9 Greastest Samurai Swords Ever Made
From the katana to the tachi, the legendary to the iunbelievably real, these are 8 of the greatest samurai swords to pass their blades through history.
8. Juzumaru: The Sword to Ward off Evil
One of the five Tenga-Goken swords, juzumaru is a stunning tachi, a type of traditional Japanese samurai sword, created by master swordsmith A-o-e Tsu-net-sugu. Its name translates to “rosary”, just like the strands of beads used while praying. Legend states that when Priest Neechi-ren, a buddhist monk, created the Kuon-ji temple on Mount Minobu he was gifted juzumaru as a way to protect himself. The monk hung prayer beads on the hilt of the eighty one centimeter sword to ward off evil spirits, giving the sword its name.
7. Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Sengo Muramasa was a highly skilled swordsmith who founded the Muramasa school, where he taught sword making, during the Muromachi period. Called Muramasa blades, the katanas made at Sengo’s institute were known for being almost impossibly sharp. Historically, Sengo Muramasa was known to be ill tempered, violent, and half mad, all traits which he passed on to his swords. Legend states that once drawn, a muramasa katana must draw blood before it can be returned to its scabbard, even if it means the wielder must injure themself.
6. Masamune: The gentle force.
Often contrasted with the muramasa blades, masamune katanas carry a legend all their own. The master of Sengo Muramasa, Gorō Nyūdō Masamune was challenged by his protege to see who could create the superior blade. The contest required each swordsmith to hold the blades in a flowing river and see who’s creation could perform superiorly against the passing leaves, fish, and debris. Muramasa’s blade was wickedly sharp and sliced through everything that passed.
5. Dojigiri: The Ogre Slaying Sword
Historically, ogres have been portrayed as a bit more fearsome, vile beast than the buffoonish, gassy Shrek would lead your to believe. As legend would have it, the Dojigiri Yasutsuna, an amazing eighty inch blade, came head to head with one of the most fearsome ogre kings in all of history: Shuten Doji of Mount Oe. With a massive red body, mismatched black and white legs, and a scowling head adorned with five horns, Shuten Doji terrorized the area around Mount Oe for decades if the legend is to be believed.
4. Mikazuki-munechika: The Fragile Sword
With a name translating to “crescent moon” in reference to its stunning curvature, the Mikazuki-munechika is labelled as the most beautiful of the tenga goken blades. Forged around the tenth century, the Mikazuki-munechika is one of the oldest remaining swords and has survived in remarkable condition. Created by a skilled swordsmith named Sanjo Munechika, who lived in Yamashiro Province during the Ein period, the sword is a true showcase of the craftsmanship of the time.
3. Onimaru: The Protector of Dreams
Considered a powerful protectant against evil spirits, Onimaru Kunitsuna is considered a treasure. Considered a perfect specimen of the Kamakura era, the sword curves sharply and narrows towards its tip; it also curves within its hilt for added support. One of the five tenga goken, the Onimaru’s hilt and case are wrapped in leather strings. Its name translates to “demon”, in reference to a legend which states the sword moved by itself to strike down a silver ogre statue that housed an oni, which is a demon from Japanese folklore.
2. Odenta: The Small(er) but Mighty One
The last of the five tenga goken blades, the Odenta Mitsuyo is both shorter and wider than the typical katana blade. At only sixty six centimeters in length, it is easy to underestimate the strength of the Odenta blade. Held by Maeda Toshiie, lord of the Kaga domain, the blade was borrowed from the second shogun named Hidetada, easy as asking your neighbor for a cup of sugar. The lord’s daughter had just recovered from a nearly fatal illness during the time the sword was borrowed, so Hidetada bestowed the blade to Maeda as a gift to celebrate his daughters wellness. It became a treasured item of the household and was held in protective care for some time.
1.Daihannya: The Wise One
A sword that changed hands many times, Daihannya’s name translates to, “the great perfection of wisdom”, a fitting title for such a well travelled blade. From the hands of it’s master swordsmith, Osafune Nagamitsu, to the 13th shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, to the warlord warlord Oda Nobunaga, Daihannya has been a fearsome instrument in history. The blade has a very distinct curvature and tempering pattern that was iconic of Nagamitsu, the founder of the Osafune School of swordsmiths. Official swords appraisers would send origami notes to swordsmiths to tell them how much their work was worth.