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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 6 page paper which describes its techniques, history, evolution and differences that evolved in swordsmithing techniques over time. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TG15_TGsword.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
of art and reflects the proud history of Japan. Long the definitive symbol of Japanese feudal society, the sword defined the social class of the fearless warrior who wielded
it in battle and molded the lives of the craftsmen who create these intricate masterpieces. It remains a tangible representation of Japanese mythology and in order to understand its
lasting significance, one must turn back the clock thousands of years and consider the mysterious powers the sword is believed to possess. According to the myth, Amaterasu Omikami, the
Sun Goddess, presented her grandson, Ninigi-no Mikoto, a sword to ensure the protection of the earth (Japanese Sword Making). It is believed that this sword and all that followed
had a unique character all their own, and soldiers who were defeated in combat would ponder at the shrine of Hachiman (the war god) "why their swords had lost their
spirit" (Japanese Sword Making). The style of its blade and its sharpness signify its power and also identifies the particular type of sword and reveals much about the swordsmith.
One myth involves two seemingly equal swordsmiths, Muramasa and Masume, and a contest between the two to determine who could craft a better sword (Japanese Sword Making). When
Muramasa held his sword upright, it cut every leaf that graced its tip perfectly in two; but when Masume did the same, the leaves from the trees fell freely and
managed to avoid the edge (Japanese Sword Making). Masume was, therefore, declared the superior swordsmith because his creation "clearly possessed a spiritual and/or mystical power" (Japanese Sword Making). Because
they were entrusted with the responsibility of constructing the beloved sword, the early swordsmiths (sword makers) comprised a revered social class, and they regarded their task as primarily ethical and
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