The Masamune and the Murasame The reason for the aforementioned leaf-cutting abilities of the Masamune and Murasame blades might be as follows (although the actual name of the smith who created the Murasame was Muramasa, Kyokutei Bakin(1767-1848) was notorious for renaming famous people in the Hakkenden-story and sneaking them in): Masamune was great swordsmith in Japan, and a well-known philosopher I believe. His works with the blade were so masterful his student Muramasa wishes to recreate his work, but failed due to shortcomings on the most important martial principle. In the Japanese bujutsu there is a saying: satsujinken katsujinken. Roughly translated this means 'The sword that kills, the sword that gives life'. This principle donates the entire word martial (bu, or 'stop the spear') in that a martial artists goal is to preserve life with his skill, never to take it. Masamune knew this, but Muramasa did not. For this reason he did not have the insight on the blade as his teacher did, and could therefore never accomplish the same skill in his own work. Because he assumed the blade was for death alone, his swordwork as always been pulled to the satsujinken side of the equation, his blades always wanting blood and never serving their true identity. The above could denote why the Muramasa is deemed 'cursed', and such a 'powerful' blade is treasured for more than just being the ruling staff of the Kanto. by Inuden1703@aol.com left: Masamune-sword _________________ right: Muramasa-sword

Legend Of The Masamune And The Murasame

In Japan, two "magical" blades exist. These are Masamune and Murasame swords. Generally, if you put the two blades in a river with floating leaves, the Masamune blade would repel the leaves and let them flow safely down the stream, while the Murasame blade would attract and cut them up. It is supposedly cursed. The blade is so inately cold, water disperses off it when drawn and exposed to air
by Inuden1703@aol.com

The History Of The Masamune-blade
(for abilities of the Masamune click here)

The Masamune-Sword was created by Masamune(1264-1344). He was a very good sword-smith. He was even better then his master(when his master was already dead), who learned him the way to make a sword. His master's name is Shimoro Katsuhiro(1245-1281). Katsuhiro wasn't a sword-smith his whole life(see more info about Katsuhiro). After his return home from the battlefield against the Mongolian army he became a sword-smith, dedicating his life for reviving his sword he broke on the battlefield in 1274(1st Mongolian invasion). His sword called the SATORI-NO-HON-MARU or Satori for short was given to him by his father who got it from his father and so on for generations. Satori-No-Hon-Maru means something like "Enlightenment Of The Middle Circle". With that is ment: Sword Of Central Core. This sword was for the Shimoro only. It possessed a supernatural power. Also Katsuhiro had a master who learned him the profession of sword-making, but he died in 1278. He still needed someone to help him. Katsuhiro met Masamune who was 15-years then. Katsuhiro learned him how to make a sword. They tried many years to revive the Satori, but with no succes. In 1281 Katsuhiro died in war. Masamune promissed his master to revive the Satori. Also Masamune needed an attendant his name was Muramasa. Together they could revive the Satori, but this sword is now known as the MASAMUNE.
So the Masamune is the Satori, but the sword is called the Satori before it was broken and it was called the Masamune after it was revived.
by The G.S.A.

Murasame In The Story "The Hakkenden" by Kyokutei Bakin

Ashikaga Mouchiuji presented this sword to the Shogun to prove he was the ruler of Kanto. Since the days of Genji, it has shown ownership of that vital region. Ohtsuka Shousaku Mitsumori gave the blade he recievd from the Ashikaga to his son, Bansaku, at Yuuki in 1441. When Aboshi tries to take the blade, Bansaku commits suicide and gives the sword to his son/Dog Warrior Shino. Inuzuka Shino is to give the blade to the current Ashikaga, Nariuji. However, Aboshi takes the blade, which is later taken by Dousetsu. It again ends up with Shino, however.
It's fate differs between the anime and the novels. In the anime, Dousetsu tosses the sword to Shino and it falls into the sea. In the novels, Shino presents it to Nariuji, and his filial duty is completed.
by Inuden1703@aol.com