sword A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

Yayoi period The Yayoi period (弥生時代, ''Yayoi jidai'') (c. 300 BC – 300 AD) is one of the major historical periods of the Japanese archipelago. It is generally defined as the era between the beginning of food production in Japan and the emergence o ...

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...

tachi A is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and '' uchigatana'' ("''katana''") generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when she ...

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...

Ouyang Xiu Ouyang Xiu (; 1007 – 1072 CE), courtesy name Yongshu, also known by his art names Zuiweng () and Liu Yi Jushi (), was a Chinese historian, calligrapher, epigrapher, essayist, poet, and politician of the Song dynasty. He was a renowned writer a ...

late Tokugawa shogunate were the final years of the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate ended. Between 1853 and 1867, under foreign diplomatic and military pressure, Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy known as and changed from a feudal Tokugawa shogunat ...

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

tsuba Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings (''Commons:Tosogu (Japanese sword fittings), tosogu'') that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. refers to the ornate mountings of a Japane ...

kashira Kashira () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Kashirsky District, Moscow Oblast, Kashirsky District in Moscow Oblast, located on the Oka River south of Moscow. Population: History It was first ...

Emperor Jimmu was the legendary first emperor of Japan according to the and . His ascension is traditionally dated as 660 BC.Kelly, Charles F"Kofun Culture"shaku''. Since 1891, the modern Japanese shaku is approximately equal to a foot (11.93 inches), calibrated with the meter to equal exactly 10 meters per 33 shaku (30.30 cm). However, the historical shaku was slightly longer (13.96 inches or 35.45 cm). Thus, there may sometimes be confusion about the blade lengths, depending on which shaku value is being assumed when converting to metric or U.S. customary measurements. The three main divisions of Japanese blade length are: * Less than 1 ''shaku'' for ''

tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

'' (

knife A knife (: knives; from Old Norse 'knife, dirk') is a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, usually attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least Stone Age, 2.5 million years ago, as e ...

or

dagger A dagger is a fighting knife with a very sharp point and usually one or two sharp edges, typically designed or capable of being used as a cutting or stabbing, thrusting weapon.State v. Martin, 633 S.W.2d 80 (Mo. 1982): This is the dictionary or ...

). * Between 1 and 2 ''shaku'' for (''

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

'' or ''

kodachi A , literally translating into "small or short ''tachi'' (sword)", is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (''nihontō'') used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kodachi are from the early Kamakura period (1185–1333) and are in the ...

''). * Greater than 2 ''shaku'' for (long sword, such as ''

katana A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...

'' or ''

tachi A is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and '' uchigatana'' ("''katana''") generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when she ...

''). A blade shorter than one ''shaku'' is considered a ''tantō'' (knife). A blade longer than one ''shaku'' but less than two is considered a ''shōtō'' (short sword). The wakizashi and ''

kodachi A , literally translating into "small or short ''tachi'' (sword)", is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (''nihontō'') used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kodachi are from the early Kamakura period (1185–1333) and are in the ...

'' are in this category. The length is measured in a straight line across the back of the blade from tip to ''munemachi'' (where blade meets tang). Most blades that fall into the ''"shōtō"'' size range are ''

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

''. However, some ''daitō'' were designed with blades slightly shorter than 2 ''shaku''. These were called ''

kodachi A , literally translating into "small or short ''tachi'' (sword)", is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (''nihontō'') used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kodachi are from the early Kamakura period (1185–1333) and are in the ...

'' and are somewhere in between a true ''daitō'' and a ''wakizashi''. A ''shōtō'' and a ''daitō'' together are called a '' daishō'' (literally, "big-little"''The Japanese sword'', Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 p.68
/ref>). The ''daishō'' was the symbolic armament of the

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...

. A blade longer than two ''shaku'' is considered a ''daitō'', or long sword. To qualify as a ''daitō'' the sword must have a blade longer than 2 ''shaku'' (approximately 24 inches or 60 centimeters) in a straight line. While there is a well defined lower limit to the length of a ''daitō'', the upper limit is not well enforced; a number of modern historians, swordsmiths, etc. say that swords that are over 3 ''shaku'' in blade length are "longer than normal ''daitō''" and are usually referred to as '' ōdachi''. The word ''"daitō"'' is often used when explaining the related terms ''shōtō'' (short sword) and ''daishō'' (the set of both large and small sword).

Miyamoto Musashi , was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels. Miyamoto is considered a ''Kensei (honorary title), kensei'' (swo ...

refers to the long sword in ''The Book of Five Rings''. He is referring to the ''katana'' in this, and refers to the ''nodachi'' and the ''odachi'' as "extra-long swords". Before about 1500 most swords were usually worn suspended from cords on a belt, edge-down. This style is called ''jindachi-zukuri'', and ''daitō'' worn in this fashion are called ''tachi'' (average blade length of 75–80 cm). From 1600 to 1867, more swords were worn through an '' obi'' (sash), paired with a smaller blade; both worn edge-up. This style is called ''buke-zukuri'', and all ''daitō'' worn in this fashion are ''katana'', averaging 70–74 cm (2 shaku 3 sun to 2 shaku 4 sun 5 bu) in blade length. However, Japanese swords of longer lengths also existed, including lengths up to 78 cm (2 shaku 5 sun 5 bu). It was not simply that the swords were worn by cords on a belt, as a 'style' of sorts. Such a statement trivializes an important function of such a manner of bearing the sword. It was a very direct example of 'form following function.' At this point in Japanese history, much of the warfare was fought on horseback. Being so, if the sword or blade were in a more vertical position, it would be cumbersome, and awkward to draw. Suspending the sword by 'cords' allowed the sheath to be more horizontal, and far less likely to bind while drawing it in that position. Abnormally long blades (longer than 3 ''shaku''), usually carried across the back, are called '' ōdachi'' or '' nodachi.'' The word ''ōdachi'' is also sometimes used as a synonym for Japanese swords. ''Odachi'' means "great sword", and ''Nodachi'' translates to "field sword". These greatswords were used during war, as the longer sword gave a foot soldier a reach advantage. These swords are now illegal in Japan. Citizens are not allowed to possess an ''odachi'' unless it is for ceremonial purposes. Here is a list of lengths for different types of blades: * Nodachi,

Ōdachi An or is a type of traditionally made used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The Chinese equivalent of this type of sword in terms of weight and length is the '' miaodao'' or the earlier ''zhanmadao'', and the Western battlefield equival ...

, Jin tachi: 90.9 cm and over (more than three shaku) *

Tachi A is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and '' uchigatana'' ("''katana''") generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when she ...

,

Katana A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...

: over 60.6 cm (more than two shaku) *

Wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

: between 30.3 and 60.6 cm (between one and two shaku) *

Tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

, Aikuchi: under 30.3 cm (less than one shaku) Blades whose length is next to a different classification type are described with a prefix 'O-' (for great) or 'Ko-' (for small), e.g. a Wakizashi with a length of 59 cm is called an O-wakizashi (almost a Katana) whereas a Katana of 61 cm is called a Ko-Katana (for small Katana; but note that a small accessory blade sometimes found in the sheath of a long sword is also a "kogatana" (小刀)). Since 1867, restrictions and/or the deconstruction of the samurai class meant that most blades have been worn ''jindachi-zukuri'' style, like Western navy officers. Since 1953, there has been a resurgence in the ''buke-zukuri'' style, permitted only for demonstration purposes.

Classification

Classification by shape and usage

In modern times the most commonly known type of Japanese sword is the ''Shinogi-Zukuri'' ''

katana A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...

'', which is a single-edged and usually curved sabre traditionally worn by

samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...

from the 15th century onwards. Western historians have said that Japanese katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history, for their intended use. Other types of Japanese swords include: tsurugi or ken, which is a straight double-edged sword; ōdachi,

tachi A is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and '' uchigatana'' ("''katana''") generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when she ...

, which are older styles of a very long curved single-edged sword; uchigatana, a slightly shorter curved single-edged long sword;

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

, a medium-sized sword; and

tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

, which is an even smaller knife-sized sword.

Naginata The ''naginata'' (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades ('' nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

,

nagamaki The is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihontō'') with an extra long handle, used by the samurai class of feudal Japan.Friday 2004, p. 88. History It is possible that nagamaki were first produced during the Heian period (794 to ...

, and

yari is the term for a traditionally-made Japanese blade (日本刀; nihontō) in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the is called . History The forerunner of the is thought to be a ...

, despite being polearms, are still considered to be swords, which is a common misconception; naginata, nagamaki and yari differ from swords. The type classifications for Japanese swords indicate the combination of a blade and its mounts as this, then, determines the style of use of the blade. An unsigned and shortened blade that was once made and intended for use as a tachi may be alternately mounted in tachi koshirae and katana koshirae. It is properly distinguished, then, by the style of mount it currently inhabits. A long tanto may be classified as a wakizashi due to its length being over ; however, it may have originally been mounted and used as a tanto making the length distinction somewhat arbitrary but necessary when referring to unmounted short blades. When the mounts are taken out of the equation, a tanto and wakizashi will be determined by length under or over , unless their intended use can be absolutely determined or the speaker is rendering an opinion on the intended use of the blade. In this way, a blade formally attributed as a wakizashi due to length may be informally discussed between individuals as a tanto because the blade was made during an age where tanto were popular and the wakizashi as a companion sword to katana did not yet exist. The following are types of Japanese swords: * : A straight two-edged sword that was mainly produced prior to the 10th century. After the 10th century, they completely disappeared as weapons and came to be made only as offerings to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. * : A straight single edged sword that was mainly produced prior to the 10th century. Since the 10th century, they disappeared as weapons and came to be made only as offerings to

Shinto shrines A Stuart D. B. Picken, 1994. p. xxiii is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more kami, , the deities of the Shinto religion. The Also called the . is where a shrine's patron is or are enshrined.Iwanami Japanese dic ...

and Buddhist temples. * : A sword that is generally longer and more curved than the later katana, with curvature often centered from the middle or towards the tang, and often including the tang. Tachi were worn suspended, with the edge downward. The tachi was in vogue before the 15th century. * : A shorter version of the tachi, but with similar mounts and intended use, mostly found in the 13th century or earlier. * /: A longer version of the tachi, generally with a blade length of more than , mostly found in the 14th century or later. * : A sword with a curved blade longer than (there is no upper length limit but generally they are shorter than ), worn with the edge upwards in the

sash A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the human body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else encircling the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, ...

. It was developed from ''sasuga'', a kind of ''tantō'', around the 14th century, and became the mainstream replacing ''tachi'' from the 15th century onwards. * : A general term for a sword between one and two shaku long ( in modern measurements), predominantly made after 1600. Generally it is the short blade that accompanies a katana in the traditional samurai ''daisho'' pairing of swords, but may be worn by classes other than the samurai as a single blade, also worn edge up as the katana. The name derives from the way the sword would be stuck at one's side through the ''

sash A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the human body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else encircling the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, ...

