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