Posted by Gordon Maney on Friday, October 24, 2003 at 0:37AM :
In Reply to: LAST posted by Arthur P. Bloom on Thursday, October 23, 2003 at 10:32PM :
Okasaki Masamura was the greatest sword smith of ancient Japan. Not only was he famed as a master of the art, but as a man of inspiring moral stature as well.
So great was his intensity of spirit, it is said, that when he forged a sword, something of his own nature would pass into it.
His ablest disciple Muramasa was reputed to have exceeded him in the keenness of his blades, however.
A samurai, wishing to ascertain the finer edge, placed a Muramasas sword in a flowing stream. Every fallen leaf that floated down and met the blade was cut in two. He did the same with a sword of Okasaki. To his surprise, the floating leaves avoided the blade.
zen and the art of the macintosh
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