History Analysis / HeroesPreferSwords

There are strong cultural reasons for this trope. In Western culture, especially Northern and Central Europe, the sword is seen as the symbol of chivalry, nobility, and power. The straight-bladed Middle Ages knightly sword with a simple hilt and crossguard also strongly resembles [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} a cross]], adding religious significance to the weapon. But even moreso, in Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, often depicts the sword as an object associated with divinity. The founding myth of Japan centres on two gods (Izanagi and Izanami) dipping a coral blade into the ocean before stirring it to form the archipelago. In feudal Japanese society, specifically the Edo period of the 17th century, only the samurai class were allowed to carry two swords with them during peacetime to show their noble status. Thus, the huge signficance swords played in many cultures are often valued as very valuable weapons for the combatant to use, especially in the battlefield. However, in a battlefield scenario, this wasn't always the case.

There are strong cultural reasons for this trope. In Western culture, especially Northern and Central Europe, the sword is seen as the symbol of chivalry, nobility, and power. The straight-bladed Middle Ages knightly sword with a simple hilt and crossguard also strongly resembles [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} a cross]], adding religious significance to the weapon. But even moreso, in Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, often depicts the sword as an object associated with divinity. The founding myth of Japan centres on two gods (Izanagi and Izanami) dipping a coral blade into the ocean before stirring it to form the archipelago. In feudal Japanese society, specifically the Edo period of the 17th century, only the samurai class were allowed to carry two swords with them during peacetime to show their noble status. Thus, the huge signficance swords played in many cultures are often valued as very valuable weapons for the combatant to use, especially in the battlefield. However, in a battlefield scenario, this wasn't the case.

There are strong cultural reasons for this trope. In Western culture, especially Northern and Central Europe, the sword is seen as the symbol of chivalry, justice, and power. The straight-bladed Middle Ages knightly sword with a simple hilt and crossguard also strongly resembles [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} a cross]], adding religious significance to the weapon.

In Japan, the samurai is considered to be one with his katana, actually imbuing a portion of his spirit into the blade through use and sometimes manufacture. The katana symbolizes the samurai code more than any of the other weapons he could choose. Like the knightly sword in Europe, the katana in Japan is also a weapon of the nobility. Ashigaru, the common-born soldiers, could use yari spears, naginata polearms, ono axes and shields, or bows, but almost never katana.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine status it conveys. While this can partly be due to how the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity, it mostly stems from Japanese culture. In Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, recognizes the sword as a sacred, divine object meant for warding off demons or evil spirits. Thus, Japan historically, maintained a very deep spiritual custom of the sword and sword-making, even moreso than Europe. When Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century, discovered this deep spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making, they never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Thus, it is not uncommon to depict the sword possessing magical divine properties for the hero to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine status it conveys. This is partly due to how the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity with European traditions. But mostly, it stems from Japanese culture. In Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, recognizes the sword as a sacred, divine object meant for warding off demons or evil spirits. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century who discovered this deep spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making, never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Thus, it is not uncommon to depict the sword possessing magical divine properties for the hero to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine status it conveys. This is partly due to how the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity with European traditions. But mostly, it stems from Japanese culture. In Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, recognizes the sword as a sacred, divine object meant to ward off demons or evil spirits. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen as a very high form of artwork, and thus the sword crafted from dedicated sword-makers should be treated with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century who discovered this deep spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making, never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Thus, it is not uncommon to depict the sword possessing magical divine properties for the hero to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine status it conveys. This is partly due to how the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity with European traditions. But mostly, it stems from Japanese culture. In Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, recognizes the sword as a sacred, divine object. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen as a very high form of artwork, and thus the sword crafted from dedicated sword-makers should be treated with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century who discovered this deep spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making, never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Thus, it is not uncommon to depict the sword possessing magical divine properties for the hero to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine status it conveys. This is partly due to how the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity with European traditions. But mostly, it stems from Japanese culture. In Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, recognizes the sword as a sacred, divine object. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen as a very high form of artwork, and thus the sword crafted from dedicated sword-makers should be treated with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century discovered this deep, spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making. However, they never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Thus, it is not uncommon to depict the sword possessing magical divine properties for the hero to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine status it conveys. This is partly due to how the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity with European traditions. But mostly, it stems from Japanese culture. In Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, recognizes the sword as a sacred, divine object. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen as a very high form of artwork, and thus the sword crafted from dedicated sword-makers should be treated with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century discovered this deep, spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making. However, they never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Thus, it is not uncommon to depict the sword to possess magical divine properties for the hero to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine status it gives. This is partly due to how the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity with European traditions. But mostly, it largely stems from Japanese culture. In Japan, the national religion, Shintoism, recognizes the sword as a sacred, divine object. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen as a very high form of artwork, and thus the sword crafted from dedicated sword-makers should be treated with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century discovered this deep, spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making. However, they never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Thus, it is not uncommon to depict the sword to possess magical divine properties for the hero to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine nature. This largely comes from Japanese culture, in particular. Within Shintoism, the sword is recognized as a sacred, divine object. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen as a very high form of artwork, and thus the sword crafted from dedicated sword-makers should be treated with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century discovered this deep, spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making. However, they never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Combined within the European tradition that the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity, it is not uncommon for a hero to use a sword that possesses a divine power of the good to dispel evil or darkness.

Perhaps another reason why swords are often valued as high status weapons can come from the divine nature. This largely comes from Japanese culture, in particular. Within Shintoism, the sword is recognized as a sacred, divine object. In Japanese culture, the art of sword-making is seen as a very high form of artwork, and thus the sword crafted from dedicated sword-makers should be treated with great reverence. Especially because traditional Japanese swordsmiths also happen to be Shinto priests; they have to perform mandatory rituals, such as not eating meat before the forging, as part of the "purification" process. Westerners, especially those who visited Japan in the 19th century discovered this deep, spiritual custom of Japanese sword-making. However, they never fully understood the meaning behind Shintoism, let alone how this religion shaped the sword-smithing traditions. Combined within the European tradition that the sword has some religious connotations in Christianity, the idea that only a sword possesses such divine powers plays a role on why heroes often use the sword as a primary weaponto dispel evil or darkness.

Another reason ''not'' to use a sword is that they were often prohibitively expensive throughout history. As mentioned, any spear, blunt force, or axe-type weapon was far cheaper. So when the Hero is a FarmBoy, it's ''extremely'' unlikely that he'd have the money to buy a sword or for his relatives to pass one down to him. Of course, he might have received one for a host of reasons, all boiling down to the fact that he's TheHero, so [[EnforcedTrope he'd better have a sword]].