The Japanese traditional method of sword testing is called TAMESHIGIRI.
The Japanese did not believe in long term imprisonment but rather quick
dispatchment of prisoners as a vehicle for quality control. A point
system was awarded, whereby the best stroke was through the hip region
of the body. Multiple bodies with one stroke are frequently recorded by
attestation on the tang of the blade, along with the swordsmith's
inscription. Most common is to see "two bodies with one stroke" or
"three bodies with one stroke". I have only seen one blade that said
"four bodies with one stroke". I have heard it said that Masamune, a
well known ancient swordsmith could make a "five body blade" but I have
never seen such an attestation, nor anything like a seven body
inscription. Some blades are unclear as to the bodies being cut with one
stroke or consecutively. Having said all of this, it is by far more
usual to see a blade without a test attestation that to have one.
Mike Notis
Lyle E. Browning wrote:
> Katana's were tested on condemned prisoners. The number of complete
> torsos that could be gone through with 1 swing was the rating for the
> sword, up to a maximum of 7. If I remember correctly, a recent History
> Channel program on katana making from ore to finish included this
> somewhat grisly to our "modern" sensibilities statistic.
>
> Lyle Browning, RPA
>
>
> On Sep 14, 2009, at 9:29 PM, Bart Torbert wrote:
>
>> At one point I read that very best Japanese swords were once tested
>> on humans. One that was tested on an arm or a leg was considered
>> of less value as one tested on a torso. Where the parts came from
>> was very likely problematical as I think the test subject had to be
>> alive at the start of the test.
>>
>> I don’t know if this is true. Has anyone else ever come across this?
>>
>> Bart
>>
>>
>> *From:* Arch-Metals Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
>> Behalf Of *Ann Feuerbach
>> *Sent:* Saturday, September 12, 2009 1:10 PM
>> *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>> *Subject:* skull and bones used to make swords
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>> I found this interesting and thought you might too...
>> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090908-taiwan-sword-video-ap.html
>> All the best,
>> Ann
>>
>
|