An ancient Japanese folk saying states that "The sword is the soul of the warrior". (Buchanan 120) The warrior in the proverb belongs to the samurai of feudal Japan and the sword refers to their most important weapon, the Katana. An ancient blade crafted through a complicated forging process, the Katana is a true work of art. Also known as the Japanese long sword or samurai sword, the Katana is a curved, single-edged blade with ridges along the outside. It is primarily used as a weapon to strike down or slash its enemies (Robinson 28). Ridges along the blade, called hamon, divide the soft metal components, the shingane, from the hadagane of the hard metal components used to forge the sword to give it its characteristic razor-sharp edge and flexibility (Turnbull 12). The Katana blade is sixty to seventy centimeters long and is often compared to the bow of the new moon. With its distinctive curved edge and fusion of hard and soft metals, the Katana is considered the greatest offensive weapon ever created (O'Neill 114,116). It is a hallmark of Japanese sword history and is a noteworthy aspect of Japanese craftsmanship. The Japanese Katana is an important symbol of Japanese culture whose meaning must be stated. War stories and related tools can be observed throughout Japanese history. This demonstrates the prevalence of martial training and the profession of arms as a tradition that has not disappeared since ancient times (Friday and Humitake 13). The history of the Japanese sword spans several centuries. It is commonly divided into five main periods, the Jokoto and Koto periods or ancient swords, before 650 AD, and ancient swords from after 650 AD until 1596 AD, when Shinto...... middle of paper. ....h their swords. […] Everyone lived by a code that valued death over defeat. They were the samurai, the elite warrior class who ruled Japan for nearly 700 years, leaving an indelible mark on a land [Japan][…].” (O'Neill 101) This quote from a National Geographic publication is one of many others that speak to the tenacity of the samurai. Noble and aggressive, samurai wield their swords with murderous intent, confident that a simple blow of their blades can cause certain death to their enemies. This was the main reason why the Katana was made this way. It's about creating a weapon of absolute destruction. A tool composed of aspects that symbolize elegance and devastation, the Katana is not only the finest weapon ever made, but is also a beautiful work of art (Yumoto np). The elegance of the Katana comes from its shape and the method used to create it.