The Cursed Blades of Muramasa
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- Опубликовано: 28 окт 2023
- The cursed or demon blades of the legendary swordsmith Muramasa, have been the subject of great interest and debate for many years. Were they truly the wicked creations that many have come to see them as? Or is there an understandable reality beneath the myth?
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Sources Used:
"History Uncovered: Muramasa - Cursed Blade" documentary by NHK www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/on...
"Legends and Stories around the Japanese Sword 2" by Markus Sesko
"The Cursed Of Samurai Muramasa Blades" article by Medium
/ the-cursed-of-samurai-...
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Music:
"Dark Fog" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Artwork and Images:
Classical art, which in most cases can be considered public domain.
Photographs from tourism websites such as All About Japan.
Other modern artist renditions and photos, if you see your work in this video please contact me so that I can give you proper credit!
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Support the channel on Patreon! www.patreon.com/theshogunatey...
#Samurai #History #Japan
Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1616: “Which knife did you use to cut my apple?”
His servant: “The Muramasa knife, sir.”
Ieyasu: *visibly wheezing* ☠️
This feels like a Nichijou skit.
Literally just started watching nichijou this week and I can say this is accurate lmao
😂💀
"I was oh so fancifully looking for a kitchen knife, and then I found a spectacular blade hanging from the wall in the armoury, which I thought in my errant nature, would be a better place to look then this dreary kitchen, oh behave kitchen, you are so dreary you are! I was oh so fascinated, and I skipped along as I took the blade from the wall in the armoury, because for some reason I thought the cutting of this random apple would be a ritual, since the shogun is involved and I could then gossip to all my fellows. For shame they would say otherwise, you didn't think to make something special for the shogun, then they may have tied a bow on my penis as a substitute to satiate their craving for fancifulness that I also share for absolutely no reason at all."
*Tokugawa's eyes pop out of his skull*
This might sound nuts
But I believe I have a piece of muramasa material hidden in the shape of ✂ ✂ the scissors when placed in the sink with leaves does this very thing the weird thing is they have print on it says made in Japan and the fucker is super sharp. This sounds fantastical.
4:15 There are probably a hundred different versions of that story about Masamune and Muramasa dipping their swords in a river, but the first version I ever heard went something like this:
Masamune and Muramasa decided to settle their rivalry by each placing their best sword in a river, point down, blade facing into the current. At first both swords cut passing leaves, sticks, and other debris equally well, but then a school of fish swam downstream. Every fish that touched Muramasa's blade was cut in half and killed instantly, while those that touched Masamune's sword did not suffer even the slightest harm. At first, Muramasa crowed that he had won, given that his sword had sliced effortlessly through all those fish while Masamune's had not. Masamune in turn countered that in fact *he* had won, because his sword knew not to take life unnecessarily. The exact moral of the story depends on the teller, but usually the tale takes Masamune's side that the showing self-control in the use of violence is a higher skill than mere proficiency at dishing out violence.
Of course, the entire tale is a later fabrication given the time gap between when the two men lived, but it's still and interesting story.
Thank's for this
The version i heard its a shinto monk watching nearby that explains why the one is better.
Also no warrior or sword maker would dip his sword in a river willingly.
@@MrBottlecapBillNot even blood.
This is obviously just post ww2 propaganda to whitewashing the bushido culture and sell it oversea.
There is literally no period when musamune philosophy is deemed corrected by the warrior caste
I would not put it beyond Ieyasu's cunning to encourage the reputation of something valuable as "cursed" just to prevent it from being stolen especially in a culture that conveniently believes in spirits inhabiting all things.
Kaidan (ghost stories) got really popular during the Edo period, so I think it makes sense for the rumours to have started there. People wanted something more exciting to discuss during the quiet time of isolation from the world, I imagine, and talking about a fantastical story from history is fun (as evidenced by this video).
Remember kids: if a samurai tells you to sing the story of the Battle of Dan No Ura, write Buddhist prayers all over your body, and don't forget the ears.
Why do i remember this one lol
@@pedroguilherme868 it's a good story (and I think the first one in the book)
@@pedroguilherme868 It’s a story called Hotchi the earless. It’s a very good short story and I highly recommend reading it if you haven’t already.
("Hoichi?")!!!
Muramasa sword was basically so "common" that every Samurai, Ashigaru and Bandits were using it. Basically like calling the AK47 rifle being "Cursed" 500 years later in future popculture history books... if earth still exist in 2500AD
Considering the proliferation and kill count of them, whose to say the Kalishnikov line ISNT cursed?
