Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 2.djvu/173

 closer scrutiny must be made. The back of a Japanese sword is slightly curved, and the edge is not equidistant from it throughout, approaching it more closely at the point than at the hilt. Now it is essential that the edge be ground so that its rate of approach to the back shall be absolutely uniform from hilt to point-plane, and, further, that the line of intersection of the edge- plane and the back-plane shall be equidistant throughout from the back and the edge. Finally, the edge-plane has to be slightly convex so that the edge may receive the fullest support from the metal above it. Considering these operations, there is no difficulty in understanding that the polishing and sharpening of a sword required weeks of labour, and that only a few experts in each generation attained perfection. By these, as well as by famous sword-smiths, high rank and large emoluments were obtainable, though it is not on record that noted forgers of sword-blades ever amassed riches. They invariably showed the trait common to all Japanese artists, contempt for money. Certain of the blades they forged were counted priceless. A masterpiece by Masamune or some other of the seventeen Meijin (celebrities) had a value above all estimate. But the blades of lesser craftsmen might be procured for sums varying from eighty-five gold dollars to four or five thousand. The men that could accurately identify these gems had almost as much