Katana of the 16th or 17th Century, with its saya.

Handle (tsuka) of a katana of the 19th century given to an ambassador.

The katana (刀) is the Japanese backsword or longsword (大刀 daitō), although many Japanese use this word generically as a catch-all word for sword. Katana (pronounced [ka-ta-na]) is the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀 ; the on'yomi (Chinese reading) is tō. In Mandarin, it is pronounced dāo. While the word has no separate plural form in Japanese, it has been adopted as a loan word by the English language, where it is commonly pluralised as katanas. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1388x1768, 78 KB) fr: Katana, Musée Zwinger à Dresde. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1388x1768, 78 KB) fr: Katana, Musée Zwinger à Dresde. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2524x1176, 225 KB) fr: tsuka dun katana offert à un ambassadeur, XIXe siècle. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2524x1176, 225 KB) fr: tsuka dun katana offert à un ambassadeur, XIXe siècle. ... 19th century French Navy officer sabre Greek Makhaira Chinese Dao Backsword is a denomination of any type of sword with only one edge, with the back of the sword often being the thickest part of the blade. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century A sword (from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swerd lit. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century A sword (from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swerd lit. ... The characters for Kanji, lit. ... Japanese writing Kanji 漢字 Kana 仮名 Hiragana 平仮名 Katakana 片仮名 Uses Furigana 振り仮名 Okurigana 送り仮名 Romaji ローマ字 Category Kanji (   漢字?, literally Han characters) are Chinese characters used in Japanese. ... The characters for Kanji, lit. ... Standard Mandarin is the official Chinese spoken language used by the Peoples Republic of China, the Republic of China on Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. ... Chinese Saber Dao 刀 (Py dāo, Wade-Giles tao1) is a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping (sabers), often called broadswords in English because some varieties have wide blades. ... Plural is a grammatical number, typically referring to more than one of the referent in the real world. ... A loanword (or a borrowing) is a word taken in by one language from another. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

It refers to a specific type of curved, single-edged sword traditionally used by the Japanese samurai. The weapon was typically paired with the wakizashi, a similarly made but shorter sword both worn by the members of the buke (bushi) warrior class, it could also be worn with the tanto, an even smaller similarly shaped blade. The two weapons together were called the daisho, and represented the social power and personal honor of the samurai (buke retainers to the daimyo). The long blade was meant for cutting, while the shorter blade was reserved for stabbing purposes and for the purpose of performing seppuku, a form of ritual suicide. In fact, seppuku was a right reserved for samurai in order to preserve their honor by taking their own life should the need arise, and therefore the short sword was only carried by employed samurai, and not by masterless samurai (or ronin). The scabbard for a katana is referred to as a saya, and the handguard piece, often intricately designed as individual works of art especially in later years of the Edo period, was called the tsuba. Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... ‹The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... A Tantō (短刀) is a Japanese blade or small sword. ... A Edo-era daisho on its stand The daishō (大小, lit. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... Seppuku with ritual attire and second. ... Graves of 47 Ronin at Sengakuji A ronin (Japanese: 浪人 rōnin: literally, wave man - one who is tossed about, like a wave in the sea) was a masterless samurai during the feudal period of Japan that lasted from 1185 to 1868. ... A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword. ... The Edo period (江戸時代, Edo-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1600 to 1867. ... A typical tsuba The tsuba (鍔) is the round guard at the end of the grip of the arm. ...

It is primarily used for cutting (although the chisel-like tip, called the kissaki, allows for thrusting) and can be wielded one- or two-handed, the latter being the most common mode. It is traditionally worn edge up. While the practical arts for using the sword for its original purpose are now somewhat obsolete, kenjutsu has turned into gendai budo — modern martial arts for a modern time. The art of drawing the katana is iaido (also known as battō-jutsu or iaijutsu), and kendo is an art of fencing with a shinai (bamboo sword) protected by helmet and armour, additionally, iaijutsu is an older style of battle field type fencing. Old koryu sword schools do still exist (Kashima Shinto-ryu, Kashima Shin-ryu, Katori Shinto-ryu). Perhaps one of the more famous types of Japanese fencing was "Nitto Ryu" or the use of both the Katana and Wakizashi in tandem; a technique most famously used by Miyamoto Musashi. A cut can be: a laceration, such as to the skin. ... Steel woodworking chisel. ... Kenjutsu (Japanese: 剣術) is a classical Japanese martial art, a koryu budo. ... Gendai Budō (現代 武道) means Modern martial arts in Japanese. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... Respect due to the sword before the practice Iaido (居合道 iaidō)is a sword-based Japanese martial art that trains the motions associated with drawing a katana from its sheath, striking an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then re-sheathing the katana with smooth, controlled movement. ... Kendo Kendo (剣道 Kendō, 劍道) , which is the modern martial art of Japanese fencing, developed from traditional techniques of Japanese swordsmanship known as kenjutsu. ... Russian Ivan Tourchine and American Weston Kelsey fence in the second round of the Olympic Mens Individual Epee event at the Helliniko Fencing Hall on Aug. ... [A shinai (Japanese:竹刀) is a practice sword used in Kendo, Kenjutsu and other forms of Japanese martial arts. ... Diversity Around 91 genera and 1,000 species Subtribes Arthrostylidiinae Arundinariinae Bambusinae Chusqueinae Guaduinae Melocanninae Nastinae Racemobambodinae Shibataeinae See the full Taxonomy of the Bambuseae. ... Pith helmet of Harry S. Truman For information about the band Helmet, see Helmet (band) Pickelhaube of a Swedish Royal Guard soldier A helmet is a form of protective clothing worn on the head and usually made of metal or some other hard substance, typically for protection of the head... A hoplite wearing (only) a helmet, breastplate greaves and a shield. ... Koryu (古流) is a Japanese word that translates literally as old school or old tradition. ... Kashima-ShinryÅ« is a nearly 500 years old Japanese koryu martial art. ... Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō RyÅ« (天真正伝香取神道流) is one of the oldest extant martial arts in Japan, a true koryu. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

See also: tsurugi, tsuba, saya, tachi, wakizashi, zanbatou, iaito, bokken, shinai, shinken.

