I
just bought a Katana yesterday, just for collection
and not attacking people, a sword that I have desired for all my life. I
remember the samurais and the ninjas, so I decided to blog about a Katana. I
will get some information from Wikipedia and also show a video about Samurai
versus Ninja. LONG LIVE THE SAMURAIS! LONG LIVE THE NINJAS!
Historically,
katana (刀) were
one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (日本刀
nihonto) that were worn by the samurai class
of feudal Japan, also commonly referred to as a "samurai sword". Modern versions of the katana are sometimes
made using non-traditional materials and methods.
The
katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender,
single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to
accommodate two hands. It has historically been associated with the samurai of
feudal Japan, and has become renowned for its sharpness and strength.
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| A Japanese Edo period wood block print of a samurai with a tachi. |
History:
The production of
swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: jokoto (Ancient swords,
until around 900 A.D.), koto (old swords from around 900-1596), shinto (new
swords 1596-1780), shinshinto (new new swords 1781-1876), gendaito (modern
swords 1876-1945), and shinsakuto (newly made swords 1953-present).
The first use of
"katana" as a word to describe a long sword that was different than a
tachi is found in the 12th century. These references to "uchigatana"
and "tsubagatana" seem to indicate a different style of sword, possibly
a less costly sword for lower ranking warriors. The evolution of the tachi into
the katana seems to have started during the early Muromachi period (1337 to
1573). Starting around the year 1400, long swords signed with the
"katana" signature were made. This was in response to samurai wearing
their tachi in what is now called "katana style" (cutting edge up).
Japanese swords are traditionally worn with the signature facing away from the
wearer. When a tachi was worn in the style of a katana, with the cutting edge
up, the tachi's signature would be facing the wrong way. The fact that
swordsmiths started signing swords with a katana signature shows that some
samurai of that time period had started wearing their swords in a different
manner.
The rise in
popularity of katana by samurai is believed to have been due to the changing
nature of close-combat warfare. The quicker draw of the sword was well suited
to combat where victory depended heavily on fast response times. 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.
The length of the
katana blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In the late
14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to be between 70 to
73 cm (27½ to 28½ in.) in length. During the early 16th century, the
average length was closer to 60 cm (23½ in.). By the late 16th
century, the average length returned to approximately 73 cm
(28½ in.).
The katana was
often paired with a similar smaller companion sword, such as a wakizashi
or it could also be worn with the tantō, an even smaller similarly
shaped sword. The pairing of a katana with a smaller sword is called the daishō.
The daisho could only be worn by samurai and it represented the social power
and personal honor of the samurai.
Modern
katana (gendaito):
During the Meiji period the samurai class was
gradually disbanded and the special privileges granted to them were taken away
including the right to carry swords in public. The Haitōrei Edict in 1876
forbade the carrying of swords in public except for certain individuals, such
as former samurai lords (daimyo), the military, and police. Skilled swordsmiths
had trouble making a living during this period as Japan modernized its military
and many swordsmiths started making other items such as farm equipment, tools,
and cutlery. Military action by Japan in China and Russia during the meiji
period helped revive interest in swords but it was not until the Showa period
that swords were produced on a large scale again. Japanese military swords
produced between 1875 and 1945 are referred to as guntō (military
swords).
During the pre-World War II military buildup
and throughout the war, all Japanese officers were required to wear a sword.
Traditionally made swords were produced during this period, but in order to
supply such large amounts of swords blacksmiths with little or no knowledge of
traditional Japanese sword manufacture were recruited. In addition, supplies of
the Japanese steel (tamahagane) used for sword making were limited, so several
other types of steel were used, as well. Short-cuts in forging were also taken,
such as the use of power-hammers, and tempering the blade in oil, rather than
hand forging and water tempering. These techniques generated swords without the
various characteristics associated with "true" Japanese swords. The
non-traditionally made swords from this period are called "showato"
after the regnal name of the Emperor Hirohito, and in 1937, the Japanese
government started requiring the use of special stamps on the tang (nakago) to
distinguish these swords from traditionally made swords. During this period of
war, older antique swords were remounted for use in military mounts. Presently,
in Japan, showato are not considered to be "true" Japanese swords and
they can be confiscated. Outside of Japan, however, they are collected as
historical artifacts.
Post World War II:
In Japan from 1945 to 1953 sword manufacture
and sword related martial arts were banned. Many swords were confiscated and
destroyed, and sword-smiths were not able to make a living. Since 1953 Japanese
sword-smiths have been allowed to work, but with severe restrictions:
swordsmiths must be licensed and serve a five year apprenticeship and only
licensed swordsmiths are allowed to produce Japanese swords (nihonto), only two
long swords per month are allowed to be produced by each swordsmith, and all
swords must be registered by the Japanese Government.
Outside of Japan, modern katana are being
produced by well-known western sword-smiths, using modern steel alloys, such as
L6 and A2. These modern katanas replicate the size and shape of the Japanese
katana, and are used by martial artists for cutting demonstrations
(tameshigiri). The use of modern steel and technology can create strong blades,
without the risk of damaging or destroying the artisan's hard work.
