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A katana is a long, single-edged slashing weapon. It has a slightly curved one-sided blade, a long or short handle, and can be slightly developed in front, this allows it to be grasped with two palms. The shape of the blade allows for cutting and piercing blows. The length of the blade is 60 centimeters; the handle could be different. Weighs up to one kilogram.
The history of the katana
Such a sword appeared in the fifteenth century and existed until the end of the twentieth as a samurai weapon. Its “ancestor” was the long Japanese saber tachi. Their main difference was the way they were worn. Tati was tied with a special bandage on the belt, and the katana was tucked behind it. The first was worn paired with a tanto, the second with a wakizashi.
It was made of two types of metals. Viscous for the central part and hard for the blade. Before forging, the components were thoroughly cleaned. The handle was covered with leather and wrapped in silk fabric. This manufacturing method did not allow hands to slide along it. Handles made of wood or Ivory, described by various patterns, can be seen on ostentatious and decorative sabers.
The carrying case was made of wood and varnished. Metal ones also took place; their mass production began in the twentieth century, but, nevertheless, they also had a wood lining.
The sword was part of the samurai's clothing and was worn on the left side of the body in a sheath, with the blade facing up. But after the seventeenth century, there was no particular need to take it with you every time. In addition, the blade could corrode. Therefore, they came up with a way to preserve the integrity of the sword. A mounting was worn behind the belt, which included a sheath. The sword itself was kept at home in a wooden case, which was not varnished, which allowed it to breathe, and moisture did not accumulate. Therefore, no corrosion appeared on the blade. In the 19th century, this method of making sword cases became widespread. In the 20th century, after the wearing of swords was banned, they began to be disguised. The scabbard began to be made in the form of a cane or staff.
Sword art
The use was as a cutting weapon, and less often as a piercing weapon. Wrapped with two or one hand. The first schools teaching young samurai were formed in the fifteenth century. The techniques of Japanese swords differ from European ones in that the axis of the sword during an attack does not go towards the enemy at a right angle, but along it, thereby cutting the enemy. A curved blade is very suitable for this type of combat.
Despite, big changes In the history of the development of the state, regarding the wearing of a sword, schools of samurai art have still been preserved to this day. The most famous are Kashima Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shin Ryu and Katori Shinto Ryu.
Saber care
Cleaning the sword occurs in stages and with different tools.
Using polishing stones, nicks are removed.
Rice paper, which does not contain acid, perfectly removes the remaining oil that is used to smear the sword. Before use, rub it vigorously to make it soft so as not to scratch the blade. If you don't have rice paper on hand, you can use a regular napkin. Lime has cleaning and polishing properties. There are also no scratches left when using it.
For the Japanese, a sword is not just a piece of iron, it is a shrine.
(Fujiwara-san, hereditary Japanese swordsmith)
Write this brief classification Japanese swords were inspired by a curious incident.
Walking into a souvenir shop with a large number of Japanese swords, I asked to see a large ceremonial sword: “Please show me this tachi.”
The saleswoman just didn't understand me. When I pointed my finger at this sword, she said: “But this is a samurai sword, the so-called katana. Didn't you know? Yes... Having written a book about Japanese swords, I just didn’t know what was on display...
I don’t know whether I got out of this sticky situation right or wrong... I’ll tell you about it at the end of the article.
However, let's return to the topic. First a few notes.
A Japanese sword is not necessarily a samurai sword. Even medieval, not to mention our time. Samurai is a servant. The Emperor may not be a samurai, but that does not mean he cannot carry a sword. The samurai was at the same time one of the highest classes in medieval Japan.
Yes, in peacetime, only samurai were allowed to carry a sword (with the Tokugawa shogun coming to power in 1603), and before that, it seemed that short swords were carried by everyone (even traveling single women), except for people of the peasant class. And during the war, when there were not enough professional soldiers, they armed everyone who could hold a weapon, even untrained peasants... Ninjas, Japanese spies, were not samurai either. And they carried a sword.
But this is true, by the way. So, let's begin.
What is a Japanese sword? Among us, the Slavic peoples, a double-edged strip of iron, tapering from the handle to the tip, is called a sword. Everything else is called differently. For the Japanese, everything that has a handle, a guard (hand protection) and a cutting blade is a sword. According to samurai canons, you cannot finish off with a sword helpless enemy, for this samurai wore special aikuchi knives, the same small sword, only without the guard.
Well, and weapons concealed carry, hidden in a cane or staff, also did not seem to be considered a sword. But naginata, a curved cutting strip of steel sharpened on one side on a long shaft, is written in two hieroglyphs: “sword” and “long handle.” And also...
Ostap was carried away... Let's get down to business.
Katana. The most famous Japanese sword with an unusually hard and sharp blade. Average two-handed sword for close combat... The total length of the sword is 90-120 cm, the length of the handle is about 30 cm, the weight is 1-1.5 kg. If it is made complete with a short wakizashi(see below) is called daito(long sword). It was part of the clothing; the samurai simply did not leave the house without this sword. IN normal conditions tucked into the belt, in combat ones - tied at the waist with special ties. The scabbard is simple, varnished. It was stored on a horizontal stand (katanakaka). The stand was placed at the head of the bed at night.
Wakizashi(stuck in the side). A short one-handed (one-and-a-half-grip handle) Japanese sword. This sword played the role of a shield. The point is that in order to carry out the most “classic katana strike” from the neck to the liver, you need to grab it from the sheath, helping not only with your hands, but also with the movement of your shoulder. No matter how you train, it's quite a long time. The wakizashi helped protect against this blow; it was enough to simply pull it up. By the way, when duels were prohibited and the time came for yai-do (the art of sudden lightning-fast piercing blows), wakizashi was worn simply as part of a costume. If made in a single set with a katana, it was called Shoto (short sword).
Daisho. A set of long and short swords, made in the same style.
Tati, or tachi. Long Japanese sword. Mostly front door. The length of the blade is over 2.5 cubits (from 70 cm), the handle is long and somewhat curved. Intended mainly for equestrian combat and parades. The scabbard served mainly to protect against damage from armor. It was stored on a vertical tatikaka stand with the handle downward if times were peaceful, and with the handle up to make it easier to pull out during turbulent times. Worn on a belt with a sword belt (heavy sword) complete with a short sword tanto. Purely ceremonial swords are called kazari-tachi- richly decorated, but with a blade made of a flattened iron rod.
O-dati- the longest Japanese sword with a blade over one meter. In one of the temples in Echigo province there is a sword 2.25 meters long with a 50 cm shank. Most likely, the name comes from “ but-tachi"(field sword). The proportions of these monsters follow the shape of the tati and, despite their size, they look very proportionate. With such a weapon it was possible to cut the enemy with one blow or stop a mounted warrior with a blow to the horse.