@@yousaidthusly461 I think Kalashnikov sort of regretted to put his own surname for that rifle, as he realized so many life been taken using his name, although he is still proud to invented the AK47 as a "Patriotic act". Although reality is that most conflict use a "local copy" of the AK, for example the Chinese Type56 is actually much more common than the real Russian Kalash.
Lol Earth 🌍 will still be here, we might not be though
The ANCIENT CURSE of the AR15
There's people who already consider some guns to be cursed so you dont need to wait 500 years for that.
I have been collecting Katanas for years. About 20 years ago I bought a very old Katana from an old lady at a living estate sale. She offered it to me a ridiculously low price, which I multiplied by 5. I took the sword home and began cleaning it to remove dirt and grime from who knows how long from the weapon. Removing the handle, to my surprise, it was prominently signed. Not recognizing the signature, I enlisted the aid of an older Japanese man I worked with at the time. He looked at the signature and told me matter of factly, it was a cursed sword and should get rid of it also not telling me who made it. So, I contacted a polisher/restorer in Tokyo I had used on a couple of other Katanas. After a year I contacted him, and he told me he had passed the sword on to another polisher as he did not want to work on a Muramasa blade. I got the sword back form the other polisher and it is beautiful as the day it was originally polished. It hasn't whispered to me, cut me by itself or anything else. It's funny how superstitions seem to live on forever.
Are you in love with the sword?
Very interesting story. You're really lucky to have such a rare piece of art. If you could share some pictures, I really would like to see that beauty. Thanks 🙂
I wouldn't chance it, if I were you. Give it to me. I can handle the curse. 😂🤣😂
Sounds like bullshit.
That’s a fake story! The cursed blade would’ve killed you if this was real!
Or maybe you’re typing this from prison because the blade forced you to kill before sheathing it.
So basically Muramasa was the Kobe of swordsmiths. He was so focused on perfecting his work that people at the time saw him as crazy or wild.
Word.
He was using crack rocks
I was recommended this channel on a whim, and it's so fascinating
Wasn't there a tale of Ieyasu picking up a sword and accidentally cutting himself with it, saying, "Hmmm... must be a muramasa."
Yes
The visual novel “Full Metal Daemon Muramasa”s take on the story is: Muramasa the blacksmith hated violence but because of his amazing potential was forced to make swords. So he imbued them with a curse, for every “enemy” or “evil” person you slay, you must also slay one “friend” or “good” person. Thus creating the curse of the balance of violence. Hoping that eventually everyone will realize how senseless violence is and cease fighting
Really interesting Video...thank you.
I always like videos with legends and cultural background
Muramasa is just an old misunderstood swordsmith with a penchant for falling asleep in ancient tombs and has a granddaughter who hangs around with oni.
He was romantically attracted to men
Ayee fellow Nioh enjoyer
Based Nioh 2 enjoyer.
As a history enthusiast, and someone that enjoys learning Asian culture, I'm looking forward to checking out your channel, subscribing 😊
Interesting story, and again, well narrated.
Absolutely outstanding video many thanks
While the story about Masamune and Murasama rivalry is a complete fabrication, there could be a grain of truth that he really wanted to make as good or even better swords than Masamune did. Masamune was already famous so if Muramasa was very OCD and perfectionist about his work to the point of being bit weird, it could be true that he wanted to be better than the famous Masamune was and that was what drove him forward.
Hi Nick I really enjoyed this video.
Thanks for the good video. I think everyone would like that the swords are cursed just because it makes the story better. But however we can definitely say they were great quality weapons ⚔️
I really like the idea, in a mythic sense. Who's in control? The sword, or the hand that wields it? The corrupting influence of power suggests the former, probably more often than we'd like to admit.
I was wondering if you would do this video on Muramasa and his swords.
This is bad ass thank you 😁🙏🏾
Fascinating. Japanese history is addicting.
Nice work.
A great topic for a spooky season.
The distinct nature of a muramasa nidai hamon is that he often would create a perfect mirror image of the hamon on both sides which is actually an incredibly uncommon feature for a japanese sword. Not all but many of his have this trait.
Another key kantei point and the one i actually find most useful in my experience with his blades is that the sugata of a nidai muramasa made blade will normally have a uniquely 'sinister flamboyance' to its shape. They stylistically look meaner than most blades; including those of his most immediate students such as Masashige etc.
If you have a mean looking blade, with a tangobara (fish) shape nakago, and Ise province looking fine jigane you may have a nidai blade.
Me cutting an apple, it indeed was cut by a Muramasa blade as well.
