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87-413: Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi ( 草 薙 の 剣 ) is a legendary Japanese sword and one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan . It was originally called Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi ( 天 叢 雲 剣 , "Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds") , but its name was later changed to the more popular Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi ("Grass-Cutting Sword"). In folklore, the sword represents the virtue of valor . The history of
174-622: A box, the Crown Prince's sword is worn by the Crown Prince with the traditional costume sokutai at an official ceremony of the Imperial Household. The Tsubokiri sword is the most important sword owned by the Crown Prince, given by the Emperor as proof of the official Crown Prince after the ceremony of his inauguration. Its origin is that it was given by Emperor Uda when Emperor Daigo became Crown Prince in 893, and
261-663: A cavalry charge. Sabres continued to see battlefield use until the early 20th century. The US Navy M1917 Cutlass used in World War I was kept in their armory well into World War II and many Marines were issued a variant called the M1941 Cutlass as a makeshift jungle machete during the Pacific War . Non-European weapons classified as swords include single-edged weapons such as the Middle Eastern scimitar ,
348-415: A celebration in 1935, the shrine's buildings as well as other facilities were completely rearranged and improved in order to better reflect the history and cultural significance of the shrine. During the aerial raids of the Pacific War , however, many of Atsuta Shrine's buildings were destroyed by fire. The shrine's main buildings, such as the honden , were reconstructed and completed in 1955. Following
435-564: A court rank in Constantinople ), and from this time, the term longsword is applied to swords comparatively long for their respective periods. Swords from the Parthian and Sassanian Empires were quite long, the blades on some late Sassanian swords being just under a metre long. Swords were also used to administer various physical punishments , such as non-surgical amputation or capital punishment by decapitation . The use of
522-411: A fence with eight gates. The monster took the bait and put one of its heads through each gate. With this distraction, Susanoo attacked and slew the beast (with his sword Worochi no Ara-masa ), chopping off each head and then proceeded to do the same to the tails. In the fourth tail, he discovered a great sword inside the body of the serpent which he called Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi . He presented
609-516: A fighting style which closely resembles modern fencing. Slashing swords such as the sabre and similar blades such as the cutlass were built more heavily and were more typically used in warfare. Built for slashing and chopping at multiple enemies, often from horseback, the sabre's long curved blade and slightly forward weight balance gave it a deadly character all its own on the battlefield. Most sabres also had sharp points and double-edged blades, making them capable of piercing soldier after soldier in
696-664: A general Urnfield background), and survives well into the Iron Age, with a life-span of about seven centuries. During its lifetime, metallurgy changed from bronze to iron , but not its basic design. Naue II swords were exported from Europe to the Aegean, and as far afield as Ugarit , beginning about 1200 BC, i.e. just a few decades before the final collapse of the palace cultures in the Bronze Age collapse . Naue II swords could be as long as 85 cm, but most specimens fall into
783-491: A large, decorative mount allowing it to be suspended from a belt on the wearer's right side. Because of this, it is assumed that the sword was intended to be drawn with the blade pointing downwards ready for surprise stabbing attacks. In the 12th century, the Seljuq dynasty had introduced the curved shamshir to Persia, and this was in extensive use by the early 16th century. Chinese iron swords made their first appearance in
870-529: A new shrine attendant. He later prayed there while advancing on the capital, mimicking the behavior of Minamoto no Yoritomo , who had done the same before founding the Kamakura shogunate . In 1338, the Southern Court had one more chance to occupy the shrine when Kitabatake Akiie led a large army down from the Southern Court's base on Mount Ryōzen . In the first month of 1338, Akiie also prayed at
957-579: A sword varies by historical epoch and geographic region. Historically, the sword developed in the Bronze Age , evolving from the dagger; the earliest specimens date to about 1600 BC. The later Iron Age sword remained fairly short and without a crossguard. The spatha , as it developed in the Late Roman army , became the predecessor of the European sword of the Middle Ages, at first adopted as
