----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Davidson
To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 3:56 PM
Subject: [samuraihistory] On naming swords
There is an excerpt from 'My Father' by Arai Hasuseki, in Legends of
the Samurai' and it relates a story:
Hasuseki's father Masanori, lived from 1601-82, 'not far removed
from the Sengoku Jidai', as his son describes it.
'You should never say ... that you carry a sharp blade ... someone
heard someone else say his sword cuts exceptionally well, so said
"By Heaven, you act rudely as if no-one else was around you.
Do you suppose anyone would carry a sword that does not cut?
Come on, man, see for yourself whether my sword cuts or not!"
and drew his sword.'
Apparently, bystanders intervened before blood was spilt.
It would appear from other details related to named swords, here and
elsewhere, that names usually derived from an incident to do with
the sword, rather than from any inherent quality of the blade.
The risk in attributing qualities to the sword itself implies that
other swords lack that quality, or rather this sword is superior
in that quality to all others, and thus an insult to the owner,
and an invitation to a duel.
They were touchy chaps, in those days.
Thomas
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----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Davidson
To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 3:56 PM
Subject: [samuraihistory] On naming swords
There is an excerpt from 'My Father' by Arai Hasuseki, in Legends of
the Samurai' and it relates a story:
Hasuseki's father Masanori, lived from 1601-82, 'not far removed
from the Sengoku Jidai', as his son describes it.
'You should never say ... that you carry a sharp blade ... someone
heard someone else say his sword cuts exceptionally well, so said
"By Heaven, you act rudely as if no-one else was around you.
Do you suppose anyone would carry a sword that does not cut?
Come on, man, see for yourself whether my sword cuts or not!"
and drew his sword.'
Apparently, bystanders intervened before blood was spilt.
It would appear from other details related to named swords, here and
elsewhere, that names usually derived from an incident to do with
the sword, rather than from any inherent quality of the blade.
The risk in attributing qualities to the sword itself implies that
other swords lack that quality, or rather this sword is superior
in that quality to all others, and thus an insult to the owner,
and an invitation to a duel.
They were touchy chaps, in those days.
Thomas
> It's curious how many people withI can't recall what warlord it was who forbade his retainers to go into hock to
> expensive swords, however, seem to be of the opinion that the quality of the
> steel decides the fight, rather than the quality of the combatants' skills.
----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony Bryant <ajbryant@...>
To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 11:23 AM
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] On naming swords
Silk Road School wrote:
> It's curious how many people with
> expensive swords, however, seem to be of the opinion that the quality of
the
> steel decides the fight, rather than the quality of the combatants'
skills.
I can't recall what warlord it was who forbade his retainers to go into hock
to
buy "quality" swords. He had a saying: "A sword worth a hundred gold pieces
can
be overcome by one hundred spears, each worth one gold piece."
Tony