Post by Umeko on May 14, 2005 19:33:13 GMT -5
(Pls take with a pinch of salt ;D)
The first Japanese swords resembled the Chinese broadsword. Double edged, straight with the tassel on the hilt for goodness knows why...
b'cos they were made-in-China imports as were the early kimonoes and many other aspects of Japanese culture of that era.
However, as time passed, things change.
The Japanese soon discovered the flaws of the broadsword, which was more a ceremonial weapon (the Chinese sabre is the business weapon) after a couple of really painful expeditions to eradicate Ainu (indeginous people of the Japanese island chain) up north. The swords broke too easily.
The emperor ordered the swordsmiths to get cracking and they came up with the characteristic curved, single-edged blade. The exact technique perfected is a trade secret.
A smith will know if he succeeded when he tempers the sword, by first coating the edge in mud and then plunging it into cold water. If the blade takes on the curve, success. If not, we've got a vacancy in the imperial forge. ;D
The swords were first meant for calvary soldiers, and were drawn blade-down. Then it became an infantry weapon and were drawn blade up. Why?
When the Mongol amarda attempted to invade Japan, the skimirshes were fought on beaches. War horses are lousy on soft sandy terrain.
So the calvary had a tough time of it. They were spared further losses b'cos the Mongols did not check the weather report for the week.
Weather Report: Monsoon Season. Expect rough seas, gale-force kamikaze (divine wind). Any landlubbing Mongol still on a ship in that weather = fish food. ;D
(OK, just a bit of history)
The first Japanese swords resembled the Chinese broadsword. Double edged, straight with the tassel on the hilt for goodness knows why...
b'cos they were made-in-China imports as were the early kimonoes and many other aspects of Japanese culture of that era. However, as time passed, things change
. The Japanese soon discovered the flaws of the broadsword, which was more a ceremonial weapon (the Chinese sabre is the business weapon) after a couple of really painful expeditions to eradicate Ainu (indeginous people of the Japanese island chain) up north. The swords broke too easily.
The emperor ordered the swordsmiths to get cracking and they came up with the characteristic curved, single-edged blade. The exact technique perfected is a trade secret.
A smith will know if he succeeded when he tempers the sword, by first coating the edge in mud and then plunging it into cold water. If the blade takes on the curve, success. If not, we've got a vacancy in the imperial forge. ;D
The swords were first meant for calvary soldiers, and were drawn blade-down. Then it became an infantry weapon and were drawn blade up. Why?
When the Mongol amarda attempted to invade Japan, the skimirshes were fought on beaches. War horses are lousy on soft sandy terrain.
So the calvary had a tough time of it. They were spared further losses b'cos the Mongols did not check the weather report for the week.Weather Report: Monsoon Season. Expect rough seas, gale-force kamikaze (divine wind). Any landlubbing Mongol still on a ship in that weather = fish food. ;D
(OK, just a bit of history)
Even on land, if u live near the coast, you can be in for a rough time, like seeing sea water coming into your home and seeing bits of your roof take flight. 
