What do these symbols on my sword mean?
 

Hi,

My friend bought me a japanese sword for my birthday and am curious as to what all the sybols mean. Could someone translate the blade and sheath symbols please?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

Your friend bought you this sword, and you created multi-layer photoshop-display for our benefit?

No, its the manufacturers photo on their website.

I hope they aren't printed that way, because half the characters are backwards.

How are they backwards?

The sword is simply flipped over in one photo.

Anyone want to actually translate the symbols?

If the characters are printed in the sword as they are in the bottom part of the picture you posted, then they are printed in reverse.

The base of the stand says "BU-SHI-DO" which is "the way of the Bushi"

The sword can be turned around.. :rolleyes:

Imagine reading this sentence in a mirror. Will turning the sword around fix that?

Anyone know what they mean?

Please stop using the word 'symbols'; they are called 'kanji'. As MMM said most of the kanji on your sword are in their mirror images, and not in their regular forms. Only two words are in the correct form. 侍魂 means 'samurai spirit'　and 武士道 means bushido.