“…the true master wields the sword
but does not necessarily kill. He wields the sword so as to give life. When he
must kill, he kills. When he should give life, he gives life…. Walking on water
is like walking on the ground, and walking on the ground is like walking on
water. If he achieves this freedom, no one on earth can confuse him. But he
will know no friendship.”
Taia-Ki (Chronicles of the Sword of Taia)
Takuan Soho
Hello,
ReplyDeleteNice post. Japanese swords have characters on the tang that give information about the maker and year made. The blades of the sword are made up of a soft and durable iron core enveloped in a hard outer skin of steel. I like the way you start and then conclude your thoughts. Thanks for this information...
Handmade Swords
Thanks for your comment. The entire process of making swords seems really fascinating. I wonder when the process of "signing" the tang began. It's probably older than the "katana period."
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