Tsurugi (長剣) is a Japanese word used to refer to any type of broadsword, or various Chinese heroes weapons or Chinese swords (Jian). ... A typical tsuba The tsuba (鍔) is the round guard at the end of the grip of the arm. ... A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword. ... Tachi forged in 1997 by Matsuda Tsuguyasu, mounting koshirae type made in 1999 by Takeyama. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... The zanbatō (斬馬刀, lit. ... An iaito (居合刀, iaitō) is a Japanese sword used for studying the art of iaido. ... Bokken bokken training A Bokken (木剣, bok(u), wood, and ken, sword) is a wooden Japanese sword (or sabre), usually the size and shape of a katana (though wakizashi and tanto-sized are available). ... [A shinai (Japanese:竹刀) is a practice sword used in Kendo, Kenjutsu and other forms of Japanese martial arts. ... Shinken (真剣), lit. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x1187, 79 KB) From wikide : de:Bild:Katana begriffe. ...

The sword in Japanese society

Although the samurai classically carried or had access to many weapons (a bow and spear, at the very least, in addition to their blade(s)), only one was considered the soul of the samurai: the katana (or tachi). The Japanese pinned an extraordinary amount of value on the sword. For much of Japan's history, only samurai were even allowed to carry swords, and a peasant carrying a sword was enough reason to kill the peasant and take the sword after a prohibition was issued in early Edo period. Ronin, needing money, would sometimes be forced to sell their swords, further adding to their highly dishonorable, sometimes vagabond status in Japanese society. They would be "soulless" in the eyes of a Samurai. Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... The Edo period (江戸時代, Edo-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1600 to 1867. ...

Much of early Japanese culture revolved around swords. Elaborate methods for carrying, cleaning, storing, sharpening (or not sharpening), and wielding the sword evolved from era to era.

For example, a samurai entering someone's house might consider how to place his sheathed sword as he knelt. Positioning his sword for an easy draw implied suspicion or aggression; thus, whether he placed it on his right or left side, and whether the blade was placed curving away or towards him, was an important point of etiquette. As for the host, his long-sword was generally stored under the wakizashi on a low rack, curving upwards; if it curved downwards, or was stored above the wakizashi, that meant the owner expected he might have to draw it quickly - a mark of suspicion to any guest. Etiquette is the code that governs the expectations of social behavior, the conventional norm. ...

However, most samurai did not use their sword as a primary weapon; bow first, a spear next, and only then the sword. Drawing the sword was like letting one's soul blaze free and usually meant that the samurai was down to the last straw. To have fought till nothing but a surrender is possible, is defined as Ken ore, Ya mo tsuki, (lit. "with swords broken and without an arrow") used as a proverb.

History of the Japanese sword

A display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London showing the katana and its various furniture.

Swords are critical in most feudal societies, and Japan was no exception. In the sixth century BC the legendary Emperor Jimmu conquered much of Japan. At the same time, the Japanese took inspiration for swords from the Chinese. Early swords were merely duplicates of Chinese swords, straight and double-edged, but the warring stability of the Asuka period promoted the advancement of weaponry. Download high resolution version (960x1280, 99 KB)A display showing a history/evolution of the Katana at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. ... Download high resolution version (960x1280, 99 KB)A display showing a history/evolution of the Katana at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. ... The Cromwell Road entrance to the Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum viewed from Thurloe Square An interior courtyard of the Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) is on Cromwell Road in Kensington, West London. ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... (7th century BC - 6th century BC - 5th century BC - other centuries) (600s BC - 590s BC - 580s BC - 570s BC - 560s BC - 550s BC - 540s BC - 530s BC - 520s BC - 510s BC - 500s BC - other decades) (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium AD) Events Cyrus the Great conquered many... Meiji era print of Emperor Jimmu Emperor Jimmu, also spelled Jinmu (神武天皇 Jinmu Tennō; given name: Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, January 1, 711 BC–March 11, 585 BC)[1] was the mythical founder of Japan and its first emperor. ... Jian (Chinese: 劍 Pinyin jiàn, Wade-Giles chien4, Cantonese IPA: , Cantonese Jyutping: gim3, Korean geom, Japanese ken, Vietnamese kiếm) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. ... The Asuka period is the period in Japanese history occurring from 538 A.D. - 710 A.D. The arrival of Buddhism marked a change in Japanese society and it affected the Yamato government as well. ...

One of the oldest known forms of kenjutsu dates the Kofun Period (3rd and 4th centuries). The style, called Kashima no Tachi (鹿島の太刀), was created at the Kashima Shrine (in Ibaraki Prefecture). In the Heian Period (8th to 11th centuries) we see the development of sword-making, through techniques brought from the Korean peninsula. According to legend, the Japanese sword was invented by a smith named 'Amakuni' in AD 700, along with the folded steel process. Among other modifications, the katana becomes single-edged, and better suited for slashing. This is also reflected in the styles of kenjutsu created during this period. From the Kashima shrine's Kashima no Tachi sprang the Kantō-nanaryū (関東七流 - also known as the Kashima-nanaryū 鹿島七流). In the same period, the Kyō-hachiryū (京八流) was created in the Kurama mountain (in Kyoto). Kenjutsu (Japanese: 剣術) is a classical Japanese martial art, a koryu budo. ... Kofun period (Japanese: 古墳時代, Kofun-jidai) is an era in the history of Japan from around AD 250 to 538. ... Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県; Ibaraki-ken) is located in the Kanto region on Honshu island, Japan. ... The Heian period (Japanese: 平安時代, Heian-jidai) is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. ... // Events Saint Adamnan convinces 51 kings to adopt Cáin Adomnáin defining the relationship between women and priests. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ...

By the twelfth century, civil war erupted after a long period of decadence. For five centuries, Japan had its own dark ages, marked by continuous, brutal wars. The War of Onin (1467-1477) revolutionized Japanese armour, and weapons hit a plateau of quality considered to be superior to those made even today. (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... The Dark Ages (or Dark Age) is a metaphor with multiple meanings and connotations. ... Marker at location of outbreak of Onin War The Onin War (応仁の乱 Ōnin no ran) was a civil war from 1467 to 1477 during the Muromachi period in Japan. ... Events October 29 - Battle of Brusthem: Charles the Bold defeats Liege Beginning of the Sengoku Period in Japan. ... Events January 5 - Battle of Nancy - Charles the Bold of Burgundy is again defeated, and this time is killed. ... A hoplite wearing (only) a helmet, breastplate greaves and a shield. ...

During the Muromachi period, bloody wars were the norm, but the indolent shogunates also put a high value on art and culture, so the islands did not descend into barbarism. While many good swords were made during this period, the vast need for swords caused smiths to switch to production line methods. Furthermore, the ferocity of the fighting caused the highly artistic techniques of the Kamakura period (known as the Golden Age of Swordmaking) to be abandoned in favor of more utilitarian and disposable weapons. The export of katana reached its height during Muromachi period with the total of at least 200,000 katana being shipped to the Ming dynasty in official trades. The (ultimately failed) rationale behind this was to attempt to soak up the production of Japanese weapons and make it harder for pirates in the area to arm. As time progressed, the craft decayed under the needs listed above, and the introduction of guns, as a decisive force on the battlefield. The Muromachi period (室町時代, Muromachi jidai, also known as the Muromachi era, the Muromachi bakufu, the Ashikaga era, the Ashikaga period, or the Ashikaga bakufu) is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. ... The Ming Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. ... This article is about firearms and similar devices. ...

