The Sword, Mirror, and Jewel
Posted on November 01, 2020 by Alexander-James Guillermo, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
The 3 imperial treasures of Japan: an old martial arts analogy to illustrate a simple mental process that helps in achieving "purposefulness".
Since ancient times, the Japanese imperial family have kept three sacred treasures to represent their rule: the sword (Kusanagi no Tsurugi), the mirror (Yata no Kagami), and the jewel (Yasakani no Magatama). These three regalia often represent the virtues of valor, wisdom, and benevolence respectively, but in traditional Japanese martial arts there is a different take on what they symbolize.
Let’s start with the mirror. The basis of the three, the mirror is a warrior’s introspection; they use every pursuit, every situation, and every moment to become more aware of who they are, what they feel, how they think, and more. Using every opportunity, they take a good look at the good and the bad, their own beauty and ugliness. A warrior uses the symbol of the mirror to look inward instead of out, seeking out “truth” through self-awareness.
The sword represents severity and conflict. Looking in the mirror isn’t easy, nor is it pleasant. It is through necessity, sometimes extreme, that one finds the impetus to do so. The sword also serves as truth; if one’s beliefs, convictions, words, and worldview crumble under the blade of a sword at one’s throat, then they were never “truths”. People often make statements, silently to themselves and verbally to others, that disappear like mist in times of conflict. This indicates a need to look in the mirror, or to further polish onself.
The jewel is the hidden self that can only be revealed by polishing. Only through patience, consistency, and effort can a rock become a jewel. For warriors, the practice of their martial skills was the act of polishing the jewel; for us in the modern day, our hobbies, jobs, interpersonal relationships, and anything else can be the act of polishing ourselves. Today, we are experiencing a level of freedom and choice previously unheard of.
The jewel is the treasure lying within all of us. The sword is the impetus to polish, providing the conflict needed to chip away at the rock. The mirror is introspection, the mindset needed to make everything possible.
