Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Visual glossary of Japanese sword terms. Japanese swordsmithing is the labour-intensive bladesmithing process developed in Japan beginning in the sixth century for forging traditionally made bladed weapons [1] [2] including katana, wakizashi, tantō, yari, naginata, nagamaki, tachi, nodachi, ōdachi, kodachi, and ya.
Since yedo or "sharp sword" was used in addition to hwando, it is safe to assume that this term meant that it could cut through chain-mail, as opposed to referring to a cutlass with rings along the back side of the sword, i.e. opposite the cutting edge (such a sword being the 9 ring broadsword common to Chinese wushu weapons).
We can, however, conclude that the Japanese bloomery with its linear design, (in contrast to circular European blast furnaces) certainly resembles many contemporary South Asian designs. [10] The etymology of “tatara” is not Japanese in its origin, which supports the theory that this technology was not locally synthesized.
The sword is featured in several Japanese martial arts. For more information see the Kenjutsu article. The Japanese sword, with its long history and many variations, has a prominent role in Shintō Musō-ryū. For training purposes, wooden swords are used to minimize the risk of injuries. Practitioners use both the long wooden sword, generally ...
A 13th century sword by Masatsune with a straight-edge hamon A 13th century sword by Nagamitsu, with a notare midare hamon that is wavy along the blade but straight approaching the tip. A 14th century sword by Kunimitsu 14th century sword by Masamune, with a wavy hamon. China was the first country to produce iron in Asia, around 1200 BC.
A tachi is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Tachi and uchigatana generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when sheathed, the latter depending on the location of the mei (銘), or signature, on the tang.
Nobutsuna perfected a style of sword fighting that was freer in its movements, more sparse, more restrained, more adapted to brawls and to duels, than to the fields of large scale battles. Nobutsuna created the ancient schools of sword known as satsujin-ken, or the killing swords. These are characterized by postures and offensive techniques ...
Swords of this period are classified as jōkotō and are often referred to in distinction from Japanese swords. [6] Chokutō as a weapon died out by the middle of the Heian period, in the 10th century. And as a weapon, it was completely replaced by the Japanese sword, which is known today for its deep and graceful curves.