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.

Thanks. Technically they are called symbols to english speakers who dont know any japanese..

Some guys on another forum have translated the "symbols" as:

Now, Present time

Ancient, the past

God

Dignity

Service

and summarised it as:

Since ancient times to the present, God is with those who serve with dignity and honour.

Does that sound about right?

Ya, that sounds about right. However, those characters are definitely backwards. If that's how they actually look, that's stupid.

Yeah, you would think they could put a little more effort in and make the mould properly. They are made in china so they are chinese are probably having a dig :P

Either that or they just cant be fegged.

Doesnt matter really because no one i know knows japanese :P

Cheers

I'm sorry; I know this is a Japanese help board, but I have to ask, since I'm American and have no idea.

What do "have a dig" and "fegged" mean?

If they are made in China, then there is no excuse for the backwards characters. Japanese kanji comes from China.

"have a dig" = make fun of or spitefulness ect

"fegged" = f*cked

Probably them just making fun of white people that are into swords :P

Its like those guys the get the chinese or japanese symbol tatoos only to find out they mean fish & chips or something :)

Asians and white devils, gotta love racism :)

:3 i love how topic conversations seem to stem off into nonrelated issues. lol its funny to read.