The Opelousas courier., 1904-11-05
laE SWORD IN OLD JAPAN
~mAYEp AN IMPORTANT PART
Y al AOciETY AND POLITICS.

AE&E IL
--
!. esudal Tlmss II Was the Dlstine-
tlve Weapon In War and for Person
i use-The Principal Parts OF q
Japanese Sword.
sword with the Japanese In few
81 times vas the most important of
i, veapens in war and for personal
80 Tyeyasu, who was the first great
.noet,n Of Tokugawa, 1610-1630, termed
- svord 1.-THE Soul Of the Samurai."
~ rim 1t was the most important of
~ possessions. Upon this weapon
.ha .Iapanese lavished all the re-
so,rces Of their art. The forging Of
81, blade became a high art, and its
a~narrs won great homer and fame;
~ making of q famed blade was q
.rhiect of meditation and prayer; up
- the scabbard was lavished all the
,scouerer's skill; to the guard and
cher metal mountings were given an
,rauite variety Of lessons from nature
and her creatures, and from religious
and symbolic legends. The higher
rlessen wore two, and the children of
thesa classes commenced early in
youth to wear wooden ones. The
Iroyar use Of the sword was made q
r.rt of the system of education, and
tba ceremonies attending Its s in
everyday life were most elaborate and
minute.
The abolition of the shogunate n
fsea was soon followed by a decree
eholishing the wearing Of the sword;
hence. there came into disuse hun
srada OF thousands Of beautifully dec
orated weapons, which have been dis
tributed all over the world by purchas-
ing tourists, and thousands, deprived
oe their ornaments, have been con-
ysrted into more peaceful forms, such
d knives, tools, etc.
A time was in Japan when a mans
station could be determined by the
sword he wors at his side. A person
magnincently CARRIED with an ordinary
weapon would be adjuged Of low de-
Eree. while q poorly dressed person
wearing q fine sword would be sx-
tended distinguished homage A for
time was invested in arms. A rich
noble often possessed 1900 swords,
some OF them costing s1.4O0, and the
daimios Wed with each other in own
ing elegant specimens Of the armor-
erss craft. All the metal work Of Japan
ths beautiful designs, and exquisite
hanmering, are due to the many
rars. The ornamentation Of the
grard and swords accessories have
heen tina craze Of tourists and col
!.ctors for thirty years.
The most important parts OF q Jap
anese sword are: The tsuba or guard,
d Dat piece of metal usually circular
or oval In form. perforated by a tri-
angular aperture for the admission OF
the blade. At either side are n or
mora openings for the Judgment OF
two other accessories, called the KIDD
xuka or small dagger, and the kogai
or skewer. The guards are usually
entire in design. A FISH, serpents, a
horse, q mountain landscape, ano
many other features of nature are IN
troduced into the design OF these
sword guards. The handles Of the
small dagger aud the skewers are also
exouisitely decorated with inlaid
motherof-pearl in design or wrought
images in the metal itself. Crabs
Holsters, serpents and dragons enter
very largely into their decorations Of
the dagger. The skewer usually has
b D its handle some pattern OF
model, corresponding in some way
with the crest or monogram OF tne
d Is use is threefold to tne
soldier. Sometimes he takes 1t from
its place and puts 1t in his hair Z
hold 1t in It's place. In camp 1t II
ofsen used as q chop stick by him. ii
battle he uses it to stick In the pod!
CT q dead adversary as 3 sign OF W
srship. The email ornaments on tn'
side OF the hilt and the cap or pomms
which covers the end of the hilt are
though very small. as perfect n dc
aIgn as only the deft fingers OF tn
japanese and fhair patient work cal
make them. It Is q curious Phenome
non that q natioa engaged In war con
stantly for COO or 700 years shoui'
produce the most artistic and inini'
able metal work Of any nation l n Tn
world.
with civilization has come also
d~sbasement OF their productions. MOT
maleable materials are used, Wnicl
ran be worked quickly into the ldea
they wish to express, and Wniie u
taste and skill yet remain, it Is onl
q question Of time when it viii D
iost. Carelesssless and rapidity nav
taken the place OF patience and qua
tty: and this all due to the desire I
supply the great demands that like
fad has spread rapidly over the wori
Tor some product Of japanese art
Detroit Tribune.
History OF GIaseMakins.
rt N8 -1-~ Hh "