There are many legends of famous swords circulated in Japanese history, such as Harusame, Nagabune, Kikuichimonji, Onikiri, Tennosongun, etc. Each of them has its own characteristics, but when it comes to evil spirits and sharpness, The first choice is the demon sword Muramasa.
Muramasa, a long sword with a blade length of 73.32 cm and outstanding cutting ability, is the sharpest knife in Japan and the most famous knife. Its origins are legendary.
According to legend, in the late Kamakura period, the famous swordsmith Okazaki Masamune, in order to choose his successor, ordered his three disciples Muramasa, Masachika, and Sadamune to each forge a precious sword within twenty-one days. Whose sword is it? Whoever is the sharpest will inherit the mantle. The three masters worked day and night, pushing their own skills to the limit, and forged three swords with cold light and sharpness. On the surface, they seemed to be equally matched.
Okazaki Masamune examined them one by one, and after carefully observing the three swords, without saying a word, he appointed Sadamune to succeed him. Muramasa, who had an extreme personality, was dissatisfied when he saw his master appointing a successor so quickly, so he asked to test the sword. Zhengzong then took his three disciples to the river and inserted the forged knife into the flowing water with the blade facing upstream. Leaves and straw kept floating down the upper stream and flowing over the blade. If the blade is sharp enough, the leaves and straw will be cut open.
When the leaves and straw flowed past the knife that was approaching, they were cut, but the roots were not connected smoothly; when they flowed to Zhenzong's knife, they were cut into two with just one click, and then they were cut into two pieces. Wave away. But when it touched Muramasa's knife, although it was split into two very quickly, the knife seemed to be alive, sucking the leaves and straw tightly so that they could not float away, but circled around the blade. It's like being trapped by a witchcraft.
Okazaki Masamune pointed to the knife in the water and said to his three apprentices: "The purpose of a swordsmith's ideal famous sword is not just to be sharp. A short blade protects oneself, and a long sword protects the country. This is the true meaning of a sword. Masachika's sword is muddy and cannot protect the country, so how can it protect the country? Muramasa's sword is filled with evil spirit and loses its beauty. Once the sword is struck, it will not only fail to protect the country, but it may also harm the country. , can only be called a demon sword; only Zhenzong's sword can be regarded as a famous sword because it can be used openly and decisively to cut off the flow of water when necessary."
That's it, Muramasa. The knife was born under the unknown comments of a generation of knife-making masters. After it was born, it not only killed countless people, but also had the property of devouring the owner. It is said that as long as a samurai holds Muramasa, he will be possessed and become a murderous monster. If the righteousness of the sword holder is not enough to deter the Muramasa sword, he will suffer the consequences, ranging from a broken finger to death. But once Muramasa is subdued, he can be invincible. In the Warring States Period, this sword was passed down to the Matsudaira (Tokugawa) family, causing the Tokugawa family to suffer nightmares. It was regarded as an "unlucky symbol that troubled the Tokugawa family" and became famous for later generations. All kinds of experiences have really fulfilled the theory of "demon sword".
At that time, the skills of making Muramasa swords had been inherited by the swordsmith workshop living in Ise Kuwana. The long swords and short swords they forged were all engraved with the sword inscription of "Muramasa", followed by Like modern trademarks. And according to the year of production, it is divided into the first generation to the third generation, so there are many Muramasa swords circulating in the world. Since the bloody tragedies that happened to several generations of the Tokugawa family were all related to Muramasa, Tokugawa Ieyasu later issued a strict order, notifying the country to destroy all swords engraved with the "Muramasa" inscription. Violators will be regarded as contempt for the shogunate and disrespect for morality. The Sichuan family had different intentions, and they were all executed for the crime of disrespect.
After Ieyasu banned swords, Muramasa became a major taboo under the Tokugawa regime, and the idea of ??demon swords became widespread. From then on, the Muramasa sword was either destroyed on the spot or had its inscription changed. Only a very small number of Muramasa swords have been preserved because of the risk of losing their heads by a few samurai.
Existing genuine Muramasa is extremely rare, and the third generation "Miaoho Muramasa" is the most famous. The blade of this sword is engraved with a dragon, and the blade is engraved with the words "Myoho Renge Sutra". It has a deep connection with the Nichiren sect and is a treasure in the eyes of collectors.