Tanto. The shortest sword. The length of the blade is equal to or less than one cubit (30.3 cm). Has all the signs of a sword. Worn with Tati. The scabbard is simple. A women's self-defense knife in the shape of a tanto was called kaiken.
Uchi-gatana. Low quality katana sized swords. They were kept in large quantities by samurai in their arsenals to arm peasants in case of war.
Shinobi-gatana or ninja. Ninja sword. The sheath looked no different from a regular katana, but the walls were thicker. The blade is much shorter. The sheath contains a container for all sorts of “spy stuff.” They say that on the blade of a shinobi-gatana, as a rule, there was no gutter for blood drainage, which, when swung sharply, produces a characteristic whistle.
Naginata. A halberd consisting of a curved blade and a long shaft. After the Japanese began to use dense formations of spearmen, the naginata went from being a formidable military weapon to the category of... a female self-defense weapon. Competitions in naginata jutsu are still held - fights with naginatas. I even wrote a separate article about this weapon, “The most feminine edged weapon at present. What is it like?
Shirasaya, or shikomi-zue. A concealed weapon, the blade is hidden either in a cane or in a staff. Strictly speaking, this is not a sword, but a knife, but in souvenir shops they call it a sword. Because of the size.
Bokken, or boken. Wooden training sword. A little history. Traditionally in Japan, the term "ken" is used to describe straight swords. Curved swords are called "to". In theory, the bokken should be called bokuto, which is what the Japanese often call their training swords. In Japan, bokken are treated with great respect, as if they were real weapons. In experienced hands, this is the real weapon. For example, when transporting a bokken on an airplane, the passenger is required to check it in as baggage.
Sinai. Sword for practicing kendo (Japanese fencing). It is a bunch of bamboo rods secured in a certain way. To practice with this “sword,” you must wear sports armor—a mask with a helmet, plate gauntlets, and chest protection. Rules for handling a shinai in more detail regulated, they treat it like a real military weapon.
Gong-to. Post-samurai Japanese army sword. Recreated at the beginning of the twentieth century to revive samurai traditions and raise the morale of the army. Shin-gunto for ground forces and kai-gunto for naval command personnel. This weapon repeated the shape of the tati sword. Issued in industrial scale in factories. It was precisely these swords that the American military exported from Japan after the war as trophies. In general, all swords made after 1868 to this day are called “ gendaito"(modern sword).
Nippon-to (nihon-to). In Japanese tradition, everything that has a blade, except axes and sickles. However, this term often refers to Japanese swords. Any.
Tsurugi. Ancient straight swords. Museum rarity, kept in churches. Just a double-edged straight sword is called " ken».
Well, now the end of the story about visiting the store. I called a senior manager and wrote out instructions for salespeople (like this one) on swords, knives and other bladed weapons sold in this department. With drawings and sizes.
I think I did the right thing.
Many martial arts were invented in Japan. Many of them require handling edged weapons. Samurai immediately come to mind - warriors who fought primarily in this way. And today, fencing with a Japanese sword is quite popular, especially in the country where this art originated.
But to the question: “What is the name of the Japanese sword?” — there can be no definite answer. However, if you ask it to an ignorant person, in most cases the answer will be: “Katana.” This is not entirely true - a Japanese sword cannot be limited to one name. It is necessary to understand that there are a large number of representatives of this type of bladed weapon. The types of Japanese swords can be listed for a long time, there are dozens of them, the most famous of them will be given below.
Manufacturing
The tradition of fencing goes back to the distant past, to the times of the samurai. A dangerous weapon is a Japanese sword. Making it is a whole science that is passed on from master to master. Of course, it is almost impossible to fully describe how a real work is created in the hands of blacksmiths; each one uses different techniques and special additions and tricks. However, in general, everyone adheres to the following.
The use of laminated steel with controlled carbon content is mandatory. This gives the sword special ductility and strength at the same time. Refined steel is cleaned under high temperatures, the iron becomes clean.
Sorry
Absolutely all Japanese swords have a characteristic curve called sori. It can be made in various versions. The centuries-old evolution of this type of bladed weapon, and at the same time the samurai equipment, made it possible to find an almost ideal option.
The sword is an extension of the arm, and a fencer’s arm is almost always slightly bent, so the weapon also has a bend. Everything is simple, but at the same time wise. Sori appears in part due to special processing that uses extreme temperatures. Hardening is not uniform, but zonal; some parts of the sword are exposed to much greater impact. By the way, in Europe craftsmen used exactly this method. After all the procedures, the Japanese sword has different hardness, the blade has 60 Rockwell units, and back side- only 40 units. So what is the name of the Japanese sword?
bokken
To begin with, it is worth identifying the simplest of all Japanese swords. Bokken are wooden weapons, they are used in training, since it is difficult to inflict serious injuries on them; only masters of the art are able to kill with them. An example would be Aikido. The sword is created from various types of wood: oak, beech and hornbeam. They grow in Japan and are quite durable, so the choice is clear. For safety and appearance, resin or varnish is often used. The length of the bokken is about 1 m, the handle is 25 cm, the blade is 75 cm.
The weapon must be strong enough, so manufacturing also requires skill. The bokken can withstand strong blows with the same sword and with a jo, a wooden pole. The most dangerous is the tip, which can cause serious harm.
As already mentioned, a professional is capable of delivering a killing blow using a Japanese wooden sword. For example, just take the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, who often used a wooden sword in fights, most often the fight ended in the death of the enemy. Therefore, in Japan, not only real blades, but also bokken are treated with great respect. For example, when entering a plane, it must be checked in as luggage. And if you do not use a case, then this is equivalent to carrying a bladed weapon. This Japanese sword is dangerous. The name can be applied to all swords made of wood.
Interestingly, there are three types of wooden sword: male, female and training. However, you should not think that only the fair sex uses the second one. Women's is the most popular, as it has a special curve and lightness. Male - thick blade and directness. The training blade imitates a steel blade; the blade has a particularly large thickening, implying the weight of an iron blade. What other types of Japanese swords are there?
Daisho
The name literally translates as “big-small”. This is the main weapon of the samurai. The long sword is called daito. Its length is about 66 cm. A short Japanese sword (dagger) is a shoto (33-66 cm), which serves as a secondary weapon for a samurai. But it is a mistake to believe that these are the names of certain swords. Throughout history, the ligament has changed, used different kinds. For example, before early period Muromachi was used as a long sword by the tachi. Then it was replaced by the katana, which was worn in a sheath secured with a ribbon. If a dagger (short sword) tanto was used with tachi, then wakizashi - Japanese swords, photos of which can be seen below, were usually taken with it.
