Samurai short sword. Japanese blades and short swords

To Sansey

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05.04.2018

Today we will touch upon most interesting topic about traditional weapons of Japan. We have known about some literally since childhood, thanks to literature and films, but much less is known about others. Some types of weapons are literally modified agricultural implements, and it is no coincidence, because agriculture occupied a leading role in Japanese production at that time. So let's begin.

1.KATANA

Many people know about the katana; it is some kind of saber, but with a long and straight handle, so the katana can be held with a two-handed grip. The length of the katana could be different (there are varieties of katana: tachi, tanto, kozuka, ta-chi), but in general it is a fairly long sword measuring about 70 cm-120 cm. The width of the katana blade is about 3 cm, the thickness of the butt is about 5 mm. There are many legends about the properties of this sword, but one thing is certain: the technology for making a katana is extremely complex. For the production of katana, multilayer forging is used, specially selected materials and conditions. This combination made it possible to make a sword capable of cutting a person in half with one swing.

2.WAKIZASHI

Wakizashi is a short sword. The length of its blade did not exceed 60 cm. The shape of the wakizashi resembles a katana. Usually samurai wore it paired with a katana in their belt with the blade facing up. Wakizashi was used as an auxiliary weapon in cases where it was impossible to use a katana, or together with a katana at the same time. Unlike the katana, wakizashi could also be worn by merchants and artisans.

3.NUNCHAK

Nunchucks are bladed weapons with shock-crushing and suffocating effects. By design, nunchucks are two short sticks connected by a chain or cord. Nunchaku sticks can be either the same or different in length. They say that the prototype of this weapon was a flail for threshing rice. There are many varieties of nunchaku, including three-link:

There is also a weapon similar to three-link nunchaku - a three-link pole:

However, the techniques for wielding these types of weapons differ.

Nunchaku gained popularity primarily thanks to films with Bruce Lee:

4.BO (BATTLE STAFF)

Bo (Korean name "bong", Chinese - "kon") is a long staff made of wood, bamboo or metal. Usually it was a wooden pole about 180 cm long and 2.5 cm - 3 cm in diameter. Bo is used as a weapon. It is believed that previously the BO was part of a spear. Bo were used for self-defense by monks and common people.

5.SAI (TRIDENT)

Sai is a piercing bladed weapon resembling a stiletto. Outwardly it looks like a trident with an elongated middle tooth. Sai is one of the main types of Kobudo weapons. The side teeth play the role of a guard, but can also serve to grab a weapon or hit a target by sharpening it.

6.JUTTE (WAR CLUB)

The jutte is a Japanese bladed weapon about 45 cm long, which was used by ninjas and Japanese police. The jutte has a one-sided guard about 5 cm in length. Currently used in martial art jutte-jutsu. Jutte is a small metal club.

7.KAMA (BATTLE SICKLE)

Kama is also a melee weapon. Very similar to a small braid. Consists of a cutting and a short curved blade, which is mounted on the handle perpendicular to it. The prototype of Kama was a sickle for harvesting rice.

8.TONFA

Tonfa is a bladed weapon with impact and crushing action. The prototype of the tonfa was the handle of a rice mill. Tonfa is the ancestor of modern police baton with cross handle. There are many versions regarding the history of the origin of tonfa - according to some sources, it came to Japan from China.

9. YAWARA

Yawara is a Japanese brass knuckle designed for jabbing. Intensifying the blow of a hand with an object clamped into it led to the appearance of a simple but very effective weapon - a short stick. The length of the javara ranges from 12 cm to 15 cm, and the diameter is about 1-3 cm. It is made from various hardwoods. Can be sharpened on one or both sides. Many other available means can also be used as javara.

10.SHURIKEN

Shuriken literally translates to “blade hidden in the hand.” Shuriken was an additional weapon, along with the katana. The art of using shuriken, known as shuriken-jutsu, was taught along with other martial arts. There are 2 known types of shuriken: bo-shuriken (a rectangular, round or octagonal wedge in cross-section) and shaken (made from thin sheets, coins, carpentry tools).

