The graceful Shaolin Darhma sword is a true representative of the spirit of Bodhidharma. The forged high-carbon steel blade is decorated with lotus patterns, which also form the theme of the intricately crafted handle and scabbard fittings. The handle and scabbard are traditionally made of bamboo.
-Hanwei SH2443
- High carbon steel
- Detailed equipment
- Authorized by the Shaolin Temple
- Blade material: high carbon steel
- Total length: approx. 85.1 cm
- Blade length: approx. 65.4 cm
- Handle length: approx. 15.2 cm
- Weight: approx. 839
- Balance point: approx. 29.2 cm from the guard
Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk who lived in the 5th/6th century. century, he is credited for introducing Zen to China through the Shaolin Monastery, which became the birthplace of Zen in China. Born into an Indian royal family, he became a monk and traveled through Southeast Asia, probably arriving in China in the early 5th century. He was the 28th patriarch of Buddhism, in a line that goes back to the Buddha himself. Bodhidharma's association with Shaolin is legendary and some popular accounts credit him with introducing a series of exercises to Shaolin monks that developed into their famous martial arts. The lotus flower, one of the emblems of the Shaolin Temple, is an indication of the Zen spirit by which Dharma was able to enter a meditative state that excluded all external influences from the mind, allowing a clear insight into reality.