In times of peace, swordsmiths had time and the inclination to return to the making of refined and artistic blades, and the beginning of the Momoyama period saw the return of high quality creations. As the techniques of the ancient smiths had been lost during the previous period of war, these swords were called shinto, literally 'new swords.' This gave the obvious name to the older blades as koto, 'old swords.' The blades that predated the curved blades introduced around 987AD were refered to as 'jokoto' or ancient swords. As the Edo period progressed, there came a decline in quality once again, for a variety of reasons, including the evolution of the samurai class into bureaucrats and policemen; other related arts did move forward from time to time, leading to beautiful engravings and decorations for weapons. The addition of these engravings known as 'horimono' were originally for religious reasons, and were simple and tasteful. It is often considered that the more complex work found on many shinto swords then is a corruption, where form no longer strictly follows function and thereby no longer achieves a pure form of beauty. History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Azuchi-Momoyama period is a division of Japanese... The Edo period (江戸時代, Edo-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1600 to 1867. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ...

Under the isolationist Tokugawa Shogunate, guns and gunpowder were increasingly restricted and removed from circulation. By the middle of the eighteenth century, most young Japanese had never seen a gun, let alone actually seen one fired. Isolationism is a diplomatic policy whereby a nation seeks to avoid alliances with other nations. ... The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ... Gunpowder or black powder is a substance which burns very rapidly and is used as a propellant in firearms, specifically either black powder or smokeless powder. ...

Towards the end of this period, swordmaking had fallen to another low, and due to the efforts of the master swordsmith Munetsugu at the turn of the 19th century, artistic merit once again returned to the craft. Munetsugu published opinions that the arts and techniques of the shinto swords were inferior to the koto blades, and that research should be made by all swordsmiths in the land to rediscover the lost techniques. Munetsugu travelled the land teaching what he knew to all who would listen, and swordsmiths rallied to his cause and ushered in a second renaissance in Japanese sword smithing. With the discarding of the Shinto style, and the re-introduction of old and rediscovered techniques, the swords of this time were now called 'shinshinto' meaning 'new-new swords.'

Japan remained in stasis until Matthew Perry's arrival in 1853 and the subsequent Convention of Kanagawa forcibly reintroduced Japan to the outside world; the rapid modernization of the Meiji Restoration soon followed. Photograph of Perry Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was the Commodore of the U.S. Navy who forced the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, under the threat of military force. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... On March 31, 1854, the Convention of Kanagawa (Japanese: 神奈川条約, Kanagawa Jōyaku, or 日米和親条約, Nichibei Washin Jōyaku) was used by Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy to force the opening of the Japanese ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade and ended Japans 200 year policy... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Meiji Restoration (明治維新; Meiji Ishin), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to a change in Japans political and social structure. ...

The Haitorei edict in 1876 all but banned carrying swords and guns on streets, making samurai less distinguishable from commoners. Possession itself was not prohibited, so many katana were simply stashed away. Overnight, the market for swords died, and many swordsmiths were left without a trade to pursue, and valuable skills were lost. In time, the need to arm soldiers with swords was perceived again and over the decades at the beginning of the 20th century swordsmiths again found work. These swords, known as 'gunto', are often very low in quality with many being oil tempered or simply stamped out of steel and given a serial number rather than a chiselled signature. 1876 is a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

Katana remained in use in some occupations, police sometimes using katana not only to catch criminals but to defend themselves from criminals who could be armed with katana as well. At the same time, Kendo was incorporated into police training so that police officers would have at least the minimal training necessary to properly use one.

Officer sabre of the Second World War; although their shape was inspired by the katana, they were made of standard machine steel, with an embossed and painted handle to look like a tsuka. The shaft was of Western type

Though this was a dark time for the katana, the craft was kept alive through the efforts of a few individuals, and notably the Gassan line of smiths who were employed as Imperial Artisans. These smiths, Gassan Sadakazu and Gassan Sadakatsu were kept busy producing fine works that stand with the best of the older blades for the Emperor and other high ranking officials. The students of Gassan Sadakatsu went on to be designated Intangible Cultural Assets, or more commonly known as Living National Treasures, as they embodied knowledge that was considered to be fundamentally important to the Japanese identity. In 1938 the Japanese government issued a military specification for what it called the "Type 98 katana", and many machine- and handcrafted swords used in World War II conformed to this specification. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1994x1644, 86 KB) fr: Sabre japonais de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1994x1644, 86 KB) fr: Sabre japonais de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale. ...

Under the United States occupation at the end of World War II all armed forces were disbanded and, except under several permits issued by police and municipal government, production of katana with edges was banned. This ban would be later overturned through the personal appeal of Dr. Homma Junji to General Douglas MacArthur. During their meeting, Dr. Homma produced blades from the various periods of Japanese history and General MacArthur was a quick student, being able to identify very quickly what blades held artistic merit and which could be considered purely weapons. As a result of this meeting, the general ban was amended so that the weapon grade gunto would be destroyed and swords of artistic merit could be owned and preserved. Even so, many katana were sold to American soldiers who had money to spend at a bargain price. Some were simply stolen. Others remained stashed away. // Surrender Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 14, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the... MacArthur landing at Leyte Beach in 1944. ...

Due to this disarmament, as of 1958 there were more Japanese swords in America than in Japan: American soldiers would return from the Orient with piles of swords, often as many as they could carry. The vast majority of these 1,000,000 or more swords were gunto, but there were still a sizable number of koto, shinto and shin-shinto. 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The term the Orient - literally meaning sunrise, east - is traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle, and Far Eastern countries. ...

Swordsmiths had been increasingly turning to producing civilian goods after the Edo period but this disarmament and subsequent regulations almost put an end to the production of katana. A few smiths did continue their trade, and Dr. Homma went on to be a founding figure of the Nihon Bijitsu Hozon Token Kai, the 'Society for the Preservation of Art Swords', who made it their mission to preserve the old techniques and blades. With the efforts of other like minded individuals, the katana has arisen from its darkest day and many swordsmiths have continued the work begun by Munetsugu, re-discovering the old techniques and making the art swords produced by today's best smiths as good as many of the blades of old.

