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How to Hang a Samurai Sword & Why

The samurai sword carries with it many hundreds of years of tradition and ceremony. In medieval Japan, samurai were obliged to carry two swords by law, making these weapons of extreme value to the owner. Displaying the swords correctly was equally important, and those traditions haven't gone away. Although several different types of sword mount are available, wall mounting must present the weapons in a decorative and elegant manner.

Things You'll Need

Two tier wall mount

Instructions

- 1
  Drill mounting holes and fasten the wall mount using plugs and screws to achieve a solid fixing in external or brick walls. Screw the wall mount directly into wall joists on a drywall, or use cavity fixings suitable to support the weight of the swords. Typically a full size samurai sword, or "katana," weighs between 2 and 3 lbs.
- 2
  Place the longest sword in its scabbard and sit it on the top rung of the wall mount. The cutting edge of the blade, on the outer edge of the curve, must face upwards to reflect the way the swords are worn. Place any other swords, such as the shorter "wakizashi," on the lower rungs of the wall mount.
- 3
  Put the sword's handle on the left hand side of the mount, as you are looking at it, to represent a peaceful intention. Placing the handle on the right suggests an aggressive attitude since this is the direction the sword would be drawn from.

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