Good video thank you
Thanks for a another vidio
Very cool History. :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
There was a story involving Muramasa and another master bladesmith where they would compete to see whose blade were better. Both took turn sticking their sword in a stream and watched as leaves, sticks, and a single fish get cut in half. One of the swords didn't cut the second fish, and Muramasa declared himself the better smith. Meanwhile, a buddhist monk was watching the whole time and argued that the blade that didn't cut the fish was better as it spared an innocent life. The buddhist would then declare the other master bladesmith the better bladesmith.
PS. I forgot the name of the other master bladsmith, so I'm been referring to him as a master bladesmith the whole.
That'd be Masamune
@potto1488 Thanks.
I love the legends surrounding this man and his swords. Unfortunately the stories I deal with are from a time period before either Muramasa or even Masamune and I won't be seeing them. Oh well, at least we've got our boy here to inform us of stuff later than the Kamakura period.
He was romantically attracted to men
@@johnjones9065your entire existence is hating on Samurai lmao
The murumasa swords were angry that iyeasu was going to end the warring states period.
I’m so happy that muramasa has been covered
Osu! I love this channel.
Owning a cursed blade specifically made to hurt you and your family is a very Sigma flex.
Please do more japanese stories
Owning a Sengo, I can guarantee you they aren’t cursed… though they go for a cursed price!
So similarly how many died to Smith and Wesson guns, rumors spread about how the weapons or their creators were evil and or haunted
Funny, I was just reading about this in one of the Samurai pages I follow on Facebook. They tell of how Ieyasu allegedly cut himself from a Muramasa blade during the head viewing ceremony after the Battle of Sekigahara.
Damn. Life didn't last long back then in those times and locations, did it? They were 20, 24, and 25 when they died. But still were noted warriors at such a young age.
The Murasama is such a great weapon.
Have you done Video on Masamune blades? Or the man himself.
A few months ago in Kurashiki, Okayama I was able to a blade created by Masamune.... beautiful and scary to think a blade 700 years old could easily still cut someone in half. It was in excellent shape with a lovely polish....
All Japanese swords, regardless of their age, were always maintained (only the tang retains the patina) to keep their shine through the years. But of course there is a disadvantage: they get thinner each time. A 1200-year old sword was even rumored to be so thin that it might be impossible to maintain it in the future.
@@kuronoch.1441Mostly a folk fable really. I doubt you would find much wear at all on a sword that is rarely used since it just sits in a sheath oiled up.
Japanese swords suck
@@johnjones9065 Thanks John for your profound erudition on the subject.
@@jeffreysams3348katanas are beautiful, but he probably right, compared to europeans arms of that time, doubt katanas would win against claymore or zweihander
Any chance we might get a reaction to the Shogun trailer for the FX miniseries, just discovered it myself today and instantly thought of you 😉
They had such a wild beautiful fashion style their clothing is so elegant.i wonder how long it took them to actually get dressed and do their hair
Could you ever make a map of the sengoku jidai at a certain point, mabye in like 1560 or the 1580s.
I wish I had a couple of Muramasa blades in my sword collection.
Actually own 2 if you are serious. Professional sword dealer.
@@AArdW01f Thanks for the awesome offer. I would gladly accept if I could afford to. But I have to wait a few years or so to build my savings for that. I will let you know if and when I am ready to deal for the Muramasa swords or other Japanese blades. Best regards.🙏
It is not so far fetched from a point of view. People can become obsessed with their equipment, especially if it is unique. The very mindset of the men who drew those blades and probably loved their blades due to the craftsmanship. Imagine being really good with a weapon. Then think about getting a version of that weapon that is just second to none. The feel makes you want to use also the finality of drawing a weapon for a fight.
Its not generally agreed upon Muramasa nidai lived later on. Its an absolute fact. You can visit both of their graves in Japan. There are clerical and tax records for both men... one circa early 1300s the other circa 1500. Quite a few of his blades also are dated.
You are correct that we can establish from the sugata (shape) of their blades and the overall composition that they clearly come from different time periods.
Masamune and Muramasa , two sides of the same coin.
I remember Muramasa from Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
More like MURDAmasa.
I'll show myself out now.
with the various blade items from Japan theyre
all stil as sharp as the day they were made
I think these are brand names.
Like how purdery, holland and holland, and wesley richards are named after people.
i hear this legend too..... grandmother once said their battle about the blade quality is also legenderary...
Muramasa once meet his mentor, Masamune dueling about their swordsmith by creating great blade.
Once the katana done, they tested on river stream(not pool). Everything passed Muramasa katana blade everything is cut clean but Masamune blade is more passive but everything passed is back to place.
