Earth (wakizashi)

The wakizashi Earth was a gift to the Kakita family in 353 after Asahina's marriage and joining the Crane Clan. It was a part of a daisho with the katana Heaven. they were made with chips of obsidian and jade which were blended into the metal. Each of the tsuba were forged of shakudo, a blend of copper and gold, and each weapon had the Rokugani characters for heaven and earth inscribed on the tsuba. The spirit of Earth was more basic than Heaven, less noble and less idealistic. It embodied the essence of passing time, as the fleeting traits of man pass across the face of the Earth. (Crane p. 118)