By lyuesword | 21 April 2022 | 0 Comments
The Reasons WHY I love Japanese Sword Ⅰ
Written by Pablo Kuntz , Founder of Unique Japan
I get this question a lot. From family, from friends, from clients, ”why do you love Japanese swords so much?”
In the past I’d reply in a bewildered kind of way, “…I don’t know, I just do.”
And then I’d go into a rather awkward lengthy explanation on how I appreciate their beauty, their history, trying hard to explain that quintessential feeling I get every time I hold a Japanese sword in my hands.
It’s never very straightforward.
It is without question that Japanese swords have changed and influenced my life quite profoundly. And so I have done a fair amount of soul searching as to why I believe I love these wonderful works of art.
It’s literally taken me a few years to write this article. I want to share these thoughts about the Japanese sword because I know there are many more people out there that connect in the same way I do.
**Note: These seven reasons are by no means a complete list (there are many more, so this is more like a top 7) and they not in any order of importance.
Each reason interacts with the other in a spiritual kind of way:
Reason #1 – All that History…
First of all, the history grabs me every time. I mean, how could it not?
The majority of the Japanese swords in existence are antiques that are several hundred years old.
That’s right, around the time Christopher Columbus was out there with his crew, on the ocean blue, back in 1492, a katana was being forged in Japan.
And I can quite easily hold one today, and I happen to own some much older.
My mind drifts off to distant places and faraway lands. What happened in the world at the time this sword was made? If this sword could talk, what would it say?
Not surprising given their importance and tradition in Japanese culture, Japanese swords and their smiths are very well documented in scores of books (most of which are in Japanese, but English translations are growing).
So it’s very possible to build a complete story of where the smith worked, his general rank, whom he studied under, the symbolism of the artwork on the fittings, and often the families that likely owned the swords themselves.
It’s such a pleasure to discover the full story and the story has a tendency of becoming even more complete over time.
Reason #2 – Memories of Japan
I lived in Japan for almost 20 years; I first travelled to the country in November of 1993 after graduating from university in Canada.
Thankfully, I continue to travel a few times throughout the year. I now live with my wife, Donna, and our three children, Hannah, Lennon and Nelson in the UK.
Without a doubt, my Japanese swords (especially my first Japanese sword) keep me close to Japan. The sword is like a memorial bridge that stretches from my hands all the way to that small special island.
Every time I oil the blade, take in its subtle beauty sword I think of my time Japan; the memories of the country, how I met my wife there, how our kids spent their first years there, started a business in the country, all the friends I met, the grandeur of Tokyo, the amazing sushi, the list goes on!
Japan is a very unique country and for anyone who has visited the country, it’s hard not to be influenced in some significant way.
A Japanese sword encompasses the magic that is Japan in a single object.
A Japanese sword has a soul.
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Want a unique sword? Feel free to contact us:
Email: lyuesword@hotmail.com
Website: www.lyuesword.com
Custom Sword Page: www.lyuesword.com/Custom-Sword/customization-options/Create-Your-Own-Swords
I get this question a lot. From family, from friends, from clients, ”why do you love Japanese swords so much?”
In the past I’d reply in a bewildered kind of way, “…I don’t know, I just do.”
And then I’d go into a rather awkward lengthy explanation on how I appreciate their beauty, their history, trying hard to explain that quintessential feeling I get every time I hold a Japanese sword in my hands.
It’s never very straightforward.
It is without question that Japanese swords have changed and influenced my life quite profoundly. And so I have done a fair amount of soul searching as to why I believe I love these wonderful works of art.
It’s literally taken me a few years to write this article. I want to share these thoughts about the Japanese sword because I know there are many more people out there that connect in the same way I do.
**Note: These seven reasons are by no means a complete list (there are many more, so this is more like a top 7) and they not in any order of importance.
Each reason interacts with the other in a spiritual kind of way:
Reason #1 – All that History…
First of all, the history grabs me every time. I mean, how could it not?
The majority of the Japanese swords in existence are antiques that are several hundred years old.
That’s right, around the time Christopher Columbus was out there with his crew, on the ocean blue, back in 1492, a katana was being forged in Japan.
And I can quite easily hold one today, and I happen to own some much older.
My mind drifts off to distant places and faraway lands. What happened in the world at the time this sword was made? If this sword could talk, what would it say?
Not surprising given their importance and tradition in Japanese culture, Japanese swords and their smiths are very well documented in scores of books (most of which are in Japanese, but English translations are growing).
So it’s very possible to build a complete story of where the smith worked, his general rank, whom he studied under, the symbolism of the artwork on the fittings, and often the families that likely owned the swords themselves.
It’s such a pleasure to discover the full story and the story has a tendency of becoming even more complete over time.
Reason #2 – Memories of Japan
I lived in Japan for almost 20 years; I first travelled to the country in November of 1993 after graduating from university in Canada.
Thankfully, I continue to travel a few times throughout the year. I now live with my wife, Donna, and our three children, Hannah, Lennon and Nelson in the UK.
Without a doubt, my Japanese swords (especially my first Japanese sword) keep me close to Japan. The sword is like a memorial bridge that stretches from my hands all the way to that small special island.
Every time I oil the blade, take in its subtle beauty sword I think of my time Japan; the memories of the country, how I met my wife there, how our kids spent their first years there, started a business in the country, all the friends I met, the grandeur of Tokyo, the amazing sushi, the list goes on!
Japan is a very unique country and for anyone who has visited the country, it’s hard not to be influenced in some significant way.
A Japanese sword encompasses the magic that is Japan in a single object.
A Japanese sword has a soul.
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-----------------------To be contiuned.
Email: lyuesword@hotmail.com
Website: www.lyuesword.com
Custom Sword Page: www.lyuesword.com/Custom-Sword/customization-options/Create-Your-Own-Swords
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