Monk past by and look that duel give a comment, Muramasa katana blade is good but have blood thirsty element meanwhile Masamune katana blade is also good but more leaning to light side because not harm innocent....
well it just old tale from grandmother, but i do believe Muramasa madness imbued into the katana when muramasa craft it.....
small fun fact:
there is NPC on MMORPG Game Atlantica Online(when Nexon Red still developing the game, not Valope) named Muramasa, this NPC teach how to craft sword weapon type traveling the world on that game.
on that same game, we can get weapon named Muramasa Cursed Sword by quest from NPC name Miyamoto Musashi, yup...that legendary samurai...the sword it self can be sell to other player as weapon or exchange as tittle :The Cursed Swordman(attack up 15-20%,once time exchange) and the quest it self can be reset....
other add up fun fact?
How many blades could a Smith make back then? Wouldn't they take a long time to craft by hand? Genuinely curious.
That would depend on how hard the person worked, and how much they had a need for money. Some hundreds, some Thousands. There is also minor mass production that happened in war times, where one mans superior design would be mass produced by subpar smiths in order to outfit many people quickly. If you get into swords and such early period lore and such, outside of the eastern culture, Check out "Ulfberht swords" roughly 170 medieval swords found primarily in Northern Europe, some say, forged with technology far beyond their time.
Muramasa and Masamune never met but their blades rival each other's
Ieyasu had a Muramasa blade so he knew at least one Muramasa blade couldn't kill or harm him
I have three katana for Martial Art's, im thinking of buying another maybe a Wakizashi with this TSuba
where can these blades be bought? even as a foreigner? online auctions? any links would be awesome
A quick Google search told me there (was) 2 for sale in the states. One will set you back about a million bucks.
I remember this scooby doo episode
I wonder if the legends of these swords inspired the creation of Umbra from the Elder Scrolls.
Hey guys i know this is old but i have a genuine question.
I always thought they used bows and naginatas and stuff rarely were swords pulled out in war.
Is this exclusive to a certain period or is the Edo period the only one to do such?
Samurai needed swordsmiths it was a profitable relationship for both sides.
I'm going to do something very silly, As an Asiatic major myself, I read this story SOMEWHERE, but for the life of me I cannot find out where, here's the low down
Essentially it's two swordsmith's in a contest as to which produces the finer cutting blade, with each going through tests and coming out equal, until a wise something, had them stick the swords into a river and one sword sliced all the leaves that came near it, whilst the other only cut leaves that floated through it (or possibly didn't cut any at all), and essentially he was declared the winner
Essentially the other swordsmith with the blade that cut all the leaves also gets executed due to it in the story (I think) and the whole reason is due to the sword he produced cut through everything regardless of its nature or something
While the other only cut selectively or something like that, basically saying it isn't good to produce a weapon that literally kills everything without question
Where the living hell did I read that?
Your mother told me
its been used countless times. Anime's, Videos games. Its hard to really say.
Because in japan everything is made to be fantastical and legendary in some way lol
Some says it's a great marketing strategy, most man wouldn't mind being called "the man who wields a cursed sword" I guess, such is the chunibyo in ancient time.
Any link to Buy Authentic Nihonto Muramasa Katana?
Goodluck haha
@@cookdislander4372 Thanks, my money 💵 is ready
The last one I saw at auction went for over 700,000$
@@willynillylive yeah I imagine it being something like that lol. Would be nice though :)
@@cookdislander4372 it was a short sword with a long handle made for a sailor to use at sea it was really nice but I didn't have enough money to bid on it since opening bid was 500,000
Amad genius of Japanese sword smithss
Ieyasu absolutely knew and believed the muramasa stuff. We do know the truth of it.
They didnt contraband their own inventory of swords because the shogun likes fancy swords as much as everyone else. You would absolutely get the death penalty for retaining them during the prohibition.
To the Japanese in the 16th century superstition was a way of life.
If the theory of William Shakespeare was more then one author, then I do not see it beyond likely that behind the story of Muramasa to be more then one smith,
What toe nodachi longswords and katana swords with muramasa the grand master of samurai shogun warriors
I wanna go to sword school
How many soules have those blades collected?
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
So this is where Demon slayer got its whole Origin story about the swordsmith village
I was expecting more Jetstream Sam comments lol
Same lol
If The Shogunate has a million fans, then I am one of them. If The Shogunate has ten fans, then I am one of them. If The Shogunate has only one fan then that is me. If The Shogunate has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against The Shogunate then I am against the world.
Poetic!
Long live❤ JAPAN!!!
