| Wars had played revolutionizing parts in Japan's | | | | seriously engaged battles with the Mongols, they |
| long line of history. For thousands of years, war | | | | started to make use of their Samurai swords |
| clans controlled the country. Each clan is | | | | more and eventually manufactured more of these |
| comprised of several related families and each is | | | | and the naginata and spears. They easily |
| lead by a chief who are the families' ancestors. | | | | transformed to fighting on foot from fighting on |
| Wars were almost always centralized on the | | | | horseback. |
| struggle for land- only 20 % of Japan's land is | | | | Samurais swords were generally divided into two: |
| suited for farming, thus this condition gave rise to | | | | the daito-katana or the long sword which on |
| the knights of the Japan who are named as | | | | average is more than 24 inches long and the |
| Samurais. | | | | shoto-wakizashi or the short sword that were |
| Duty is first and foremost at the heart of each | | | | 12-24 inches long. Samurai swords were often |
| Samurai warrior along with the Bushido or the | | | | given names as to immortalize the soul of |
| Way of the Warrior. To become a Samurai is to | | | | warriorship. |
| overcome the fear of death. By this, they may | | | | The earliest swords were straight and were |
| serve their masters and their clan loyally and if | | | | typically fashioned after Chinese or Korean |
| serving would mean to forfeit their own lives, | | | | designs. But in the course of the battle, the |
| then that will be done. | | | | Samurai swords were recreated to give much |
| To ensure that their lands are protected and the | | | | tougher design with sharper curved edge. This is |
| battles they fight are victories, ancient Japanese | | | | the type of Samurai swords that went down to |
| developed armors, codes and weapons. The | | | | history. |
| weapons revolutionized along with the battles. | | | | Samurai swords were fashioned to near |
| By the 9th-12th A.D. the Samurais had become a | | | | perfection. The basic elements combined to make |
| separate class. Within these periods, Samurais | | | | Samurai swords are carbon and iron. To shape |
| were divided into two: the knight-retainers or the | | | | them, the sword smith makes use of anvil water, |
| Samurais and the warriors or the Bushi. Some of | | | | fire and hammers. Once the sword is forged, the |
| these were hired men and some are members of | | | | sword polisher will set up the blade for the |
| the ruling class. They surrender their lives to their | | | | furniture that will enclose it. Once this is done, the |
| Daimyos or landowners who are often the ruling | | | | sword tester will put the new blade to test by |
| member of the family and in return they were | | | | cutting through condemned criminals and dead |
| given fiefs or lands and position. Each Samurai is | | | | corpses. He will first cut through the smaller bones |
| employed to serve and protect the properties of | | | | moving to the tougher bones. The results of |
| the Daimyo and in battles for land expansion and | | | | which are transcribed on the nakago or the metal |
| power. | | | | piece that connects the handle to the Samurai |
| Samurais made most of what are present in their | | | | sword. |
| environments. When horses were first introduced, | | | | Through their rise to power, the these knights |
| they became masters in horses. Horseback riding | | | | and their Samurai swords were heralded as the |
| were then incorporated into battles. They | | | | ruling class in Japan's hierarchy for several |
| practiced both unarmed and armed combat. Bows | | | | centuries well up to the 19th century. This era is |
| and arrows were primarily used in combat; | | | | noted for the Shogun or the most powerful ruling |
| swords were just used for beheading the | | | | Samurais in their own time. |
| enemies. However, in the 13th century when they | | | | |