In Europe and Russia it is believed that the katana is a long sword, but this is not entirely true. It really has been like this for a long time, but its use is a matter of taste. Interestingly, in Japan, the use of daisho was strictly enforced only by samurai. Military leaders and shoguns sacredly revered this rule and issued corresponding decrees. The samurai themselves treated weapons with special reverence; they kept them close to them even while sleeping. The long sword was removed at the entrance to the house, and the short sword was always with you.
Other classes of society did not have the right to use daisho, but could take them individually. The bundle of swords was main part samurai costume. It was she who confirmed the class affiliation. From an early age, warriors were taught to take care of their master's weapons.
Katana
And finally, perhaps the most popular of the best Japanese swords. Katana in modern language means absolutely any representative of this type of weapon. As mentioned above, it was used by samurai as a long sword, most often it is paired with a wakaji. Weapons are always carried in a sheath to avoid accidental injury to others and yourself. Interestingly, the angle at which the katana is usually placed on the belt allows its true length to be hidden from others. A cunning and simple method appeared back in the Sengoku period. In those days, weapons were no longer a necessity; they were used more for the sake of tradition.
Manufacturing
Like any Japanese sword, the katana has a complex design. The manufacturing process may take several months, but the result is a real work of art. First, pieces of steel placed together are filled with a solution of clay and water, and also sprinkled with ash. This is necessary so that the slag that is formed during the smelting process is absorbed. After the steel is hot, the pieces are joined.
Then the most difficult process begins - forging. The pieces are repeatedly flattened and folded, thereby allowing the carbon to be evenly distributed throughout the workpiece. If you fold it 10 times, you get 1024 layers. And this is not the limit. Why is this necessary? In order for the hardness of the blade to be the same. If there are significant differences, then under conditions of heavy loads there is a high probability of breaking. Forging lasts several days, during which time the layers reach a truly large number. The structure of the blade is created by the composition of the metal strips. This is its original appearance; later it will become part of the sword.
To avoid oxidation, the same layer of clay is applied. Then hardening begins. The sword is heated to a certain temperature, which depends on the type of metal. After this, instant cooling occurs. The cutting edge becomes hard. Then the final work is carried out: sharpening, polishing. The master carefully works on the blade for a long time. Finally, when the edges are flat, he works with small stones held with one or two fingers, some use planks. Today, engraving has become popular, which usually depicts scenes with Buddhist themes. Work is done on the handle, which takes a few more days, and the katana is ready. This Japanese sword is dangerous. The name can be attributed to a large number of representatives that differ from each other.
View
Real Japanese swords must have not only a sharp blade and strength, but also durability. They should not break under strong impacts, and can also last for a long time without sharpening. Carbon gives hardness, but at the same time the sword loses its elasticity, which means it becomes brittle. Blacksmiths in Japan invented various forms that could provide both elasticity and durability.
Ultimately it was decided that layering would solve the problem. The traditional technique involves making the core of the blade from low-carbon steel. The remaining layers are elastic. Various combinations and methods help to create such a Japanese sword. A combat blade should be convenient for a certain warrior. The blacksmith can also change the type of steel, which greatly affects the entire sword. In general, katanas can differ greatly from each other due to the reasons described above.
Due to the complexity of manufacturing, blade designs cost differently. For example, the cheapest one involves the use of one type of steel. Typically used to create tanto. But the soshu kitae is the most complex structure; it has seven layers of steel. An exemplary work created using it is a work of art. One of the first to use soshu kitae was the blacksmith Masamune.
In the house and on the street
As you know, in Japan there is great amount traditions, many of which directly relate to edged weapons. For example, when entering a house, a warrior never took off a short Japanese samurai sword. The Wakaji remained in its sheath as a reminder of the guest's combat readiness. With a katana ( long sword) was different. The samurai held it in his left hand if he feared for own life. As a sign of trust, he could shift it to the right. When the warrior sat down, he also did not part with his swords.
On the street, the samurai carried a katana in a sheath called a saya. The mounting for the sword was called koshirae. If there was a need, the warrior never parted with his katana. However, in times of peace, the long sword was left at home. There it was stored in a special shirasaya assembly, which was created from untreated magnolia wood. It was able to protect the blade from corrosion.
If you compare the katana with Russian analogues, then it most closely resembles a checker. However, thanks to the long handle, the first one can be used with two hands, which is a distinctive feature. A useful property of the katana is that it is also easy to deliver stabbing blows, since the bend of the blade is small and the blade is sharp.
Wearing
The katana was always worn to the left of the body in a sheath. The obi belt securely fastens the sword and prevents it from falling out. In society, the blade should always be higher than the hilt. This is a tradition, not a military necessity. But in armed conflicts, the samurai held a katana in his left hand, that is, in a state of combat readiness. As a sign of trust, as already mentioned, the weapons were transferred to right hand. The Japanese katana sword replaced the tachi by the end of the 14th century.
Usually everyone chose a handle decorated with decorative elements, but no one chose an ugly and untreated one. However, in late XIX century in Japan, the wearing of swords, all except wooden ones, was prohibited. And the untreated hilt began to gain popularity, since the blade was not visible in the scabbard, and the sword could be mistaken for a bokken. In Russia, a katana is characterized as a two-handed saber with a blade over 60 cm.
However, not only the katana was used by samurai. There are lesser known and popular types of Japanese swords. They are described below.
Vikazashi
This is a short Japanese sword. The traditional type of bladed weapon was quite popular among samurai. It was often worn in tandem with a katana. The length of the blade actually made it not a sword, but rather a dagger; it is about 30-60 cm. The entire wakizashi was about 50-80 cm, depending on the previous indicator. The slight curvature made it look like a katana. The sharpening was one-sided, like most Japanese swords. The convex section is much larger than that of a katana, so soft objects were cut more sharply. Distinctive feature is a handle with a square section.
Wakizashi was very popular; many fencing schools taught their students to use it and a katana at the same time. The sword was called the guardian of one's honor and was treated with special respect.
However, the main advantage of the katana was the free wearing of wakizashi by absolutely everyone. If only samurai had the right to use a long sword, then artisans, workers, merchants and others often took a short sword with them. Due to the considerable length of the wakizashi, it was often used as a full-fledged weapon.
Tati
The long Japanese sword, which was replaced by the katana, was quite popular at one time. The fundamental differences between them could be identified even at the stage of creating the blade - it was used different design. Katana has much better performance, but tachi also deserves attention. It was customary to carry a long sword with the blade down; it was secured to the belt with a special bandage. The scabbard was most often wrapped to prevent damage. If the katana was part of civilian clothing, then the tati was exclusively military. Paired with it was the tanto sword. Also, tati was often used as a ceremonial weapon at various events and in the courts of shoguns and emperors (the former can also be called princes).
When compared with the same katana, the blade of the tachi is more curved and also longer, about 75 cm. The katana is straight and relatively short. The handle of the tachi, like the sword itself, is quite strongly curved, which is the main distinguishing aspect.
