyo though and that was marvelous.
While in Japan I had the privilege of taking in a Sumo Wrestling tournament. I can’t say I sat through the whole thing, but I saw a lot of it and it was fascinating. Very different in my 20-year-old mind. I was young and blond and stuck out like a sore thumb around there at the time. There were a group of kids that kept following me around trying to touch my hair and laughing. I have no idea what they were saying, but I finally just went back to the hotel.
I have no idea what Sumo Wrestling has to do with the samurai sword, but that’s what came to mind when I got to thinking about Japan. The thing is, I love to experience other cultures and to learn about cultures.
The Samurai belonged to the Japanese military nobility. In very early Japanese history, the Samurai was basically a mercenary who served to protect tax collectors, nobility and the emperor. Over time, he evolved into what we would call a ‘gentleman soldier’, trained in the arts as well as military history and literature. He developed a philosophy of using the pen as well as the sword. Samurai translates into ‘the way of the warrior’ and encompasses characteristics such as a sense of justice and honesty, self control, sympathy towards all people, respect for etiquette, respect for one’s word of honor, absolute loyalty to one’s superior, the responsibility to defend the honor of one’s name and guild, courage and contempt for death. They are trained to be free of fear.
The samurai sword was considered the soul of the Samurai. The samurai sword was (and is) made in all different shapes, sizes and styles. However they are made, they are renowned around the world for their beauty and sharpness.
The Tachi Katana Sword pictured below is not only a magnificent weapon, but a genuine piece of art. You can view more pictures of that sword (as well as others), including close-ups of all its parts at the Samurai Sword Shop. You can also read more about the history of the Samurai, the Samurai sword and other Japanese weapons. Its really very interesting.
