ArticleKey #12: Swords

Many people around the world are likely aware of such cornerstones of Japanese culture as Cherry Blossom Watching, Tea Ceremony or Flower Arrangement. Those interested in the aforementioned culture might know the respective Japanese names and their exact meanings - Hanami (Flower Watching), Chado/Chanoyu (The Way of Tea) and Ikebana (Giving Life to Flowers). However, there is at least one Japanese culture-related word that is familiar to just about everybody, because it was borrowed by most languages on Earth - Samurai. ("Kamikaze", literally meaning “The God/Spirit of the Wind”, might be another such word but it's not exactly a cultural concept). The word and the notion permeates many aspects of Japanese life, such as history, arts (one of the most famous movies ever produced in Japan is called “Seven Samurai”), even sports (some Japanese national teams are nicknamed “Blue Samurai”).

Samurai worldview, inspired by Buddhism and its central concept of rebirth, is reflected in Bushido (literally translated as “Warrior's Way”) As the core of that worldview is the idea of service (the word “samurai” itself is a variation of the verb “saburau” - to serve), the Code of Bushido lays emphasis on what it takes to be a good vassal - both in terms of values and physical objects. The former are represented by duty, loyalty and honour, while the latter boils down to one very particular weapon - the sword. 

The significance of the sword in any samurai's life can't possibly be overstated. Suffice to say, a male samurai couldn't appear in public without a sword (actually, two swords) lest he would be shamed for the rest of his life. Everything related to the sword was strictly regulated - their appearance, length, the way of wearing them (depending on the kind of a sword one possessed). Swordsmanship - along with archery - was a life skill of supreme importance: while some samurai strove to engage in poetry and other fine arts, those were nice bonuses to be mentioned lightly. An accomplished archer would have something to be really proud of - in a way, unlike an excellent swordsman, because not being one, for a samurai, would be as unthinkable as not being able to walk or talk. If not worse… Using a familiar cliche, one might say that a male child in a samurai family was born with two swords in his tiny hands (and even many girls were expected to achieve proficiency in handling a short sword/dagger, as well as a spear). Samurai's perception of the sword, eventually adopted by the whole nation, is best summed up in one short phrase: “the sword is a sacred treasure where a god dwells”!  

The above helps to understand what happened soon after WWII when, traumatized by the defeat and guilt-ridden, the nation put up with many restrictions. However, after Allied Powers decreed that swords should be confiscated as dangerous weapons, Japanese people protested. They filed a formal petition for swords to be considered valuable art objects. The protest movement was led by Junji Honma, a University graduate who had written a dissertation (!) on Japanese swords. 

The military administration was so impressed with the depth of Honma's knowledge and quality of his argument that it rescinded the decree. Honma's success eventually resulted in having founded a “Japanese Art Swords Preservation Society” that later created

Museum exhibits are easy to admire but difficult to understand. Every detail concerning Japanese swords really matters - and there are a lot of such details. There are four types of swords - depending on the length of the blade, the longest blade being about 70-80 centimeters - and each sword has no less than 24 distinct parts. Producing one such sword takes about 18 months ( an introductory documentary, offering a very general explanation of the process, runs for almost an hour), and every production stage - steel smelting, blade forging, and sword polishing - is performed by a different professional. 

A smallest change in curvature or a slightest variation in patterns - and there are six official temper patterns and three steel ones - implies a different school, and most schools are ancient and famous. In other words, there are plenty of Japanese Rembrandts, Leonardos, Van Goghs, Gauguins and such of sword making. And every sword ever produced is so unique and valuable that the strictest possible “no photography” policy is in place in the main exhibition room at all times…