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#17327761268261044-573: A sword, an honourable weapon, was regarded in Europe since Roman times as a privilege reserved for the nobility and the upper classes. In the first millennium BC, the Persian armies used a sword that was originally of Scythian design called the akinaka ( acinaces ). However, the great conquests of the Persians made the sword more famous as a Persian weapon, to the extent that the true nature of
1131-520: A token of gratitude for his victory at the Battle of Okehazama . A wooden gate called Kaijō-mon (海上門 lit. "Sea Gate") was made along with the mud wall. This gate was a National Treasure and was lost during the Pacific war bombings on 17 May 1945. The west gate was a larger wooden structure called Chinkō-mon (鎮皇門) that was used for imperial processions. It was dedicated by Kato Kiyomasa . This gate
1218-674: A total length of more than 100 cm (39 in). These are the "type A" swords of the Aegean Bronze Age . One of the most important, and longest-lasting, types of swords of the European Bronze Age was the Naue II type (named for Julius Naue who first described them), also known as Griffzungenschwert (lit. "grip-tongue sword"). This type first appears in c. the 13th century BC in Northern Italy (or
1305-412: A two-handed sword for a more powerful blow. In the Middle Ages, the sword was often used as a symbol of the word of God . The names given to many swords in mythology , literature , and history reflected the high prestige of the weapon and the wealth of the owner. From around 1300 to 1500, in concert with improved armour , innovative sword designs evolved more and more rapidly. The main transition
1392-620: Is a Shinto shrine , home to the sacred sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi , one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan —traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (reigned 71–130 CE). It is located in Atsuta-ku , Nagoya , Aichi Prefecture in Japan . The shrine is familiarly known as Atsuta-Sama (Venerable Atsuta) or simply as Miya (the Shrine). Since ancient times, it has been especially revered, ranking with
1479-493: Is a "sword" with a flexible whip-like blade. In Indonesia , the images of Indian style swords can be found in Hindu gods statues from ancient Java circa 8th to 10th century. However the native types of blade known as kris , parang , klewang and golok were more popular as weapons. These daggers are shorter than a sword but longer than a common dagger. Atsuta Shrine Atsuta Shrine ( 熱田神宮 , Atsuta-jingū )
1566-587: Is always close to the emperor as an amulet, and is called Hi no Omashi no Gyoken ( 昼御座御剣 , meaning 'sword of the throne in the daytime') . Hi no Omashi no Gyoken has changed over time; at present, two tachi made by swordsmiths Nagamitsu and Yukihira in the Kamakura period play the role. Apart from these swords, the Imperial Family owns many swords, which are managed by the Imperial Household Agency. For example, one of
1653-444: Is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger , is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed tip. A slashing sword is more likely to be curved and to have a sharpened cutting edge on one or both sides of the blade. Many swords are designed for both thrusting and slashing. The precise definition of
1740-578: Is not considered a historical document. The first reliable historical mention of the sword is in the Nihon Shoki . Although the Nihon Shoki also contains mythological stories that are not considered reliable history, it records some events that were contemporary or nearly contemporary to its writing, and these sections of the book are considered historical. In the Nihon Shoki , the Kusanagi
1827-415: Is said to have remained in safekeeping at the shrine up to the present day. The shrine's Bunkaden , or treasure hall, houses over 4,000 relics, which include 174 Important Cultural Properties and a dagger that is a designated National Treasure of Japan . Atsuta Jingu Museum preserves and displays a variety of historic material, including the koshinpō (sacred garments, furniture and utensils for use of
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#17327761268261914-456: Is sometimes used interchangeably with side-sword. As rapiers became more popular, attempts were made to hybridize the blade, sacrificing the effectiveness found in each unique weapon design. These are still considered side-swords and are sometimes labeled sword rapier or cutting rapier by modern collectors. Side-swords used in conjunction with bucklers became so popular that it caused the term swashbuckler to be coined. This word stems from
