The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-08-26
THE SWORD IN lOLD JAPAN.
1T PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART
IN SOCIETY AND POLITICS.


1T PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART
IN SOCIETY AND POLITICS.
In Feudal Times 1t Was the Distinc.
tive Weapon in War and for Person
al Use-The Principal Parts Of a
Japanese Sword.
A sword with the Japanese in feu-
dial times was the most important of
all weapons in war and for personal
use. Iyeyasu, who was the first great
shotgun of Tokugawa. 1610-l630, termed
the sword THE Soul of the Samurai."
To him it was the most important of
his possessions. Upon this weapon
the Japanese lavished all the re-
sources of their art. The forging of
the blade became a high art, and its
experts won great honor and fame;
the making of famed blade was a
subject of meditation and prayer; up
ON the scabbard was laviShed all the
lacquerer's skill; to the guard and
other metal mountings were given an
infinite variety of lessons from nature
and her creatures, and from religious
and symbolic legends. The higher
classes wore two, and the children of
these classes commenced early in
youth to wear wooden ones. The
proper use OF the sword was made
part CT the system OF education. and
the ceremonies attending its use in
everyday life were most elaborate and
minute.
The abolition of the shogunate in
1868 was soon followed by decree
abolshing the wearing of the sword;
hence, there came into disuse hun
dreds of thousands of beautifully dec
Grated weapons, which have been dis
tributed all ever the world by purchas-
of their ornaments. have been con-
verified into more peaceful ferns, such
as knives, tools, etc.
A time was in Japan when mans
station could be determined by the
sword he wore at his side. A person
magnificently CARRIED with an ordinary
weapon would be adjuged Of low de-
gree, while poorly dressed person
wearing a fine sword would be sx-
tended distinguished homage. A for
tune was invested in arms. A rich
noble often possessed 1900 swords,
some of them costing S1,400, and the
daimios WED with each other in own
ing elegant specimens of the armor-
er.s craft. All the metal work Of Japan
the beautiful designs. and exquisite
hammering, are due to the many
wars. The ornamentation Of the
guard and swords accessories have
been the craze of tourists and col
!ectors for thirty years.
The most important parts of jap
anese sword are: The tsuba or guard,
a fiat piece of metal usually circular
or oval in form, perforated by tri-
angular aperture for the admission OF
the blade. At either side are one or
more openings for the lodgment OF
two other accessories, called the kod-
zuka or small dagger. and the kogal
or skewer. The guards are usually
entire in design. A fish, serpents.
horse, a mountain landscape, and
many other features of nature are IN
troduced into the design of these
sword guards. The handles of the
small dagger and the skewers are also
exquisitely decorated with inlaid
mother-ofpearl 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
upon its handle some pattern or
model, corresponding in some way
with the crest or monogram OF the
owner Is use is threefold to the
soldier. Sometimes he takes it from
it's place and puts it in his hair to
hold it in its place. In camp it is
often used as chop stick by him. In
battle he uses it to stick in the body
CT a dead adversary as a sign OF own
ership The small ornaments on the
side of the hilt and the cap or pommel
which covers the end of the hilt are,
though very small, as perfect in de-
sign as only the deft fingers Of the
Japanese and their patient work can
make them. 1t is curious phenome-
non that nation engaged in war con-
stantly for GOO or 700 years should
produce the most artistic and inimit-
able metal work Of any nation in the
world.
With civilization has come also
d ebasement of their productions. More
maleable materials are used, which
can be worked quickly into the ideas
they wish to express, and while the
taste and skill yet remain, it is only
a question of time when it will be
lost. Carelessness and rapidity have
taken the place of patience and quail
ity; and this all due to the desire to
supply the great demands that like a
fad has spread rapidly over the world
for some product of Japanese art
Detroit Tribune.