PECULIARE OF JAPANESE SWORDS
Japanese swords were invented and developed in Japan. So Japanese swords have peculiare when we compare with other swords in the world.
The main purpose of using Japanese swords were cutting. So Japanese swords are curved. European swords were used to hit or stab. So most European swords are strait.
Japanese swords are very beautiful. So these have value as works of art. European swords are beautiful too, but these fact only means theses decorations are beautiful. Japanese swords have beautiful blade.
Smiths of Japanese swords have wonted to make swords, which do not break, do not bent and sharp. To make them sharp and not to be bent, smiths need to make them hard. But if they make them hard, these became fragile. They solve this problem by covering soft steel with hard one. This way was special technique. Japanese sword smiths have studied the way of forging. They found the way to make tough steel. The way was that they hit and hit a heated bar of steel. And then they fold back the bar of heated steel, and hit again. They did that process, again and again. Therefore, construction of the steel's density becomes higher. So the steel becomes tough. Now, Japanese swords are not used to be arms, and people regard it as objects of art. But if Japanese swords have not been developed to be arms, it has not become beautiful such as objects of art. Japanese swords have been practical, so these became very beautiful.
Yousuke
Last updated 6-Dec-2001