Originally posted by: lasaire
One thing I am curious about is if the sword Orochimaru is shown with in the episode has any visual resemblance to the sword of Kusanagi in myth.

Orochimaru's sword appears more like a Chinese gim in form, yet with a rigid blade. Granted, the legend of Kusanagi predates the true katana form as we know it today, but still I think it would be more 'japanese' in form, if I can say that.

By that, I mean a single edged blade rather than a double-edged, a bit longer than a Chinese gim, (actually I believe the early forms of the nihonto were even longer than modern era katana), with a curved tip rather than a triangular one.

That would make sense, because you read anything about the origins of Japanese sword making you will know that it was imported from china. During the Tan dynasty of China, one of the golden ages of Chinse sword making the Japanese actively hire hundreds of Sword smiths from China to go over to Japan to pass on the Art of sword making. The technique of hammering the edges of the swords into thousands of microscopic folds is also originally from china. Originally before katana style swords were made Japanese royalties carried double edged straight swords imported from China. Also katana style swords were also found on various arch digs in China and are to be made in China. Later on in Histrory during the Chin dynasty (last dynasty in china) Swords were outlawed to be carry by non goverment official which caused a declined in sword smithing, therefore most of the famous sword makers losted their Craft. Inresult most people think only the japanese katanas are well know around the world. Most sword specialists know that Ancient Chinese Sword are often just as good if not even better made than Japanese katanas.

interesting note: Swords discovered in tomb digs from the Tan dyansty have a few incredible properties. They used a form of Chromium alloy plating for anti-rusting which was a technique losted after that period in history and not rediscovered till late 1800's in germany. Another thing is they discoverd sword that had memory metal properties. The swords were found crushed under rocks and bend out of shape, however when pull out they returned to their original form. This is something scientists now have been trying to create but havent succeed ^^