''. * : A sword with a blade shorter than one shaku (). ''Tantō'' are generally classified as a sword, but its usage is the same as that of a knife. Usually one-edged, but some were double-edged, though asymmetrical. There are other bladed weapons made in the same traditional manner as Japanese swords, which are not swords, but are still classified as Japanese swords (''nihontō'') (as "tō" means "blade", rather than specifically "sword") because of the way they are made in a similar manner to Japanese swords: * : A sword with an exceptionally long handle, usually about as long as the blade. The name refers to the length of the handle wrapping. * : A polearm with a curved single-edged blade. Naginata mounts consist of a long wooden pole, different from a nagamaki mount, which is shorter and wrapped. * : A spear, or spear-like polearm. Yari have various blade forms, from a simple double edged and flat blade, to a triangular cross section double edged blade, to those with a symmetric cross-piece (''jumonji-yari'') or those with an asymmetric cross piece. The main blade is symmetric and straight, unlike a naginata, and usually smaller, but can be as large as or bigger than some naginata blades. Other edged weapons or tools that are made using the same methods as Japanese swords: * Arrowheads for war, yajiri (or yanone). * : An accessory or utility knife, sometimes found mounted in a pocket on the side of the scabbard of a sword. A typical blade is about long and wide, and is made using the same techniques as the larger sword blades. Also referred to as a "Kozuka" (小柄), which literally means 'small handle', but this terminology can also refer to the handle and the blade together. In entertainment media, the kogatana is sometimes shown as a throwing weapon, but its real purpose was the same as a 'pocket knife' in the West.

Classification by period

Each Japanese sword is classified according to when the blade was made.:Transition of kotō, shintō, shinshintō, and gendaitō.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World * ''Jōkotō'' ( "ancient swords", until around 900 A.D.) * ''Kotō'' ( "old swords" from around 900–1596) * ''Shintō'' ( "new swords" 1596–1780) * ''Shinshintō'' ( "new new swords" 1781–1876) * ''Gendaitō'' ( "modern or contemporary swords" 1876–present) Historically in Japan, the ideal blade of a Japanese sword has been considered to be the ''kotō'' in the

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

, and the swordsmiths from the

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

to the present day from the ''Shinto'' period focused on reproducing the blade of a Japanese sword in the Kamakura period. There are more than 100 Japanese swords designated as National Treasures in Japan, of which the ''Kotō'' of the Kamakura period account for 80% and the ''tachi'' account for 70%.日本刀の格付けと歴史.
Touken World

Sankei Shimbun The , name short for , is a daily national newspaper in Japan published by the Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd, ranking amongst the top five most circulated newspapers in Japan. Together with its English-language paper ''Japan Forward'', the ''Sankei ...

. July 2, 2017 Japanese swords since ''shintō'' are different from ''kotō'' in forging method and steel. This was due to the destruction of the Bizen school due to a great flood, the spread of the Mino school, and the virtual unification of Japan by

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...

, which made almost no difference in the steel used by each school. Japanese swords since the ''Shintō'' period often have gorgeous decorations carved on the blade and lacquered ''

maki-e is a Japanese lacquerware, Japanese lacquer decoration technique in which pictures, patterns, and letters are drawn with lacquer on the surface of lacquerware, and then metal powder such as gold or silver is sprinkled and fixed on the surface ...

'' decorations on the scabbard. This was due to the economic development and the increased value of swords as arts and crafts as the

Sengoku period The was the period in History of Japan, Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as th ...

ended and the peaceful

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

began. Japanese swords are still commonly seen today; antique and modern forged swords can be found and purchased. Modern, authentic Japanese swords (''nihontō'') are made by a few hundred swordsmiths. Many examples can be seen at an annual competition hosted by the All Japan Swordsmith Association, under the auspices of the Nihontō Bunka Shinkō Kyōkai (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture).Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation: NBSK newsletter (September 2009)
Retrieved 2010-02-16. However, to maintain the quality of Japanese swords, the Japanese government limits the number of Japanese swords a swordsmith can make in a year to 24 (up to 2 swords per month). Therefore, many of the swords called "Japanese sword" distributed around the world today are made in China, and the manufacturing process and quality are not authorized.

Classification by school

Many old Japanese swords can be traced back to one of five 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"). These schools are known as ''Gokaden'' (The Five Traditions). In the ''Kotō'' era there were several other schools that did not fit within the Five Traditions or were known to mix elements of each ''Gokaden'', and they were called (small school). There were 19 commonly referenced . The number of swordsmiths of ''Gokaden'', as confirmed by signatures and documents, were 4005 in Bizen, 1269 in Mino, 1025 in Yamato, 847 in Yamashiro and 438 in Sōshū.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.64–65. These traditions and provinces are as follows:

Yamato school

The Yamato school is a school that originated in

Yamato Province was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005). "Yamato" in . It was also called . Yamato consists of two characters, 大 "great", and 和 " Wa". At first, th ...

corresponding to present-day

Nara Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,321,805 and has a geographic area of . Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north, Osaka Prefecture to the ...

. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan. Since there is a legend that it was a swordsmith named Amakuni who first signed the tang of a sword, he is sometimes regarded as the founder and the oldest school. However, the founder identified in the material is Yukinobu in the

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...

. They forged the swords that were often worn by monk warriors called ''

sōhei were Buddhist warrior monks of both classical and feudal Japan. At certain points in history, they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate. The prominence of the ''sōhei'' rose in parallel w ...

'' in Nara's large temples. The Yamato school consists of five schools: ''Senjuin, Shikkake, Taima, Tegai, and Hōshō''. Each school forged swords under the supervision of a different temple. In the middle of the

Muromachi period The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...

, swordsmiths moved to various places such as Mino, and the school disappeared. Their swords are often characterized by a deep curve, a narrow width from blade to back, a high central ridge, and a small tip. There are direct lines on the surface of the blade, the '' hamon'' is linear, and the grain at the boundary of the hamon is medium in size. It is often evaluated as a sword with a simple and strong impression.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.66–67.

Yamashiro school

The Yamashiro school is a school that originated in

Yamashiro Province was a province of Japan, located in Kinai. It overlaps the southern part of modern Kyoto Prefecture on Honshū. Aliases include , the rare , and . It is classified as an upper province in the '' Engishiki''. Yamashiro Province included Kyoto it ...

, corresponding to present-day

Kyoto Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Kyoto Prefecture has a population of 2,561,358 () and has a geographic area of . Kyoto Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the northeast, Shiga Prefecture ...

. When Emperor Kanmu relocated the capital to

Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...

in 794, swordsmiths began to gather. The founder of the school was Sanjō Munechika in the late 10th century in the Heian period. The Yamashiro school consisted of schools such as ''Sanjō, Ayanokōji, Awataguchi, and Rai''. At first, they often forged swords in response to aristocrats' demands, so importance was placed on aesthetics and practicality was not emphasized. However, when a domestic conflict occurred at the end of the Heian period, practicality was emphasized and a swordsmith was invited from the Bizen school. In the

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

, ''tachi'' from a magnificent ''rai'' school became popular among samurai. After that, they also adopted the forging method of Sōshū school. Their swords are often characterized as long and narrow, curved from the base or center, and have a sparkle on the surface of the blade, with the ''hamon'' being straight and the grains on the boundary of the ''hamon'' being small. It is often evaluated as a sword with an elegant impression.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.68–69.

Bizen school

The Bizen school is a school that originated in

Bizen Province was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan in the area that is eastern Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of western Japan.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Mimasaka no Kuni''" in . Bizen bordered Bitchū Province, ...

, corresponding to present-day

Okayama Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,826,059 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 7,114 Square kilometre, km2 (2,746 sq mi). Okayama Prefecture ...

. Bizen has been a major production area of high-quality iron sand since ancient times. The Ko-bizen school in the mid Heian period was the originator. The Bizen school consisted of schools such as ''Ko-bizen, Fukuoka-ichimonji, Osafune,'' and ''Hatakeda''. According to a sword book written in the Kamakura period, out of the 12 best swordsmiths in Japan who were convened by the Retired

Emperor Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198. This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; ...

, 10 were from the Bizen school. Great swordsmiths were born one after another in the ''Osafune'' school which started in the Kamakura period, and it developed to the largest school in the history of Japanese swords. Kanemitsu and Nagayoshi of the ''Osafune'' school were apprentices to

Masamune was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ''tachi'' and ''tantō'', in the Japanese sword#Classification by School, ''Sōshū'' school. However, many ...

of the Sōshū school, the greatest swordsmith in Japan. While they forged high-quality swords by order, at the same time, from the Muromachi period, when wars became large-scale, they mass-produced low-quality swords for drafted farmers and for export. The Bizen school had enjoyed the highest prosperity for a long time, but declined rapidly due to a great flood which occurred in the late 16th century during the

Sengoku period The was the period in History of Japan, Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as th ...

. Their swords are often characterized as curved from the base, with irregular fingerprint-like patterns on the surface of the blade, while the ''hamon'' has a flashy pattern like a series of

clove Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, ''Syzygium aromaticum'' (). They are native to the Maluku Islands, or Moluccas, in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice, flavoring, or Aroma compound, fragrance in fin ...

s, and there is little grain but a color gradient at the boundary of the ''hamon''. It is often evaluated as a sword with a showy and gorgeous impression.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.70–71.

Sōshū school

The Sōshū school is a school that originated in

Sagami Province was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan located in what is today the central and western Kanagawa Prefecture.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Kanagawa''" at . Sagami Province bordered the provinces of Izu Province, Izu ...

, corresponding to present-day

Kanagawa Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Kanagawa Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-dens ...

. Sagami Province was the political center of Japan where the

Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459. The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yori ...

was established in the Kamakura period. At the end of the 13th century, the Kamakura shogunate invited swordsmiths from Yamashiro school and Bizen school, and swordsmiths began to gather. Shintōgo Kunimitsu forged experimental swords by combining the forging technology of Yamashiro school and Bizen school.

Masamune was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ''tachi'' and ''tantō'', in the Japanese sword#Classification by School, ''Sōshū'' school. However, many ...

, who learned from Shintōgo Kunimitsu, became the greatest swordsmith in Japan. From the lessons of the Mongol invasion of Japan, they revolutionized the forging process to make stronger swords. Although this forging method is not fully understood to date, one of the elements is heating at higher temperatures and rapid cooling. Their revolution influenced other schools to make the highest quality swords, but this technique was lost before the

Azuchi–Momoyama period The was the final phase of the in Japanese history from 1568 to 1600. After the outbreak of the Ōnin War in 1467, the power of the Ashikaga Shogunate effectively collapsed, marking the start of the chaotic Sengoku period. In 1568, Oda Nob ...

(''Shintō'' period). The Sōshū school declined after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate. Their swords are often characterized by a shallow curve, a wide blade to the back, and a thin cross-section. There are irregular fingerprint-like patterns on the surface of the blade, the ''hamon'' has a pattern of undulations with continuous roundness, and the grains at the boundary of the ''hamon'' are large.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.72–73.

Mino school

The Mino school is a school that originated in

Mino Province was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today southern Gifu Prefecture. Mino was bordered by Ōmi to the west, Echizen and Hida to the north, Shinano to the east, and Ise, Mikawa, and Owari to the south. Its abbreviated fo ...

, corresponding to present-day

Gifu Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Gifu Prefecture has a population of 1,910,511 () and has a geographic area of . Gifu Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the north; Ishikawa Prefecture ...

. Mino Province was a strategic traffic point connecting the Kanto and

Kansai The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, often also Mie, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. The metropoli ...

regions, and was surrounded by powerful ''

daimyo were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominally to ...

'' (feudal lords). The Mino school started in the middle of the Kamakura period, when swordsmiths of the Yamato school who learned from the Sōshū school gathered in Mino. The Mino school became the largest production area of Japanese swords after the Bizen school declined due to a great flood. The production rate of ''katana'' was high, because it was the newest school among five big schools. Their swords are often characterized by a slightly higher central ridge and a thinner back. There are irregular fingerprint-like patterns on the surface of the blade, the ''hamon'' are various, and the grain on the border of the hamon are hardly visible.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.74–75.