Tati also had a second name - daito. In Europe it is usually pronounced "daikatana". Error due to incorrect reading of hieroglyphs.
Tanto
Paired with the tati was a short sword, which could also be classified as a dagger. Tanto is a phrase, so in Japan it is not considered a knife. There is also another reason. Tanto was used as a weapon. However, the kozuka knife was worn in the same sheath. The length of the blade ranged from 15-30 cm. Most often the blade was single-edged, but sometimes double-edged ones were created, but as an exception.
Interestingly, wakizashi, katana and tanto are the same swords, only differing in length. There was a type of yoroi-doshi, which had a triangular blade. It was needed to pierce armor. Tanto was not prohibited for use by ordinary people, so not only samurai wore it, but also doctors, merchants and others. In theory, a tanto, like any short sword, is a dagger. Another variety was the kaiken, which was shorter in length. It was most often worn by ladies of high society in an obi belt and used for self-defense. Tanto did not disappear, it remained in traditional royal wedding ceremonies. And some samurai wore it instead of a wakizashi in conjunction with a katana.
Odachi
In addition to the above types of long sword, there were less known and widespread ones. One of these is odachi. The term is often confused with nodachi, which is described below, but these are two different swords.
Literally, odachi translates as “big sword.” Indeed, the length of its blade exceeds 90.9 cm. However, there is no exact definition, which is also observed with other species. In fact, every sword exceeding the above value can be called an odachi. The length is about 1.6 m, although it often exceeds it, the handle Japanese sword was considerable.
Swords have not been used since the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War of 1615. After it, a special law was issued prohibiting the use of bladed weapons of a certain length. Unfortunately, only a tiny amount of odachi survives today. The reason for this is that the owners cut their own bladed weapons in order to meet the standards. After the ban, swords were used as gifts, as they were quite valuable. This became their purpose. The high cost was explained by the fact that manufacturing was extremely complex.
Nodachi
The name literally means field sword. Nodachi, like odachi, had enormous length. Because of her, creation was difficult. The sword was worn behind the back, since this was the only way possible. Nodachi did not become widespread precisely due to the complexity of its manufacture. In addition, it also required skill when fighting. The complex handling technique was due to its large size and enormous weight. It was almost impossible to snatch a sword from behind your back in the heat of battle. But where then was it used?
Perhaps the best use was fighting horsemen. The large length and sharp end made it possible to use the nodachi as a spear, which could hit both humans and horses. The sword was also quite effective when dealing damage to several targets at once. But nodachi is completely unsuitable for close combat. Samurai, if necessary, threw away the sword and picked up a more convenient katana or tachi.
Kodati
The name translates as “little tati”. Kodachi is a Japanese edged weapon that cannot be classified as either a long or short sword. It's rather something in between. Thanks to its size, it can be easily and quickly grabbed and perfectly fencing. The versatility of the sword, due to its size, made it possible to use it in close combat, where movements are constrained and at a distance.
It is best to compare kodachi to wakizashi. Although their blades are very different (the first one is wider), the technique of wielding is similar. The length of one and the other are also similar. Kodachi was allowed to be worn by everyone, since he could not relate to long swords. It is often confused with wakizashi for the reasons described above. Kodachi was worn like a tachi, that is, with a downward curve. The samurai who used it did not take a second bladed weapon into the daisho due to its versatility. The Japanese combat sword was not required in a bundle.
A large number of swords were created in Japan, for which there was no exact definition. Some, related to small ones, could be worn by all people. The samurai usually himself chose the types of swords that he used in a bunch of daisho. Swords supplanted each other, as new ones had better characteristics; tachi and katana are prime examples. Made with high quality by great craftsmen, these swords were true works of art.
The Japanese sword is a bladed single-edged chopping and cutting weapon, produced using traditional Japanese technology from multilayer steel with controlled carbon content. The name is also used to designate a single-edged sword with the characteristic shape of a slightly curved blade that was the main weapon of the samurai warrior.
Let's try to understand a little about the variety of Japanese swords.
Traditionally, Japanese blades are made of refined steel. The process of their manufacture is unique and is due to the use of iron sand, which is cleaned under the influence of high temperatures to obtain iron with higher purity levels. Steel is extracted from iron sand.
Curving the sword (sori), performed in different options, is not accidental: it was formed during the centuries-long evolution of weapons of this type (simultaneously with changes in samurai equipment) and was constantly varied until the perfect form was eventually found, which is a continuation of a slightly curved arm. The bending is partly due to the peculiarities of heat treatment: with differential hardening, the cutting part of the sword stretches more than the back.
Just like the Western blacksmiths of the Middle Ages, who used zone hardening, Japanese craftsmen do not harden blades evenly, but in a differentiated manner. Often the blade starts out straight and receives its characteristic curve as a result of hardening, giving the blade a hardness of 60 Rockwell, but the back of the sword only 40.
Give-sho
Daisho (Japanese 大小, daisho:, lit. “big-small”) - a pair of samurai swords, consisting of a shoto (short sword) and a daito (long sword). The length of the daito is more than 66 cm, the length of the shoto is 33-66 cm. The daito served as the main weapon of the samurai, the shoto as an additional weapon.
Until the early Muromachi period, the weapon was a tachi - a long sword worn on a belt with the blade down. However, starting from the end of the 14th century, it was increasingly replaced by the katana. It was worn in a sheath secured to the belt with a ribbon of silk or other fabric (sageo). A tanto dagger was usually worn along with a tachi, and a wakizashi dagger paired with a katana.
Thus, daito and shoto are classes of swords, but not the name of a specific weapon. This circumstance caused the incorrect use of these terms. For example, in European and Russian literature only a long sword (daito) is mistakenly called a katana. Daisho was used exclusively by the samurai class. This law was religiously observed and repeatedly confirmed by decrees of military leaders and shoguns. Daisho was the most important component of a samurai’s costume, his class identification. The warriors treated their weapons accordingly - they carefully monitored their condition and kept them near them even during sleep. Other classes could only wear wakizashi or tanto. Samurai etiquette required taking off a long sword when entering a house (as a rule, it was left with a servant or on a special stand); samurai always carried a short sword with them and used it as a personal weapon.
Katana
Katana (Japanese 刀) is a long Japanese sword. In modern Japanese, the word katana also means any sword. Katana - Japanese reading (kun'yomi) Chinese character刀; Sino-Japanese reading (on'yomi) - then:. The word means "a curved sword with a single-sided blade."
