What we now think of as Japanese swords first came into being around the mid Heian period (10th and 11th c.), and over the past thousand years or so, they have developed over the generations into something distinctively Japanese. While they were originally created as weapons, as the times changed, so too did the forms taken by swords: over time, they became symbols of the samurai, handed down as treasured heirlooms. This is because their inherent beauty has long been part of the appeal of Japanese swords, expressed through such design aspects as the gentle sweeping curve of the blade. This exhibition focuses on a highlight of Japanese swords that we call “form”: the changes in shape and design over time that tell us about the aesthetic sensibilities, values, and fighting styles of each era.
This exhibition focuses on a selection of Japanese swords from the museum’s collection, with exhibits of swords demonstrating the characteristic forms of each era, showing off the way that their forms combine beauty and utility.
Back