History

The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: ''jōkotō'' (ancient swords, until around 900 A.D.), ''kotō'' (old swords from around 900–1596), ''shintō'' (new swords 1596–1780), ''shinshintō'' (new new swords 1781–1876), ''gendaitō'' (modern or contemporary swords 1876–present)

Jōkotō – Kotō (Old swords)

Early examples of iron swords were straight '' tsurugi'', '' chokutō'' and others with unusual shapes, some of the styles and techniques were derived from Chinese dao, and some directly imported through trade. The swords of this period were a mixture of swords of Japanese original style and those of Chinese style brought to Japan via the Korean Peninsula and East China Sea. The cross-sectional shape of the blades of these early swords was an isosceles triangular ''hira-zukuri'', and the ''kiriha-zukuri'' sword, which sharpened only the part close to the cutting edge side of a planar blade, gradually appeared.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. pp31-32. Swords of this period are classified as ''jōkotō'' and are often referred to in distinction from Japanese swords. The direct predecessor of the ''

tachi A is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and '' uchigatana'' ("''katana''") generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when she ...

'' (太刀) has been called ''Warabitetō'' ( :ja:蕨手刀) by the Emishi (Not to be confused with Ainu) of Tohoku. The Nihonto Meikan shows the earliest and by far the largest group of Ōshū smiths from the beginning of the 8th century were from the Mokusa school, listing over 100 Mokusa smiths before the beginning of the Kamakura period. Archaeological excavations of the Ōshū Tohoku region show iron ore smelting sites dating back to the early Nara period. The Tohoku region and indeed the whole Ōshū district in the 8th century was controlled and populated by the Emishi. Archaeological evidence of recovered ''Warabitetō'' (蕨手刀) show a high concentration in the burial goods of the Ōshū and Hokkaido regions. Mokusa Area was famous for legendary swordsmiths in the Heian period (AD 794–1185). They are considered as the original producers of the Japanese swords known as "''Warabitetō'' " which can date back to the sixth to eighth centuries. "''Warabitetō'' " gained its fame through the series of battles between Emishi people (蝦夷) and the Yamato-chotei government (大和朝廷) in the late eighth century. Using "''Warabitetō''," the small number of Emishi soldiers could resist against the numerous Yamato-chotei army over a Thirty-Eight Years' War (三十八年戦争) (AD 770–811). The Meikan describes that from earlier time there was a list of forty-two famous swordsmiths in the Toukou Meikan 刀工銘鑑 at Kanchiin 観智院. Eight of the swordsmiths on this list were from Ōshū schools. Five from Mokusa being Onimaru 鬼丸, Yoyasu 世安, Morifusa 森房, Hatafusa 幡房 and Gaan 瓦安, two from the Tamatsukuri Fuju 諷誦,Houji 寶次 and one from Gassan signing just Gassan 月山. According to the Nihonto Meikan, the Ōshū swordsmith group consists of the Mokusa (舞草), the Gassan (月山) and the Tamatsukuri (玉造), later to become the Hoju (寶壽) schools. Ōshū swords appear in various old books of this time, for example Heiji Monogatari 平治物語 (Tale of Heiji), Konjaku Monogatari 今昔物語 (Anthology of tales from the past), Kojidan 古事談 (Japanese collection of Setsuwa 説話), and Gikeiki 義経記 (War tale that focuses on the legends of Minamoto no Yoshitsune 源義経 and his followers). Ōshū swordsmiths appeared in books in quite early times compared to others. Tales in these books tell of the Emishi-to in the capital city and these swords seem to have been quite popular with the Bushi. Maybe a badge of honour being captured weapons. For example, In "Nihongiryaku" 日本紀略 983AD :" the number of people wearing a funny looking Tachi 太刀 is increasing." In "Kauyagokau" 高野御幸 1124AD :" when emperor Shirakawa 白河法皇 visited Kouyasan 高野山, Fujiwara Zaemon Michisue 藤原左衛門通季 was wearing a Fushū sword " In "Heihanki" 兵範記 1158AD there was a line that mentioned the Emperor himself had Fushū Tachi." It seems that during the late Heian the Emishi-to was gaining popularity in Kyoto. Kenuki-gata tachi at Ise Shrine

In the middle of the

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...

(794–1185), samurai improved on the Warabitetō to develop ''Kenukigata-tachi ( :ja:毛抜形太刀)'' -early Japanese sword-.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p33. To be more precise, it is thought that the ''Emishi'' improved the ''warabitetō'' and developed ''Kenukigata-warabitetō ( :ja:毛抜形蕨手刀)'' with a hole in the hilt and ''kenukigatatō ( :ja:毛抜形刀)'' without decorations on the tip of the hilt, and the samurai developed ''kenukigata-tachi'' based on these swords. ''Kenukigata-tachi'', which was developed in the first half of the 10th century, has a three-dimensional cross-sectional shape of an elongated pentagonal or hexagonal blade called ''shinogi-zukuri'' and a gently curved single-edged blade, which are typical features of Japanese swords. There is no wooden hilt attached to ''kenukigata-tachi'', and the tang (''nakago'') which is integrated with the blade is directly gripped and used. The term ''kenukigata'' is derived from the fact that the central part of tang is hollowed out in the shape of an ancient Japanese tweezers (''kenuki'').Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. pp32-33. In the ''tachi'' developed after ''kenukigata-tachi'', a structure in which the hilt is fixed to the tang (''nakago'') with a pin called ''mekugi'' was adopted. As a result, a sword with three basic external elements of Japanese swords, the cross-sectional shape of ''shinogi-zukuri'', a gently curved single-edged blade, and the structure of ''nakago'', was completed.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.36–37. Its shape may reflect the changing form of warfare in Japan. Cavalry were now the predominant fighting unit and the older straight ''chokutō'' were particularly unsuitable for fighting from horseback. The curved sword is a far more efficient weapon when wielded by a warrior on horseback where the curve of the blade adds considerably to the downward force of a cutting action. Early models had uneven curves with the deepest part of the curve at the

hilt The hilt (rarely called a haft or shaft) is the handle of a knife, dagger, sword, or bayonet, consisting of a guard, grip, and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A tassel or sword knot may be attached to the guard or pomme ...

. As eras changed the center of the curve tended to move up the blade.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p46. The ''tachi'' is a sword which is generally larger than a ''

katana A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...

'', and is worn suspended with the cutting edge down. This was the standard form of carrying the sword for centuries, and would eventually be displaced by the ''katana'' style where the blade was worn thrust through the belt, edge up. The ''tachi'' was worn slung across the left hip. The signature on the tang of the blade was inscribed in such a way that it would always be on the outside of the sword when worn. This characteristic is important in recognizing the development, function, and different styles of wearing swords from this time onwards.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p48. When worn with full armour, the ''tachi'' would be accompanied by a shorter blade in the form known as ''koshigatana'' (腰刀, "waist sword"); a type of short sword with no handguard, and where the hilt and scabbard meet to form the style of mounting called an ''aikuchi'' ("meeting mouth"). Daggers (''tantō''), were also carried for close combat fighting as well as carried generally for personal protection.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p38. By the 11th century during the Heian period, Japanese swords had already been exported to neighboring countries in Asia. For example, in the poem "The Song of Japanese Swords"

Ouyang Xiu Ouyang Xiu (; 1007 – 1072 CE), courtesy name Yongshu, also known by his art names Zuiweng () and Liu Yi Jushi (), was a Chinese historian, calligrapher, epigrapher, essayist, poet, and politician of the Song dynasty. He was a renowned writer a ...

, a statesman of the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...

in China, described Japanese swords as "It is a treasured sword with a scabbard made of fragrant wood covered with fish skin, decorated with brass and copper, and capable of exorcising evil spirits. It is imported at a great cost.". From the Heian period (794–1185), ordinary samurai wore swords of the style called ''kurourusi tachi (kokushitsu no tachi, 黒漆太刀)'', which meant black lacquer ''tachi''. The hilt of a ''tachi'' is wrapped in leather or ray skin, and it is wrapped with black thread or leather cord, and the scabbard is coated with black lacquer. On the other hand, court nobles wore ''tachi'' decorated with precisely carved metal and jewels for ceremonial purposes. High-ranking court nobles wore swords of the style called ''kazari tachi'' or ''kaza tachi'' (飾太刀, 飾剣), which meant decorative ''tachi'', and lower-ranking court nobles wore simplified ''kazatachi'' swords of the style called ''hosodachi'' (細太刀), which meant thin ''tachi''. The ''kazatachi'' and ''hosodachi'' worn by nobles were initially straight like a ''chokutō'', but since the Kamakura period they have had a gentle curve under the influence of ''tachi''. Since ''tachi'' worn by court nobles were for ceremonial use, they generally had an iron plate instead of a blade.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. pp.36–44. ''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.37–41 In the

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

(1185–1333), high-ranking samurai wore ''hyogo gusari tachi (hyogo kusari no tachi, 兵庫鎖太刀)'', which meant a sword with chains in the arsenal. The scabbard of the ''tachi'' was covered with a gilt copper plate and hung by chains at the waist. At the end of the Kamakura period, simplified ''hyogo gusari tachi'' came to be made as an offering to the ''

kami are the Deity, deities, Divinity, divinities, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirits, mythological, spiritual, or natural phenomena that are venerated in the traditional Shinto religion of Japan. ''Kami'' can be elements of the landscape, forc ...

'' of

Shinto shrines A Stuart D. B. Picken, 1994. p. xxiii is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more kami, , the deities of the Shinto religion. The Also called the . is where a shrine's patron is or are enshrined.Iwanami Japanese dic ...

and fell out of use as weapons. On the other hand, in the Kamakura period, there was a type of ''tachi'' called ''hirumaki tachi'' (蛭巻太刀) with a scabbard covered with metal, which was used as a weapon until the Muromachi period. The meaning was a sword wrapped around a leech, and its feature was that a thin metal plate was spirally wrapped around the scabbard, so it was both sturdy and decorative, and chains were not used to hang the scabbard around the waist. File:Kazari-tachi Style Sword Mounting, Heian period.jpg, ''Kazari tachi''. 12th century,

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...

. National Treasure. Tokyo National Museum. File:Tachi koshirae 1.jpg, ''Kurourusi tachi'', ''Shishio''. 13th century,

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

. Important Cultural Property. Tokyo National Museum. File:Tachi - "Hyougokusan"style sword mounting.jpg, ''Hyogo gusari tachi''. 13th century, Kamakura period. Important Cultural Property. Tokyo National Museum. File:黒漆銀銅蛭巻太刀, Hirumaki tachi koshirae.jpg, ''Hirumaki tachi''. 14th century,

Nanboku-chō period The , also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period, was a period in Japanese history between 1336-1392 CE, during the formative years of the Ashikaga shogunate, Muromachi (Ashikaga) shogunate. Ideologically, the two courts fought for 50 ...