2001-482: Is the consistent use of high tin bronze (17–21% tin) which is very hard and breaks if stressed too far, whereas other cultures preferred lower tin bronze (usually 10%), which bends if stressed too far. Although iron swords were made alongside bronze, it was not until the early Han period that iron completely replaced bronze. In the Indian subcontinent , earliest available Bronze age swords of copper were discovered in
2088-469: Is the sacred sword which is understood to be a gift from Amaterasu Ōmikami. This unique object has represented the authority and stature of Japan's emperors since time immemorial. Kusanagi is imbued with Amaterasu's spirit. During the reign of Emperor Sujin , duplicate copies of the Imperial regalia were made in order to safeguard the originals from theft. This fear of theft proved to be justified during
2175-511: The Tenka-Goken , Onimaru is owned by the Imperial Family. The Japanese crown prince has inherited two tachi , Tsubokiri no Gyoken or Tsubokiri no Mitsurugi ( 壺切御剣 , meaning "sword that cut a pot") , and Yukihira Gyoken ( 行平御剣 , meaning "sword made by Yukihira") . While the Kusanagi sword is forbidden to be seen because of its divinity and is always kept in
2262-494: The Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi to cut back the grass and remove fuel from the fire, but in doing so, he discovered that the sword enabled him to control the wind and cause it to move in the direction of his swing. Taking advantage of this magic, Yamato Takeru used his other gift, fire strikers, to enlarge the fire in the direction of the lord and his men, and he used the winds controlled by the sword to sweep
2349-535: The Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi extends into legend. According to Kojiki , the god Susanoo encountered a grieving family of kunitsukami ("gods of the land") headed by Ashinazuchi ( 足名椎 ) in Izumo Province . When Susanoo inquired of Ashinazuchi, he told him that his family was being terrorized by the fearsome Yamata no Orochi , an eight-headed serpent of Koshi , who had consumed seven of
2436-405: The ricasso to improve the grip (a practice that would continue in the rapier ) led to the production of hilts with a guard for the finger. This sword design eventually led to the development of the civilian rapier, but it was not replaced by it, and the side-sword continued to be used during the rapier's lifetime. As it could be used for both cutting and thrusting, the term "cut and thrust sword"
2523-506: The Battle of Dan-no-ura , a naval battle that ended in the defeat of the Heike clan forces and the child Emperor Antoku at the hands of Minamoto no Yoshitsune . In the tale, upon hearing of the Navy's defeat, the Emperor's grandmother, Taira no Tokiko , led the Emperor and his entourage to commit suicide by drowning in the waters of the strait, taking with her two of the three Imperial Regalia:
2610-508: The Edo period , while performing various repairs and upkeep at Atsuta Shrine, including replacement of the outer wooden box housing the sword, the Shinto priest Matsuoka Masanao claimed to have been one of several priests to have seen the sword. Per his account, "a stone box was inside a wooden box of length 150 cm (59 in), with red clay stuffed into the gap between them. Inside the stone box
2697-526: The Franks . Wootz steel (which is also known as Damascus steel ) was a unique and highly prized steel developed on the Indian subcontinent as early as the 5th century BC. Its properties were unique due to the special smelting and reworking of the steel creating networks of iron carbides described as a globular cementite in a matrix of pearlite . The use of Damascus steel in swords became extremely popular in
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2784-601: The Indian subcontinent made of Damascus steel also found their way into Persia . By the time of Classical Antiquity and the Parthian and Sassanid Empires in Iran, iron swords were common. The Greek xiphos and the Roman gladius are typical examples of the type, measuring some 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 in). The late Roman Empire introduced the longer spatha (the term for its wielder, spatharius , became
2871-778: The Indus Valley civilization sites in the northwestern regions of South Asia . Swords have been recovered in archaeological findings throughout the Ganges - Jamuna Doab region of Indian subcontinent, consisting of bronze but more commonly copper . Diverse specimens have been discovered in Fatehgarh , where there are several varieties of hilt. These swords have been variously dated to times between 1700 and 1400 BC. Other swords from this period in India have been discovered from Kallur, Raichur . Iron became increasingly common from
