1. Are Japanese Swords Weapon or Art?
Although Japanese swords have developed as weapons over a long period of time, they are also highly regarded as works of art due to their skill and beauty. Let's delve a little deeper into these two aspects.
① Japanese Swords as Weapons: Practical Use on the Battlefield
The Japanese sword has been used as an important weapon in actual battle. However, it has different characteristics from Western swords and Chinese swords.
▶ Tactics and the Japanese sword in the Sengoku period
Spears and bows were the main weapons on the battlefield during the Sengoku period. Japanese swords were used as the final weapon for close combat, used when the distance from the enemy was tight.
In particular, for warlords in the Sengoku period, having a "famous sword" was a way to show their dignity on the battlefield. For example, it is said that warlords who made a name for themselves in history had excellent swords, such as the Himetsuruichimonji, which Takeda Shingen loved, and the Heshikiri Hasebe, which Oda Nobunaga owned.
It was also common for samurai to wear two swords, Uchigatana and Wakizashi, when going to battle. By using these two swords properly, they were able to fight according to the situation.
▶ Role of Japanese swords after the Edo period
At the beginning of the Edo period, fighting on the battlefield decreased dramatically, and although samurai were obliged to wear a sword, they rarely had the opportunity to actually draw it. It became more valuable as a symbol of the samurai and as a sign of formality, rather than as a weapon used in actual battle as in the Sengoku period.
It was during this period, for example, that the art of iai was developed. Iai is the art of quickly drawing a sword and conquering an opponent with a single blow. It was developed as a form of personal self-defense and as part of the samurai's spiritual training rather than on the battlefield.
② Japanese Swords as Artifacts: The Exquisite of Beauty and Technology
Japanese swords are not weapons for combat, but have value as "works of art" due to their beauty of shape and advanced craftsmanship.
▶ The Birth of Famous Swords by Swordsmiths
A swordsmith is a craftsman who forges Japanese swords. From the Kamakura period to the Edo period, many master craftsmen appeared all over Japan, and each school established its own technique.
Representative master craftsmen and their styles:
●Masamune (Kamakura period): Founder of the Soshu tradition. He produced famous swords characterized by wave-like "irregular blade patterns."
●Muramasa (Sengoku period): Worried as a "mysterious sword," he had excellent sharpness.
●Nagasone Toratetsu (Edo period): Developed the sword from a sword for practical use to a sword as a work of art.
▶ Artistic decorations on Japanese swords
As mentioned in the first part, the artistry of Japanese swords is expressed not only in the body of the sword, but also in the koshirae (koshirae).
The koshirae (koshirae) is a general term for the sheath, tsuka, and tsuba (tsuba) in which a Japanese sword is housed, and they reflect the Japanese aesthetic.
●Tsuba (tsuba): Made of iron or copper, often decorated with gold, silver, or lacquer.
●Saya (saya): Lacquered or lacquered to enhance its value as a work of art.
In this way, a Japanese sword has both the utility of a weapon and the value of a work of art.
2. Modern Japanese Swords: Traditions Inherited
As time progressed, the role of Japanese swords as "weapons" was almost lost. However, Japanese swords continue to be inherited as "traditional culture" even today.
① Modern swordsmithing and traditional techniques
Even today, there are swordsmiths who make Japanese swords, and as "intangible cultural assets" certified by the government, they create swords while preserving ancient techniques.
Famous modern swordsmiths:
●Gassan Sadatoshi: A master swordsmith who inherits traditional techniques from Nara.
●Yoshiwara Yoshindo: One of the finest swordsmiths of modern times.
These swordsmiths continue the tradition of Japanese swords into the future, keeping true to the techniques of the Kamakura period and adding new challenges.
② The popularity of Japanese swords overseas and the collector market
In recent years, Japanese swords have been highly valued by overseas collectors and museums.
Especially in the United States and Europe, the historical value of Japanese swords has been reviewed, and it is not uncommon for them to fetch high prices at auctions.
Overseas Evaluation Points
"As a weapon with excellent sharpness and durability"
"As a work of art with beautiful blade design and construction"
"Japanese swords as a symbol of samurai culture"
For example, the Japanese sword of Masamune was sold at an auction in the United States in 2018.
The sword was sold for over 1 million dollars (about 150 million yen) and became a topic of conversation.
③ Sword appreciation culture in Japan
The culture of appreciating swords remains strong in Japan.
Museums and art galleries across the country hold regular exhibitions of Japanese swords, and many people visit them.
Famous sword museums:
●Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo): Contains many masterpieces of Japanese swords.
●Sano Art Museum (Shizuoka): Holds exhibitions dedicated to Japanese swords, including the Masamune Exhibition.
In recent years, interest in Japanese swords has been increasing among younger generations due to the influence of video games.
Summary: "Is a Japanese sword a weapon or an art?" What do you think?
apanese swords are unique in their utility as weapons and beauty as works of art that transcend time.
✅ Used as a weapon to protect the lives of samurai on the battlefield
✅ Value as a work of art created by master craftsmen in the Sengoku period
✅ Even today, the art of swordsmithing is passed down and appreciated overseas
Are Japanese swords weapons to you? Or are they art?
We encourage you to see actual Japanese swords in museums and galleries and experience their beauty and history!
Want to read more
(Part 1) Are Japanese swords art or weapons? History, beauty, and swords from the Sengoku period
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