. Important Cultural Property. Tokyo National Museum. The

Mongol invasions of Japan Major military efforts were taken by Kublai Khan of the Yuan dynasty in 1274 and 1281 to conquer the Japanese archipelago after the submission of the Korean kingdom of Goryeo to Vassal state, vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attemp ...

in the 13th century during the Kamakura period spurred further evolution of the Japanese sword. The swordsmiths of the Sōshū school represented by

Masamune was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ''tachi'' and ''tantō'', in the Japanese sword#Classification by School, ''Sōshū'' school. However, many ...

studied ''tachi'' that were broken or bent in battle, developed new production methods, and created innovative Japanese swords. They forged the blade using a combination of soft and hard steel to optimize the temperature and timing of the heating and cooling of the blade, resulting in a lighter but more robust blade. They also made the curve of the blade gentle, lengthened the tip linearly, widened the width from the cutting edge to the opposite side of the blade, and thinned the cross section to improve the penetration and cutting ability of the blade. Historically in Japan, the ideal blade of a Japanese sword has been considered to be the (lit., "old swords") in the Kamakura period, and the swordsmiths from the

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

(1603–1868) to the present day from the (lit., "new swords") period focused on reproducing the blade of the Japanese sword made in Kamakura period. There are more than 100 Japanese swords designated as National Treasures in Japan, of which the ''Kotō'' of the Kamakura period account for 80% and the ''tachi'' account for 70%. File:Tachi, Fukuoka Ichimonji "Okadagiri" Yoshifusa.jpg, ''Okadagiri Yoshifusa'', by Yoshifusa. Bizen ''Fukuoka-Ichimonji'' school. The name comes from the fact that Oda Nobuo killed his vassal Okada with this sword. File:Tachi Sword - Sukezane(Nikko) 01.jpg, ''Nikkō Sukezane'', by Sukezane. ''Fukuoka-Ichimonji'' school. This sword was owned by

Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...

. File:Tachi Sword - Sukezane.jpg, By Sukezane. Bizen ''Fukuoka-Ichimonji'' school. This sword was owned by Kishū Tokugawa family. File:Tachi Sword - Kagemitsu.jpg, ''Koryū Kagemitsu'', by Kagemitsu. Bizen ''Osafune'' school. This sword was owned by

Kusunoki Masashige , or , was a Japanese military commander and samurai of the Kamakura period remembered as the ideal loyal samurai. Kusunoki fought for Emperor Go-Daigo in the Genkō War to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate and restore power in Japan to the ...

. From the end of the Kamakura period to the end of the

Muromachi period The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...

(1333–1573), ''kawatsutsumi tachi'' (革包太刀), which means a ''tachi'' wrapped in leather, was popular. The ''kawatsutsumi tachi'' was stronger than the ''kurourushi tachi'' because its hilt was wrapped in leather or ray skin, lacquer was painted on top of it, leather straps and cords were wrapped around it, and the scabbard and sometimes the ''tsuba'' (hand guard) were also wrapped in leather. In the

Nanboku-chō period The , also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period, was a period in Japanese history between 1336-1392 CE, during the formative years of the Ashikaga shogunate, Muromachi (Ashikaga) shogunate. Ideologically, the two courts fought for 50 ...

(1336–1392) which corresponds to the early

Muromachi period The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...

(1336–1573), huge Japanese swords such as '' ōdachi'' became popular. The reason for this is thought to be that the conditions for making a practical large-sized sword were established due to the nationwide spread of strong and sharp swords of the Sōshū school. In the case of ''ōdachi'' whose blade was 150 cm long, it was impossible to draw a sword from the scabbard on the waist, so people carried it on their back or had their servants carry it. Large ''

naginata The ''naginata'' (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades ('' nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

'' and ''

kanabō The , or 'metal club') is a spiked or studded two-handed war club used in feudal Japan by samurai. Other related weapons of this type are the ''nyoibō'', ''konsaibō'', , and ''ararebō''.Mol, Serge (2003). ''Classical weaponry of Japan: spec ...

'' were also popular in this period. Katana - Motoshige

''Katana'' originates from ''sasuga'', a kind of ''

tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

'' used by lower-ranking samurai who fought on foot in the Kamakura period. Their main weapon was a long ''naginata'' and ''sasuga'' was a spare weapon. In the Nanboku-chō period, long weapons such as ''ōdachi'' were popular, and along with this, ''sasuga'' lengthened and finally became ''katana''. Also, there is a theory that ''koshigatana'' (腰刀), a kind of ''tantō'' which was equipped by high ranking samurai together with ''tachi'', developed to ''katana'' through the same historical background as ''sasuga'', and it is possible that both developed to ''katana''.Differences in Japanese swords according to status.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World. The oldest ''katana'' in existence today is called ''Hishizukuri uchigatana'', which was forged in the Nanbokuchō period, and was dedicated to

Kasuga Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family, established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone la ...

later.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p43. By the 15th century, Japanese swords had already gained international fame by being exported to China and Korea.Takeo Tanaka (1982) ''対外関係と文化交流''. p.348. Shibunkaku. For example, Korea learned how to make Japanese swords by sending swordsmiths to Japan and inviting Japanese swordsmiths to Korea. According to the record of June 1, 1430, in the ''

Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty The ''Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty'', sometimes called ''sillok'' () for short, are state-compiled and published records, called Veritable Records, documenting the reigns of the kings of the Joseon dynasty in Korea. Kept from 1392 ...

'', a Korean swordsmith who went to Japan and mastered the method of making Japanese swords presented a Japanese sword to the King of Korea and was rewarded for the excellent work which was no different from the swords made by the Japanese. Traditionally, ''yumi'' (bows) were the main weapon of war in Japan, and ''tachi'' and ''naginata'' were used only for close combat. The

Ōnin War The , also known as the Upheaval of Ōnin and Ōnin-Bunmei war, was a civil war that lasted from 1467 to 1477, during the Muromachi period in Japan. ''Ōnin'' refers to the Japanese era name, Japanese era during which the war started; the war ende ...

in the late 15th century in the Muromachi period expanded into a large-scale domestic war, in which employed farmers called '' ashigaru'' were mobilized in large numbers. They fought on foot using ''

katana A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...

'' shorter than ''tachi''. In the

Sengoku period The was the period in History of Japan, Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as th ...

(1467–1615, period of warring states) in the late Muromachi period, the war became bigger and ''ashigaru'' fought in a close formation using ''yari'' (spears) lent to them. Furthermore, in the late 16th century, ''tanegashima'' (muskets) were introduced from Portugal, and Japanese swordsmiths mass-produced improved products, with ''ashigaru'' fighting with leased guns. On the battlefield in Japan, guns and spears became main weapons in addition to bows. Due to the changes in fighting styles in these wars, the ''tachi'' and ''naginata'' became obsolete among samurai, and the ''katana'', which was easy to carry, became the mainstream. The dazzling looking ''tachi'' gradually became a symbol of the authority of high-ranking samurai. On the other hand, ''kenjutsu'' (swordsmanship) that makes use of the characteristics of ''katana'' was invented. The quicker draw of the sword was well suited to combat where victory depended heavily on short response times. (The practice and martial art for drawing the sword quickly and responding to a sudden attack was called ' Battōjutsu', which is still kept alive through the teaching of

Iaido , abbreviated , is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes being aware and capable of quickly drawing the sword and responding to sudden attacks.Christensen, Karen and Allen Guttmann et.al (2001) ''International Encyclopedia of Women and Sport ...

.) The ''katana'' further facilitated this by being worn thrust through a belt-like sash ('' obi'') with the sharpened edge facing up. Ideally, samurai could draw the sword and strike the enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved ''tachi'' had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt. From the 15th century, low-quality swords were mass-produced under the influence of the large-scale war. These swords, along with spears, were lent to recruited farmers called ''ashigaru'' and swords ware exported. Such mass-produced swords are called ''kazuuchimono'', and swordsmiths of the Bisen school and Mino school produced them by division of labor.''歴史人'' September 2020. p40. The export of Japanese sword reached its height during the

Muromachi period The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...

when at least 200,000 swords were shipped to

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

China in official trade in an attempt to soak up the production of Japanese weapons and make it harder for pirates in the area to arm. In the Ming dynasty of China, Japanese swords and their tactics were studied to repel pirates, and '' wodao'' and '' miaodao'' were developed based on Japanese swords.Takeo Tanaka. (2012) ''Wokou'' p. 104.

Kodansha is a Japanese privately held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha publishes manga magazines which include ''Nakayoshi'', ''Morning (magazine), Morning'', ''Afternoon (magazine), Afternoon'', ''Evening (magazine), Eveni ...

. From this period, the tang () of many old were cut and shortened into . This kind of remake is called (磨上げ). For example, many of the ''tachi'' that Masamune forged during the Kamakura period were converted into ''katana'', so his only existing works are ''katana'' and ''tantō''.相州伝の名工「正宗」.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World. During this period, a great flood occurred in Bizen, which was the largest production area of Japanese swords, and the Bizen school rapidly declined, after which the Mino school flourished. From around the 16th century, many Japanese swords were exported to

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

, where katana-style swords were made and prized for battle and art work, and some of them are in the collections of the Thai royal family. In the Sengoku period (1467–1615) or the

Azuchi–Momoyama period The was the final phase of the in Japanese history from 1568 to 1600. After the outbreak of the Ōnin War in 1467, the power of the Ashikaga Shogunate effectively collapsed, marking the start of the chaotic Sengoku period. In 1568, Oda Nob ...

(1568–1600), the ''itomaki tachi'' (''itomaki no tachi'', 糸巻太刀), which means a ''tachi'' wound with thread, appeared and became the mainstream of ''tachi'' after that. ''itomaki tachi'' was decorated with gorgeous lacquer decorations with lots of ''

maki-e is a Japanese lacquerware, Japanese lacquer decoration technique in which pictures, patterns, and letters are drawn with lacquer on the surface of lacquerware, and then metal powder such as gold or silver is sprinkled and fixed on the surface ...

'' and flashy colored threads, and was used as a gift, a ceremony, or an offering to the ''kami'' of Shinto shrines. In later Japanese feudal history, during the Sengoku and

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

s, certain high-ranking warriors of what became the ruling class would wear their sword ''tachi''-style (edge-downward), rather than with the scabbard thrust through the belt with the edge upward. This style of swords is called ''handachi'', "half ''tachi''". In ''handachi'', both styles were often mixed, for example, fastening to the ''obi'' was ''katana'' style, but metalworking of the scabbard was ''tachi'' style. In the Muromachi period, especially the Sengoku period, anybody such as farmers, townspeople and monks could equip a sword. However, in 1588 during the Azuchi–Momoyama period,

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...

conducted a

sword hunt Several times in Japanese history, the new ruler sought to ensure his position by calling a . Armies would scour the entire country, confiscating the weapons of all potential enemies of the new regime. In this manner, the new ruler sought to ensur ...

and banned farmers from owning them with weapons. However, Toyotomi's sword hunt couldn't disarm peasants. Farmers and townspeople could wear daisho until 1683. And most of them kept wearing

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

on a daily basis until the middle of the 18th century. After then they wore it special times (travel, wedding, funeral) until

meiji restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...

.