2958-554: The Ise Shrine . The 200,000-square-metre (2,200,000 sq ft) shrine complex draws over 9 million visitors annually. The Kojiki explains that Atsuta Shrine was founded to house the Kusanagi no Tsurugi , a legendary sword. According to traditional sources, Yamato Takeru died in the 43rd year of Emperor Keiko's reign (景行天皇43年, equivalent 113 AD). The possessions of the dead prince were gathered together along with
3045-588: The Middle Ages , sword technology improved, and the sword became a very advanced weapon. The spatha type remained popular throughout the Migration period and well into the Middle Ages. Vendel Age spathas were decorated with Germanic artwork (not unlike the Germanic bracteates fashioned after Roman coins). The Viking Age saw again a more standardized production, but the basic design remained indebted to
3132-606: The Migration Period sword , and only in the High Middle Ages , developed into the classical arming sword with crossguard. The word sword continues the Old English , sweord . The use of a sword is known as swordsmanship or, in a modern context, as fencing . In the early modern period , western sword design diverged into two forms, the thrusting swords and the sabres. Thrusting swords such as
3219-415: The rapier and eventually the smallsword were designed to impale their targets quickly and inflict deep stab wounds. Their long and straight yet light and well balanced design made them highly maneuverable and deadly in a duel but fairly ineffective when used in a slashing or chopping motion. A well aimed lunge and thrust could end a fight in seconds with just the sword's point, leading to the development of
3306-511: The "Five Great Gods of Atsuta", all of whom are connected with the legendary narratives of the sacred sword — Amaterasu-Ōmikami , Takehaya Susanoo-no-mikoto , Yamato Takeru-no-mikoto , Miyazu-hime , and Take Inadane-no-mikoto . Atsuta is the traditional repository of Kusanagi no Tsurugi , the ancient sword that is considered one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan . Central to the Shinto significance of Atsuta Shrine
3393-455: The 11th century. From the 15th century to the 16th century, more than 200,000 swords were exported, reaching a quantitative peak, but these were simple swords made exclusively for mass production, specialized for export and lending to conscripted farmers ( ashigaru ). The khanda is a double-edge straight sword. It is often featured in religious iconography, theatre and art depicting the ancient history of India . Some communities venerate
3480-422: The 13th century BC. Before that the use of swords was less frequent. The iron was not quench-hardened although often containing sufficient carbon, but work-hardened like bronze by hammering. This made them comparable or only slightly better in terms of strength and hardness to bronze swords. They could still bend during use rather than spring back into shape. But the easier production, and the better availability of
3567-459: The 14th-century change from mail to plate armour . It was during the 14th century, with the growing use of more advanced armour, that the hand and a half sword, also known as a " bastard sword ", came into being. It had an extended grip that meant it could be used with either one or two hands. Though these swords did not provide a full two-hand grip they allowed their wielders to hold a shield or parrying dagger in their off hand, or to use it as
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3654-509: The 16th and 17th centuries. It was only from the 11th century that Norman swords began to develop the crossguard (quillons). During the Crusades of the 12th to 13th century, this cruciform type of arming sword remained essentially stable, with variations mainly concerning the shape of the pommel . These swords were designed as cutting weapons, although effective points were becoming common to counter improvements in armour, especially
3741-460: The 16th century, the large zweihänder was used by the elite German and Swiss mercenaries known as doppelsöldners . Zweihänder , literally translated, means two-hander. The zweihänder possesses a long blade, as well as a huge guard for protection. It is estimated that some zweihänder swords were over 6 feet (1.8 m) long, with the one ascribed to Frisian warrior Pier Gerlofs Donia being 7 feet (2.13 m) long. The gigantic blade length
3828-684: The 3rd millennium BC in the Middle East, first in arsenic copper , then in tin-bronze. Blades longer than 60 cm (24 in) were rare and not practical until the late Bronze Age because the Young's modulus (stiffness) of bronze is relatively low, and consequently longer blades would bend easily. The development of the sword out of the dagger was gradual; the first weapons that can be classified as swords without any ambiguity are those found in Minoan Crete , dated to about 1700 BC, reaching
