Kusanagi Sword

[Mark A. Gerardi]

I understand that the Kusanagi sword (or possibly a relica) one of the three pieces of imperial regalia is housed at the Atsuta shrine. Is it ever dispalyed to the public? Are the caretakers or priests at the shrine allowed to see it? Does anyone know what it looks like? I saw a picture on the internet that was supposed to be the Kusanagi but I have my doubts. Anything that anyone can tell me about who has seen it or what it may look like would be helpful.

Thank you,

Mark A. Gerardi

[fifthchamber]

Hi Mark.
It would be a copy of the original blade....The "original" was lost at the battle of Dan no Ura during the Taira-Minamoto wars in the 12th century....The Kusanagi held at the Atsuta shrine may be far more recent than you'd think....But I don't know the exact details....Other than it not being the one that was contained in the demon snakes tail...Naturally...So I won't presume....
My guess would be that the shrine is off limits to the public and maybe most of the priests at Atsuta....But I have no solid information....
Hope it helps...
Yours.

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by Mark A. Gerardi
I understand that the Kusanagi sword (or possibly a relica) one of the three pieces of imperial regalia is housed at the Atsuta shrine. ...Anything that anyone can tell me about who has seen it or what it may look like would be helpful.
This isn't a very good picture, but here is the Imperial Regalia, a.k.a. the Sanshu no jingi:

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by fifthchamber
It would be a copy of the original blade....The "original" was lost at the battle of Dan no Ura during the Taira-Minamoto wars in the 12th century....
This surprises me, since the Kusanagi no tsurugi -- a.k.a. the Ame no Murakumo no Ken is a very early bronze sword. Not the sort of thing I would expect to be used on a 12th century battlefield.

Do you have any more information on this, or a reference I could read. (I'm currently in the ancient history section of my Japanese History & Culture class, and am interested in almost any work written about almost anything relating to Japanese history.)

[kabutoki]

Hi Brian,
that might be a misunderstanding. The blade was lost in that battle, but not because it was fought with. Antoku-tenno and his grandmother committed suicide and jumped off a Taira ship(Dan no ura was a seabattle)and they took the sword with them. Both drowned and the sword was never found. Antoku-tenno was eight years old.

Hth
Karsten

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by kabutoki
...that might be a misunderstanding. The blade was lost in that battle...Antoku-tenno and his grandmother committed suicide and jumped off a Taira ship...and they took the sword with them.
Ah, thank you very much. We haven't reached the 12th century in class yet -- we're splitting back and forth between prehistoric and post-WWII right now. Hopefully we'll get into more of the "samurai stuff" soon.

Thanks again.

[Mark A. Gerardi]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Yes, I know that the sword at Atsuta Temple is a replica that was ordered by The 10th Emporer, Sujin and that the original was lost at the battle of Dannoura.

Brian thanks for attaching the photo. That is the same one that I had seen myself.

Does anyone know the original source of this photo and if it is an actual photo of the Kusanagi or a composite that someone put together of what the imperial regalia might look like.

Not that I'm an expert, but it looks to me like pictures I've of Chinese bronze swords from the Spring and Autumn period.

Any help would be appreciated

Mark Gerardi

[ulvulv]

Originally posted by Mark A. Gerardi
Thanks to everyone for the replies. Yes, I know that the sword at Atsuta Temple is a replica that was ordered by The 10th Emporer, Sujin and that the original was lost at the battle of Dannoura.

Brian thanks for attaching the photo. That is the same one that I had seen myself.

Does anyone know the original source of this photo and if it is an actual photo of the Kusanagi or a composite that someone put together of what the imperial regalia might look like.

Not that I'm an expert, but it looks to me like pictures I've of Chinese bronze swords from the Spring and Autumn period.