Shintō – Shinshintō (New swords)

Swords forged after 1596 in the

Keichō was a after '' Bunroku'' and before '' Genna''. This period spanned from October 1596 to July 1615. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * 1596 : The era name was changed to ''Keichō'' to mark the passing of various natural disaste ...

period of the Azuchi-Momoyama period are classified as ''shintō'' (New swords). Japanese swords since ''shintō'' are different from ''kotō'' in forging method and steel ('' tamahagane''). This is thought to be because Bizen school, which was the largest swordsmith group of Japanese swords, was destroyed by a great flood in 1590 and the mainstream shifted to Mino school, and because Toyotomi Hideyoshi virtually unified Japan, uniform steel began to be distributed throughout Japan. The ''kotō'' swords, especially the Bizen school swords made in the Kamakura period, had a ''midare-utsuri'' like a white mist between ''hamon'' and ''shinogi'', but the swords since ''shinto'' have almost disappeared. In addition, the whole body of the blade became whitish and hard. Almost no one was able to reproduce ''midare-utsurii'' until Kunihira Kawachi reproduced it in 2014.History of Japanese sword.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World日本刀鑑賞のポイント「日本刀の映りとは」.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World Japanese swords since the ''sintō'' period often have gorgeous decorations carved on the blade and lacquered ''

maki-e is a Japanese lacquerware, Japanese lacquer decoration technique in which pictures, patterns, and letters are drawn with lacquer on the surface of lacquerware, and then metal powder such as gold or silver is sprinkled and fixed on the surface ...

'' decorations on the scabbard. This was due to the economic development and the increased value of swords as arts and crafts as the

Sengoku period The was the period in History of Japan, Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as th ...

ended and the peaceful

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

began.Masayuki Murata. ''明治工芸入門'' p.120. Me no Me, 2017 The Umetada school led by Umetada Myoju who was considered to be the founder of ''shinto'' led the improvement of the artistry of Japanese swords in this period. They were both swordsmiths and metalsmiths, and were famous for carving the blade, making metal accouterments such as ''tsuba'' (handguard), remodeling from ''tachi'' to ''katana'' (''suriage''), and inscriptions inlaid with gold. Daisho Uesugi clan 2

During this period, the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

required samurai to wear ''Katana'' and shorter swords in pairs. These short swords were ''

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

'' and ''

tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

'', and ''wakizashi'' were mainly selected. This set of two is called a '' daishō''. Only ''samurai'' could wear the ''daishō'': it represented their social power and personal

honour Honour (Commonwealth English) or honor (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) is a quality of a person that is of both social teaching and personal ethos, that manifests itself ...

. Samurai could wear decorative sword mountings in their daily lives, but the Tokugawa shogunate regulated the formal sword that samurai wore when visiting a castle by regulating it as a ''daisho'' made of a black scabbard, a hilt wrapped with white ray skin and black string. Townspeople (''

Chōnin was a social class that emerged in Japan during the early years of the Tokugawa period. In the social hierarchy, it was considered subordinate to the samurai warrior class. Social class The ''chōnin'' emerged in ''joka-machi'' or castle t ...

'') and farmers were allowed to equip a short wakizashi, and the public were often equipped with ''wakizashi'' on their travels. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, swordmaking and the use of firearms declined. Japanese swords made in this period is classified as ''shintō''.''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.42–43. In the late 18th century, swordsmith Suishinshi Masahide criticized that the present ''katana'' blades only emphasized decoration and had a problem with their toughness. He insisted that the bold and strong kotō blade from the Kamakura period to the

Nanboku-chō period The , also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period, was a period in Japanese history between 1336-1392 CE, during the formative years of the Ashikaga shogunate, Muromachi (Ashikaga) shogunate. Ideologically, the two courts fought for 50 ...

was the ideal Japanese sword, and started a movement to restore the production method and apply it to ''katana''. ''Katana'' made after this is classified as a , "new revival swords" or literally "new-new swords". One of the most popular swordsmiths in Japan today is Minamoto Kiyomaro who was active in this ''shinshintō'' period. His popularity is due to his timeless exceptional skill, as he was nicknamed "Masamune in

Yotsuya is an area in Shinjuku, Tokyo, that previously was a ward (四谷区 ''Yotsuya-ku'') in the now-defunct Tokyo City. In 1947, when the 35 wards of Tokyo were reorganized into 23, it was merged with Ushigome ward of Tokyo City and Yodobashi ...

" and his disastrous life. His works were traded at high prices and exhibitions were held at museums all over Japan from 2013 to 2014. The arrival of

Matthew Perry Matthew Langford Perry (August 19, 1969 – October 28, 2023) was an American and Canadian actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. He gained international fame for starring as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom ''Friends'' (1994– ...

in 1853 and the subsequent

Convention of Kanagawa The Convention of Kanagawa, also known as the or the , was a treaty signed between the United States and the Tokugawa Shogunate on March 31, 1854. Unequal treaty#Japan, Signed under threat of force, it effectively meant the end of Japan's 220-ye ...

caused chaos in Japanese society. Conflicts began to occur frequently between the forces of ''

sonnō jōi was a '' yojijukugo'' (four-character compound) phrase used as the rallying cry and slogan of a political movement in Japan in the 1850s and 1860s, during the Bakumatsu period. Based on Neo-Confucianism and Japanese nativism, the movement sou ...

'' (尊王攘夷派), who wanted to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and rule by the emperor, and the forces of ''sabaku'' (佐幕派), who wanted the Tokugawa Shogunate to continue. These political activists, called the '' shishi'' (志士), fought using a practical ''katana'', called the ''kinnōtō'' (勤皇刀) or the ''

bakumatsu were the final years of the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate Meiji Restoration, ended. Between 1853 and 1867, under foreign diplomatic and military pressure, Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy known as and changed from a Feudali ...

tō'' (幕末刀). Their ''katana'' were often longer than in blade length, less curved, and had a big and sharp point, which was advantageous for stabbing in indoor battles.

Gendaitō (Modern or contemporary swords)

In 1867, the Tokugawa Shogunate declared the return of Japan's sovereignty to the emperor, and from 1868, the government by the emperor and rapid modernization of Japan began, which was called the

Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...

. The Haitōrei Edict in 1876 all but banned carrying swords and guns on streets. Overnight, the market for swords died, many swordsmiths were left without a trade to pursue, and valuable skills were lost. Swords forged after the Haitōrei Edict are classified as ''gendaitō''. The craft of making swords was kept alive through the efforts of some individuals, notably Miyamoto kanenori (宮本包則, 1830–1926) and Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一, 1836–1918), who were appointed Imperial Household Artist. These smiths produced fine works that stand with the best of the older blades for the emperor and other high-ranking officials. The businessman Mitsumura Toshimo (光村利藻, 1877–1955) tried to preserve their skills by ordering swords and sword mountings from the swordsmiths and craftsmen. He was especially enthusiastic about collecting sword mountings, and he collected about 3,000 precious sword mountings from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. About 1200 items from a part of the collection are now in the

Nezu Museum The , formerly known as the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, is an art museum in the Minato, Tokyo, Minato district of Tokyo, Japan. The museum is home to the private collection of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art assembled by Nezu Kaichirō (1 ...

. The Japanese sword remained in use in some occupations such as the police force. At the same time,

kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords ( shinai) as well as protective armor ( bōgu). It began as samurai warriors' customary swordsmanship ex ...

was incorporated into police training so that police officers would have at least the training necessary to properly use one. In time, it was rediscovered that soldiers needed to be armed with swords, and over the decades at the beginning of the 20th century swordsmiths again found work. These swords, called '' guntō,'' were often oil-tempered, or simply stamped out of steel and given a serial number rather than a chiseled signature. The mass-produced ones often look like Western cavalry sabers rather than Japanese swords, with blades slightly shorter than blades of the ''shintō'' and ''shinshintō'' periods. In 1934 the Japanese government issued a military specification for the '' shin guntō'' (new army sword), the first version of which was the Type 94 ''Katana'', and many machine- and hand-crafted swords used in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

conformed to this and later ''shin guntō'' specifications. File:Japanese army sabre.jpg, kyu guntō army sabre File:Gunto type 98.jpg, "Type 98" officer's sword File:Sabre-seconde-guerre-mondiale-p1000712.jpg, "Type 95" Non Commissioned Officer's sword of World War II; made to resemble a Commissioned Officer's ''shin guntō''. File:Kai gunto.JPG, World War II Japanese naval officers sword ''kai gunto''. Under the United States occupation at the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

all armed forces in

occupied Japan Japan was occupied and administered by the Allies of World War II from the surrender of the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945, at the war's end until the Treaty of San Francisco took effect on April 28, 1952. The occupation, led by the ...

were disbanded and production of Japanese swords with edges was banned except under police or government permit. The ban was overturned through a personal appeal by Dr. Junji Honma. During a meeting with

General Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army. He served with distinction in World War I; as chief of ...

, Honma produced blades from the various periods of Japanese history and MacArthur was able to identify very quickly what blades held artistic merit and which could be considered purely weapons. As a result of this meeting, the ban was amended so that ''guntō'' weapons would be destroyed while swords of artistic merit could be owned and preserved. Even so, many Japanese swords were sold to American soldiers at a bargain price; in 1958 there were more Japanese swords in America than in Japan. The vast majority of these one million or more swords were ''guntō'', but there were still a sizable number of older swords. After the Edo period, swordsmiths turned increasingly to the production of civilian goods. The Occupation and its regulations almost put an end to the production of Japanese swords. A few smiths continued their trade, and Honma went on to be a founder of the , who made it their mission to preserve the old techniques and blades. Thanks to the efforts of other like-minded individuals, the Japanese swords did not disappear, many swordsmiths continued the work begun by Masahide, and the old swordmaking techniques were rediscovered. Nowadays, '' iaitō'' is used for ''

iaidō , abbreviated , is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes being aware and capable of quickly drawing the sword and responding to sudden attacks.Christensen, Karen and Allen Guttmann et.al (2001) ''International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports ...

''. Due to their popularity in modern media, display-only Japanese swords have become widespread in the sword marketplace. Ranging from small letter openers to scale replica "wallhangers", these items are commonly made from

stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...

(which makes them either brittle (if made from cutlery-grade 400-series stainless steel) or poor at holding an edge (if made from 300-series stainless steel)) and have either a blunt or very crude edge. There are accounts of good quality stainless steel Japanese swords, however, these are rare at best. Some replica Japanese swords have been used in modern-day armed robberies. As a part of marketing, modern ahistoric blade styles and material properties are often stated as traditional and genuine, promulgating disinformation. Some companies and independent smiths outside Japan produce ''katana'' as well, with varying levels of quality. According to the Parliamentary Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Japanese Swords, organized by

Japanese Diet , transcription_name = ''Kokkai'' , legislature = 215th Session of the National Diet , coa_pic = Flag of Japan.svg , house_type = Bicameral , houses = , foundation=29 November 1890(), leader1_type ...

members, many Japanese swords distributed around the world as of the 21st century are fake Japanese-style swords made in China. The ''

Sankei Shimbun The , name short for , is a daily national newspaper in Japan published by the Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd, ranking amongst the top five most circulated newspapers in Japan. Together with its English-language paper ''Japan Forward'', the ''Sankei ...

