Amakuni – Legendary Japanese Blacksmith And Father Of The Samurai Sword
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Ancient records confirm more than 33,000 smiths up to the beginning of the modern era.
Japanese weapon history goes long back in time but the mythical turning point in this history took place about 700 AD when a legendary Japanese sword maker Amakuni Yasutsuna designed the first single-edged, curved sword known as ‘tachi’ during the Asuka period, an important historical period in the history of Japanese fine-arts and architecture, associated with the arrival of Buddhism to Japan from China.
Legend Tells About Amakuni The Great Smith
An ancient legend confirms Amakuni as the Father of the Samurai Sword.
Amakuni and his son, Amakura, were the prominent smiths who led a team of armorers, employed by Emperor Mommu (683–707) to make swords for his army of warriors. Later his son, Amakura continued his father’s great work.
Amakuni Yasutsuna was a legendary Japanese sword maker. Credit: Stock photo
One day, Amakuni and his son Amakura, stood at the door of their workshop, looking at the imperial warriors returning from the battle. Despite the efforts and achievements of the armorer, the emperor only passed by but did not give Amakuni any sign of appreciation as he had done before.
Amakuni suddenly noticed that almost half of the warriors were returning from the battlefield with broken swords.
He suddenly realized that his weapons were useless. His disappointment overwhelmed him so much that he just collected the remains of the swords to learn the reasons for their destructions.
Seven Days And Seven Nights Without Eating And Drinking
Was their design flawed? It took time for him to figure it out. He did not eat and drink water for seven days and nights, studying a better way to make swords.
According to the legend, he finally found an ingenious solution to his problem in a dream. He realized that he must cover a soft steel core in a harder one, and create a curved edge of the weapon, which is more suitable to cuts and much more resistant to shocks than the previous straight one. His straight swords were not properly forged; they were not enough protected against hard objects or maybe even the warriors’ suits and armor were not safe enough.
"If they intend to use our swords in battle, I will try to create one that will not break," Amakuni promised himself and so he did.
Both blacksmiths – father and son – “sealed themselves away in the forge, and prayed feverishly to the Shinto gods for inspiration,” writes Lawrence Winkler in his book “Samurai Road”.
Amakuni Yasutsuna found the solution to his problem in a dream. Credit: Stock photo
“On the seventh night, the divine Kami came to them in a dream – a glowing image of a single-edged, slightly curved blade… As soon as the first rays of the sun infiltrated the forge, each knowing without a word exactly what they must do, they set about creating the sword revealed to them...”
Hard Work To Make Better Swords
Thirty-one days, Amakuni and his son worked very hard. The best iron ore was melted into the finest steel and one day, their new - curved, single-edged sword - was ready. An almost impossible task was accomplished. Like Ilmarinen, the divine master smith and a wonder-making craftsman who created a magical Sampo, Amakuni made Kogarasu Maru (Kogarasumaru ) or “Little Crow”, the first curved NipponTo, now in the Imperial Household Collection.
It was the first katana weapon later used by the samurai of ancient and feudal Japan. Amakuni, who was a skilled and ambitious master of swords, reminds of famous Greek, Hephaestus. As previously mentioned on AncientPages, Hephaestus was the one who made weapons, which “no blow could break”.
Naturally, we must not forget that ancient myths and legends are filled with stories describing many extraordinary craftsmen such as for example Wayland the Smith, patron of blacksmiths.
Fine Test For Amakuni’s Swords
The next spring came and another war began and also this time, the warriors were passing by his workshop. This time, all his swords were still intact and looked perfect.
The Katana was the ‘Soul Of The Samurai’ - read more
When the emperor passed the swordsmith’s house he smiled and showed his appreciation.
“You are an expert sword maker. None of the swords you made failed in this battle,” he said.
Nobody knows when Amakuni died but one legend has it that he was not only a happy and respected master of the swords but also became immortal from a large amount of bloodshed from the blades he created.
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Updated on June 30, 2021
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Mystery Of The Blue Blood Gods: Why Did They Have A Different Blood And Skin Color?
Featured Stories | Jun 18, 2015
-
Ancient Genomes Suggest Farming In Africa Was Ignited By Oversea-Migrants From Iberia 7,400 Years Ago
Archaeology | Jun 7, 2023
-
Mystery Of The Giant Boulder In North Salem
Featured Stories | Aug 8, 2019
-
183-Million-Year-Old Fossils: Jurassic Marine World In A Farmer’s Field
Fossils | Jul 31, 2022
-
Tetzacualco – Mesoamerican Mini Model Of The Universe Discovered Underwater
Archaeology | Jan 4, 2018
-
Weapons Left By Barbarian Tribes Discovered In Polish Forest
Archaeology | Jan 26, 2024
-
2,000-Year-Old Celtic Dice Discovered In Poland
Archaeology | Oct 11, 2023
-
First Known Depiction Of The Biblical Heroines Deborah And Jael Unearthed On 1,600-Year-Old Mosaics
Archaeology | Jul 6, 2022
-
Unique Seal Stamp That Belonged To Elisabeth Buggesdatter, One Of The Most Powerful Women In Denmark – Discovered
Archaeology | Dec 19, 2018
-
Baku’s Mysterious Maiden Tower – Legend Of The Daughter Of Fire Who Saved The Sacred Temple May Be True
Featured Stories | Jul 5, 2021
-
Viking Fashion: Men And Women Were Vain And Very Clean During The Viking Age
Ancient History Facts | Aug 12, 2017
-
Are We Really In A Sixth Mass Extinction?
News | Apr 11, 2023
-
Does A Baffling Artifact Offer Evidence Of Ancient Extraterrestrial Visitation In New Zealand? – Experts Investigate – Part 2
Featured Stories | Jul 23, 2020
-
Knowledge Of Ancient Medicine Hidden In Undeciphered Egyptian Manuscripts
Archaeology | Aug 16, 2018
-
1,800-Year-Old Entrance To Turkey’s Zerzevan Castle Found Among The Ruins
Archaeology | Aug 15, 2020
-
Centeotl: Lord Of Maize Who Was Revered Before The Olmecs By All Mesoamerica’s Inhabitants
Featured Stories | Feb 20, 2024
-
Ancient Mayans Used Saunas For Healing Purposes
Ancient History Facts | May 12, 2016
-
Ancient Rock Engravings Unveil Intriguing Insights Into Human Cultures
Archaeology | Jul 4, 2023
-
Nygrotta: Species Migration Occurred Due To Climatic Shifts Millennia Ago – Ancient DNA And Bones Show
Paleontology | Apr 5, 2024
-
On This Day In History: Eminent Scottish Inventor Graham Bell Born – On Mar 3, 1847
News | Mar 3, 2017