3915-647: The 60 to 70 cm range. Robert Drews linked the Naue Type II Swords, which spread from Southern Europe into the Mediterranean, with the Bronze Age collapse . Naue II swords, along with Nordic full-hilted swords, were made with functionality and aesthetics in mind. The hilts of these swords were beautifully crafted and often contained false rivets in order to make the sword more visually appealing. Swords coming from northern Denmark and northern Germany usually contained three or more fake rivets in
4002-638: The Arabic term for a Western European, a " Frank ") was a sword type which used blades manufactured in Western Europe and imported by the Portuguese , or made locally in imitation of European blades. Because of its length the firangi is usually regarded as primarily a cavalry weapon. The sword has been especially associated with the Marathas , who were famed for their cavalry. However, the firangi
4089-591: The Chinese dao and the related Japanese katana . The Chinese jiàn 剑 is an example of a non-European double-edged sword , like the European models derived from the double-edged Iron Age sword . The first weapons that can be described as "swords" date to around 3300 BC. They have been found in Arslantepe , Turkey, are made from arsenical bronze , and are about 60 cm (24 in) long. Some of them are inlaid with silver . The sword developed from
4176-571: The Institute of Moralogy, a 12th-century replica preserved in the Imperial palace is the one used in coronation ceremonies, probably due to the fragility of the original sword. The Kusanagi sword is always hidden because of its divinity, and it is put in a box and put up by the chamberlain at the time of the enthronement ceremony . However, the Japanese sword held up by the emperor's chamberlain, which can be seen at various imperial ceremonies,
4263-582: The Jingū Higashi Park (神宮東公園) established in the 1980's is a restoration of greenery to the site. The shrine's buildings were maintained by donations from a number of benefactors, including well-known Sengoku period figures like Oda Nobunaga , Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Tokugawas . For example, the Nobunaga-Bei , a 7.4 m high roofed mud wall, was donated to the shrine in 1560 by Nobunaga as
4350-483: The Shrine Maiden of Ise Shrine , to protect her nephew in times of peril. These gifts came in handy when Yamato Takeru was lured onto an open grassland during a hunting expedition by a treacherous warlord. The lord had fiery arrows loosed to ignite the grass and trap Yamato Takeru in the field so that he would burn to death. He also killed the warrior's horse to prevent his escape. Desperately, Yamato Takeru used
4437-402: The actual events, so it has questionable reliability as a historical document. Another story holds that the sword was reportedly stolen again in the sixth century by a monk from Silla . However, his ship allegedly sank at sea, allowing the sword to wash ashore at Ise, where it was recovered by Shinto priests. Because no one is allowed to see the sword due to its divinity and Shinto tradition,
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#17327761268264524-453: The blaze toward them. In triumph, Yamato Takeru renamed the sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi ("Grass-Cutting Sword") to commemorate his narrow escape and victory. Eventually, Yamato Takeru married and later fell in battle against a monster, after ignoring his wife's advice to take the sword with him. Although the sword is mentioned in the Kojiki , this book is a collection of Japanese myths and
4611-463: The completion of these buildings, construction of other buildings continued on the shrine grounds. In 1966 the Treasure Hall was completed in order to house the shrine's collection of objects, manuscripts and documents. Augmented reality was developed to see structures that have been lost over time. This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the veneration of Atsuta-no-Ōkami. Also enshrined are
4698-487: The enshrined deities). A number of donated swords, mirrors and other objects are held by the shrine, including Bugaku masks and other material associated with ancient court dances. The Bunkaden collection ranges from ancient documents to household articles. Aichi Prefecture has designated 174 items as important cultural assets. Over 70 ceremonies and festivals are held annually at the shrine. The Atsuta Shrine has 1 betsugū , 8 sessha , and 19 massha inside
4785-567: The exact shape and condition of the sword has not been confirmed. The most recent appearance of the sword was in 2019 when Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne ; the sword (as well as the jewel Yasakani no Magatama , the Emperor's privy seal and the State Seal ) were shrouded in packages. Replicas of the sword were made as early as the 9th century, and the original is entrusted to Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya . According to Shinsuke Takenaka of
