As a historian and a collector of antiquities, I love folk tales. Folk tales were used to give warnings, instill values, and keep the history of the people telling them.
This week, I have chosen a tale from Japan. It tells of the famous sword-maker Masamune and his student Muramasa.
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Long ago in Japan, Muramasa, student of Masamune, challenged his teacher to a contest to see who could make the finer sword. They both worked long days and long nights, barely pausing to eat or sleep. Finally after many days, their swords were finished.
They both took their blades to the river to test the quality of their labors. They each would suspend their blades in the river with the cutting edge facing the current. Muramasa's sword, named Juuchi Yosamu (10,000 Cold Nights / 十千夜寒) cut everything in its path Fish, leaves, sticks, even the air that passed it was cut in two. Needless to say, his teacher was very impressed.
Then, Masamune dipped in his sword named Yawarakai-Te (Tender Hands / 柔らかい手), into the current and waited patiently. Fish, leaves, and sticks passed the edge of the blade, but not a single one was cut, and the air made a hissing wound as it passed. When Muramasa saw his, he began to laugh and heckle his teacher on his apparent lack of skill.
A monk who happened to be walking by heard the noise and walked over to the two sword masters. Bowing to them, he said,
""The first of the swords was by all accounts a fine sword, however it is
a blood thirsty, evil blade, as it does not discriminate as to who or
what it will cut. It may just as well be cutting down butterflies as
severing heads. The second was by far the finer of the two, as it does
not needlessly cut that which is innocent and undeserving."
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