Katana and wakizashi are always worn in a sheath, tucked into the belt (obi) at an angle that hides the length of the blade from the enemy. This is an accepted way of carrying in society, formed after the end of the wars of the Sengoku period at the beginning of the 17th century, when carrying weapons became more of a tradition than a military necessity. When the samurai entered the house, he took out a katana from his belt. In case of possible conflicts, he held the sword in his left hand in a state of combat readiness or, as a sign of trust, in his right. When sitting down, he placed the katana on the floor within reach, and the wakizashi was not removed (the samurai wore it in a sheath in his belt). Mounting the sword for outdoor use is called koshirae and includes the lacquered sheath of the sai. If there was no frequent need to use the sword, it was stored at home in a shirasai mount made of untreated magnolia wood, which protected the steel from corrosion. Some modern katanas are initially produced in this version, in which the scabbard is not varnished or decorated. A similar montage in which tsuba and others were missing decorative elements, did not attract attention and became widespread at the end of the 19th century after the imperial ban on wearing a sword. It seemed that the sheath was not a katana, but a bokuto - a wooden sword.
Wakizashi
Wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a short traditional Japanese sword. Mainly used by samurai and worn on the belt. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also tucked into the belt with the blade facing up. Blade length - from 30 to 61 cm. Total length with handle 50-80 cm. Single-sided blade, slight curvature. The wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. The wakizashi was made with zukuri of various shapes and lengths, usually thinner than that of the katana. The degree of convexity of the wakizashi blade's cross-section is much less, so compared to the katana, this sword cuts soft objects more sharply. The handle of a wakizashi is usually square.
The Bushi often called this sword "the guardian of their honor." Some fencing schools taught the use of both katana and wakizashi at the same time.
Unlike the katana, which could only be worn by samurai, wakizashi was allowed to merchants and artisans. They used this sword as a full-fledged weapon, because according to their status they did not have the right to carry a katana. Also used for the ritual of seppuku.
Tati
Tachi (Japanese: 太刀) is a long Japanese sword. The tachi, unlike the katana, was not tucked into the obi (fabric belt) with the blade up, but hung on the belt in a sling intended for this purpose, with the blade down. To protect against damage from armor, the scabbard was often wrapped. Samurai wore katana as part of civilian clothing, and tachi as part of military armor. Paired with tachi, tantos were more common than the wakizashi short sword related to katana. In addition, richly decorated tati were used as ceremonial weapons in the courts of shoguns (princes) and the emperor.
It is usually longer and more curved than the katana (most had a blade length of over 2.5 shaku, that is, more than 75 cm; the tsuka (hilt) was also often longer and somewhat curved).
Another name for this sword is daito (Japanese 大刀, lit. “big sword”) - in Western sources it is sometimes mistakenly read as “daikatana”. The error occurs due to ignorance of the difference between on and kun reading of characters in Japanese; The kun reading of the character 刀 is “katana”, and the on reading is “to:”.
Tanto
Tanto (Japanese 短刀 tanto:, lit. “short sword”) is a samurai dagger.
“Tan to” for the Japanese sounds like a phrase, so they do not perceive tanto as a knife (knife in Japanese is hamono (Japanese 刃物 hamono)).
The tanto was used only as a weapon and never as a knife; for this purpose there was a kozuka, worn in tandem with the tanto in the same sheath.
Tanto has a single-edged, sometimes double-edged blade ranging from 15 to 30.3 cm in length (that is, less than one shaku).
It is believed that tanto, wakizashi and katana are, in fact, “the same sword of different sizes.”
Some tantos, which had a thick triangular blade, were called yoroidoshi and were designed to pierce armor in close combat. Tanto was used mostly by samurai, but it was also worn by doctors and merchants as a weapon of self-defense - in fact, it is a dagger. Women of high society sometimes also wore small tantos, called kaiken, in the sash of their kimono (obi) for self-defense. In addition, tanto is used in wedding ceremony royal persons to this day.
Sometimes the tanto was worn as a shoto instead of a wakizashi in a daisho.
Odachi
Odachi (Japanese 大太刀, “big sword”) is one of the types of long Japanese swords. The term nodachi (野太刀, "field sword") refers to another type of sword, but is often mistakenly used instead of odachi.
To be called an odachi, a sword must have a blade length of at least 3 shaku (90.9 cm), however, as with many other Japanese sword terms, there is no exact definition of the length of an odachi. Usually odachi are swords with blades 1.6 - 1.8 meters.
Odachi fell completely out of use as a weapon after the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War of 1615 (a battle between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori - the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi).
The Bakufu government issued a law according to which it was forbidden to have a sword of more than a certain length. After the law went into effect, many odachi were trimmed to conform to the regulations. This is one of the reasons why odachi are so rare.
Odachi were no longer used for their intended purpose, but were still a valuable gift during the Shinto (“new swords”) period. This became their main purpose. Because their manufacture required the utmost skill, it was recognized that the reverence inspired by their appearance corresponded to prayer to the gods.
Nodachi
Sephiroth with the nodachi sword "Masamune"
Nodachi (野太刀 "field sword") is a Japanese term referring to a large Japanese sword. The main reason that the use of such swords was not widespread was that the blade was much more difficult to forge than a regular length sword blade. This sword was worn on the back due to its large size. This was an exception because other Japanese swords such as the katana and wakizashi were worn tucked into the belt, while the tachi was hung with the blade down. However, the nodachi was not snatched from behind the back. Due to its great length and weight, it was a very complex weapon.
One of Nodati's assignments was to fight horsemen. It was often used in conjunction with a spear because with its long blade it was ideal for striking an opponent and his horse in one fell swoop. Due to its weight, it could not be used everywhere with ease and was usually discarded when close combat began. The sword could hit several enemy soldiers with one blow. After using nodachi, samurai used a shorter and more convenient katana for close combat.
Kodati
Kodachi (小太刀) - literally translated as "small tachi", is a Japanese sword that was too short to be considered a daito (long sword) and too long to be a dagger. Due to its size, it could be grabbed very quickly and also used for fencing. It could be used where movement was restricted or when attacking shoulder to shoulder. Since this sword was shorter than 2 shaku (about 60 cm), it was allowed to be worn by non-samurai, usually merchants, during the Edo period.
The kodachi is similar in length to the wakizashi, and although their blades differ significantly in design, the kodachi and wakizashi are so similar in technique that the terms are sometimes (incorrectly) used one instead of the other. The main difference between both is that the kodachi is (usually) wider than the wakizashi. In addition, the kodachi, unlike the wakizashi, was always worn in a special sling with the curve down (like a tachi), while the wakizashi was worn tucked behind the obi with the curve of the blade upward. Unlike other types of Japanese weapons, no other sword was usually carried along with the kodachi.
Kaiken
Kaiken (Japanese 懐剣, before the spelling reform kwaiken, also futokoro-gatana) is a dagger carried by men and women of the samurai class in Japan, a type of tanto. Kaikens were used for self-defense indoors, where long katanas and middle length wakizashi were less convenient and effective than short daggers. Women wore them in an obi for self-defense or (rarely) for suicide (jigaya). They could also be carried in a brocade bag with a drawstring that allowed the dagger to be quickly retrieved. Kaiken was one of the wedding gifts for women. Currently, it is one of the accessories of the traditional Japanese marriage ceremony: the bride takes the kaiken to ensure good luck.
