Sword Translation

[Angel A.]

I asked my Japanese friend who has a Chinese friend if he could translate this, but he said it didn’t make sense. I thought, well maybe this is an older form of chinese. However, I don’t know Chinese at all. Can someone translate this? I’m thinking this sword is 2500 years old. Jk, but that would be cool.

[Publius]

It says 今古有神奉志士. Loosely, "throughout history this sword has been known to have its soul and be willing to serve a person of ideals and integrity."

[imron]

2 hours ago, Angel A. said:

I thought, well maybe this is an older form of chinese

Nah, it's movie Japanese, and it doesn't make much sense.

 

I’m thinking this sword is 2500 years old

Last Samurai was released in 2003, so it's a maximum of 15 years old.  Probably less.

[Angel A.]

So it’s a quote from the last samurai?

[Publius]

Hmm, I disagree with the Reddit interpretation, specifically the 有神 part. It's supposed to mean "I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new." Clearly we're talking about the sword, not some unknown gods.

[Angel A.]

Publius, I’m confused because you gave two translations. Is it the first or the second one? What language?

[imron]

14 minutes ago, Angel A. said:

So it’s a quote from the last samurai?

Kind of.  It's engraved on a sword that is gifted to Tom Cruise's character towards the end of the movie.

[Publius]

21 minutes ago, Angel A. said:

Publius, I’m confused because you gave two translations. Is it the first or the second one? What language?

Please read the Reddit page linked by imron.

Quote

The creators of the movie apparently intended it to mean "I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new"