Classification of Japanese swords

Several katana and wakizashi blades, illustrating the variations in length and curvature. The nakago are well visible

Download high resolution version (1288x984, 151 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1288x984, 151 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ...

Classification by length

All Japanese swords are manufactured according to this method and are somewhat similar in appearance. What generally differentiates the different swords is their length. Japanese swords are measured in units of shaku (1 shaku = approximately 30.3 centimeters or 11.93 inches; from 1891 the shaku has been defined as exactly 10/33 metres, but older data may vary slightly from this value). For more precise measurement, "sun", "bu", and "rin" (one-tenth, one-hundredth, and one-thousandth of a shaku respectively) may be used. The shaku (尺) is an archaic unit of length in Japan. ... 1891 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

• A blade shorter than 1 shaku (30 cm) is considered a tanto (knife).
• A blade longer than 1 shaku but less than 2 (30–61 cm) is considered a shoto (short sword) and included the wakizashi and kodachi.
• A blade longer than 2 shaku (61 cm) is considered a daito, or long sword. This is the category 'katana' fall into. However, the term 'katana' is often misapplied: a sword is only a katana if it is worn blade-up through a belt-sash (these averaged 70 cm in blade length). If it is suspended by cords from a belt, it is called 'tachi' (average blade length of 78 cm).
• Abnormally long blades (longer than 5 shaku or 1.5 m), worn across the back, are called ōdachi or nodachi. 'ōdachi' is also sometimes used as a synonym for katana.

A chisa-katana is simply a shorter katana. A katana was longer than two shaku in length (one shaku= about 11.93 inches). However, a chisa-katana is longer than the wakizashi, which was between one and two shaku in lengh. Chisa-katana were not common weapons since usually a katana was made for a shorter person or a wakizashi for a larger person. The most common reference to a chisa-katana is a shorter katana that does not have a companion blade. They were most commonly made in the Buke-Zukuri mounting. A Tantō (短刀) is a Japanese blade or small sword. ... Shoto is a length designation for Japanese swords. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... A flat chest (小太刀) literally translates into small or short nipples tachi; this Japanese sword was too short to be considered a long sword but too long to be a dagger. ... The word daito refers to Japanese long swords. ... Tachi forged in 1997 by Matsuda Tsuguyasu, mounting koshirae type made in 1999 by Takeyama. ... An ōdachi (大太刀; big/thick sword) was a type of long Japanese sword. ... The nodachi (野太刀) refers to a large Japanese sword. ... The shaku (尺) is an archaic unit of length in Japan. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... For other uses of the word blade, see Blade (disambiguation) A blade is the flat part of a tool or weapon that (usually) has a cutting edge typically made of a metal, such as steel used to cut, thrust or strike like knife dagger sword sabre axe bayonet machete cleaver...

Classification by schools and provinces

Japanese swords can be traced back to one of several provinces, each of which had its own school, traditions and 'trademarks' - e.g., the swords from Mino province were "from the start famous for their sharpness". (Source: The connoisseur's guide to Japanese swords, by Kokan Nagayama, p. 217.) These traditions and provinces are as follows:

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Classification by date of manufacture

Classification by mode of wear

Notes

• Swords designed specifically to be tachi are generally koto rather than shinto, so they are generally better manufactured and more elaborately decorated. However, these are still katana if worn in modern 'buke-zukuri' style. The signature almost always appears on the side facing away from the body when the blade is worn, so it is possible to discern the smith's intention for the blade in this manner.

• There are many varieties of wooden practice blades, including those made out of wood (bokken) and those made out of bamboo (often used for kendo practice, usually referred to as shinai).

• Most of the various kinds of spears could come with blades made in the same style as the Japanese sword. The two main types are 'naginata', similar to a halberd in use, and a 'yari' which is more traditionally spear like. Although largely overlooked in Western literature, spears were the first resort of any samurai and most peasants, and the blades on the samurai spears were often of extremely high quality. However, despite this, the sword was still considered the soul of the samurai, not the spear.

• The 'soul of the samurai' concept has its roots in the early Tokugawa Shogunate. While there has always been reverence for the sword, the official line of it being the 'soul' comes from a need of the Shogunate to provide high value gifts to retainers and noblemen. In older days, these gifts would be of land, but at the time of the Shogunate land was a scarce commodity. It is considered that this angle of the sword was played up by those in power in order to replace land in the role of a gift of great honor. It became traditional that Daimyo and the Shogun, and the members of their families, would exchange gifts of swords when meeting together or for special occasions such as weddings and births. As such, the art of 'kantei' (the ability to judge a sword for period, maker, and quality) became important, as this allowed specialists to appraise a blade and so place its value. Older swords by honored makers would then be reserved for very special gifts, in particular to the Shogun and his family or from the Shogun to show very special merit.

Bokken bokken training A Bokken (木剣, bok(u), wood, and ken, sword) is a wooden Japanese sword (or sabre), usually the size and shape of a katana (though wakizashi and tanto-sized are available). ... Kendo Kendo (剣道 Kendō, 劍道) , which is the modern martial art of Japanese fencing, developed from traditional techniques of Japanese swordsmanship known as kenjutsu. ... [A shinai (Japanese:竹刀) is a practice sword used in Kendo, Kenjutsu and other forms of Japanese martial arts. ... Hunting spear and knife, from Mesa Verde National Park. ... Naginata of the Edo era A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. ... The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... In Japanese history, a shogun (将軍 shōgun) was the practical ruler of Japan for most of the time from 1192 to the Meiji Era beginning in 1868. ... In Japanese history, a shogun (将軍 shōgun) was the practical ruler of Japan for most of the time from 1192 to the Meiji Era beginning in 1868. ...

Manufacturing

Japanese swords and other edged weapons are manufactured by an elaborate method of repeatedly heating, folding and hammering the metal. This practice was originated from use of highly impure metals, stemming from the low temperature yielded in the smelting at that time and place. In order to counter this, and to homogenize the carbon content of the blades (giving some blades characteristic folding patterns), the folding was developed (for comparison see pattern welding), and found to be quite effective, though labour intensive. The bayonet, still used in war as both knife and spearpoint. ... Hot metal work from a blacksmith In chemistry, a metal (Greek: Metallon) is an element that readily forms ions (cations) and has metallic bonds, and metals are sometimes described as a lattice of positive ions (cations) in a cloud of electrons. ... Chemical reduction, or smelting, is a form of extractive metallurgy. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... Pattern welded pocket knife Pattern welding is the practice in sword and knife making of forming a blade of several metal pieces of differing composition that are forge-welded together and twisted and manipulated to form a pattern. ...