Kusungobu, yoroidoshi, metezashi.
Kusungobu (Japanese nine sun five bu) - straight thin dagger with a blade 29.7 cm long. In practice, yoroidoshi, metezashi and kusungobu are one and the same.
Naginata
Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀, literal translation - “long sword”) is a Japanese edged weapon with a long oval-shaped handle (namely a handle, not a shaft, as it might seem at first glance) and a curved one-sided blade. The handle is about 2 meters long and the blade is about 30 cm. Over the course of history, a shortened (1.2-1.5 m) and lighter version has become much more common, used in training and showing greater combat effectiveness. It is an analogue of a glaive (although it is often mistakenly called a halberd), but much lighter. The first information about the use of naginata dates back to the end of the 7th century. There were 425 schools in Japan where they studied naginatajutsu fighting techniques. It was the favorite weapon of the Sohei, warrior monks.
Bisento
Bisento (Japanese: 眉尖刀 bisento) is a Japanese bladed weapon with a long handle, a rare type of naginata.
Bisento differs from naginata in its larger size and different style of handling. These weapons must be used with a wide grip, using both ends, while the leading hand should be near the guard.
There are also advantages to the bisento fighting style over the naginata fighting style. In combat, the back of the bisento blade, unlike a katana, can not only repel and deflect a blow, but also apply pressure and control. Bisento is heavier than a katana, so its slashing blows to a large extent carry-on than fixed ones. They are applied on a much larger scale. Despite this, the bisento can easily cut off the head of both a person and a horse, which is not so easy to do with a naginata. The weight of the sword plays a role in both the piercing and pushing properties.
It is believed that the Japanese took the idea of this weapon from Chinese swords.
Nagamaki
Nagamaki (Japanese 長巻 - “long wrapper”) is a Japanese edged weapon consisting of a polearm with a large tip. It was popular in the XII-XIV centuries. It was similar to an owl, naginata or gleyvia, but differed in that the lengths of the handle and tip were approximately equal, which allows it to be classified as a sword.
Nagamaki are weapons manufactured on various scales. Usually the total length was 180-210 cm, the tip - up to 90-120 cm. The blade was only on one side. The handle of the nagamaki was wrapped with cords in a crossed manner, similar to the handle of a katana.
This weapon was used during the Kamakura period (1192-1333), Namboku-cho (1334-1392) and during the Muromachi period (1392-1573) and reached its greatest prevalence. It was also used by Oda Nobunaga.
Tsurugi
Tsurugi (Japanese: 剣) is a Japanese word meaning straight double-edged sword(sometimes with a massive pommel). Its shape is similar to a tsurugi-no-tachi (straight one-sided sword).
It was used as a combat sword in the 7th-9th centuries, before the advent of one-sided curved tati swords, and subsequently for ceremonial and religious purposes.
One of the three sacred relics of Shintoism is the sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi.
Chokuto
Chokuto (Japanese: 直刀 chokuto, “straight sword”) is the general name for an ancient type of sword that appeared among Japanese warriors around the 2nd-4th centuries AD. It is not known for sure whether chokuto originated in Japan or was exported from China; It is believed that in Japan blades were copied from foreign samples. At first, swords were cast from bronze, but later they began to be forged from a single piece of low-quality (there was no other kind at that time) steel using rather primitive technology. Like Western analogues, chokuto was intended primarily for stabbing strikes.
The characteristic features of the chokuto were a straight blade and one-sided sharpening. The most common were two types of chokuto: kazuchi-no-tsurugi (sword with a hammer-shaped head) had a hilt with an oval guard ending in an onion-shaped copper head, and koma-no-tsurugi ("Korean sword") had a hilt with a head in ring shape. The length of the swords was 0.6-1.2 m, but most often it was 0.9 m. The sword was worn in a scabbard covered with sheet copper and decorated with perforated patterns.
Shin-gunto
Shin-gunto (1934) is a Japanese army sword created to revive samurai traditions and raise the morale of the army. This weapon followed the shape combat sword tachi, both in design (similar to tachi, the shin gunto was worn on a sword belt with the blade down and its design used a kabuto-gane handle cap, instead of the kashiro adopted on katanas), and in the methods of handling it. Unlike tachi and katana swords, which were made individually by blacksmiths using traditional technology, shin-gunto was mass-produced in a factory manner.
Shin-gunto was very popular and went through several modifications. In the last years of World War II, they were mainly associated with the desire to reduce production costs. Thus, the hilts of swords for junior army ranks were made without braiding, and sometimes even from stamped aluminum.
For naval ranks, in 1937, their own military service was introduced - kai-gunto. It was a variation on the sin-gunto theme, but differed in design - the braid of the handle was brown, the handle had black stingray leather, the scabbard was always wooden (for the sin-gunto it was metal) with black trim.
After the end of World War II most of Shin-gunto was destroyed by order of the occupation authorities.
Ninjato, Shinobigatana (fictional)
Ninjato (Japanese: 忍者刀 ninjato:), also known as ninjaken (Japanese: 忍者刀) or shinobigatana (Japanese: 忍刀), is a sword used by ninjas. It is a short sword forged with much less effort than a katana or tachi. Modern ninjato often have a straight blade and a square tsuba (guard). Some sources claim that the ninjato, unlike the katana or wakizashi, was used to deliver only cutting blows, not piercing ones. This statement may be erroneous, since the main enemy of the ninja was the samurai, and his armor required precise stabbing. However, the main function of the katana was also a powerful cutting blow.
Shikomizue
Shikomizue (Japanese: 仕込み杖 Shikomizue) - a weapon for “hidden war”. In Japan it was used by ninjas. Nowadays, this blade often appears in films.
The Shikomizue was a wooden or bamboo cane with a hidden blade. The shikomizue blade could be straight or slightly curved, because the cane had to exactly follow all the curves of the blade. Shikomizue could be both a long sword and short dagger. Therefore, the length of the cane depended on the length of the weapon.
Zanbato, zambato, zhanmadao
The Japanese reading of the zhanmadao characters is zambato (Japanese: 斬馬刀 zambato:) (also zammato), but it is unknown whether such weapons were actually used in Japan. However, zambato is mentioned in some contemporary Japanese works of popular culture.