4872-628: The family's eight daughters, and that the creature was coming for his final daughter, Kushinada-hime ( 奇稲田姫 ) . Susanoo investigated the creature, and after an abortive encounter he returned with a plan to defeat it. In return, he asked for Kushinada-hime's hand in marriage, which was agreed. Transforming her temporarily into a comb (one interpreter reads this section as "using a comb he turns into [masquerades as] Kushinada-hime") to have her company during battle, he detailed his plan into steps. He instructed that eight vats of sake (rice wine) be prepared and put on individual platforms positioned behind
4959-529: The gaps between plates of armour. The grip was sometimes wrapped in wire or coarse animal hide to provide a better grip and to make it harder to knock a sword out of the user's hand. A number of manuscripts covering longsword combat and techniques dating from the 13th–16th centuries exist in German, Italian, and English, providing extensive information on longsword combatives as used throughout this period. Many of these are now readily available online. In
5046-635: The hilt. Sword production in China is attested from the Bronze Age Shang dynasty . The technology for bronze swords reached its high point during the Warring States period and Qin dynasty. Amongst the Warring States period swords, some unique technologies were used, such as casting high tin edges over softer, lower tin cores, or the application of diamond shaped patterns on the blade (see sword of Goujian ). Also unique for Chinese bronzes
5133-480: The knife or dagger. The sword became differentiated from the dagger during the Bronze Age ( c. 3000 BC), when copper and bronze weapons were produced with long leaf-shaped blades and with hilts consisting of an extension of the blade in handle form. A knife is unlike a dagger in that a knife has only one cutting surface, while a dagger has two cutting surfaces. Construction of longer blades became possible during
5220-486: The late Renaissance, with duels being a preferred way to honourably settle disputes. The side-sword was a type of war sword used by infantry during the Renaissance of Europe . This sword was a direct descendant of the knightly sword . Quite popular between the 16th and 17th centuries, they were ideal for handling the mix of armoured and unarmoured opponents of that time. A new technique of placing one's finger on
5307-535: The later part of the Western Zhou dynasty , but iron and steel swords were not widely used until the 3rd century BC Han dynasty . The Chinese dao (刀 pinyin dāo) is single-edged, sometimes translated as sabre or broadsword , and the jian (劍 or 剑 pinyin jiàn) is double-edged. The zhanmadao (literally "horse chopping sword") is an extremely long, anti-cavalry sword from the Song dynasty era. During
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#17327761268265394-515: The most versatile for close combat, but it came to decline in military use as technology, such as the crossbow and firearms changed warfare. However, it maintained a key role in civilian self-defence . The earliest evidence of curved swords, or scimitars (and other regional variants as the Arabian saif , the Persian shamshir and the Turkic kilij ) is from the 9th century, when it
5481-657: The name of akrafena . They are still used today in ceremonies, such as the Odwira festival . As steel technology improved, single-edged weapons became popular throughout Asia. Derived from the Chinese jian or dao , the Korean hwandudaedo are known from the early medieval Three Kingdoms . Production of the Japanese tachi , a precursor to the katana , is recorded from c. AD 900 (see Japanese sword ). Japan
5568-405: The new fighting style of the side-sword and buckler which was filled with much "swashing and making a noise on the buckler". Within the Ottoman Empire , the use of a curved sabre called the yatagan started in the mid-16th century. It would become the weapon of choice for many in Turkey and the Balkans . The sword in this time period was the most personal weapon, the most prestigious, and
5655-437: The position of the shrine's high priest since ancient times, passing it down from generation to generation. However, in 1114, Kazumoto handed the position over to Fujiwara no Suenori , who was from the Fujiwara clan . Since then, the Fujiwara clan became the head of Atsuta Shrine, while the Owari clan stepped down to the position of adjutant chief priest ( gongūji ). During the Northern and Southern Courts Period , because it