'' analyzed that this is because the Japanese government allowed swordsmiths to make only 24 Japanese swords per person per year to maintain the quality of Japanese swords.Sankei Shimbun, June 22, 2018. p.1
/ref>
/ref> In Japan, genuine edged hand-made Japanese swords, whether antique or modern, are classified as art objects (and not weapons) and must have accompanying certification to be legally owned. Prior to WWII Japan had 1.5million swords in the country – 200,000 of which had been manufactured in factories during the Meiji Restoration. As of 2008, only 100,000 swords remain in Japan. It is estimated that 250,000–350,000 sword have been brought to other nations as souvenirs, art pieces or for Museum purposes. 70% of ''daito'' (long swords), formerly owned by Japanese officers, have been exported or brought to the United States. Many swordsmiths since the Edo period have tried to reproduce the sword of the Kamakura period which is considered as the best sword in the history of Japanese swords, but they have failed. Then, in 2014, Kunihira Kawachi succeeded in reproducing it and won the Masamune Prize, the highest honor as a swordsmith. No one could win the Masamune Prize unless he made an extraordinary achievement, and in the section of ''tachi'' and ''katana'', no one had won for 18 years before Kawauchi. The popularity of Japanese swords among Japanese women increased dramatically after the release of a browser video game called '' Touken Ranbu'', featuring anthropomorphic characters of famous Japanese swords, in 2015. Since then, sales of books on Japanese swords have increased dramatically, and the number of special exhibitions at various museums featuring famous historical swords has increased dramatically, leading to a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to museums. In addition, museums and

Shinto shrine A Stuart D. B. Picken, 1994. p. xxiii is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more kami, , the deities of the Shinto religion. The Also called the . is where a shrine's patron is or are enshrined.Iwanami Japanese dic ...

s have launched a number of crowdfunding programmes to purchase historical swords featured in games from private owners, as well as reproductions of swords and new sword mountings, increasing the number of opportunities to view these masterpieces. With the increased interest in Japanese swords, ''gendaitō'' swordsmiths are now being asked by women for their autographs.

Cultural and social significance

The events of Japanese society have shaped the craft of sword making, as has the sword itself influenced the course of cultural and social development within the nation. The Museum of Fine Arts states that when an artisan plunged the newly crafted sword into the cold water, a portion of his spirit was transferred into the sword. His spirit, morals and state of mind at the time became crucial to the defining of the swords moral and physical characteristics During the Jōmon period (10,000–1000 BCE) swords resembled iron knife blades and were used for hunting, fishing and farming. There is the idea that swords were more than a tool during the Jōmon period, no swords have been recovered to back this hypothesis. The Yayoi period (1000 BCE – 300 CE) saw the establishment of villages and the cultivation of rice farming within Japan. Rice farming came as a result of Chinese and Korean influence, they were the first group of people to introduce swords into the Japanese Isles. Subsequently, bronze swords were used for religious ceremonies. The Yayoi period saw swords be used primarily for religious and ceremonial purposes. During the Kofun period (250–538 CE) Animism was introduced into Japanese society. Animism is the belief that everything in life contains or is connected to a divine spirit. This connection to the spirit world premediates the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. During this time, China was craving steel blades on the Korean Peninsula. Japan saw this as a threat to national security and felt the need to develop their military technology. As a result, clan leaders took power as military elites, fighting one another for power and territory. As dominant figures took power, loyalty and servitude became an important part of Japanese life – this became the catalyst for the honour culture that is often affiliated with Japanese people. In the Edo period (1603–1868), swords gained prominence in everyday life as the "most important" part of a warrior's amour. The Edo era saw swords became a mechanism for bonding between Daimyo and Samurai. Daimyo would gift samurai's with swords as a token of their appreciation for their services. In turn, samurai would gift Daimyo swords as a sign of respect, most Daimyo would keep these swords as family heirlooms. In this period, it was believed that swords were multifunctional; in spirit they represent proof of military accomplishment, in practice they are coveted weapons of war and diplomatic gifts. The peace of the Edo period saw the demand for swords fall. To retaliate, in 1719 the eighth Tokugawa shogun, Yoshimune, compiled a list of "most famous swords". Masamune, Awatacuchi Yoshimitsu, and Go no Yoshihiro were dubbed the "Three Famous Smiths", their swords became sought after by the Daimyo. The prestige and demand for these status symbols spiked the price for these fine pieces. During the Late-Edo period, Suishinshi Masahide wrote that swords should be less extravagant. Swords began to be simplified and altered to be durable, sturdy and made to cut well. In 1543 guns arrived in Japan, changing military dynamic and practicality of swords and samurai's. This period also saw introduction of martial arts as a means to connecting to the spirit world and allowed common people to participate in samurai culture. The Meiji period (1868–1912) saw the dissolution of the samurai class, after foreign powers demanded Japan open their borders to international trade – 300-hundred years of Japanese isolation came to an end. In 1869 and 1873, two petition were submitted to government to abolish the custom of sword wearing because people feared the outside world would view swords as a "tool for bloodshed" and would consequentially associate Japanese people as violent. Haitōrei (1876) outlawed and prohibited wearing swords in public, with the exception for those in the military and government official; swords lost their meaning within society. Emperor Meiji was determined to westernize Japan with the influence of American technological and scientific advances; however, he himself appreciated the art of sword making. The Meiji era marked the final moments of samurai culture, as samurai's were no match for conscript soldiers who were trained to use western firearms. Some samurai found it difficult to assimilate to the new culture as they were forced to give up their privileges, while others preferred this less-hierarchical way of life. Even with the ban, the Sino-Japanese War (1894) saw Japanese troops wear swords into battle, not for practical use but for symbolic reasons. The Meiji era also saw the integration of Buddhism into Shinto Japanese beliefs. Swords were no longer necessary, in war or lifestyle, and those who practiced martial arts became the "modern samurai" – young children were still groomed to serve the emperor and put loyalty and honour above all else, as this new era of rapid development required loyal, hard working men. The practice of sword making was prohibited, thus swords during the Meiji period were obsolete and a mere symbol of status. Swords were left to rust, sold or melted into more 'practical' objects for everyday life. Prior to and during WWII, even with the modernization of the army, the demand for swords exceeded the number of swordsmiths still capable of making them. As a result, swords of this era are of poor quality. In 1933, during the Shōwa era (1926–1989), a sword making factory designed to re-establish the "spirit of Japan" through the art of sword making was built to preserve the legacy and art of swordsmiths and sword making. The government at the time feared that the warrior spirit (loyalty and honour) was disappearing within Japan, along with the integrity and quality of swords. For a portion of the US occupation of Japan, sword making, swordsmiths and wielding of swords was prohibited. As a means to preserve the warrior culture of Japan, martial arts was put into the school curriculum. In 1953, America finally lifted the ban on swords after realizing that sword making is an important cultural asset to preserving Japanese history and legacy.

Religion, honour and mythology

The origins of Japanese swords and their effects and influence on society differs depending on the story that is followed. * Swords and warriors are closely associated with Shinto in

Japanese culture Japanese culture has changed greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia and other regions of the world. Since the Jomon period, ancestral ...

. Shinto is "the way of the gods", meaning that all elements of the world are embedded with god like spirits. Shinto endorses self-purification, ancestral worship, nature-worship and imperial divinity. It is said that swords are a source of wisdom and "emanate energy" to inspire the wielder. As Shintoism shaped the progress of Japanese expansionism and international affairs so too did the sword become a mechanism for change. * There is a Japanese legend that, along with the mirror and the jewels, the sword makes up one of three Imperial Icons. The Imperial Icons present the three values and personality traits that all good emperors should possess as leaders of celestial authority. * Japanese mythology states that the sword is a "symbol of truth" and a "token of virtue". Legend states originate from the battle between Amaterasu and her brother, Susa-no-wo-o-no Mikotot (Susa-no). To defeat Susa-no, Amaterasu split the ten-span sword until she broke herself into three pieces. Legend states that the sword can "create union by imposing social order" because it hold the ability to cut objects into two or more pieces and dictate the shape and size of the pieces. * Mythology also suggests that when Emperor Jimmu Tennō was moving his army through the land, a deity blocked their path with toxic gas which caused them to drift into an indefinite slumber. Upon seeing this, Amaterasu pleaded with the God of Thunder to punish the deity and allow the emperor to proceed. The God of Thunder, instead of following her orders, sent his sword down to the emperor to subdue the land. Upon receiving the sword, the emperor woke up, along with his troops and they proceeded with their mission. According this legend, swords have the power to save the imperial (divine) bloodline in times of need. * In martial arts training, it is believed that within a sword: ** "The blade represents the juncture where the wisdom of leaders and gods intersects with the commoner. The sword represents the implement by which societies are managed. The effectiveness of the sword as a tool and the societal beliefs surrounding it both lift the sword to the pinnacle of warrior symbolism." * Swords are a symbol of Japanese honour and esteem for hand-to-hand combat. They represent the idea that taking another's life should be done with honour, and long-range combat (firearms) is a cowardly way to end another's life. This also connects to the Japanese belief of self-sacrifice, warriors should be ready to lay down their lives for their nation (emperor). There is a rich relationship between swords, Japanese culture, and societal development. The different interpretations of the origins of swords and their connection to the spirit world, each hold their own merit within Japanese society, past and present. Which one and how modern-day samurai interpret the history of swords, help influence the kind of samurai and warrior they choose to be.

Manufacturing

Japanese swords are generally made by a division of labor between six and eight craftsmen. ''Tosho'' (''Toko'', ''Katanakaji'') is in charge of forging blades, ''togishi'' is in charge of polishing blades, ''kinkosi'' (''chokinshi'') is in charge of making metal fittings for sword fittings, ''shiroganeshi'' is in charge of making ''habaki'' (blade collar), ''sayashi'' is in charge of making scabbards, ''nurishi'' is in charge of applying lacquer to scabbards, ''tsukamakishi'' is in charge of making hilt, and ''tsubashi'' is in charge of making ''tsuba'' (hand guard). ''Tosho'' use apprentice swordsmiths as assistants. Prior to the Muromachi period, ''tosho'' and ''kacchushi'' (armorer) used surplus metal to make ''tsuba'', but from the Muromachi period onwards, specialized craftsmen began to make ''tsuba''. Nowadays, ''kinkoshi'' sometimes serves as ''shiroganeshi'' and ''tsubashi''. Typical features of Japanese swords represented by ''katana'' and ''tachi'' are a three-dimensional cross-sectional shape of an elongated pentagonal or hexagonal blade called ''shinogi-zukuri'', a style in which the blade and the tang (''nakago'') are integrated and fixed to the hilt (''tsuka'') with a pin called ''mekugi'', and a gentle curve. When a ''shinogi-zukuri'' sword is viewed from the side, there is a ridge line of the thickest part of the blade called ''shinogi'' between the cutting edge side and the back side. This ''shinogi'' contributes to lightening and toughening of the blade and high cutting ability.''歴史人'' September 2020. p36, p47, p50. Japanese swords were often forged with different profiles, different blade thicknesses, and varying amounts of

grind A blade's grind is its cross-sectional shape in a plane normal to the edge. Grind differs from Blade#Knife blade profiles .28Patterns.29, blade profile, which is the blade's cross-sectional shape in the plane containing the blade's edge and ...

