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Top 7 Oldest Samurai Swords In The World
The earliest samurai swords were straight double-edged blades based on the Chinese Jian1. However, these were deemed inadequate for combat by the Japanese, leading to the creation of the first true samurai sword, the tachi.
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Due to the meticulous work and craftsmanship required to create these samurai swords, it is considered Japan's best work of art. Here we would like to share with you the top 7 oldest samurai swords in the world.
7. Honjo Masamune (~13th Century)
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| Credit: Wikimedia Commons via Christoph Waghubinger |
The Honjo Masamune is one of the most famous and significant samurai swords in history crafted by none other than the legendary swordsmith, Gorō Nyūdō Masamune. He is known for his unique technique of blending soft and hard steel together in layers to keep the swords from breaking.
This process created a unique wavy pattern along the Hamon, or blade, of a katana. His swords were so well-made, that their layers went to a point that was but one atom thick. The Honjo Masamune sword received its name from the first prominent general who owned it, Honjo Shigenaga, who led his troops into battle at Kawanakajima in 1561.
The sword is a symbol of the Tokugawa shogunate and was passed down from shōgun to shōgun. Sadly, the whereabouts of the Honjo Masamune have been a question mark ever since the end of World War II. Despite its disappearance, the legend of the Honjo Masamune lives on.
6. Onimaru Kunitsuna (~13th Century)
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| Credit: Touken Ranbu Wiki |
The Onimaru Kunitsuna was crafted by the famed swordsmith, Awataguchi Sakon-no-Shōgen Kunitsuna, and is considered an Imperial Property. This sword holds a significant place in Japanese history and culture.
Along with the Ōdenta and Futatsu-mei, the Onimaru Kunitsuna was considered to be one of the three regalia swords of the shōguns of the Ashikaga clan.
The Onimaru Kunitsuna is part of the group known as the Tenka-Goken (天下五剣, “Five [Greatest] Swords under Heaven”).
This group of five Japanese swords is highly regarded, with three being National Treasures of Japan. Some might consider it a "Demon Sword" as according to legend, it was used to kill an oni(demon).
5. Juzumaru-Tsunetsugu (~13th Century)
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| Credit: Japan Sauce |
The Juzumaru-Tsunetsugu is a tachi known by the Japanese as "juzumaru" (rosary sword) due to its affiliation with Nichiren, a Buddhist reformer. The history goes that the sword was given to Nichiren by his most important patron, Nanbu Sanenaga, who wanted Nichiren to use the sword for protection.
The sword is one of the five great swords of Japan. It belongs to the Aoe school, which is known for its distinctive style and craftsmanship. The Juzumaru-Tsunetsugu is often attributed to Aoe Tsunetsugu, an active swordsmith in the early 13th century.
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Unlike other samurai swords, the Juzumaru-Tsunetsugu was rather a unique masterpiece. a symbol of Japan’s rich cultural heritage and skill sets.
4. Ōtenta-Mitsuyo (~11th Century)
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| Credit: Japanese Sword Legends |
The Ōtenta-Mitsuyo is a historic samurai sword believed to have been made somewhere in the 11th century. It is also one of the Tenka Goken and was created by Miike Denta Mitsuyo. The sword was a treasure of the Ashikaga shogunate, and after the fall of the Ashikaga shogunate, it came under the custody of the Maeda clan.
The Ōtenta-Mitsuyo, along with the Onimaru-Kunitsuna and the now-lost Futatsumei-Norimune, were the three treasure swords of Ashikaga Takauji1. These swords were eventually passed down to Toyotomi Hideyoshi for unifying Japan.
The Maeda family named the Ōtenta-Mitsuyo after Miike Mitsuyo, or the “Great Tenta,” who is credited as the sword’s smith.
3. Mikazuki Munechika (~11th Century)
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| Credit: 国立文化財機構 |
The sword was crafted by the legendary swordsmith Sanjo Munechika, who was considered one of Japan’s most skilled swordsmiths during the Heian period (794 to 1185 CE). Munechika was so fond of his creation that he named it after himself and the term “mikazuki,” which is the Japanese word for "crescent moon".
The name “Mikazuki Munechika” refers to the unique markings on the blade that resemble crescent moons2. These markings are a result of the quenching and tempering process used in the creation of a katana, which involves heating the sword to very high temperatures and then rapidly cooling it.
This process strengthens and hardens the steel, resulting in a blade that is both durable and sharp. Throughout its long history, the Mikazuki Munechika has been in the possession of some powerful people, including the 16th-century samurai warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled during the Edo period (1600 to 1868 CE).
2. Dōjigiri Yasutsuna (~10th Century)
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| Credit: Oriental Souls |
Another Tenka Goken on this list will be the Dōjigiri Yasutsuna which was crafted during the 10th to 12th century by the legendary wordsmith, Hōki-no-Kuni Yasutsuna. Yasutsuna is known for his unique technique of blending soft and hard steels together in layers to keep the swords from breaking.
The sword is often referred to as the ‘yokozuna’ of Japanese swords, a term used to denote the highest rank in sumo wrestling. The samurai sword was said to have been used by the great warrior Minamoto Yorimitsu to bring down the monstrous Shuten Dōji of Mt. Ôe.
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The sword has been passed down through several prominent figures in Japanese history, including Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Today, it is a certified National Treasure (Kokuhō) and is showcased in the Tokyo National Museum.
1. Kogarasu Maru (~8th Century)
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| Credit: Wikimedia Commons via AleksandrGertsen |
The Kogarasu Maru, also known as the “Little Crow Circle,” is a unique Japanese tachi sword believed to have been created by the legendary Japanese smith Amakuni during the 8th century AD.
The Kogarasu Maru is unique as it serves as a bridge between the old double-edged Japanese ken, based on the Chinese jian, and the traditional Japanese tachi and eventual katana.
One edge of the blade is shaped in a normal tachi fashion, but unlike the tachi, the tip is symmetrical and both edges of the blade are sharp. The Kogarasu Maru holds a special place in Japan’s history and culture, as it is believed to have been wielded by Emperor Keiko and his son, Prince Yamato Takeru.
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