5742-471: The present, the Tsubokiri sword is the second generation, made in the late Heian period . The Yukihira sword is a tachi made by Yukihira, a swordsmith in the Kamakura period , and the Crown Prince inherits it from the Emperor before his inauguration ceremony and wears it in various Imperial events except for the Niiname-sai festival. This Yukihira sword is different from the Emperor's Hi no Omashi no Gyoken . Sword A sword
5829-429: The raw material for the first time permitted the equipping of entire armies with metal weapons, though Bronze Age Egyptian armies were sometimes fully equipped with bronze weapons. Ancient swords are often found at burial sites. The sword was often placed on the right side of the corpse. Many times the sword was kept over the corpse. In many late Iron Age graves, the sword and the scabbard were bent at 180 degrees. It
5916-419: The reign of Emperor Tenji when the sacred sword was stolen from Atsuta; and it was not to be returned until the reign of Emperor Tenmu . There is also the purported loss of the Kusanagi during the 1185 Battle of Dan-no-ura , where it was presumed lost at sea when the Emperor Antoku committed suicide by drowning together with remnants of the Heike . Although not seen by the general public since that time, it
6003-438: The rise of the samurai caste include the tsurugi (straight double-edged blade) and chokutō (straight one-edged blade). Japanese swordmaking reached the height of its development in the 15th and 16th centuries, when samurai increasingly found a need for a sword to use in closer quarters, leading to the creation of the modern katana . High quality Japanese swords have been exported to neighboring Asian countries since before
6090-438: The sacred jewel and the sword Kusanagi. The sacred mirror was recovered in extremis when one of the ladies-in-waiting was about to jump with it into the sea. Although the sacred jewel is said to have been found in its casket floating on the waves, Kusanagi was lost forever. Although written about historical events, The Tale of the Heike is a collection of epic poetry passed down orally and written down nearly 200 years after
6177-508: The shrine. However, he was killed in battle soon after and the Ashikaga cemented their control over Atsuta Shrine. From 1872 through 1946, Atsuta Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha ( 官幣大社 ) , meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. The shrine area was originally much larger. To the northeast were vast ricefields that belonged to the shrine, they were later built over in what became Sanbonmatsu-chō (三本松町) and Mutsuno (六野) neighbourhoods,
6264-451: The spatha. Around the 10th century, the use of properly quenched hardened and tempered steel started to become much more common than in previous periods. The Frankish 'Ulfberht' blades (the name of the maker inlaid in the blade) were of particularly consistent high quality. Charles the Bald tried to prohibit the export of these swords, as they were used by Vikings in raids against
6351-487: The sword Kusanagi; and his widow venerated his memory in a shrine at her home. Sometime later, these relics and the sacred sword were moved to the current location of the Atsuta Shrine. Nihonshoki explains that this move occurred in the 51st year of Keiko's reign, but shrine tradition also dates this event in the 1st year of Emperor Chūai's reign. The Owari clan had established the Atsuta Shrine in 192, and held
6438-445: The sword to the goddess Amaterasu to settle an old grievance. The Nihon Shoki adds more to the story. It says Susanoo had Ame-no-Fuyukinu deliver the sword. A rite at Hinomisaki Shrine honors this delivery to this day. Generations later, during the reign of the 12th Emperor Keikō , Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi was given to the great warrior, Yamato Takeru , as part of a pair of gifts given by his aunt, Yamatohime-no-mikoto ,
6525-520: The weapon as a symbol of Shiva . It is a common weapon in the martial arts in the Indian subcontinent . The khanda often appears in Hindu , Buddhist and Sikh scriptures and art. In Sri Lanka , a unique wind furnace was used to produce the high-quality steel. This gave the blade a very hard cutting edge and beautiful patterns. For these reasons it became a very popular trading material. The firangi ( / f ə ˈ r ɪ ŋ ɡ iː / , derived from
6612-459: The weapon has been lost somewhat as the name akinaka has been used to refer to whichever form of sword the Persian army favoured at the time. It is widely believed that the original akinaka was a 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18 inch) double-edged sword. The design was not uniform and in fact identification is made more on the nature of the scabbard than the weapon itself; the scabbard usually has