Zhanmadao or mazhandao (Chinese: 斬馬刀, pinyin zhǎn mǎ dāo, literally “sword for cutting horses”) is a Chinese two-handed saber with a wide and long blade, used by foot soldiers against cavalry during the Song Dynasty (mention of mazhandao is present, in particular, in the "Biography of Yue Fei" dynastic history "Song Shi"). The tactics of using mazhangao, according to the Song Shi, are attributed to the famous military leader Yue Fei. Infantry detachments armed with mazhangao, operating before the formation of the main part of the troops in a scattered formation, tried to use it to cut off the legs of enemy horses. Similar tactics were used in the 1650s by the troops of Zheng Chenggong in battles with the Qing cavalry. Some foreign researchers claim that the mazhangao saber was also used by the Mongol army of Genghis Khan.
Samurai sword
Japanese technology for making swords from iron began to develop in the 8th century and reached its highest perfection by the 13th century, making it possible to produce not just military weapons, but a real work of art that cannot be reproduced in to the fullest even in modern times. For about a thousand years, the shape of the sword remained virtually unchanged, changing slightly mainly in length and degree of bending in accordance with the development of close combat tactics. The sword, being one of the three ancient regalia of the Japanese emperor, also had ritual and magical meaning in Japanese society.
Terminology
Often used in literature Japanese names to designate varieties of Japanese sword and its parts. Brief dictionary most frequently used concepts:
Comparison table of Japanese swords
Type | Length (nagasa), cm |
Width (motohub), cm |
Deflection (sorry), cm |
Thickness (kasane), mm |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tati | 61-71 | 2,4-3,5 | 1,2-2,1 | 5-6,6 | Appeared in the 11th century. Worn on the belt with the blade down, paired with a tanto dagger. |
Katana | 61-73 | 2,8-3,1 | 0,4-1,9 | 6-8 | Appeared in the 14th century. Worn behind the belt with the blade up, paired with a wakizashi. |
Wakizashi | 32-60 | 2,1-3,2 | 0,2-1,7 | 4-7 | Appeared in the 14th century. Worn with the blade up, paired with a katana. |
Tanto | 17-30 | 1.7-2.9 | 0-0.5 | 5-7 | Worn in tandem with a tati sword or separately as a knife. |
All dimensions are given for the blade without taking into account the shank. The width and thickness are indicated for the base of the blade where it meets the tang. The data is taken for swords from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods ( - gg.) from catalogs. Tati length in initial period Kamakura and modern tachi (gendai-to) reaches 83 cm. |
History of the Japanese sword
Ancient swords. Until the 9th century.
The first iron swords were brought to the Japanese islands in the 2nd half of the 3rd century by Chinese traders from the mainland. This period of Japanese history is called Kofun (lit. “mounds”, III - centuries). The kurgan-type graves preserved, although heavily damaged by rust, swords from that period, divided by archaeologists into Japanese, Korean and, most commonly, Chinese designs. Chinese swords had a straight, narrow, single-edged blade with a large ring-shaped pommel on the tang. Japanese examples were shorter, with a wider, straight, double-edged blade and a massive pommel. During the Asuka period (-), with the help of Korean and Chinese blacksmiths, Japan began to produce its own iron, and by the 7th century they mastered composite technology. Unlike previous samples, forged from a solid iron strip, swords began to be made by forging from iron and steel plates.
In the old days (the period of Koto swords, around 2000), there were approximately 120 blacksmith schools, which over the centuries produced swords with characteristic stable features developed by the founding master of the school. In modern times (the period of Shinto swords - gg.) 80 schools are known. There are about 1000 outstanding masters of the blacksmith's craft, and in total, over a thousand years of the history of the Japanese sword, more than 23 thousand swordsmiths have been recorded, of which the majority (4 thousand) during the koto (old swords) period lived in the province of Bizen (modern Okayama Prefecture ).
Iron ingots were flattened into thin sheets, cooled rapidly in water, and then broken into coin-sized pieces. After this, a selection of pieces was carried out, pieces with large inclusions of slag were discarded, and the rest were sorted by color and granular structure of the fault. This method allowed the smith to select steel with a predictable carbon content ranging from 0.6 to 1.5%.
Further release of slag residues in the steel and reduction of carbon content was carried out during the forging process - joining individual small pieces into a blank for the sword.
Blade forging
Cross section of a Japanese sword. Shown are two common structures with excellent combinations in the direction of the steel layers. Left: The metal of the blade will show texture. itame, on right - masame.
Pieces of steel with approximately the same carbon content were poured onto a plate of the same metal, in a single block everything was heated to 1300°C and welded together with hammer blows. The process of forging the workpiece begins. The workpiece is flattened and folded in half, then flattened again and folded in half in the other direction. As a result of repeated forging, multilayer steel is obtained, finally cleared of slag. It is easy to calculate that when the workpiece is folded 15 times, almost 33 thousand layers of steel are formed - the typical density of Damascus for Japanese swords.
The slag still remains a microscopic layer on the surface of the steel layer, forming a peculiar texture ( hada), resembling a pattern on the surface of wood.
To make a sword blank, the blacksmith forges at least two bars from hard high-carbon steel ( kawagane) and softer low-carbon ( shingane). From the first, a U-shaped profile approximately 30 cm long is formed, into which a block is placed shingane, without reaching the part that will become the top and which is made of the best and hardest steel kawagane. Then the blacksmith heats the block in a forge and welds the component parts together by forging, after which he increases the length of the workpiece at 700-1100°C to the size of a sword.
With more complex technology welded up to 4 bars: from the hardest steel ( hagane) form the cutting blade and apex, 2 bars of less hard steel go to the sides, and a bar of relatively soft steel forms the core. The composite structure of the blade can be even more complex with a separate welding of the butt.
The blade of the blade is formed by forging to a thickness of about 2.5 mm (in the area cutting edge) and its faces. The upper tip is also straightened by forging, for which the end of the workpiece is cut diagonally. Then the long end (on the blade side) of the diagonal cut is forged to the short one (the butt), as a result of which the structure of the metal at the top provides increased strength in the striking zone of the sword, while maintaining hardness and thereby the possibility of very sharp sharpening.
Blade hardening and polishing
The next important stage in sword manufacturing is heat treatment of the blade to strengthen the cutting edge, as a result of which a hamon pattern, specific to Japanese swords, appears on the surface of the sword. Up to half of the blanks in the hands of the average blacksmith never become real swords as a result of failed hardening.
For heat treatment, the blade is covered with an uneven layer of heat-resistant paste - a mixture of clay, ash and stone powder. The exact composition of the paste was kept secret by the master. The blade was covered with a thin layer, the thickest layer of paste was applied to the middle part of the blade, where hardening was undesirable. The liquid mixture was leveled and, after drying, scratched in a certain order in the area closer to the blade, thanks to which a pattern was prepared jamon. The blade with the dried paste is heated evenly along its length until approx. 770°C (controlled by the color of the hot metal), then immersed in a container of water with the blade down. Sudden cooling changes the structure of the metal near the blade, where the thickness of the metal and heat-protective paste is thinnest. The blade is then reheated to 160°C and cooled again. This procedure helps to reduce the stresses in the metal that arise during hardening.
