Certainly most of us have heard the story of King Arthur and the legendary sword Excalibur. Many versions have since then been told by many writers. Whether the stories published are fictional, historical, or a fusion of the two, we will never know for sure. As soon as a personal event or experience happens, immediately a second later it becomes part of history, a few moments more it becomes a part of your memory, still when the memory lingers longer and the recorder of the memory grows or experiences new things, that particular memory becomes a part of the psyche and influences future decisions and determines how we react to different situations.

No matter how small the memory may be, somehow it has the ability to mold us into what we are. A simple act of kindness that we experienced from beloved friends or a single word full of malice from an evil person has the potential to make or break a person into someone who is good or evil or indifferent. Each memory or experience is like a raindrop that falls and contributes to the river that is our life. Each raindrop, no matter how small, has the ability to create ripples and regardless of whether large or small it will always have an effect. As we grow older some of those memories become blurry and sometimes they fade away completely.

Oh I’m sorry; I’m deviating from the topic, which is the sword. Was it not said somewhere that when stories are told, they become a part of history. (Recorded history is another thing) When history fades from memory it becomes legend and when legends are forgotten they become myths? Anyway, will Excalibur always be a legend, and never become a myth? Is the allure of the stories told about King Arthur preventing us from forgetting simply because it appeals to our humanity and our need to look up to a certain standard of morality, ideal or heroism? Isn’t a sword an item made for war? A sword is a weapon with a sharp edge meant to hurt. Isn’t the art of swordsmanship the art of finding better and more efficient ways to kill? No matter how the different sword disciplines define their “art” — the basic principles might be to defend, to harmonize the body and mind, to exercise the body, to attain spiritual enlightenment, etc. — the sword’s raison d’etre remains the same.

How can a sharp bladed thing meant to hurt and kill become an instrument used to defend or protect?

People might have heard of swords like Excalibur, Durandal, Sword of Omens, Sword of Truth, Sword of Justice, Narsil, Anduril, Masamune, Twin Kodachi, etc. Ancient sword masters can think of at least a hundred ways to wield a sword. As of the moment, I can only think of one person who can really use the sword to protect. If the stories made about him are a part of history then maybe he is a real person or at least based from a real character who lived in the Mejji Era, 10 years after the revolution.

He is an anime character named Kenshin Himura, the wandering swordsman. He was formerly known as Battousai the Manslayer, the deadliest and most feared and respected swordmaster in the Tokugawa era. In the Japanese animation series, he is a reformed legendary assassin trying to atone for his past sins by protecting those that are dear to him and defending the weak. He is on a journey towards self-discovery. His never-to-kill-again oath has made him a changed man. But for how long this would remain true is one of the series plot hooks. He is fighting a constant struggle to suppress the worst (the ruthless and bloodthirsty killing machine) part of himself and cultivating the new life-valuing aspect of his being. Every major battle brings the question back to his mind: can I protect the ones I love without killing? Every skirmish threatens his convictions and his integrity. Every major event brings him closer and closer to breaking his resolve but every time he finds a way to survive without killing. The inner turmoil he suffers makes him stronger and enables him to face the demons of his past, and allows him to hope for a better future. With the help of his precious friends he has a very good chance of keeping his no-kill vow and living a full life free of unnecessary violence. He is a true fighter who hates oppression and violence. He is adept at dealing death and familiar with suffering. He is tired of injustice and tyranny. He is willing to give peace a fighting chance. He has the power to back up his convictions with his sword skills. He is strong willed and highly honorable, common among samurai warriors. What makes him unique is his ability to surpass the traditional hara-kiri, and look to the future and work for atonement rather than retribution. He is kind to the core of his being. With a strong sense of justice and integrity to match his resolve and his sword skills, he is able to formulate solutions on how to reach his goals as peacefully as he could. He is not self-righteous; rather he is full of humility and constantly appreciates the value of friends. He would choose to sacrifice his life than endanger those that are dear to him.

Oh by the way, our hero wields a reverse-edged katana made by the legendary sword smith Shakku Arai (one of the best sword makers of his time), the last sword dedicated to creating a new era of peace. The holy sword was given as an offering in a shrine and was meant as an atonement for a man who regretted making weapons of death, Shakku’s last attempt to leave a legacy worthy of being remembered not as a merchant of death but as a craftsman who tried to make a difference in a world full of violence and struggle. He wanted to be remembered as an honorable man who tried to create, not destroy. The sword might mean nothing in the hands of a killer but in the hands of Kenshin it becomes a weapon of justice and a weapon of protection. I am not a gambling person, but I am willing to wager a great deal on Kenshin, if anyone can use a sword to protect, it’s definitely him. If you find others who are capable of doing this, please say so. It would be a great honor to know there are others just like this remarkable human being, existing only in legend as he may be.

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