6699-420: Was a hollowed log of a camphor tree, acting as another box, with an interior lined with gold. Above that was placed a sword. Red clay was also stuffed between the stone box and the camphor tree box. The sword was about 82 cm (32 in) long. Its blade resembled a calamus leaf. The middle of the sword had a thickness from the grip about 18 cm (7.1 in) with an appearance like a fish spine. The sword
6786-489: Was also registered as a national treasure, it was lost 29 July 1945 in another air raid. and replaced with a simple wooden torii . The east gate Shunkō-mon (春敲門) was dedicated to Yang Guifei , who according to legend found refuge here. A water spring is also connected to her legend. In 1893, it was remodeled using the Shinmeizukuri architectural style, the same style used in the building of Ise Shrine . Before
6873-481: Was also widely used by Sikhs and Rajputs . The talwar ( Hindi : तलवार ) is a type of curved sword from India and other countries of the Indian subcontinent , it was adopted by communities such as Rajputs, Sikhs and Marathas, who favored the sword as their main weapon. It became more widespread in the medieval era. The urumi ( Tamil : சுருள் பட்டாக்கத்தி surul pattai , lit. curling blade; Sinhala : එතුණු කඩුව ethunu kaduwa ; Hindi : aara )
6960-549: Was believed that the Kusanagi no Tsurugi was or had once been housed there, the Atsuta Shrine proved to be a significant site in the struggle between ousted Emperor Go-Daigo (Southern Court) and the new emperor, Takauji Ashikaga (Northern Court). Go-Daigo was a patron to Atsuta Masayoshi, the shrine's attendant, who subsequently fled with him to Mt. Hiei in 1336 and went on to command troops on Go-Daigo's behalf in 1337. In 1335, after rebelling against Go-Daigo, Takauji appointed
7047-583: Was famous for the swords it forged in the early 13th century for the class of warrior-nobility known as the Samurai . Western historians have said that Japanese katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history. The types of swords used by the Samurai included the ōdachi (extra long field sword), tachi (long cavalry sword), katana (long sword), and wakizashi (shorter companion sword for katana ). Japanese swords that pre-date
7134-453: Was fashioned in a white metallic color, and well maintained." After witnessing the sword, the grand priest was banished and the other priests, except for Matsuoka, died from strange diseases. The above account therefore comes from the only survivor, Matsuoka. In The Tale of the Heike , a collection of oral stories transcribed in 1371, the sword is lost at sea after the defeat of the Heike in
7221-469: Was known as killing the sword. Thus they might have considered swords as the most potent and powerful object. High-carbon steel for swords, which would later appear as Damascus steel , was likely introduced in India around the mid-1st millennium BC. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions swords of Indian iron and steel being exported from ancient India to ancient Greece . Blades from
7308-443: Was perfectly designed for manipulating and pushing away enemy polearms , which were major weapons around this time, in both Germany and Eastern Europe. Doppelsöldners also used katzbalgers , which means 'cat-gutter'. The katzbalger's S-shaped guard and 2-foot-long (0.61 m) blade made it perfect for bringing in when the fighting became too close to use a zweihänder . Civilian use of swords became increasingly common during
7395-427: Was removed from the Imperial palace in 688, and moved to Atsuta Shrine after the sword was blamed for causing Emperor Tenmu to fall ill. Along with the jewel ( Yasakani no Magatama ) and the mirror ( Yata no Kagami ), it is one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan , the sword representing the virtue of valor. Kusanagi is allegedly kept at Atsuta Shrine but is not available for public display. During
7482-524: Was the lengthening of the grip, allowing two-handed use, and a longer blade. By 1400, this type of sword, at the time called langes Schwert (longsword) or spadone , was common, and a number of 15th- and 16th-century Fechtbücher offering instructions on their use survive. Another variant was the specialized armour-piercing swords of the estoc type. The longsword became popular due to its extreme reach and its cutting and thrusting abilities. The estoc became popular because of its ability to thrust into
7569-480: Was used among soldiers in the Khurasan region of Persia . The takoba is a type of broadsword originating in the western Sahel , descended from various Byzantine and Islamic swords. It has a straight double-edged blade measuring about one meter in length, usually imported from Europe. Abyssinian swords related to the Persian shamshir are known as shotel . The Asante people adopted swords under
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