The distinctive curvature of the katana is partly due to a process of differential quenching. The back of the sword is coated with clay, insulating it and so causing it to cool slower than the edge when the blade is quenched. This produces a blade with a hard edge and soft back, allowing it to be resilient and yet retain a good cutting edge. Quenching is a general term for non-radiative de-excitation. ...

This process also makes the edge of the blade contract less than the back when cooling down, something that aids the smith in establishing the curvature of the blade.

While some people believe that katana and wakizashi were constructed alike, this was not always the case. They were often forged with different profiles, different blade thicknesses, and varying amounts of niku. Wakizashi were also not simply a 'scaled down' katana, they were often forged in hira-zukuri or other such forms, which were very rare on katana. Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ...

Manufacturing processes are described in greater detail in following subsections.

Composition

Traditional Japanese steel is considered to be one of the best for creating swords. The total composition varied from smith to smith and lode to lode of ore.

One more modern formula (from World War II): World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the...

The high percentage of carbon gave the blade strength while the silicon increased the flexibility of the blade as well as its ability to withstand stress. The katana was designed only to cut flesh, so the composition was not always adequate to effectively break armor. General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... General Name, Symbol, Number manganese, Mn, 25 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 7, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic mass 54. ... General Name, Symbol, Number tungsten, W, 74 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 6, d Appearance grayish white, lustrous Atomic mass 183. ... General Name, Symbol, Number molybdenum, Mo, 42 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 5, d Appearance gray metallic Atomic mass 95. ... General Name, Symbol, Number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic mass 47. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silicon, Si, 14 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 3, p Appearance dark gray, bluish tinge Atomic mass 28. ...

Construction

Blacksmith Munechika (end of the 10th century), helped by a fox spirit, forging the blade ko-kitsune-maru ("Little fox"). The kami is represented by a woman surrounded by foxes. Engraving by Ogata Gekko (1859-1920), 1873.

Engraving of the Edo era depicting forge scenes.

The forging of a Japanese blade typically took hours or days, and was considered a sacred art. As with many complex endeavors, rather than a single craftsman, several artists were involved. There was a smith to forge the rough shape, often a second smith (apprentice) to fold the metal, a specialist polisher, and even a specialist for the edge itself. Often, there were sheath, hilt, and tsuba (handguard) specialists as well. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1573x2227, 692 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1573x2227, 692 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1793x2277, 956 KB) fr: Scène de forge, estampe tirée dun ouvrage de lépoque Edo, musée dethnographie de Neuchâtel, Suisse (inv. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1793x2277, 956 KB) fr: Scène de forge, estampe tirée dun ouvrage de lépoque Edo, musée dethnographie de Neuchâtel, Suisse (inv. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1832x2412, 1026 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1832x2412, 1026 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ...

The most famous part of the manufacturing process was the folding of the steel. Steel was repeatedly 'folded', bent over itself and hammered flat. This did several things:

• It eliminated any bubbles in the metal.
• It evened out the metal, spreading the elements (such as carbon) evenly throughout.
• It created layers, by continuously decarburizing the surface and bringing the surface into the blade's interior, which gives the swords their unique grain. The layered structure (see Bulat steel) provides enhanced mechanical properties of the steel.
• Lastly, it strengthened the metal (perhaps by more evenly distributing the imperfections).

Contrary to popular belief, continued folding will not create a "super-strong" blade; once impurities are burnt off and the carbon content homogenized, further folding offers little benefit and will gradually burn out the carbon, leading eventually to a softer steel less able to hold an edge. The number of folds varied from sword to sword, but those with more than about a dozen folds are uncommon, and authentic swords with more than two dozen folds are unknown. It should be noted that a blade folded 12 times will have more than 4,000 'layers' underneath the initial blade to begin with, and that 20 folds would produce a blade with over a million layers. Beyond this number, the molecular structure of the blade is such that further folding would most likely serve no further purpose. Carburization (often referred to as carburizing) is the name of the process by which carbon is introduced into a metal. ... Bulat is a type of steel alloy developed by Pavel Petrovich Anosov in 1838, when he completed ten years of study into the nature of Damascus steel swords and eventually managed to duplicate the qualities of that metal. ...

Generally, swords were created with the grain of the blade (called 'hada') running down the blade like the grain on a plank of wood. Straight grains were called 'masame-hada', whereas wavy grains were called 'ayasugi-hada'. Certain schools of construction had the grain running directly into the blade, resulting in a ringed pattern. If it resembled stretched knotted wood, it was called 'itame-hada'; if it was round in shape, it was called 'mokume-hada'. The difference is one of cutting a tree perpendicular to its direction of growth (mokume) or at an angle (itame), the angle causing the "stretched" pattern. The blades that were considered the most robust, reliable, and of highest quality were those made in the Bizen tradition, which specialized in mokume. Bizen (備前市; -shi) is a city located in Okayama, Japan. ...

One of the core philosophies of the Japanese sword is that it has a single edge. This means that the rear of the sword can be used to reinforce the edge, and the Japanese took full advantage of this fact. When finished, the steel is not quenched or tempered in the conventional European fashion. Steel’s exact flex and strength vary dramatically with heat variation, and depending on how hot it gets and how fast it cools, the steel has vastly different properties. If steel cools quickly, from a hot temperature, it becomes martensite, which is very hard but brittle. Slower, from a lower temperature, and it becomes pearlite, which has significantly more flex but doesn’t hold an edge. To control the cooling, the sword is heated and painted with layers of sticky mud. A thin layer on the edge of the sword ensures quick cooling, but not so fast as to crack the sword steel (this makes the actual edge of the sword extremely hard martensite). A thicker layer of mud on the rest of the blade causes slower cooling, and softer steel, giving the blade the flex it needs (this makes the rear and inside of the sword into pearlite). When the application is finished, the sword is quenched and hardens correctly. Martensite, named after the German metallurgist Adolf Martens, is a class of hard minerals occurring as lathe- or plate-shaped crystals. ... Pearlite is a two-phased, lamellar structure composed of alternating layers of ferrite (88 wt%) and cementite (12%) that occurs in steel. ...

Eventually the Japanese began to experiment with using different types of steel in different parts of the sword. Examples are shown below:

The vast majority of 'good' katana and wakazashi are of 'wariba-gitae' type, but the more complex models allow for parrying without fear of damaging the side of the blade. The last generally accepted model, the 'shiho-zume-gitae', is quite rare, but added a rear support. Various cross-sections for katana. ...