The hardened area of the blade has an almost white tint compared to the rest of the blade's darker gray-bluish surface. The border between them is clearly visible in the form of a patterned line jamon, which is interspersed with shiny martensite crystals in iron. In ancient times, the hamon looked like a straight line along the blade; during the Kamakura period, the line became wavy, with fancy curls and transverse lines. It is believed that in addition to its aesthetic appearance, the wavy, heterogeneous line of the hamon allows the blade to better withstand impact loads, damping sudden stresses in the metal.
If the procedure is followed, as an indicator of the quality of hardening, the butt of the blade acquires a whitish tint, utsuri(lit. reflection). Utsuri reminds jamon, but its appearance is not a consequence of the formation of martensite, but an optical effect resulting from a slight change in the structure of the metal in this zone compared to the nearby body of the blade. Utsuri is not a mandatory attribute of a quality sword, but indicates successful heat treatment for certain technologies.
When the blade is heated during the hardening process to a temperature of more than 770°, its surface acquires a richness of shades and a richness of pattern details. However, this may damage the durability of the sword. Only the blacksmiths of the Sagami province during the Kamakura period managed to combine the fighting qualities of a sword with the luxurious design of the metal surface; high-quality swords of other schools are distinguished by a rather strict manner of design of the blade.
The final finishing of the sword is no longer carried out by a blacksmith, but by an artisan polisher, whose skill was also highly valued. Using a series of polishing stones of varying grits and water, the polisher polished the blade until perfect condition, after which the blacksmith stamped his name and other information on the unpolished shank. The sword was considered ready, the remaining operations were to attach the handle ( tsuki), guards ( tsuba), applying jewelry was classified as an auxiliary procedure that did not require magical skill.
Fighting qualities
The combat quality of the best Japanese swords cannot be assessed. Due to their uniqueness and high price testers do not have the opportunity to test and compare them with the best work of gunsmiths from other regions of the world. It is necessary to distinguish between the capabilities of the sword for different situations. For example, sharpening a sword for maximum sharpness (for tricks with cutting handkerchiefs in the air) will be unsuitable for cutting through armor. In ancient times and the Middle Ages, legends were spread about the capabilities of weapons that could not be demonstrated in modern times. Below are some legends and facts about the capabilities of the Japanese sword.
Modern assessment of Japanese swords
After the surrender of Japan in World War II, the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition issued an order to destroy all Japanese swords, but after the intervention of experts, in order to preserve historical relics of significant artistic value, the order was changed. The Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords (NBTHK) was created, one of its tasks was expert review historical value of the sword. In 1950, Japan passed the Law on Cultural Heritage, which, in particular, determined the procedure for preserving Japanese swords as part of the cultural heritage of the nation.
The sword evaluation system is multi-stage, starting with the assignment of the lowest category and ending with the awarding of the highest titles (the top two titles are under the purview of the Japanese Ministry of Culture):
- National Treasure ( kokuho). About 122 swords have the title, mostly tachi from the Kamakura period, katana and wakizashi in this list are less than 2 dozen.
- Important cultural property. About 880 swords have the title.
- A particularly important sword.
- An important sword.
- A particularly guarded sword.
- Guarded sword.
In modern Japan, it is possible to keep a registered sword with only one of the above titles, otherwise the sword is subject to confiscation as a type of weapon (unless it is classified as a souvenir). The actual quality of the sword is certified by the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword (NTHK), which issues an expert opinion according to the established standard.
Currently in Japan, it is customary to evaluate a Japanese sword not so much by its combat parameters (strength, cutting ability), but by criteria applicable to a work of art. A high-quality sword, while maintaining the properties of an effective weapon, should provide aesthetic pleasure to the observer, have perfection of form and harmony of artistic taste.
Sources
The article was written based on materials from the following publications:
- Sword. Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan. 1st ed. 1983. ISBN 0-87011-620-7 (U.S.)
- A. G. Bazhenov, “History of the Japanese sword”, St. Petersburg, 2001, 264 pp. ISBN 5-901555-01-5
- A. G. Bazhenov, “Examination of the Japanese sword,” St. Petersburg, 2003, 440 p. ISBN 5-901555-14-7.
- Leon and Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara, “The Craft of the Japanese Sword.” Translation into Russian on the website www.katori.ru.
Notes
- The term “tati” has been established in Russian-language literature. Russian phonetics does not allow you to accurately convey the sound; English phonetics reproduces the name as tachi.
- There is no exact deflection standard for tati. At the beginning, the Tati sword had an almost saber-like curvature; by the 14th century the blade straightened. The sori deflection is standardly measured as the maximum distance from the butt to the straight line between the tip of the sword and the base of the blade. The handle is not taken into account in the calculation of curvature.
- Definitions of the types of Japanese swords are given in A. Bazhenov’s book “Examination of the Japanese Sword” according to the explanation of the Japanese association NBTHK (Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords), responsible for the certification of Japanese blades.
- Although the tachi is on average longer than the katana, it is not uncommon for the length of the katana to exceed the length of the tachi.
- These lengths are obtained by converting the traditional Japanese length measure shaku (30.3 cm, approx. elbow length) into cm.
- That is, until the end of the Momoyama period. Traditionally Japanese history divided into unequal periods, identified by name settlements, which became the emperor’s habitat.
- Aoi Art Tokyo: Japanese auction house specializing in Japanese swords.
Japanese Sword Ginza Choshuya Magazine: A store selling Japanese swords, publishes a catalog every month. - The Kogarasu-Maru sword is made in the unusual kissaki-moroha style popular during the Nara period. Half of the blade is double-edged to the tip, the other half has a blunt edge. There is a central groove running along the blade; the blade itself is very slightly curved, but there is a rather strong bend in the shank in relation to the blade. There is no signature on the sword. Kept in the collection of the imperial family. See photo in Bazhenov’s book “History of the Japanese Sword”.
- "Lumbar curve" ( koshi-zori) was named so because the maximum deflection of the blade when wearing a sword comfortably fit the body just in the lumbar region.
- The butt can be flat or semicircular, but such examples are extremely rare among real Japanese swords.
- A. G. Bazhenov, “History of the Japanese sword”, p. 41
- A. G. Bazhenov, “History of the Japanese sword”, p. 147
- Sword. Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan.
- A. Bazhenov, “Examination of the Japanese sword”, pp. 307-308
- A brilliant clear color of the fracture indicates a carbon content greater than 1% (high carbon steel).
- The process of forging a sword is described according to the booklet of the All-Japan Association of Swordsmiths and the book “The Craft of the Japanese Sword” (see sources), which describes the ancient technology restored by a modern master.