Why is the samurai sword famous?

Answer 1

That is a rather general question. This question will probably get a number of different responses depending on the answerer. An overly simple answer might be that the samurai played the same role as the knight in medieval Europe. Samurai served a daimyo, or lord. Knights served a king or prince. Medieval Europe consisted of serfdoms So did pre-unified Japan. In short, Japan and Europe have many similarities in its evolution to modern society and yet, neither significantly influenced the other. In fact, many of these similarities occurred concurrently... at the same time, but eerily independent of each other. Another answer could be the establishment of Bushido, or the way of the warrior. Western perception of samurai is perhaps one of extreme discipline and self-denial. In a way, this is correct. In unified Japan, the samurai developed Bushido, which promoted the idea that the greatest honor that a samurai could experience is their own death in service of their lord. It almost sounds religious... and a concept that many Westerners would not embrace. Perhaps some scholar might be able to better expound upon the samurai's significance to history.

Answer 2

The military rule of the shoguns, a central thread of Japanese history, is made possible by a new warrior class known as the samurai. They established themselves as the local aristocracy of small independent territories.

Answer 3

Because Western people find their ethics appealing, Japanese people, even whose ancestors have nothing to do with samurai, have started to use the values of samurai to make themselves look nicer.

Samurai used to be the ruling class in Japan, and the families of samurai ancestry have had certain status even the hierarchical system is abolished.

Answer 4

The samurai sword, or katana, is famous for its lethality, the symbolism behind its ownership, and the incredible craftsmanship used in its construction.

The katana, as an ancient weapon, is considered among the deadliest swords ever devised by a culture. The sword consisted of three main parts; the hilt, the handguard (tsuba), and the blade. The hilt or handle of the weapon was typically around eight inches long and consisted of wood, covered in ray skin (improves grip), and wrapped in cloth held in place by a cap at the end. The handguard or tsuba was a piece of metal held in place between blade and hilt by a pair of metal rings above and below it. The tsuba was typically either round or square, and was often decorated with engravings or images.

The blade of the katana is single-edged, slightly curved affair with the sharpened side following along the outside of the curve. Thanks to the methods of its construction (see below), a katana's edge is razor sharp, and capable of holding that edge for quite some time, even despite heavy use in battle. While the entirety of the blade is sharpened, the vast majority of the cutting is done with the upper third of the blade. Also of note is the tip of the sword; the forging and sharpening processes created a reinforced tip, which alone is incredibly sharp and pointed, and perfect for penetrating the laminated armor used by the samurai in battle, let alone bare skin.

Light, quick, and wicked sharp, the katana, in the hands of an adept swordsman, is capable of inflicting massive damage in a single swing or thrust, so much so that duels in fuedal Japan were often decided in one blow. Sword styles in Japan differed in their methods, yet the instrument of discipline was and is still a weapon of extreme lethality.

As terrific a weapon as it is, not just anyone in ancient Japan was allowed to own a katana. The reason is that the katana was, in and of itself, the symbol of the samurai, the land-owning warrior aristocrats of Japan's bygone eras. It was often said that a samurai's sword was his soul, and whether or not true it was certainly a symbol of his station, and the samurai guarded that privilege jeaously. To carry a katana without the backing of a noble title or even a distinguished Martial Arts dojo was punishable by a quick and merciless execution. Wealthy merchants could buy this privilege from the government, and landless warriors who had proven themselves in battle could also earn the right to bear the katana openly, though this happened only rarely. However, only those of noble birth could wear the daisho ("long and short"), which consisted of both the katana and the wakizashi, a shorter version of the standard katana.

To bear a katana was to bear the title of samurai. And to be a samurai in ancient Japan, a highly stratified society, was to be a member of an elite class, open only to a fortunate few. In fact, it was not until the mid-to-late 1800s and the restoration of the emperor as supreme power in Japan that the samurai were finally forbidden to wear a sword in public.

Aside from its effectiveness in combat and the connotations of its ownership, the katana is also famous for the intricate methods used in its creation. In point of fact, the craftsmanship utilized in the making of a battle-worthy katana is so remarkable that no other sword could be said to rival or even equal it, and it was not until the advent of modern Metallurgy that a true equivalent in steel forging could be found.

What differentiates a katana from other swords is the steel that comprises it. Inside the blade, the metal is actually softer than the outside, while the outside is tempered and harder than most. This dual aspect of the steel lends two abilities to the katana: the blade's ability to actually bend a significant degree yet return completely to a straight line, and the ability to retain a incredibly sharp edge longer than lesser metals. Both qualities allow the weapon to endure a great deal of use with minimal risk of breaking, and to remain battle-ready at a moment's notice.

The secret to this phenomenon lies in the forging of the steel itself. The highly ritualized aspects of the crafting aside, the actual making of the blade involves pounding the red-hot steel flat, then folding the metal over onto itself, and then repeating this process over and over again. The number of times this folding occurs varies, and inevitably determines the quality of the blade. Some of the most valuable katanas known were folded well over one hundred times, and despite being ancient and having seen countless battles the weapons are still each in incredible condition.

Famous the world over, the katana remains the peak of ancient weaponsmithing, and for good reason. It is not surprising that the katana should come from the land of the rising sun. The Japanese have a long and storied fascination with the sword, and the katana is the ultimate expression of that idolizaiton.

Answer 5

The Samurai sword came to symbolize the proud warrior tradition of the Japanese elite, serving them both in ancient times and into the modern during World War II.

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You can find Japanese swords in two major varieties, with longer swords commonly known as the katana, and the shorter variety known as a wakizashi. These swords symbolized the worth and integrity of a man, and were among his most important possessions. Samurai swords also had a religious significance that was crucial in Japanese society.

Samurai swords stood for purity, rarity, and value.

Answer 6

Samurai fought a war that lasted over a century, The Sengoku Period. Ieyasu Tokugawa won this war after claiming Osaka and burning it to the ground. Tokugawa, before Osaka, claimed victory also at Sekigahara over Mitsunari Ishida. Ishida was the leader of the western forces. In 1603, the Edo Period began, and it lasted for about 2 centuries. Now, if Ieyasu wouldn't have won, Japan would not be so peaceful....