The 'makuri-gitae' is made using two steels, one folded more times than the other, or of a lesser carbon content. When both sections have been folded adequately, they are bent into a 'U' shape and the softer piece is inserted into the harder piece, at which point they are hammered out into a long blade shape. By the end of the process, the two pieces of steel are fused together, but retain their differences in hardness. To make han-sanmai-awase-gitae or shiho-zume-gitae, pieces of hard steel are then added to the outside of the blade in a similar fashion.

Anatomy of the katana

Nakago of a wakisashi blade

Kissagi of a tachi blade, Bizen school, signed Kuni Osafune Yoshigake; Nambokusho era (14th century).

The tanka which locks the blade is visible just under the tsuba (guard).

Each blade has a unique profile, depending on the smith, the construction method, and a bit of luck. The most prominent is the middle ridge, or 'shinogi'. In the earlier picture, the examples were flat to the shinogi, then tapering to the blade. However, swords could narrow down to the shinogi, then narrow further to the blade, or even expand outward towards the shinogi then shrink to the blade (producing a trapezoidal shape). A flat or narrowing shinogi is called 'shinogi-hikushi', whereas a 'fat' blade is called a 'shinogi-takushi'. Created by me, Craig Perko, but I give permission to use as public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1111 KB) fr: soie dune lame de wakisashi Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1111 KB) fr: soie dune lame de wakisashi Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 557 KB) fr: Lame de tachi, école de Bizen, signée Tachimei, Bizen no Kuni Osafune Yoshi. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 557 KB) fr: Lame de tachi, école de Bizen, signée Tachimei, Bizen no Kuni Osafune Yoshi. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 585 KB) en: tanka and tsuba of a modern katana fr: tanka et tsuba dun katana moderne Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana Tanka (sword) ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 585 KB) en: tanka and tsuba of a modern katana fr: tanka et tsuba dun katana moderne Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana Tanka (sword) ... A katana with the tanka signaled Tanka o kiru: the thumb pushes the tsuba forward, unlocking and revealing the tanka. ... A typical tsuba The tsuba (鍔) is the round guard at the end of the grip of the arm. ...

The shinogi can be placed near the back of the blade for a longer, sharper, more fragile tip or a more moderate shinogi near the center of the blade.

The sword also has an exact tip shape, which is considered an extremely important characteristic: the tip can be long (o-kissaki), short (ko-kissaki), medium (chu-kissaki), or even hooked backwards (ikuri-o-kissaki). In addition, whether the front edge of the tip is curved (fukura-tsuku) or straight (fukura-kareru) is also important.

A hole is drilled into the tang, called a mekugi-ana. This hole is to anchor the hilt, and some of the older blades have more than one due to the length of the blade.

Decoration

Almost all blades are decorated, although not all blades are decorated on the visible part of the blade. Once the blade is cool, and the mud is scraped off, the blade has designs and grooves cut into it. One of the most important markings on the sword is performed here: the file markings. These are cut into the tang, or the hilt-section of the blade, where they will be covered by a hilt later. The tang is never supposed to be cleaned: doing this can cut the value of the sword in half. The purpose is to show how well the blade steel ages. A number of different types of file markings are used, including horizontal, slanted, and checked, known as ichi-monji, kosuji-chigai, suji-chigai, o-suji-chigai, katte-agari, shinogi-kiri-suji-chigai, taka-no-ha, and gyaku-taka-no-ha. A grid of marks, from raking the file diagonally both ways across the tang, is called higaki, whereas specialized 'full dress' file marks are called kesho-yasuri. Lastly, if the blade is very old, it may have been shaved instead of filed. This is called sensuki. While ornamental, these file marks also serve the purpose of providing an uneven surface which bites well into the 'tsuka', or the hilt which fits over it and is made from wood. It is this pressure fit for the most part that holds the tsuka in place during the strike, while the mekugi pin serves as a secondary method and a safety. For people named Fuller, see Fuller (disambiguation). ...

Some other marks on the blade are aesthetic: signatures and dedications written in kanji and engravings depicting gods, dragons, or other 'acceptable' beings, called horimono. Some are more practical, grooves for lightening and extra flex (as well as an intimidating sound, called tachikaze, when swung with force). Grooves come in wide (bo-hi), twin narrow (futasuji-hi), twin wide and narrow (bo-hi ni tsure-hi), short (koshi-hi), twin short (gomabushi), twin long with joined tips (shobu-hi), twin long with irregular breaks (kuichigai-hi), and halberd-style (naginata-hi). Contrary to popular belief, these grooves have nothing to do with improving the flow of enemy blood.

Polishing

katana kissagi before polishing

When the rough blade was completed, the swordsmith would turn the blade over to a polisher called a togishi, whose job it was to polish the steel of the blade to a glittering shine and sharpen the edge for battle. This takes hours for every inch of blade, and is painstaking work with different kinds of very fine stone. Early polishers used three types of stone, whereas a modern polisher generally uses seven. It almost always takes longer than actually crafting the blade does, and a good polishing makes a blade look better, while a bad polishing makes the best of blades look like gunto. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2512x956, 691 KB) fr: Lame de katana avant polissage en: katana blade, before polishing Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2512x956, 691 KB) fr: Lame de katana avant polissage en: katana blade, before polishing Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ...

One of the ways which blades can be judged is by what this polishing reveals: the crystal-like qualities of the blade become quite visible, and the hamon (known in English as the temper line, where the sharp edge fades into the normal steel of the blade) shows the unique nature of the sword. Each blade is distinct in its hamon and the grain (hada) of its steel. The hamon, which is determined primarily by how the mud is applied, is often used as a kind of signature of the smith, above and beyond his own signature, and each tradition of swordsmiths often has a particular style of hamon it prefers over all others. Hamon vary from straight to wavy to shaped like crabs or zigzags, and in their wandering they reveal important facts about the blade itself. A good polishing reveals what speed the edge was cooled at, from what temperature, and what the carbon content of the steel is. This is because it displays either nioi, which is a mix of extremely fine martensite with troostite (another type of tempered steel), or the more crystalline and obvious nie, which contains a lot of less fine martensite.

Furnishings

A Edo era wakizashi. The tsukamaki (handle lacing) is off, showing the shark skin. Note the decoration of the saya.

