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Tsukahara Bokuden was a famed duelist who lived in the 15th – 16th centuries. Living almost 80 years before Miyamoto Musashi, he is considered one of the most forward-thinking Samurai of all time. This is his story...
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Legend has it that an ancient ruler of China, King Chu, once called the greatest swordsmith of the land to make him a few masterwork weapons. That man’s name was Master Ou Yezi. Ou heeded the King’s command and traveled far and wide, looking for a place in which he could make such weapons. He finally found a suitable place – one with plentiful iron for smithing, special water for quenching, and suitable stones for grinding...
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While the rest of the world was reeling from the breakout of World War I, the isolated Chinese town of Longquan held a sword competition...
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Mitsuharu of the Fūma ninja clan crouched under the window, listening with keen ears for any sounds inside. His coloured, cloak, so obvious in the day, now hid him better than black ever could. Hearing nothing but the quiet muffled sounds of people going about their nightly business, he quickly glanced left and right down the alley, then stood up and entered through the window. This deep into the castle, no one expected intruders, so the windows and doors were usually left unlocked...
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Johnny walked into the sword shop. Inside, there were swords from all eras adorning the walls. To his left, he could see swords from Europe, and to his right swords from China and Japan. At the back of the shop was the shopkeeper who looked up as the bell jingled. As Johnny approached the shopkeeper, he couldn’t help exclaiming to himself, “Ah, but which should I choose?” "That’s a great question, son,” said the shopkeeper, who had obviously overheard Johnny’s not-quite whisper. “To know that, you’ll need to know about the history of these fine weapons..."
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