. ''Wakizashi'' and ''tantō'', for instance, were not simply scaled-down versions of ''katana''; they were often forged in a shape called ''hira-zukuri'', in which the cross-sectional shape of the blade becomes an isosceles triangle. The ''daishō'' was not always forged together. If a

samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...

was able to afford a ''daishō'', it was often composed of whichever two swords could be conveniently acquired, sometimes by different smiths and in different styles. Even when a ''daishō'' contained a pair of blades by the same smith, they were not always forged as a pair or mounted as one. ''Daishō'' made as a pair, mounted as a pair, and owned/worn as a pair, are therefore uncommon and considered highly valuable, especially if they still retain their original mountings (as opposed to later mountings, even if the later mounts are made as a pair). The forging of a Japanese blade typically took weeks or even months 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 (called a ''togi'') as well as the various artisans that made the ''koshirae'' (the various fittings used to decorate the finished blade and '' saya'' (sheath) including the ''tsuka'' (hilt), ''fuchi'' (collar), ''kashira'' (pommel), and ''tsuba'' (hand guard)). It is said that the sharpening and polishing process takes just as long as the forging of the blade itself. Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665

The legitimate Japanese sword is made from Japanese steel " Tamahagane".鉄と生活研究会編『鉄の本 (Book of iron) 』 The most common lamination method the Japanese sword blade is formed from is a combination of two different

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

s: a harder outer jacket of steel wrapped around a softer inner core of steel. This creates a blade which has a hard, razor sharp cutting edge with the ability to absorb shock in a way which reduces the possibility of the blade breaking when used in combat. The ''hadagane'', for the outer skin of the blade, is produced by heating a block of raw steel, which is then hammered out into a bar, and the flexible back portion. This is then cooled and broken up into smaller blocks which are checked for further impurities and then reassembled and reforged. During this process the billet of steel is heated and hammered, split and folded back upon itself many times and re-welded to create a complex structure of many thousands of layers. Each different steel is folded differently, to provide the necessary strength and flexibility to the different steels. The precise way in which the steel is folded, hammered and re-welded determines the distinctive grain pattern of the blade, the ''jihada'', (also called ''jigane'' when referring to the actual surface of the steel blade) a feature which is indicative of the period, place of manufacture and actual maker of the blade. The practice of folding also ensures a somewhat more homogeneous product, with the carbon in the steel being evenly distributed and the steel having no voids that could lead to fractures and failure of the blade in combat. The shingane (for the inner core of the blade) is of a relatively softer steel with a lower carbon content than the hadagane. For this, the block is again hammered, folded and welded in a similar fashion to the hadagane, but with fewer folds. At this point, the hadagane block is once again heated, hammered out and folded into a 'U' shape, into which the shingane is inserted to a point just short of the tip. The new composite steel billet is then heated and hammered out ensuring that no air or dirt is trapped between the two layers of steel. The bar increases in length during this process until it approximates the final size and shape of the finished sword blade. A triangular section is cut off from the tip of the bar and shaped to create what will be the kissaki. At this point in the process, the blank for the blade is of rectangular section. This rough shape is referred to as a . The is again heated, section by section and hammered to create a shape which has many of the recognisable characteristics of the finished blade. These are a thick back (), a thinner edge (), a curved tip (), notches on the edge () and back () which separate the blade from the tang (). Details such as the ridge line () another distinctive characteristic of the Japanese sword, are added at this stage of the process. The smith's skill at this point comes into play as the hammering process causes the blade to naturally curve in an erratic way, the thicker back tending to curve towards the thinner edge, and he must skillfully control the shape to give it the required upward curvature. The is finished by a process of filing and scraping which leaves all the physical characteristics and shapes of the blade recognisable. The surface of the blade is left in a relatively rough state, ready for the hardening processes. The is then covered all over with a clay mixture which is applied more thickly along the back and sides of the blade than along the edge. The blade is left to dry while the smith prepares the forge for the final heat treatment of the blade, the yaki-ire, the hardening of the cutting edge. This process takes place in a darkened smithy, traditionally at night, so that the smith can judge by eye the colour and therefore the temperature of the sword as it is repeatedly passed through the glowing charcoal. When the time is deemed right (traditionally the blade should be the colour of the moon in February and August which are the two months that appear most commonly on dated inscriptions on the tang), the blade is plunged edge down and point forward into a tank of water. The precise time taken to heat the sword, the temperature of the blade and of the water into which it is plunged are all individual to each smith and they have generally been closely guarded secrets. Legend tells of a particular smith who cut off his apprentice's hand for testing the temperature of the water he used for the hardening process. In the different schools of swordmakers there are many subtle variations in the materials used in the various processes and techniques outlined above, specifically in the form of clay applied to the blade prior to the yaki-ire, but all follow the same general procedures. The application of the clay in different thicknesses to the blade allows the steel to cool more quickly along the thinner coated edge when plunged into the tank of water and thereby develop into the harder form of steel called

martensite Martensite is a very hard form of steel crystalline structure. It is named after German metallurgist Adolf Martens. By analogy the term can also refer to any crystal structure that is formed by diffusionless transformation. Properties Mar ...

, which can be ground to razor-like sharpness. The thickly coated back cools more slowly retaining the

pearlite Pearlite is a two-phased, lamellar (or layered) structure composed of alternating layers of ferrite (87.5 wt%) and cementite (12.5 wt%) that occurs in some steels and cast irons. During slow cooling of an iron-carbon alloy, pearlite for ...

steel characteristics of relative softness and flexibility. The precise way in which the clay is applied, and partially scraped off at the edge, is a determining factor in the formation of the shape and features of the crystalline structure known as the hamon. This distinctive tempering line found near the edge is one of the main characteristics to be assessed when examining a blade. Japanese sword sharpener at work 1909

The martensitic steel which forms from the edge of the blade to the hamon is in effect the transition line between these two different forms of steel, and is where most of the shapes, colours and beauty in the steel of the Japanese sword are to be found. The variations in the form and structure of the hamon are all indicative of the period, smith, school or place of manufacture of the sword. As well as the aesthetic qualities of the hamon, there are, perhaps not unsurprisingly, real practical functions. The hardened edge is where most of any potential damage to the blade will occur in battle. This hardened edge is capable of being reground and sharpened many times, although the process will alter the shape of the blade. Altering the shape will allow more resistance when fighting in hand-to-hand combat. 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, grooves and markings (hi or bo-hi) may be 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 the hilt later. The tang is never supposed to be cleaned; doing this can reduce the value of the sword by half or more. The purpose is to show how well the steel ages. Some other marks on the blade are aesthetic: dedications written in Kanji characters as well as engravings called ''horimono'' depicting gods, dragons, or other acceptable beings. Some are more practical. The presence of a groove (the most basic type is called a ''hi'') reduces the weight of the sword yet keeps its structural integrity and strength.

Use

The ''tachi'' became the primary weapon on the battlefield during the

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

, used by cavalry. The sword was mostly considered as a secondary weapon until then, used in the battlefield only after the bow and polearm were no longer feasible. During the

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

samurai went about on foot unarmored, and with much less combat being fought on horseback in open battlefields the need for an effective close quarter weapon resulted in samurai being armed with daishō. Testing of swords, called ''

tameshigiri ''Tameshigiri'' (試し斬り, 試し切り, 試斬, 試切) is the Japanese art of target test cutting. The kanji literally mean ":wiktionary:試, test :wiktionary:切, cut" (kun'yomi: ためしぎり ''tameshi giri''). This practice was popul ...

'', was practiced on a variety of materials (often the bodies of executed criminals) to test the sword's sharpness and practice cutting techniques. ''

Kenjutsu is an umbrella term for all ('' ko-budō'') schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms o ...

'' is the

Japanese martial art Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts. The usage ...

of using the Japanese swords in combat. The Japanese swords are primarily a cutting weapon, or more specifically, a slicing one. Its moderate curve, however, allowed for effective thrusting as well. The hilt was held with two hands, though a fair amount of one-handed techniques exist. The placement of the right hand was dictated by both the length of the handle and the length of the wielder's arm. Two other martial arts were developed specifically for training to draw the sword and attack in one motion. They are '' battōjutsu'' and ''

iaijutsu is a combative quick-draw sword technique. This art of drawing the Japanese sword, katana, is one of the Japanese ''ko-ryū'' martial art disciplines in the education of the classical warrior (samurai, bushi).Gordon Warner, Warner, Gordon and D ...

'', which are superficially similar, but do generally differ in training theory and methods. For cutting, there was a specific technique called "''ten-uchi''." ''Ten-uchi'' refers to an organized motion made by arms and wrist, during a descending strike. As the sword is swung downward, the elbow joint drastically extends at the last instant, popping the sword into place. This motion causes the swordsman's grip to twist slightly and if done correctly, is said to feel like wringing a towel (Thomas Hooper reference). This motion itself caused the sword's blade to impact its target with sharp force, and is used to break initial resistance. From there, fluidly continuing along the motion wrought by ''ten-uchi'', the arms would follow through with the stroke, dragging the sword through its target. Because the Japanese swords slices rather than chops, it is this "dragging" which allows it to do maximum damage, and is thus incorporated into the cutting technique. At full speed, the swing will appear to be full stroke, the sword passing through the targeted object. The segments of the swing are hardly visible, if at all. Assuming that the target is, for example, a human torso, ''ten-uchi'' will break the initial resistance supplied by shoulder muscles and the clavicle. The follow through would continue the slicing motion, through whatever else it would encounter, until the blade inherently exited the body, due to a combination of the motion and its curved shape. Nearly all styles of ''kenjutsu'' share the same five basic guard postures. They are as follows; ''

chūdan-no-kamae , sometimes shortened to ''Chūdan-gamae'' or simply ''Chūdan'', is a basic weapon stance in many Japanese martial arts. The name translates literally to "middle-level stance," as the sword is held before the user at chest height. Chūdan-no-ka ...

'' (middle posture), ''

jōdan-no-kamae , also known as ''jōdan-gamae'', and frequently shortened simply to ''jōdan'', is a basic ''kenjutsu'' posture. (It is also found in naginatajutsu but is far less used due to the length of the weapon involved.) Jōdan-no-kamae means upper-lev ...

'' (high posture), ''

gedan-no-kamae , frequently shortened simply to ''gedan'', occasionally shortened to ''gedan-gamae'', is one of the five stances in kendo: '' jōdan'', '' chūdan'', ''gedan'', hassō, and '' waki''. ''Gedan-no-kamae'' means "lower-level posture." This posi ...

'' (low posture), ''

hassō-no-kamae , frequently shortened simply to ''hassō'' and occasionally called ''hassō-gamae'', is one of the five stances in kendo: '' jōdan'', '' chūdan'', '' gedan'', ''hassō'', and '' waki''. It is an offensive stance, named for one's ability to res ...

'' (eight-sided posture), and ''

waki-gamae , sometimes shortened to ''waki'', is one of the five stances in kendo: ''jōdan-no-kamae, jōdan'', ''chūdan-no-kamae, chūdan'', ''gedan-no-kamae, gedan'', ''hassō-no-kamae, hassō'' and ''waki'', as well as other related and older martial art ...

'' (side posture). The Japanese swords razor-edge was so hard that upon hitting an equally hard or harder object, such as another sword's edge, chipping became a definite risk. As such, blocking an oncoming blow blade-to-blade was generally avoided. In fact, evasive body maneuvers were preferred over blade contact by most, but, if such was not possible, the flat or the back of the blade was used for defense in many styles, rather than the precious edge. A popular method for defeating descending slashes was to simply beat the sword aside. In some instances, an "umbrella block", positioning the blade overhead, diagonally (point towards the ground, pommel towards the sky), would create an effective shield against a descending strike. If the angle of the block was drastic enough, the curve of the Japanese swords blade would cause the attacker's blade to slide along its counter and off to the side.