Mass produced swords, including iaitō and
shinken, in the shape of katana, are available from many countries, though
China dominates the market. These types of swords are sometimes called
"replicas." They are mass produced, and made with a wide variety of
steels and methods. People buy these swords for many purposes, including
martial arts practice, home defense, and historical reenactments. Their quality
can vary considerably, however.
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Antique Japanese (samurai) daishō, the
traditional pairing of two Japanese swords which were the symbol of the
samurai, showing the traditional Japanese sword cases (koshirae) and the
difference in size between the katana (top) and the smaller wakizashi
(bottom).
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Description:
Antique Japanese
(samurai) daishō, the traditional pairing of two Japanese swords which
were the symbol of the samurai, showing the traditional Japanese sword cases (koshirae)
and the difference in size between the katana (top) and the smaller wakizashi
(bottom).
The katana
is generally defined as the standard sized, moderately curved (as opposed to
the older "tachi" style featuring more curvature) Japanese sword with
a blade length greater than 60 cm (23½ inches).
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).
In general, the mei should be carved into the side of the nakago
which would face outward when the sword was worn. 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 nakago.
The katana is
characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged
blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands.
It has historically been associated with the samurai of feudal Japan, and has
become renowned for its sharpness and strength.
Etymology:
"Katana" is the term now used to
describe nihontō that are 2 shaku (606 mm / 23.9 in.) and
longer, also known as "dai" or "daito" among Western sword
enthusiasts although daito is actually a generic name for any long sword.
Pronounced [katana],
the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀, originally meaning
dao (sword) or knife/saber in Chinese, the word has been adopted as a loanword
by the Portuguese language. In Portuguese the designation (spelled catana)
means "large knife" or machete. As Japanese does not have separate
plural and singular forms, both "katanas" and "katana" are
considered acceptable forms in English.
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Cross
sections of Japanese sword blade lamination methods
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Forging and construction:
The authentic
Japanese sword is made from a specialized Japanese steel called "Tamahagane"
which consist of combinations of hard, high carbon steel and tough, low carbon
steel. There are benefits and limitations to each type of steel. High-carbon
steel is harder and able to hold a sharper edge than low-carbon steel but it is
more brittle and may break in combat. Having a small amount of carbon will
allow the steel to be more malleable, making it able to absorb impacts without
breaking but becoming blunt in the process. The makers of a katana take
advantage of the best attributes of both kinds of steel. The maker begins by
folding and welding pieces of high and low carbon steel several times to work
out most of the impurities. The high carbon steel is then formed into a U-shape
and a billet of soft steel is placed in its center. The resulting block of
steel is then drawn out to form a rough blank of the sword. At this stage it is
only slightly curved or may have no curve at all. The gentle curvature of a
katana is attained by a process of quenching; the sword maker coats the blade
with several layers of a wet clay slurry which is a special concoction unique
to each sword maker, but generally composed of clay, water, and sometimes ash,
grinding stone powder and/or rust. The edge of the blade is coated with a
thinner layer than the sides and spine of the sword, then it is heated and then
quenched in water (some sword makers use oil to quench the blade). The clay
slurry provides heat insulation so that only the blade's edge will be hardened
with quenching and it also causes the blade to curve due to reduced lattice
strain along the spine. This process also creates the distinct swerving line
down the center of the blade called the hamon which can only be seen after it
is polished; each hamon is distinct and serves as a katana forger's signature.
When steel with a
carbon content of 0.7 percent is heated beyond 750 degrees C it enters the
austenite phase. When austenite is cooled very suddenly by quenching in water
the structure changes into martensite, which is an extremely hard form of
steel. When austenite is allowed to cool slowly its structure changes into a
mixture of ferrite and pearlite which is softer than martensite. By carefully
controlling the heating and cooling of the blade being forged Japanese
swordsmiths were able to produce a blade that had a softer body and a hard edge
creating a superior weapon, this process is called differential hardening or
differential quenching. The reason for the formation of the curve in a properly
hardened Japanese blade is that iron carbide, formed during heating and
retained through quenching, has a lesser density than its root materials have
separately.
After the blade is
forged it is then sent to be polished. The polishing takes between one and
three weeks. The polisher uses finer and finer grains of polishing stones until
the blade has a mirror finish in a process called glazing. This makes the blade
extremely sharp and reduces drag, making it easier to cut with. The blade
curvature also adds to the cutting power.
Usage in martial arts:
Katana were used by samurai in practising
several martial arts and modern martial artists still use a variety of katana.
Martial arts in which training with katana is used include battōjutsu, iaidō,
kenjutsu, Shinkendo, kendo, Aikido.
Storage and maintenance:
If mishandled in its storage or maintenance,
the katana may become irreparably damaged. The blade should be stored
horizontally in its sheath, curve down and edge facing upward to maintain the edge.
It is extremely important that the blade remain well-oiled, powdered and
polished, as the natural moisture residue from the hands of the user will
rapidly cause the blade to rust if not cleaned off. The traditional oil used is
choji oil (99% mineral oil and 1% clove oil for fragrance). Similarly, when
stored for longer periods, it is important that the katana be inspected
frequently and aired out if necessary in order to prevent rust or mold from
forming (mold may feed off the salts in the oil used to polish the katana).
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Antique Japanese (samurai) katana,
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Antique Japanese (samurai) katana,
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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