Since a tachi was worn with the cutting edge down, and the katana was worn with the cutting edge up, the mei would be in opposite locations on the tang. In general, the mei should be carved into the side of the nakago which would face outward when the sword was worn. With a few exceptions, katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other, if signed, by the location of the signature ( mei) on the tang ( nakago). It is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard ( tsuba) and long grip to accommodate two hands. The katana is generally defined as the standard sized, moderately curved (as opposed to the older tachi featuring more curvature) Japanese sword with a blade length greater than 60.6 cm (23.86 inches) (Japanese 2 Shaku). Mei (signature) and Nakago ( tang) of an Edo period katana In Portuguese the designation (spelled catana) means "large knife" or machete. Pronounced, the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀, originally meaning single edged blade (of any length) in Chinese, the word has been adopted as a loanword by the Portuguese. Īs Japanese does not have separate plural and singular forms, both katanas and katana are considered acceptable forms in English. Katana can also be known as dai or daitō among Western sword enthusiasts, although daitō is a generic name for any Japanese long sword, literally meaning "big sword". The katana belongs to the nihontō family of swords, and is distinguished by a blade length ( nagasa) of more than 2 shaku, approximately 60 cm (24 in). The term is a compound of kata ("one side, one-sided") + na ("blade"), in contrast to the double-sided tsurugi. The word katana first appears in Japanese in the Nihon Shoki of 720. Japanese Edo period wood block print (ca 1735) of a samurai with a tachi and a wakizashi (or kodachi). The specific term for katana in Japan is uchigatana (打刀) and the term katana (刀) often refers to single-edged swords from around the world. Since the Muromachi period, many old tachi were cut from the root and shortened, and the blade at the root was crushed and converted into katana. Developed later than the tachi, it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge facing upward. Ī katana ( 刀, かたな) is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Lacquered wood, some are covered with fish skin, decorated with brass and copper. Two-handed swept, with circular or squared guard Nanboku-chō period (1336-1392) which corresponds to the early Muromachi period (1336–1573) to present Samurai, Onna-musha, Ninja, Kendo, Iaido practitioners Bizen Osafune school influenced by the Sōshū school. Combat quality at a reasonable price.A katana modified from a tachi forged by Motoshige. Step up to tamashigiri, the art of striking, with this fully functional cutting katana, the Kyoumou Tora.Ĭombine the best modern steel with the traditional forging and tempering methods and you get our pick for the best katana - the Damascus Katana from Hanwei Forge. Some of Our Favoritesįor those who look to the katana for inspiration rather than pure function, the Bushido Katana Set offers quality suitable for display. The best katana still show the true hamon, while today’s reproductions mimic this sign of quality with etching. Traditional katana underwent a special clay tempering process which left a distinctive mark called a hamon along the blade. Combat katana blades are forged from layers of tough low carbon steel surrounding a core of high carbon steel cutting edge. If you have a generous budget the traditional combat quality katana is still available. With a good katana in hand you get the feeling that what you’ve seen re-enacted in movies just might be possible. Good swords are available in several levels of quality, designed for Iaido or for cutting practice as well as display. Many people today not only collect katana, but train in their use. Katana are deceptively simple in appearance, but the more you learn about them the more impressed you are by their hidden complexity. If you find martial arts of interest, you know the katana is one of the most fascinating of the old weapons. Iaido, the practice of drawing the sword, is still one of the most advanced skills of that martial discipline. Carried with the cutting edge facing forward in the scabbard, katana made one-stroke combat an art among bushido masters. Katana, the swords carried by Japanese samurai, are the sort of weapons which generate legends. Katanas, Japanese Samurai Swords | Authentic or Replica
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |