Masamune
Contents
General Information
Information
Masamune is the name given to a sword forged by Melchior, the Guru of Life, in Zeal around approximately 12,000 B.C. The sword is composed of Melchior's two dreams, Masa and Mune, and the mineral known as Dreamstone. In the Lavos Timeline, the Masamune was finished by the guru and presumably lay untouched until 590 A.D., when a Guardian knight known as Cyrus and his squire, Glenn, located the fabled sword in the Denadoro Mts. Unfortunately, soon after retrieving it, Cyrus was struck down by Magus and his squire was turned into Frog, leaving the sword, in two pieces, to rest another ten years -- though Frog would carry the broken hilt of it with him. In 600 A.D., Crono and his party battle Masa and Mune in the mountains to retrieve the sword in order to slay Magus, as they were currently under the assumption that he created Lavos.
The party successfully received the broken blade portion of the sword, called the Bent Sword. The Bent Hilt was later provided by Frog, and the Masamune was successfully repaired by Melchior after an amount of Dreamstone was procured from Ayla in 65,000,000 B.C. Through the course of Chrono Trigger, the party receives the Masamune's prior form in Zeal, 12,000 B.C., called the Red Knife. It is given to the party by that era's Melchior to stop the Mammon Machine. Upon contact with the device, it transforms into the true Masamune. This raises the question of how the Red Knife came to be the Masamune in the Lavos Timeline prior to Crono's adventure; theories can be found at this entry.
The Masamune received a hefty spiritual upgrade when it was taken to the repaired grave of Cyrus in the Hero's Grave. It can be inferred that once the death of Cyrus is resolved and avenged, the Masamune can reciprocate the positively increased spirit of Frog, as the issue had been weighing on his conscience for ten years running.
Japanese Equivalent
Romaji: Gurandorion
Translation: Grandleon
Name Origin
"Masamune" is Japanese for "Holy Sword." A fable exists in which a swordsmith, Masamune, had to face off against another expert swordsmith. After completing their work, the two thrust their swords into a river. Passing leaves were cut in two by the opposition, while Masamune's sword actually made the leaves float away due to its spiritual power. This is exemplary of the notion of 'fighting without fighting,' seen in Sun Tzu's Art of War and typified in Bruce Lee's film Enter the Dragon.
Chrono Trigger
Used by: Frog Type: Broadsword
Masamune I
Attack: 75
Stat Increase: 42
Effects: Decreases Magus's magic defense; does not cause retaliation
How to obtain: Take the Bent Sword, Bent Hilt, and Dreamstone to Melchior and have either Lucca or Robo help him repair them, then take the sword to Frog in the Middle Ages and have him cut open the Magic Cave.
Masamune II
Attack: 200
Stat Increase: 111
Effects: 200% damage on magic enemies
How to obtain: Complete the Cyrus's Ghost sidequest with Frog in the party, and visit the now-accessable grave of Cyrus.
From: Weapons (Chrono Trigger)
Chrono Cross
Mastermune
Radical Dreamers
Type: Sword
How it is used: The Masamune is alluded to as the 'demonic brother' of the Einlanzer, giving rise to the belief that both were forged by Melchior simultaneously in the Radical Dreamers Timeline. In various scenarios, Magil is inquired of his knowing the sword's former owner, Frog.
From: Weapons (Radical Dreamers)
