And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Any blade longer than three inches with holes through the tang is considered a "sword" under Japanese law and must be documented and registered. As there have been no Samurai since the 1880's there have been NO "Samurai" swords. This is the equivalent of calling a magazine a "clip". The correct term's for Japanese blades made to kill humans is, Tachi , Katana, Wakazashi or Tonto = Long , regular, or short sword and knife. They are further subdivided by era, school and region. Collectively they are often called Nihonto . But unless they were made before the Meiji Restoration they are NEVER called "samurai" swords.
VERY high art
ReplyDeleteThat was fascinating, CW. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteAny blade longer than three inches with holes through the tang is considered a "sword" under Japanese law and must be documented and registered. As there have been no Samurai since the 1880's there have been NO "Samurai" swords. This is the equivalent of calling a magazine a "clip". The correct term's for Japanese blades made to kill humans is, Tachi , Katana, Wakazashi or Tonto = Long , regular, or short sword and knife. They are further subdivided by era, school and region. Collectively they are often called Nihonto . But unless they were made before the Meiji Restoration they are NEVER called "samurai" swords.
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