However, the main weapons on the battlefield in the Sengoku period in the 15th century were yumi (bow), yari (spear) and tanegashima (gun), and katana and tachi were used only for close combat. Western historians have said that katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history. 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). Description 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. Etymology and loanwords 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. Playing around with a sword gives you a basis for understanding likes and dislikes better than any internet guide can.A katana modified from a tachi forged by Motoshige. Try out what you've already purchased and see how you like it before you order a second. I mean, truly, 80/258 is 31% of price for (3 cm/73 cm) 4.2% of blade length.that's just unreasonable I think as an addendum to yet another order. I would never pay that, and I would argue in no circumstance is that even significant in a functional context. $80 for adding 3 cm (1.2 in.) for a sword with a base price of $258 is a hilarious prospect. I would not fuss about an extra inch, that's a genuinely insignificant difference in length. I generally gravitate towards longswords that are roughly 35 in. I typically prefer katana around the 28.5 in length as a maximum as I like swords that are fun to use single handedly. Folk our height historically have no problem using swords that are appreciably longer than the guidelines suggested by modern interpretations/styles. Generally, it is most often considered in association with iai and the ease with which one can draw a blade from the saya. Depending on the style of swordsmanship practiced and the related techniques, blade length is much more importantly considered based on your arm span rather than as a ratio in contrast to your total height. ![]() Blade length recommendations are very context specific statistics and should not be taken at face value. ![]() I find a blade length as described perfectly suitable for anything I do.
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