From Bushido, the Soul of Japan, by Inazo Nitobe, [1905]
When he reaches man’s estate, at the age of fifteen, being given independence of action, he can now pride himself upon the possession of arms sharp enough for any work. The very possession of the dangerous instrument imparts to him a feeling and an air of self-respect and, responsibility. “He beareth not the sword in vain.” What he carries in his belt is a symbol of what he carries in his mind and heart,–loyalty and honour.
I wanted to create a custom Katana sword to give our sons as part of their rite of passage into manhood. A little research brought me to three themes and symbols:
Brotherhood – Nakwach
Variants of the Nakwach are found in many ancient cultures, in both North and South America, as well as in Europe and the far east. The Hopi used the word “Nakwach”, which means brotherhood. It’s meant to symbolize the joined hands of two tribal elders, who made a pact of lifelong friendship with each other, thereby bringing peace to their people.
Strength – Oak Leaf
The oak is a common symbol of strength and endurance and has been chosen as the national tree of England, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, the United States, Basque Country and Wales.
In the Bible, the oak tree at Shechem is the site where Jacob buries the foreign gods of his people (Gen. 35:4) . In addition, Joshua erects a stone under an oak tree as the first covenant of the Lord (Josh. 24.25-7).
The Oak is a symbol for the male principle, and the clusters of healthy acorns in their cups are known as symbolic of male fertility. Oak trees have been perceived as sacred and holy for thousands of years.
Honor – Eagle Feather
The Indians believed that the eagle was a messenger of God, and that to wear its feather meant you were most sacred. They also believed that the eagle’s feather represented an equal balance between male and female. To be seen adorned with the feather of an eagle meant that you had earned respect and love from the fellow members of the tribe, and that you were worthy to wear such an adornment.
A gift of an Eagle Feather is a great honor. It is a mark of distinction, one that could indicate that a rite of passage has been earned. The Eagle Feather represents the norms, responsibilities and behaviors that are all a part of the conditioning, learning and commitment to the community.
I developed stylized graphics to depict each of these and cut them from bronze plate. Once they were cut out, I aged them in a series of vibrating medium drums and then darkened them using a chemical agent. The result was very satisfying.
We bought the swords from a Chinese sword maker who uses modern techniques to produce reasonably accurate folded steel blades. The blades are really beautiful and have nice natural hamon (as opposed to the dyed on or faked hamon on cheap reproductions). The tsuka (handle) is pegged and hand wrapped with black cord over rayskin. The saya (scabbard) is traditional black lacquered wood.
While we do not “carry them in our belts”, we do attempt to carry what they represent in our souls.