The Daisho
Two Swords With One Name
We have a host of events coming up at the dojo the next several months. Obviously we are excited about all of them. Our weapons class in May will be the Samurai Sword, also called the Daito or Katana. This sword was the longer of the two swords worn by the samurai. The short sword was called the Shoto or Wakizashi. The two swords together are referred to as the Daisho. Only the Samurai were permitted to carry the Daisho (Japanese society was divided into very strict classes that each had different rights and responsibilities). The Daisho is an important part of a long period of Japanese society and warfare. Different families would have different sword styles that would emphasize different techniques or different approaches. Some would use both blades of the Daisho at the same time. One notable samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, is famous for having a sword style that used two long swords at the same time (one in each hand).
Shirasaya
The Patient Blade
Shirasaya means “White Sheath” in Japanese. It refers to a way of storing a sword blade for when it was not in use. The blade was believed to be the part of the sword that contained its heart. When a blade needed to travel or be stored special care was taken to protect the blade from rust. A good blade would stay in a family for many generations. During times of peace the swords worn by samurai would be shorter and curved less, with shorter handles and smaller tsuba (hand guard). During times of war the blades would be longer with more curvature and larger tsuba. In between the blade that wasn’t needed would be stored as a Shirasaya.
The blade would be given a handle of plain pine wood (ordinarily the handle would be made of stingray leather). The blade would be given no hand guard and no ornamentation. Then put in a saya (sheath, scabbard) made from plain white pine as well. This was all designed to help preserve the blade and protect it from corrosion. The Shirasaya would then be stored someplace where the temperature would stay stable, also to protect it from moisture. This was all with the understanding that no matter what the modern time was, the stored blade would be needed again eventually.
I’ve always thought this was a great representation of the Martial Arts. The blade is patient so that it will be sharp and ready for a time when it is needed. It is not aggressive or ornamented. It has no wish or need for times to change. We train in martial arts so that we can keep our skills sharp and ready if we should need them, while at the same time hoping that we will not. So that then the act of practice becomes being a part of the community, the dojo family. It is the act of sharpening a blade, patiently and calmly, just in case its ever needed.