Thomas Russell Hillier McClatchie, Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan (1874)
“ To clash the sheath of one’s sword against that belonging to another person was held to be a grave breach of etiquette;—to turn the sheath in the belt, as though about to draw, was tantamount to a challenge;—while to lay one’s weapon on the floor of a room, and to kick the guard with the foot, in the direction of any one else, was a deadly insult that generally resulted in a combat to the death. ”
Thomas Russell Hillier McClatchie, Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan (1874)
“ Subjoined are a few of these, selected at random:— “There’s nought ’twixt Heaven and Earth that man need fear, who carries at his belt this single blade:”—again,—“One’s fate is in the hands of Heaven, but a skilful fighter does not meet with death.”—and again,—“In one’s last days, one’s sword becomes the wealth of one’s posterity.” ”
Thomas Russell Hillier McClatchie, Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan (1874)
“ Masamune and Yoshimitsu acquired their renown towards the end of the 13th century, while Muramasa did not appear till nearly a century after them. These makers, as indeed all smiths of any note, had their own marks which they engraved on the hilt of the sword, most frequently accompanied by a date, but as, of late years, the practice of counterfeiting the marks of well known makers has been largely indulged in, these are not always to he depended upon. ”
