Japanese Swords: Cultural Icons of a Nation; The History, Metallurgy and Iconography of the Samurai Sword - Colin M. Roach

The Japanese sword is much more than just a weapon-it is a social and religious icon traditionally worn by the samurai warrior as an instrument of justice and courage, the sword was an embodiment of the soul of the person who wielded it that was at once sacred and symbolic. Japanese Swords is the first book to tell the full story of the Japanese sword's rise to greatness by discussing its long history and development, its spiritual symbolism, the esoteric metallurgical techniques used to make the sword, as well as the difficult training techniques used by skilled swordsmen.