A translation from Japanese document the: Ryōi Shintō Battō Mokuroku (良移心當抜刀目録 )

from the author’s private collection

“The most precious weapon of a warrior is the sword, which he cannot leave unattended. It is a treasure of the gods for many generations. The three foot sword of the Emperor Gaozu (256 BCE – 195 BCE) of the Han Dynasty was a treasure of the whole world, and although the Han Dynasty was full of brave men such as Wu Jiu Fan Guan, who valued loyalty and righteousness, those who were fearless enough to wear a sword should wear one. We must not lose the time of using the sword.”

Written 1844 by a teacher with the family name of Funokoshi (舩越)