Nu Day Blades Blog
Posts Tagged ‘samurai sword’
The Way Of The Warrior
Japanese swordsmen, called samurai, followed a code of conduct known as bushido, which translates to “the way of the warrior”. While this code of conduct was somewhat reminiscent of chivalry, it is also quite different. The samurai code stresses frugality, loyalty, mastery of martial arts, and honor until death. Bushido developed between the 9th and 12th centuries and was passed down for generations as a moral code unuttered and unwritten. Samurai were known for carrying a Samurai Sword of the Immortals and numerous smaller blades, as well as having thick armor. In an era when most of the world hadn’t developed complex weapons, Japanese samurai had perfected the art of war. The samurai had better armor, better weapons, and better knowledge of warfare than a vast majority of the military forces in the world.
The code of the samurai is much different than the code of European chivalry. For example, suicide was well tolerated in the samurai code. If one lost a battle or disgraced their family, ritual suicide was considered legitimate reparation.
What Are Katanas?
In the world of swords and knives, there is an entire host of different options. Whether you’re purchasing for yourself or a fellow knife enthusiast, you should consider the storied and culturally significant katana. A katana is basically a Japanese sword that is sometimes simply called a samurai sword. The blade itself is moderately curved, while the more drastically curved styles are known as tachis.
Collectible Japanese katana swords usually have a blade length of greater than 60 cm. While the phrase katana is very generic, it is often erroneously applied to any Japanese sword. A sword purist will recognize that a katana has a curved, single-edged, and slender blade. The guard is typically squared or circular. Also, the grip will often be long enough that it can be yielded with both hands. The sharpness of the blade and its impressive cutting ability have combined to elevate the sword to an almost mythical status.