The Japanese sword, known as “katana”, is a weapon of great beauty. Also referred to as “samurai swords” or “samurai blades” in English, the katana is one of the most admired and well-known weapons in the world.
Description:The Japanese sword, known as “katana”, is a weapon of great beauty. Also referred to as “samurai swords” or “samurai blades” in English, the katana is one of the most admired and well-known weapons in the world.
Description:It’s not just for show either; throughout history some of the best swordsmen have been katana masters. It’s an art form, an expression of skill and dedication that one artist has captured and shared on his blog.
Description:The Art Of The Samurai Sword is a blog dedicated to the study of these exquisite weapons and their makers. Here you’ll find information on samurai swords including their history, craftsmanship, and design; as well as what to look for when choosing a sword and how to maintain it throughout its lifetime.
Description:If you’re looking at buying your first sword or are an experienced collector looking for some new information, we hope you’ll enjoy this site and learn something along the way!
The history of these swords is long and twisted. It involves brutal warlords and skilled artisans, bloodthirsty duels and intricate Japanese poetry.
As far back as the 8th Century, Japanese sword smiths began forging what would become one of the most feared weapons in all of Japan. These swords became the symbols of the samurai class, which valued honor, duty and skill with a blade above all else. The samurai treasured their swords so much that they even included them in their death rituals.
The Samurai sword was a fighting tool of the highest quality, and yet many owners were fans of its beauty, and it was often crafted with great care and skill, with no concern for the practicality of its use.
Tsuba (hand guard) were produced in a wide variety of styles. They could depict anything from scenes of nature to mythical creatures such as dragons, or show religious iconography like the Fudo Myo-o. Some tsuba even bear the mon of the Tokugawa Clan.
The quality of a sword was judged by examining its blade as reflected in water. The Nihonto Tanren Kai (Association for the Promotion of Japanese Swords) has established a scale for judging the quality of polishing on blades. The 100-point scale takes into account the amount and density of fogging or clouds seen in the reflection, and also any visible patterning in the steel. A score below 60 is considered poor.
This article is a basic history of the Japanese samurai sword. It will not go into details of construction or styles, but will focus on the evolution of the sword in all its facets.
The Samurai Sword
The Katana or Samurai sword is one of the most famous weapons of all time, yet it is unlike any other sword in history. This weapon has come to symbolize Japan and the samurai. The katana is usually called a ‘samurai sword’, but it’s technically not correct as there were many different types and time periods for swords used by warriors. I have tried here to make this page a brief look at what I consider to be the most interesting swords from ancient Japan up until the end of WWII. There was much more going on during that period, but I’ve focused on what I consider to be the most influential swords.*
Kanji began to be used in Japanese writing during the 6th century, and by the 9th century had supplanted Chinese ideographs. Unlike the complex and often mystical Chinese characters, most of the early Japanese kanji were simple pictographs or representational.
The two characters that make up the word “sword” (or “knife”) are a good example: a sword lying across two branches. In both cases, it is clear what is being depicted even when we don’t know what the characters mean. This is one of the hallmarks of great visual design. If you can look at an image of something and immediately recognize it without having to read anything, it’s a pretty good sign that it’s been well designed.
A sword lying across two branches might not seem very threatening, but I imagine that if you had seen this on a sign in front of a house back in feudal Japan you would have thought twice about breaking into that house!
These swords are referred to as akatana, or “cutting sword.” They are distinguished from the other type of Japanese swords, the tachi, by their length (at least 70 cm) and their relatively narrow blade. The katana is typically worn edge up, with the cutting edge facing away from the body. When worn in this fashion, it has a distinctive appearance: the sword hilt is gripped with the right hand while the left hand holds onto the scabbard just above the opening.
The katana is generally considered to be one of the most refined forms of sword development in history. The steel used to forge katanas can be hardened by various methods such as heat-treating or quenching (cooling in water or oil). This allows for a sharp but flexible blade.
The development of this blade style is attributed to smiths in different parts of Japan; however, due to its resemblance to earlier types and differing methods of construction, it is believed that this style may have been developed in one place and spread from there.
A sword was not an offensive weapon. It was a defensive one. It was carried for use if the Samurai were attacked. The philosophy of Bushido (the Way of the Warrior) taught that the sword was only to be drawn and used as a last resort.
The Samurai Sword has an important place in Japanese culture, but it is also regarded in Japan as a weapon that can only bring death, dishonor and destruction.
The Samurai would never draw his sword unless he meant to use it, and he would never sheath it unless honor were satisfied or the battle lost. If his opponent’s weapon were broken or become useless, he might not attack out of respect for his fallen foe — who would still have his sharp blade at hand.
This gave rise to the saying that a Samurai should be willing to die at any moment because he always carries a sharp sword. This is why the sword is so important in this culture – it is both a lethal weapon and a symbol of honor.*
