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THE LEGEND OF KAN-CHIANG
Written 7-08-2003 by Jay Manaloto
Webmaster's Note - While this is not technically an essay, I thought it was appropriate
to include the ancient Chinese legend (assembled from various internet sources)
behind the name "Kan-chiang" as taken by the captain of the Nosferatu. --Jay
In ancient China, during the spring and autumn period 722-481 B.C., in the state of Wu (also Ch'u), there lived a famous swordsmith named Kan-chiang. During this time, the King of Wu lived a very luxurious yet incomplete life. There was a saying: "A true hero earns a precious sword." The King desired a sword that would deliver his fame and celebrate his name throughout the world. So the King commanded Kan-chiang: "With all of your skill, forge me the greatest sword in the world."
Upon receiving this high command, Kan-chiang searched the countryside and gathered the finest iron he could find. One bright sunny day, he began the crucial process of growing the flames of his furnace. Because Kan-chiang held such an intense concentration during this process, many mischievous specters and spirits appeared in his workshop, trying to distract him from his awesome task. Nevertheless, Kan-chiang would not be bothered or deterred from forging the greatest sword in the world.
Slowly and steadily, Kan-chiang fanned the furious flames of his furnace until their terrible violence seemed fierce enough to consume the heavens. When the terrible flames still could not melt the fine iron, the perspiring Kan-chiang threw his own hair and fingernails into the furnace. When the flames still could not melt the iron, the feverish Kan-chiang instructed his pregnant wife Mo-yeh (also Luo Yang): "Cut your hair and fingernails, and throw them into the furnace as well!" When the iron still did not melt, the determined Kan-chiang gathered 300 boys and girls to his furnace, and instructed them: "Pump the paddles and add charcoal to the fire!"
At last, the flames burned fierce enough to melt the fine iron! Over the next three years, the tireless Kan-chiang and his wife Mo-yeh undertook the awesome process of forging the sword. With every fiber of their beings, Kan-chiang and Mo-yeh would not be bothered or deterred from pounding, hammering, and shaping the greatest sword in the world! At the end of the third year, the swordsmith and his wife succeeded in forging a matched pair of supremely precious swords, one male and one female, and named them: "Kan-chiang" for the male and "Mo-yeh" for the female.
As Kan-chiang stood marveling before their wondrous creations, he told his wife: "These swords are truly priceless masterpieces! It would be a pity to give both swords to the King." So as the time approached to deliver the swords to the King of Wu, Kan-chiang intended to conceal the male sword "Kan-chiang," and deliver the female sword "Mo-yeh" alone. Unbeknownst to Kan-chiang, the King was warned by divination that the swordsmith would cheat him of the male sword. With this divine warning, the enraged King vowed to slay the swordsmith when the swords were delivered.
When Kan-chiang presented the female sword "Mo-yeh" alone, the vengeful King of Wu killed the famous swordsmith. But the King would never hold the male sword "Kan-chiang." The King of Wu would never possess the greatest pair of swords in the world.
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