Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-21
WONDERFUL JAPANESE SWORDS.
Tales More Marvellous Than Those Related
Of Damascus Blades.


From the New York Times
The most celebrated sword maker of japan
was Masamune. who lived and worked in the
fourteenth century. His weapons were marvels
| OF forging. and many Of them were Of almost
priceless value. As much as q, 900 was often
paid for one, and in that age and century 81 900
was large fortune. Little is known concern
ing this famous swordsmith, but no rivals ever
excelled him in his profession, and although.
according to the custom of the country. his
trade was handed down in his family genera
ton after generation, none of his descendants
ever attained to skill equal to that Of their
great progenitor.
Little, ii at all. inferior to the Masamune
blades were the Muramasa swords forged by
Senju-in-Nluramasa at Use early in the four
teenth century. There is and probably always
| viii be difference of opinion among the au-
thorities regarding the relative greatness of
these two celebra ted swordsmiths and their
work, but 1t must be conceded that they stood
! pretty nearly side by side in professional at
tainments. while certainly they both main
talned themselves in positions that were unap-
proacnaple by any other rivals of whatsoever
period Muramasa sword also represented a
! fortune IN its day. Men of wealth yyonld beg
gar themselves to obtain one. and nothing
short of death would induce them to part with
the priced possession when once it was secured.
Marvellous stories regarding these Weapons have
Deen handed down from the far-off shadow land
OF romance aud tradition. and no Damascus
blades ever rejoiced i'll greater reputation in
their own land than did these in old Japan
Outside of japan there has been very little
written on this subject. but in an agreeable ro-
nance Of japanese life entitled x Muramas,
Blade, by Mr. Louis wertheimber published a
few years ago, some remarkable traditions con-
corning the perfection of these weapons are re-
lated. According to this authority, a Muramasa
sword would cut II hair floating in the air, cut
through an inch thick copper bar or sever three
and four blades of interior make ut I; single
blow without duiiing it's own edge or even dim
ming the ulster of its surface. Again. it would
cut pieces OF paper thatwere sent floating down
upon the surface OF river against its keen
edge. In course of time these swords came to
be regarded with superstitious awe, and people
began 70 believe that they had supernatural
qualities and were capable of endowing those
who welded them with mowers such as the in
dividuals otherwise were not known ever to
possess
In supreme moments, when the owner of n
Muramasa blade battling against fearful
odds In the cause of honor and Justice his
| sword seemed to be itself possessed of life and
would strike OF head after head of its op-
ponents without the least volition on the part
of the doughty warrior who carried it, or even,
perhaps. Ill r,itc OF all his best uffor.s to con-
troll it. AT such Zines the swordsmcn declared
that they seemed 20 lose consciousness as soon
as their hands srasped the sword hits. while
the weapon. now quite beyond all control
moved up and down. doing it's bloody work
with celebrity and prccisidii, al if impelled bv
some unseen agency. Again, it said that
man on the eve OF duel could look into his
Muramasa blade and there See reflected in its
mirror-like surface his own face or that OF his
enemy. as the wrath of the one who Was to tall
IN the impending conflict.
Strange stories were whispered after dark
about the mysterious composition of these
blades, by which they gained their phenomenal
power, and II was said that the smith needed
newly shed human blood to mix with the metal
IN Welding the steel TO its highest possible per-
fectlon. Dead bodies were found IRON time to
time In the streets near his house cut and
slashed SO that no blood was left in them; these,
IT was generally agreed. were the smith vic
tins who supplied him with the essential COM
pound for his forge work. Human life was
cheap then. and the samurai could he depended
upon to regard lis use TO tempe" their blades if
so needed. as Iii the highest degree justiiiable
The possessors of these weapons were never
so happy as when using them. and it WAS rare
indeed that victory did no. perch upon Mura-
masa blade. The brayest warriors sbrark
from duel with the wiel,lers of swords with
such mysterious and irresistible powe-. In
time the blades became a frightful SQUIRE. of
accident. Even their bearers. although while
using them lnvinciblo against all enemies
could not always govern them. When once
drawn from the sheath death to some one must
result ere the sword wOuli permit itself to be
replaced. 1t seemed to be imbued with a
Frankenstein spirit. and many n royster and
breaker Of the peace would at times find his
blade turning againss himself and woundng
HIM.
A common story was to the effect that Mu-
rama.a sword vas once on a time pledged to a
pawnbroker. The fellow thought this fine
opportunity to parade himself as a gentleman
and accordingly on a festival day he wore the
sword. Quarreling with some idle fellows he
essayed to use the weapon, but his unfamiliar