10 Lost Treasures That Are Still Waiting To Be Found
7. Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi
The Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi is a sword of legendary origins that combines with a jewel and a mirror to make up the Imperial Regalia of Japan. The sword stands to represent valor while the jewel represents benevolence and the mirror wisdom. The legend of the swords origin goes that it was discovered within the body of a slain eight-headed monster. As part of Japanese tradition, the sword was presented to the new Emperor by Shinto priests during his enthronement ceremony.
The sword was then allegedly stolen by a rogue monk during the sixth century who attempted to smuggle it out of Japan. His ship is said to have sunk and the sword claimed to have been recovered by Shinto priests and taken to a shrine for safe keeping. Due to the priests refusal to show anyone the sword, doubts exist as to whether they are in fact still in possession of it or if the sword even existed at all.