Elaborated tsuba of the Edo era

wooden scabbard used to protect the blade when not worn for some time

From here, the blade is passed on to a hilt-maker. Hilts vary in their exact nature depending on the era, but generally consist of the same general idea, with the variation being in the components used and in the wrapping style. The obvious part of the hilt consists of a metal or wooden grip called a tsuka, which can also be used to refer to the entire hilt. The cross guard, or tsuba, on Japanese swords (except for certain twentieth century sabers which emulate Western navies') is small and round, made of metal, and often very ornate. (see related article on Koshirae) Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 195 KB) Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century Design of Waka no Ura non Ikakeji lacquer ground Tokyo National Museum Photo taken by Chris 73 in January 2005 File links The following pages link to this file: Katana Wakizashi Wikipedia:Featured pictures visible... Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 195 KB) Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century Design of Waka no Ura non Ikakeji lacquer ground Tokyo National Museum Photo taken by Chris 73 in January 2005 File links The following pages link to this file: Katana Wakizashi Wikipedia:Featured pictures visible... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... Download high resolution version (758x776, 92 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (758x776, 92 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A typical tsuba The tsuba (鍔) is the round guard at the end of the grip of the arm. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2440x468, 179 KB) fr: saya de rangement dun katana Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2440x468, 179 KB) fr: saya de rangement dun katana Work by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... The Koshirae is the clothes worn by the Japanese sword (e. ...

There is a pommel at the base known as a kashira, and there is often a decoration under the criss-crossed wrappings called a menuki. A bamboo peg called a mekugi is slipped through the tsuka and through the tang of the blade, using the hole called a mekugiana drilled in it. This anchors the blade securely into the hilt. To anchor the blade securely into the sheath it will soon have, the blade acquires a collar, or habaki, which extends an inch or so past the cross guard and keeps the blade from rattling.

The sheaths themselves are not an easy task. There are two types of sheaths, both of which require the same exacting work. One is the saya, which is generally made of wood and considered the 'resting' sheath, used in place of a more fragile and expensive sheath. The other sheath is the more decorative or battle-worthy sheath which is usually called either a jindachi-zukuri or a buke-zukuri, depending on whether it was supposed to be suspended from the belt by straps or thrust through a sash, respectively. Other types of mounting include the kyu-gunto, shin-gunto, and kai-gunto types for the twentieth-century military, but these swords were generally mass-produced and highly inferior, and few true Japanese swords are mounted in these styles. A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword. ...

Technique

The katana is primarily a cutting weapon, rather than a stabbing one. Considering the broader case of Japanese swords, rather than the specific case of the shinto katana, technique varies over time depending on the style of fighting prevalent in military operations of the time.

In certain eras, the sword becomes longer and is intended for use from horseback. At the same time, footmen may accompany a horseman and be armed with shorter katate-uchi at their side. This is a katana with a shortened length and handle, intended for one handed fighting only.

As armor and enemies changed over time, the shapes of blades changed from heavier profiles to lighter profiles, with different intentions for use in fighting.

The sword was mostly considered as the weapon of last resort on the battlefield though, being used only after the bow, or spear was no longer feasable. However, during the Edo period Samurai went about unarmored and armed with daisho, in which case it would be the first weapon to be used. The Edo period (江戸時代, Edo-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1600 to 1867. ...

In Fiction

Myths

Many myths surround Japanese swords, the most frequent being that the blades are folded an immense number of times, gaining magical properties in the meantime. The word mythology (from the Greek μυϑολογία mythología, from μυϑολογειν mythologein to relate myths, from μυϑος mythos, meaning a narrative, and λογος logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and... The ancient symbol of the pentagram is often used as a symbol for magic. ...

While blades folded hundreds, thousands, or even millions of times are encountered in fiction, there is no record of real blades being folded more than around thirty times. With each fold made by the maker, every internal layer is also folded, and so the total number of layers in a sword blade is doubled at each fold; since the thickness of a katana blade is less than 2³⁰ iron atoms, going beyond thirty folds no longer adds meaningfully to the number of layers in the blade. Properties For alternative meanings see atom (disambiguation). ...

Furthermore, while heating and folding serves to even out the distribution of carbon throughout the blade, a small amount of carbon is also 'burnt out' of the steel in this process; repeated folding will eventually remove most of the carbon, turning the material into softer iron and reducing its ability to hold a sharp edge.

Some swords were reputed to reflect their creators' personalities. Those made by Muramasa had a reputation for violence and bloodshed, while those made by Masamune were considered weapons of peace. A popular legend tells of what happens when two swords made by Muramasa and Masamune were held in a stream carrying fallen leaves: while those leaves touching the Muramasa blade were cut in two, those coming towards the Masamune suddenly changed course and went around the blade without touching it. The Muramasa school of sword-making at Ise province was famous for the extraordinary sharpness of their blades. ... This article is about the swordsmith. ... The Muramasa school of sword-making at Ise province was famous for the extraordinary sharpness of their blades. ... This article is about the swordsmith. ...

Kusanagi (probably a tsurugi, a type of bronze Age sword which precedes the katana by centuries) is the most famous legendary sword in Japanese mythology, involved in several folk stories. Along with the Jewel and the Mirror, it was one of the three godly treasures of Japan. Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (草薙の劍) is a legendary Japanese sword as important to Japans history as Excalibur is to Britains. ... Tsurugi (長剣) is a Japanese word used to refer to any type of broadsword, or various Chinese heroes weapons or Chinese swords (Jian). ...

In modern fiction

The katana appears in various works of fiction, including film, anime, manga, other forms of literature, and computer games. It is frequently used not only in Japanese settings, but also in other settings, often by non-Japanese creators; this popularity can be attributed partly to its status as an easily recognisable icon of Japan and partly to its high reputation as a formidable weapon in skilled hands. Three well-known appearances in Western culture are the Bride's signature weapon in Kill Bill (which was strongly influenced by Japanese samurai movies) and the katana used by the main character Connor MacLeod in The Highlander and the 1975 Tom Laughlin action/cult Western film Master Gunfighter. Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ... A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime (アニメ) is Japanese animation, sometimes referred to in the Western world by the portmanteau Japanimation. ... Rurouni Kenshin manga, volume 1 (English version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Open Directory Project: Literature World Literature Electronic Text Archives Magazines and E-zines Online Writing Writers Resources Libraries, Digital Cataloguing, Metadata Distance Learning What is Literature? Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Classicism in Literature The Universal Library, by Carnegie Mellon University Project Gutenberg Online Library Abacci - Project Gutenberg texts... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... The Savior (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) An icon (from Greek , eikon, image) is an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it, or by analogy, as in semiotics; in computers an icon is a symbol on the monitor... Kill Bill is the fourth feature film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, and stars Uma Thurman. ... For other uses of the word Highlander, please see: Highlander Highlander is a series of fantasy movies featuring Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), the Highlander of the title. ... There are at least two well-known men named Tom Laughlin: Tom Laughlin - an actor best-known for playing the title role in Billy Jack Tom Laughlin - a professional wrestler better-known by his stage name of Tommy Dreamer This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other...

