When Muramasa observed this, he believed that Masamune’s sword was not sharp enough, and thought that he had won. Living creatures were repelled from it instead. Muramasa’s sword sliced everything that came into contact with it.īy contrast, Masamune’s sword only cut the leaves that were floating. In one account, the completed swords were suspended over the stream to test their quality. There are many versions of this tale, though all of them point to the more virtuous character of Masamune and his creations. This tale, which is quite unlikely to have actually taken place, is about a competition between the two swordsmiths to determine which of them was the greater sword-maker.
Masamune’s character is best seen in a story of Masamune and Muramasa. While it is unknown when exactly the swordsmith lived and died, it is traditionally believed that he was making most of his swords during the late 13th century AD and the early part of the following century. Masamune is often regarded as one of Japan’s greatest swordsmiths. After the end of the Second World War, however, this renowned samurai sword disappeared, and its whereabouts remains a mystery, even today. This samurai sword is one of the most famous swords in Japanese history, and at one point of time, it even became one of the country’s national treasures. Powerful swords in video games are often named after Masamune and Muramasa.The Honjo Masamune is a sword that was forged by the renowned Japanese swordsmith, Goro Nyudo Masamune. Thus, the Honjo Masamune might still be out there, hidden in some unsuspecting family’s trinkets or owned by a knowledgeable but secretive private collector. Someone recently (2013) brought a sword to the Kyoto National Museum, and it was later to be determined to be one of Masamune’s make (The Shimazu Masamune), rediscovered after disappearing from historical records for over 150 years. The sword immediately disappeared from history, and its whereabouts are still unknown. However, Tokugawa Lemasa, who possessed the sword at that time, decided to set an example and gave up his family’s collection. As you can imagine, the nobles were livid at this demand. The Allies demanded all the nobility in Japan hand over their familiar swords. Even after losing power, the family managed to keep the sword.Īt least, until the end of WWII, when Japan lost the war and the Allies came looking for booty. The sword then passed from Shogun to Shogun until the Tokugawa Shogunate eventually fell. Many decades later, he sold the sword to the ruling Toyotomi clan, who lost it to the new Shogun (military dictator) when he took power.
When Honjo won by striking the enemy’s helmet so hard it split in twain, he claimed the sword as his own.
In 1561, Honjo fought a duel against an enemy general who wielded said sword. The greatest sword Masamune ever forged was called the Honjo Masamune, after a 16 th century general Honjo Shigenaga and Masamune himself. However, a traveling monk who is judging the competition declares Masamune’s blade superior, for while Muramasa’s blade did not distinguish between friend or foe and bloodthirstily cut everything it could, Masamune’s blade spared that which was good, and cut only what it must. Muramasa’s sword cuts everything that touches it, while Masamune’s blade cuts only the leaves, leaving the fish unharmed.
In the story, Masamune and Muramasa are taking part in a sword competition to determine which of them is the best. Masamune and Muramasa were described as having very different temperaments, and the swords they created were said to be imbued with traits embodied in the swordsmiths who forged them. While the swordsmiths lived over 500 years ago, some of their swords survive today. Their blades were so good that they were often described as having mystical properties. Masamune and Muramasa are credited as being the two best Japanese swordsmiths who ever lived.
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