Carrying

Japanese swords were carried in several different ways, varying throughout Japanese history. The style most commonly seen in "samurai" movies is called ''buke-zukuri'', with the katana (and ''wakizashi'', if also present) carried edge up, with the sheath thrust through the ''obi'' (sash). The sword would be carried in a sheath and tucked into the samurai's belt. Originally, they would carry the sword with the blade turned down. This was a more comfortable way for the armored samurai to carry his very long sword or to draw while mounted. The bulk of the samurai armor made it difficult to draw the sword from any other place on his body. When unarmored, samurai would carry their sword with the blade facing up. This made it possible to draw the sword and strike in one quick motion. In one such method of drawing the sword, the samurai would turn the sheath downward ninety degrees and pull it out of his sash just a bit with his left hand, then gripping the hilt with his right hand he would slide it out while sliding the sheath back to its original position.

Appreciation

Historically, Japanese swords have been regarded not only as weapons but also as works of art, especially for high-quality ones. For a long time, Japanese people have developed a unique appreciation method in which the blade is regarded as the core of their aesthetic evaluation rather than the sword mountings decorated with luxurious lacquer or metal works.How to appreciate a Japanese sword.
Tozando.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. pp.117–119 It is said that the following three objects are the most noteworthy objects when appreciating a blade. The first is the overall shape referred to as ''sugata''. Curvature, length, width, tip, and shape of tang of the sword are the objects for appreciation. The second is a fine pattern on the surface of the blade, which is referred to as ''hada'' or ''jigane''. By repeatedly folding and forging the blade, fine patterns such as fingerprints, tree rings and bark are formed on its surface. The third is '' hamon''. It is a fuzzy line in the white pattern of the cutting edge produced by quenching and tempering. It does not refer to the white area on the side of the blade. The white part is the part that is whitened by a polishing process called ''hadori'' to make it easier to see the ''hamon'', and the actual ''hamon'' is a fuzzy line within the white part. The actual line of the ''hamon'' can be seen by holding the sword in your hand and looking at it while changing the angle of the light shining on the blade. The object of appreciation is the shape of hammon and the crystal particles formed at the boundary of hammon. Depending on the size of the particles, they can be divided into two types, a ''nie'' and a ''nioi'', which makes them look like stars or mist. In addition to these three objects, a swordsmith signature and a file pattern engraved on tang, and a carving inscribed on the blade, which is referred to as '' horimono'', are also the objects of appreciation. The Hon'ami clan, which was an authority of appraisal of Japanese swords, rated Japanese swords from these artistic points of view. In addition, experts of modern Japanese swords judge when and by which swordsmith school the sword was made from these artistic points of view. Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. For example, the Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum "Nagoya Touken World", one of Japan's largest sword museums, posts separate videos of the blade and the sword mounting on its official website and YouTube.Touken World YouTube videos about Japanese swords
/ref>Touken World YouTube videos on koshirae (sword mountings)
/ref>

Rating of Japanese swords and swordsmiths

In Japan, Japanese swords are rated by authorities of each period, and some of the authority of the rating is still valid today. In 1719,

Tokugawa Yoshimune was the eighth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745. He was the son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, the grandson of Tokugawa Yorinobu, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yoshimune is know ...

, the 8th

shogun , officially , was the title of the military aristocracy, rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor of Japan, Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, exc ...

of the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

, ordered Hon'ami Kōchū, who was an authority of sword appraisal, to record swords possessed by ''

daimyo were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominally to ...

'' all over Japan in books. In the completed "''Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō''" (享保名物帳) 249 precious swords were described, and additional 25 swords were described later. The list also includes 81 swords that had been destroyed in previous fires. The precious swords described in this book were called "''Meibutsu''" (名物) and the criteria for selection were artistic elements, origins and legends. The list of "Meibutsu" includes 59 swords made by

Masamune was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ''tachi'' and ''tantō'', in the Japanese sword#Classification by School, ''Sōshū'' school. However, many ...

, 34 by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu and 22 by Go Yoshihiro, and these 3 swordsmiths were considered special. ''Daimyo'' hid some swords for fear that they would be confiscated by the Tokugawa Shogunate, so even some precious swords were not listed in the book. For example, ''Daihannya Nagamitsu'' and '' Yamatorige'', which are now designated as National Treasures, were not listed. Yamada Asaemon V, who was the official sword cutting ability examiner and executioner of the Tokugawa shogunate, published a book, ''Kaiho Kenjaku'' (懐宝剣尺), in 1797 in which he ranked the cutting ability of swords. The book lists 228 swordsmiths, whose forged swords are called "'' Wazamono''" (業物) and the highest "''Saijo Ō Wazamono''" (最上大業物) has 12 selected. In the reprinting in 1805, 1 swordsmith was added to the highest grade, and in the major revised edition in 1830 "''Kokon Kajibiko''" (古今鍛冶備考), two swordsmiths were added to the highest grade, and in the end, 15 swordsmiths were ranked as the highest grade. The ''katana'' forged by Nagasone Kotetsu, one of the top-rated swordsmiths, became very popular at the time when the book was published, and many counterfeits were made. In these books, the three swordsmiths treated specially in "''Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō''" and Muramasa, who was famous at that time for forging swords with high cutting ability, were not mentioned. The reasons for this are considered to be that Yamada was afraid of challenging the authority of the shogun, that he could not use the precious sword possessed by the daimyo in the examination, and that he was considerate of the legend of Muramasa's curse. Katana Magoroku Kanemoto 2

At present, by the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, important swords of high historical value are designated as Important Cultural Properties (''Jūyō Bunkazai'', 重要文化財), and special swords among them are designated as National Treasures (''Kokuhō'', 国宝). The swords designated as cultural properties based on the law of 1930, which was already abolished, have the rank next to Important Cultural Properties as Important Art Object (''Jūyō Bijutsuhin'', 重要美術品). In addition, the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, a public interest incorporated foundation, rates high-value swords in four grades, and the highest grade Special Important Sword (''Tokubetsu Juyo Token'', 特別重要刀剣) is considered to be equivalent to the value of Important Art Object. Although swords owned by the Japanese imperial family are not designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties because they are outside the jurisdiction of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, there are many swords of the National Treasure class, and they are called "''Gyobutsu''" (御物). Currently, there are several authoritative rating systems for swordsmiths. According to the rating approved by the Japanese government, from 1890 to 1947, two swordsmiths who were appointed as Imperial Household Artist and after 1955, six swordsmiths who were designated as Living National Treasure are regarded as the best swordsmiths. According to the rating approved by the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, a public interest incorporated foundation, 39 swordsmiths who were designated as ''Mukansa'' (無鑑査) since 1958 are considered to be the highest-ranking swordsmiths. The best sword forged by Japanese swordsmiths is awarded the most honorable Masamune prize by the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords. Since 1961, eight swordsmiths have received the Masamune Prize, and among them, three swordsmiths, Masamine Sumitani, Akitsugu Amata and Toshihira Osumi, have received the prize three times each and Sadakazu Gassan II has received the prize two times. These four persons were designated both Living National Treasures and ''Mukansa''.日本刀の刀匠・刀工「無鑑査刀匠」.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World.

Gallery

Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. For example, the Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum "Nagoya Touken World", one of Japan's largest sword museums, posts separate videos of the blade and the sword mounting on its official website and YouTube. File:Tachi Sword - Dojikiri Yasutsuna.jpg, alt=Tachi "Dōjigiri", by Yasutsuna. Ko-Hōki (old Hōki) school. 12th century, Heian period, National Treasure, Tokyo National Museum. This sword is one of the "Five Swords Under Heaven". (天下五剣 Tenka-Goken), ''Tachi'' "'' Dōjigiri''", by Yasutsuna. ''Ko- Hōki'' (old ''Hōki'') school. 12th century,

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...

, National Treasure,

Tokyo National Museum The or TNM is an art museum in Ueno Park in the Taitō wards of Tokyo, ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the four museums operated by the , is considered the oldest national museum and the largest art museum in Japan. The museum collects, prese ...

. This sword is one of the "Five Swords Under Heaven". (''天下五剣 Tenka-Goken'') File:Katana - Motoshige.JPG, ''Katana'', by Motoshige. Bizen ''Osafune'' school influenced by the Sōshū school. 14th century,

Nanboku-chō period The , also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period, was a period in Japanese history between 1336-1392 CE, during the formative years of the Ashikaga shogunate, Muromachi (Ashikaga) shogunate. Ideologically, the two courts fought for 50 ...

. Important Cultural Property. Tokyo National Museum. File:脇差南紀重国, Wakizashi forged by Nanki Shigekuni 1.jpg, ''Wakizashi'' forged by Nanki Shigekuni ( ja) with a '' horimono'' engraved on the blade by Ikeda Gonsuke Yoshiteru. Edo period, 1622, Important Sword File:Tantō Hyuga Masamune with koshirae, 短刀日向正宗.jpg, ''

Tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

'' Hyuga

Masamune was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ''tachi'' and ''tantō'', in the Japanese sword#Classification by School, ''Sōshū'' school. However, many ...

with Edo period '' koshirae'' (mounting) and ''

kumihimo is a traditional Japanese artform and craftwork for making braids and cords. In the past, ''kumihimo'' decorations were used as accessories for kimono as well as samurai armor. ''Japanese braiding'', as is sometimes known in English, is also ...

'' cord; blade:

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

. National Treasure, Mitsui Memorial Museum. File:蠟色塗鞘打刀拵／牡丹図鐔／牡丹図揃金具加納夏雄作 Katana koshirae.jpg, ''Katana'' mounting with a polished black lacquer sheath, Edo period. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. File:Wakizashi Sword Mounting.jpg, ''Wakizashi'' mounting. The metal parts are made by Goto Ichijo. Edo period. Tokyo National Museum. File:Wakizashi Soshu Akihiro.jpg, A ''

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

'' forged by Soshu Akihiro.

Nanboku-chō period The , also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period, was a period in Japanese history between 1336-1392 CE, during the formative years of the Ashikaga shogunate, Muromachi (Ashikaga) shogunate. Ideologically, the two courts fought for 50 ...

. (top) Wakizashi mounting, Early Meiji period. (bottom) File:朱漆金蛭巻大小, Daishō Style Sword Mounting.jpg, '' Daishō'' style sword mounting, gold banding on red-lacquered ground. 16th century,

Azuchi–Momoyama period The was the final phase of the in Japanese history from 1568 to 1600. After the outbreak of the Ōnin War in 1467, the power of the Ashikaga Shogunate effectively collapsed, marking the start of the chaotic Sengoku period. In 1568, Oda Nob ...

. Important Cultural Property. Tokyo National Museum. These swords were owned by

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...

. File:Hilt of tachi1.jpg, Hilt (''tsuka'') and handguard (''tsuba'') of ''tachi''. Mid-Edo period. File:Hilt of tantō.jpg, Hilt and handguard of ''tantō''. Late Edo period. File:Saya-bois.jpg, '' shirasaya'' (storage mounts), used to protect the blade when not mounted in a ''koshirae'' (formal mounts).

References

External links

*
Nihonto forum

* * [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/japb/hd_japb.htm Dramatic and Accurate Explanation of Manufacture]
Forging the Katana
{{DEFAULTSORT:Japanese Sword Japanese swords, * Samurai weapons and equipment

Etymology

Anatomy

Blade

Mountings

Signature and date

Classification

Classification by shape and usage

Classification by period

Classification by school

Yamato school

Yamashiro school

Bizen school

Sōshū school

Mino school

History

Jōkotō – Kotō (Old swords)

Shintō – Shinshintō (New swords)

Gendaitō (Modern or contemporary swords)

Cultural and social significance

Religion, honour and mythology

Manufacturing

Use

Carrying

Appreciation

Rating of Japanese swords and swordsmiths

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading

External links