Over a million dollars, if found and authenticated. 1501 is the oldest known example.
Hi
As an owner of a forged katana and wakizashi, I love these weapons. I was fortunate to study Kenjitsu and learned how to use them. I trained in a two sword school. I truly felt as one with them drawn. It felt like they were extensions of my hands like I was breaking a board 4 feet away. I found it true if you don't respect the weapon that you will get cut.
What do you prefer two katana or one long blade and one short
@@willynillylive We trained with a katana and wakizashi. Of course we had single blade katas that taught basic stepping, stance change and cuts.
I have had a few experiences with blades and blade smithing and polishing and sharpening I have a small collection of knives, swords,axes, spears and other sharp objects just a few
@@willynillylive I also have a small knife and sword collection. My knives are pocket knives my grandparents gave me through the years. I have some very cool knives but nothing worth a ton of money. I have a 1984 World's Fair pocket knife from Knoxville Tn.
Was Ishida Mitsunari a Christian? A book from a famous historian, Takekoshi Yosaburō, says that after Sekigahara, Ishida said before dying: “God in heaven granted me my life. It is my duty to do everything in my power to maintain it".
What are the evidences for this? Does any jesuit chronicler mention such thing? It's weird Mitsunari didn't take his own life...
The sword craves to bathe in the blood of it's enemy!
Who else knows about this from the final fantasy series?
Cursed by dipping in LSD. Leaving your enemies only scratched up to start some rumors. That'd be kinda cool. Netflix where u at?
Ive ordered a new katane, the Jurojin as it mean's longlevity
Spells katana wrong. . . Probably ordered ornament 😂
I still think "cursed" makes sense.. Demons put into by him? Probably not. Oni or demons in Japanese lore were not seen as bad or evil. But even still for the masters.. which Muramasa was definitely one, sword making was an intuitive even meditative state they'd go into. He was well known to be a very violent and angry man. Would it not make sense that his violent and rageful aura, energy, or intention also be put into some or many of those swords? Even knowing this, being Ieyasu, I'd definitely own one. That would be like a warning to enemies, like: "you don't want me to draw my Muramasa blade!". I just probably wouldn't take it out otherwise
Ace blade.
4:55 No he inserted his own soul into the sword.
I thought it was a character in Bleach 😭 In the zanpaktuto filler arc 😭
erm..... peak...
Probably oni.
Real Life Muramasa: I shall forge swords to be like my bones
Fate Muramasa: I am the bone of my sword
Loli Muramasa: I want to be bone- make swords!
Real life Muramasa: Dafaque?
King Arthur: First time?
Monty Python King Arthur: *coconuts*
Artoria: EX-Caliberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Who’s Loli Muramasa? the only Muramasa I’m familiar with in fiction is the Fate variant
@@JohnShepherd117 I’m trying to remember the context of my comment - as I’m ALSO drawing a blank.
@@JohnShepherd117 Still drawing a blank…rule 34?! XD XD XD
Anime. Eventually there will be a loli. It’s only a matter of time.
@@mysticdragonwolf89 probably though an anime about Muramasa would be interesting
Was it a selling point? How wealthy was he?
The entire statement about his school continuing to make "muramasa swords" after his death is extremely misleading at best.
Muramasa ended up as the head of the Sengo forge. I can not recall if he actually founded this school - believe there is actually some recent scholarship about his early life involving some level of being a traveling craftsman but i digress.... im fairly sure sengo predates his lifetime.
Upon muramasa's death the Sengo forge continued to exist and prosper for severao generations ending with the start of the Edo period circa roughly 1600 when sword production became controlled by the shogunate.
The Muramasa this video is about - the famous one - is Muramasa Nidai (nidai = 2nd generation).
Very little is known or written about the 1st generation in my experience. Ive only seen maybe 2 or 3 examples in photographs in nearly 10 years in the sword business. Ive owned more actual nidai blades then i have seen photos of shodai (1st gen).
There is also at least a third generation who signed as muramasa under the Sengo school but neither of these men ever came close to Nidai in skill or reputation and you wont confuse their work for "the Big Guy".
Other sengo smiths absolutely produce work with similar dna to be clear.
The swords were stamped with his name. How would they not know it was a muramasa blade?
Swordsmiths usually stamp their names on the tang which is normally hidden in the handle so unless you took the sword apart, you wouldn't see it.
@@ragingchaosgod Japanese/Asian eastern sword smiths. Take a look at a group of about 170 medieval swords found primarily in Northern Europe Ulfberht or Ulfberh T swords
And then a skeleton jumped out
Cutting
What is a role of samurai when Javanese working