''Honjō Masamune'' 名物本庄正宗

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''Honjō Masamune'' l 名物本庄正宗

''The sword is the soul of the Samurai''

One of the oldest swords in the samurai tradition still admired and revered as a cultural relic is the katana crafted by legendary metallurgist Gorō Nyūdō Masamune. A symbol of power and aggression. However, this power can go both ways, a sword may harm but also protect and is classically a symbol of honor.

Legends say the souls of all who contribute to the forging of a katana – in addition to the samurai who wields it –are reflected in the katana’s physical and moral characteristics. To illustrate, a legend is told of how a blade forged by Muramasa, a fellow swordsmith, was held upright in a swiftly flowing stream and the edge effortlessly cut in two any dead leaf or fish that the current brought against it. However, the blade made by Masamune did not needlessly cut that which is innocent and undeserving.

The Japanese believe the sword is the soul of the Samurai, a relic passed down through generations. The names of the Shoguns who wielded the Honjō Masamune are written on this sword's blade. They are considered to be the ones who made the sword strong by giving a piece of themselves to the spirit of the sword.