It is the prime weapon of choice for Japanese heroes in historical fiction set before the Meiji period. Carrying a non-sealed katana is illegal in present-day Japan, but in fiction this law is often ignored or circumvented to allow characters to carry katana as a matter of artistic licence. For instance, some stories state that carrying weapons has been permitted due to a serious increase in crimes or an invasion of monsters from other dimensions. With this law in mind, katana is sometimes used as a comic relief in anime and manga set in the present, although this is sometimes replaced by the use of a bokken having surprisingly comparable capabilities. Artistic licence or license (US), also known as dramatic license/licence, is a colloquial term used to denote the liberties an artist may take in the name of art — for example, if an artist decided it was more artistically correct to portray St. ... Bokken bokken training A Bokken (木剣, bok(u), wood, and ken, sword) is a wooden Japanese sword (or sabre), usually the size and shape of a katana (though wakizashi and tanto-sized are available). ...

In many works, especially when magical or supernatural powers are significant story elements, katana are more than a match for any other weapons. In some cases, writers make a new weapon based on ideas from katana, as a signature weapon of heroes and villains. The lightsaber is an example of such a weapon. Leonardo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles also is the Master of the Twin Katana blades. Jedi activate their lightsabers in the Battle of Geonosis. ... Leonardo (original movie incarnation) Leonardo (or Leo), a fictional character, is the unofficial leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT). ... The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; (clockwise from left) Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo. ...

See also List of fictional swords // In fantasy literature The Six-Fingered Sword, wielded by Inigo Montoya of The Princess Bride, originally forged for the polydactyl Count Rugen by Montoyas father. ...

Comparisons with European swords

It is a commonly-encountered article of faith that katanas are intrinsically superior to European swords. This belief is frequently bolstered by roleplaying games that assign superior statistics to katanas, and also by many movies. However, these claims are largely based on misunderstandings about the manufacture and role of European swords, and comparing the schools on their worst examples instead of their best. A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of fictional characters via role-playing. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as part of...

Because Japan was an iron-poor society, making a sword was an intrinsically expensive undertaking; the supply of swords was limited, and so it was in the smiths' interest to make the most of the materials they could afford. Europe also had superlative swordsmiths; Toledo steel swords from Spain are one example of legendary quality swords from outside Japan. However, the greater availability of iron made it practical to produce cheap, low-quality weapons in large quantities. Where Europeans had the choice between expensive good swords and cheap bad swords, Japanese had the choice between expensive swords, somewhat less expensive swords, or none at all. This article is about the city in Spain named Toledo. ...

European swords were also designed for different modes of combat. The katana's sharpness makes it an excellent cutting weapon, suitable for use against lightly-armoured opponents, but easily damaged when used against heavier armour. In this light, the relative bluntness of a good European sword is due less to the limitations of its maker than to the requirements of its use. Attempting to establish the superiority of the one over the other is ultimately meaningless without first defining the circumstances in which they are to be compared. Late European swords were often designed for the same combat modes as Japanese ones, horseback or unhorsed against lightly-armored or unarmored infantry, and because of this shared a similar design: curved, with a single sharp edge (e.g. the sabre). Into the 19th and 20th centuries, swords were all but abandoned in Europe as firearms took center stage, and they evolved into the ceremonial weapons carried by forces such as today's United States Marine Corps. SABRE (Synergic Air BReathing Engine) is a proposal for a hydrogen-fuelled airbreathing rocket engine/jet engine for propelling launch vehicles into low earth orbit. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ...

Famous historic katana users

• Ashikaga Yoshiteru
• Tsukahara Bokuden
• Iizasa Ienao
• Miyamoto Musashi
• Sasaki Kojiro
• Okita Soji
• Saito Hajime
• Yukio Mishima

Ashikaga Yoshiteru (Jp. ... Tsukahara Bokuden (塚原 卜伝 1489 - 1571) was a famous swordsman of early Sengoku period. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Sasaki Kojirō (佐々木 小次郎 died April 14, 1612) was a prominent swordsman; he is most famous for his death in battle with Miyamoto Musashi. ... Okita Sōji (æ²–ç”° 総司 Okita Sōji, also Okita Sōshi), (1844 - July 19, 1868) was captain of the first troop of the Shinsengumi, an armed special security team in Kyoto during the late shogunate period. ... Saito Hajime (Fujita Goro) Saitō Hajime (æ–Žè—¤ 一 Saitō Hajime) (January 1, 1844 - September 28, 1915) was the captain of the third troop of the Shinsengumi. ... Yukio Mishima Yukio Mishima (三島由紀夫 Mishima Yukio), was the public name of Kimitake Hiraoka (平岡公威 Hiraoka Kimitake), (January 14, 1925 - November 25, 1970), a Japanese author and rightist political activist, notable for both his nihilistic post-war writing and the circumstances of his suicide. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has more media related to:

katana

• List of Wazamono
• O-katana
• Tanka
• Tsuba
• Tanto
• Wakizashi
• Tachi
• Daisho
• How to make a sword in Wikibooks
• Wodao(倭刀)

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... List of Wazamono or Token no Wazamono Ichiran(刀剣の業物一覧) is a list of 228 swordsmiths of katana and other weapons released in 1805 by Yamada Asaemon in the book Kaihokenshaku(懐宝剣尺). It lists 12 Saijo Owazamono(最上大業物), lit. ... An O-Katana is merely a Katana slightly longer than a regular Katana. ... A katana with the tanka signaled Tanka o kiru: the thumb pushes the tsuba forward, unlocking and revealing the tanka. ... A typical tsuba The tsuba (鍔) is the round guard at the end of the grip of the arm. ... A Tantō (短刀) is a Japanese blade or small sword. ... Wakizashi style sword mounting, Edo period, 19th century A wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches (between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm), similar to but shorter than a katana but also quite longer than the kodachi. ... Tachi forged in 1997 by Matsuda Tsuguyasu, mounting koshirae type made in 1999 by Takeyama. ... A Edo-era daisho on its stand The daishō (大小, lit. ... The wodao (literally sword/knife of the wo people) is a Chinese sword from the Qing Dynasty. ...

External links

• Japanese Sword School
• The Japanese Sword Guide
• Japanese Sword Arts FAQ
• First time katana forging in Italy
• Japanese sword visual glossary
• Japanese sword forging process
• ARMA's essay about myths of the Katana

Other reading

• Irvine, Gregory, The Japanese Sword: The Soul of the Samurai. London: V&A Publications, 2000.
• Perrin, Noel, Giving Up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 1543-1879. Boston: David R. Godine, 1979.
• Robinson, H. Russell, Japanese Arms and Armor. New York: Crown Publishers Inc., 1969a.