The display had to deal with many various cultures and, therefore, with different display situations which dealt in depth with a committed or non-committed background. The option was mainly for the neutral black background display as a rule with exceptions. On the other hand, the presentation of ancestral weapons to the steel weapons focuses more in the change from different materials until the emergence of steel. Thus, steel is understood in a wider context, which was the aim of the exhibition. With such important material, it became rather irrelevant, also due to space limitations, to display swords of all steel dynasties in China.

CHINA -Stone, Jade, Bronze and early steel items. In the first two pictures exhibits as early as the Longshan culture (in stone) and the development of jade as a favored burial and decorative stone, to the evolution of shell arrowheads into bone, bronze and finally steel arrowheads show the birth of the weapon. Then bronzes from as early as the Shang dynasty and it's development through the subsequent periods explain why, from as early as the stone age the spear and the knife were invented from one shape taking different directions. Halberds, spear heads of the Spring and Autumn Period, axes, cast bronze swords, cast helmet from the Warring States Period, all lead to the later appearance of iron as a new material and later steel swords with the Han dynasty ring pommel sword or the two edged blade. Some views of the Chinese jade burial knives, and bronzes that explain the shapes of weapons that appear in the steel period, which is not confined to swords. The Japanese display was, together with the Korean swords, the exception of the rule. It is easy to understand that the concept of Zen can only be explained in light colors where the swords exist properly lit. The close-up of the kamakura katana shows the quality of the lighting. JAPAN This next picture is a detail of the Tadayoshi katana, followed by the Tsunahiro tanto, and then the Kaneuji tanto of the Muromachi Period with a most beautiful koshirae in dark red (ox blood). The Kanenori Yari of the Genroku-Shinto Period attests of the lighting display, a mixture of fiber optics lighting with expressive touches of spotlights, an overall display approved by Mr. Schiller, the Japanese Section's Curator. Philippines The Philippines Section offers a very extensive variety: Kris, Panabas and Barong, Bankung and Kampilan, Talibong Gunong and Pira in the last picture. Bagobo T'boli and Head Axes, Mandaya weapons, Sansibar and Tenegre, the last in this row being Katipunan. Finally we have Igorot tribe Bolos (swords or knives) and an Igorot shield. Please see the article for a better understanding. CONTINENTAL SOUTH EAST ASIA The Continental South East Asian swords span over Thailand, Laos, Myanmar. Please see the article on the swords for a better explanation.