Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum (HARRIS, Victor)

“As well as being a deadly weapon and a unique work of art, the sword in Japan is imbued with a spiritual essence. An appreciation of such beauty, deriving from the laws of nature, is central to the Japanese aesthetic. Like the study of ceramics, the study of the Japanese sword blade as an art form is the study of technical excellence, elegance of shape and beauty of texture.” – from the Introduction

In no other culture has the sword been developed to such a level of technological excellence and attained such a position of spiritual importance as in Japan. As a cutting weapon, the fully developed curved sword of the samurai is extremely effective. Complex traditional methods of forging, conducted according to the ancient precepts of reverence and cleanliness of the Shinto religion, impart these special qualities, producing countless varying hues and patterns in the crystalline structures of the steel. The Japanese sword has been appreciated as an art object since its perfection some time during the tenth century AD. Fine swords have been more highly prized than lands or riches, those of superior quality being handed down from generation to generation. Well-documented swords, whose blades are signed by their makers, survive from nearly a thousand years ago, making the study of the sword a guide to the flow of Japanese history.

This book catalogues over 160 swords and mountings dating back as far as the fourteenth century, arranged chronologically by school or province of maker. Blades are shown complete and many also in detail using specially commissioned digital photography. The introduction, which traces the historical development of the Japanese sword, is illustrated with a selection of prints, paintings and screens, together with detailed drawings explaining the various shapes and types of sword. Also provided is a comprehensive glossary of Japanese terms as well as a list of present-day place names.

Cover illustrations: ® The Trustees of the British Museum