Any help would be appreciated

Mark Gerardi

Here is one source of the pic, I dont know if its THE source.Maybe Nathan Scott could answer that one, If he drops by this thread


http://www.tsuki-kage.com/darwin.html

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by Mark A. Gerardi
Does anyone know the original source of this photo and if it is an actual photo of the Kusanagi or a composite that someone put together of what the imperial regalia might look like.
When I go to school tomorrow I'll see if I can get more information, but my understanding is that the three objects are gathered together at certain rites, like the installation of a new emperor. The photo refered to could have been taken when Akahito took the throne in 1988.

I'll see what I can find out about this, but I don't think it's just a composite of what the sanshu-no-jingi "might" look like.
Originally posted by Mark A. Gerardi
Not that I'm an expert, but it looks to me like pictures I've [seen] of Chinese bronze swords from the Spring and Autumn period.
That wouldn't be surprising. Excluding stone "swords," the earliest swords in Japan were patterned after continental swords (some say they were imported from the continent, or that they were made by Chinese and Korean smiths who travelled to Japan with the spread of Confuscianism and Buddhism, but there is debate on that issue).

[Mark A. Gerardi]

Thanks Brian,

I'd really appreciate anything you could find out about the photo.
If it is from the 1988 coronation ceremony that would be good to know.

mark gerardi

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by Mark A. Gerardi
I'd really appreciate anything you could find out about the photo.
If it is from the 1988 coronation ceremony that would be good to know.Nothing new to report yet, although I did find the exact same photo here: Shinto Site (http://www.japan-zone.com/omnibus/shinto.shtml)

They don't credit the source of the photo, unfortunately. I'll keep looking though. You got me curious!

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by Mark A. Gerardi
If it is from the 1988 coronation ceremony that would be good to know.Oops! I also counted my years wrong; Heisei Gannen was 1989, not 1988.

Akihito Tenno became emperor on January 7, 1989, although the official enthronement ceremony was not held until 2000.

Sorry for any confusion.

[kabutoki]

Hi !
If you want to search the japanese net for more info copy and paste this ŽOŽí‚Ì?_Ší into google Japan. There is plenty of stuff availiable, some sites have good pictures too.

Hth
Karsten

[Shingh Sakata]

hello, minasan.

I have some information for you.
The book of the Edo period ‹ÊâÜ?W said that several Shinto priests has been peeping it secretly.
A wooden box 5 syaku long,its inside, a box of a stone.
There is a key for every box.A procedure is secret.
only master of Shinto priest knows.
2 syaku 7 or 8 sun. kissaki is like a leaf of shobu.
to habaki-moto, there's something like joint and looks like a backbone of fish. color is white.

Swordsmith Hayama Ensin made replica in the last stage of the Edo period.
He described its form. Double-edged sword and white, One apparatus with tuba, grip is flat and hollows.

Even the Emperor cannot see it fundamentaly.
Shinto priests who peeping it were exiled.
other peoples,some are becomes Mental disease because of breaking taboo.
I'm sorry I cannot investigates why replica is needed in the EDO era.

[Mark A. Gerardi]

Wow,
Some great replies. Thanks for the help.It's is nice to be getting answers to some questions I've had for a while. Any other contributions would be welcome also.

I had heard that some priests had peeked at it sometime during the Edo period but not about them being exiled. Also the fact about others breaking the taboo going crazy was new. The description was awesome. It doesn't seem to jive with the photo though which clearly depicts a dark or even black blade not a white one. And I had no idea that there was a replica made during the late Edo Period. I wonder why?

Anyway thanks again to everyone for the help.

Mark Gerardi

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by Mark A. Gerardi
...It doesn't seem to jive with the photo though which clearly depicts a dark or even black blade not a white one....
Look at the reflection on the forward portion of the blade in the photo posted above. It looks very white, as opposed to a blue or yellow cast that some metals give. It also has ribs along the length of the blade, like a fish's backbone, and is of one piece construction with pommel, handle, and all being forged as one.

I'd say it matches the decription almost perfectly.