An ancient popular Japanese saying goes 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 made using a complex forging process, the Katana is a true work of art. Also known as a Japanese longsword or samurai sword, the Katana is a curved, single-edged blade with ridges along its exterior. It is primarily used as a weapon to cut down or slash one's enemies (Robinson 28). The ridges along the blade, called hamon, separate the soft metal components, the shingane, of the hadagane from the hard metal components used to forge the sword to give it its razor edge and flexibility (Turnbull 12). The blade of the Katana is approximately sixty to seventy centimeters long and is often compared to the bow of the new moon. With its characteristic 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 a remarkable aspect of Japanese craftsmanship. The Japanese Katana is an important symbol of Japanese culture whose meaning must be affirmed. Stories about war and its instruments can be seen throughout Japanese history. This shows the prevalence of martial training and the craft of arms as a tradition that has not faded 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 or ancient swords periods, before 650 AD, and the ancient swords from after 650 AD until 1596 AD, when Shinto...... middle of paper. ....h their swords. […] All 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 that speak to the tenacity of the samurai. Noble and aggressive, samurai wield their swords with the intent to kill, convinced that a simple strike of the blade can cause certain death to their enemies. This is the main reason why the Katana is made this way. This is about creating a weapon of absolute destruction. A tool comprising aspects that symbolize elegance and devastation, the Katana is not only the most beautiful weapon ever made, it is also a beautiful work of art (Yumoto np). The elegance of the Katana stems from its shape and the method used to create it.