11.KUBOTAN

The Kubotan is a keychain, but is used as a non-aggression weapon that gives its owner the ability to resist an attacker. The prototype of the kubotan was the yawara. The Kubotan is a rigid plastic rod, about 14 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, weighing about 60 grams. Kubotan does not contain any sharp parts or edges. The body of the rod has 6 round notches for better grip, and there is also a key ring attached to one of the ends. The kubotan's father is master Soke Kubota Takayuki 10th dan Gosoku Ryu. Today, the Kubotan is included in the equipment of the police in the United States and other countries.

12. TIMBAY

Timbay, also known as a shield, was oval in shape, usually about 45 cm long and 38 cm wide. Shields were made from turtle shells, metal or woven from wicker. Modern schools use plastic shields. Timbay was held in the left hand and used for protection. Timbey was often used in conjunction with a weapon called Rotin.

13. ROTIN

Rotin was a pike about half a meter long. Most of this length was the shaft. The tip usually had an extension in the middle part for more serious damage to the enemy. If such a weapon was turned inside a wound, the damage was often incompatible with life. Usually the rotin was held in the right hand and stabbed from the bottom up, trying to hit the ribs or throat. A common technique was to hide the pike behind a shield, which made it possible to take advantage of the effect of surprise. A short sword could also be used as a rotin.

14.ECU (BATTLE OAR)

The eku is a wooden boat oar made from Japanese red oak. The length of the eku is about 160 cm. The length of the round handle is about 1 m, the diameter of the handle is about 3 cm. The outer edges of the flat blade were tapered and sharpened, the end of the oar was also sharpened at an angle of 45 degrees. Kobudo masters applied cutting and piercing blows with the blade of an oar, and working with the handle was reminiscent of working with a pole.

15.KUVA

Kuva is also a melee weapon, although it is much less known. It is also included in the Kobudo arsenal. Kuva was a fairly effective and popular weapon, due to the fact that its wearing did not arouse any suspicion.

The history of the origin and evolution of the Japanese sword

“The sword is the soul of the samurai,” says a Japanese proverb. Perhaps in no other country in the world has the cult of the sword received such development. The sword is a symbol of courage, honor, and most importantly, a symbol of the wearer’s belonging to the upper class: the samurai. In Medieval Japan they said: between the flowers there are sakura, among the people there are samurai.

Japanese gunsmiths - katana-kaji - often led a hermit life. The secrets of mastery were passed from father to son. Even now in Japan there is only one way to become a kaji - to become an apprentice to a master. During the process of forging a sword, food for the gunsmith was prepared on a sacred fire, no one except his assistant had the right to enter the forge, animal food and sexual relations were prohibited. Every morning the kaji cleansed himself with prayer and pouring cold water. The creation of the blade usually took several months. Each sword forged by the master was unique and perfect - a real kaji had a habit of breaking weapons that were not perfect. This tradition originated at the same time when the military class of Japan began to form, the samurai - in the Heian era, famous for the slogan “Ugly is unacceptable.” The first accurately dated traditional Japanese sword with a pronounced curve of the blade dates back to this era. Swords of this period are distinguished by their incredible sharpness and wear-resistant blades: it was believed that they did not require sharpening. Japan's most famous sword Dojigiri("Doji Cutter") was forged by a blacksmith Yasutsune during the Heian era.

This time - right up to the end of the Momoyama era - is called the "period of old swords" or Koto. The main centers of sword production during the Koto period were the provinces of Bizen, Mino, Yamashiro, Yamato and Sagami. The five schools of the Koto period were often compared to the five fingers of a hand clenched into a fist: they are all different from each other, but in essence they are one. The sword of the Koto period had a small oval guard - tsuba, made of steel, bronze, or glued leather. Shark skin and stingray skin were used to wrap the handles. The swords differed in the design of the scabbard, hilts, etc., which makes it possible to accurately determine the rank and clan of the owner. During this period, the custom of samurai wearing a pair of swords, daisho, began to develop, consisting of a large and small sword. A common pairing of this period: daito - tachi, shoto - tanto.

In the history of swords, the Muromachi era is known primarily for the appearance of new way wearing a sword, which soon became the main one. Tachi was suspended from the belt with the blade down, and in order to grab it, swing and strike, three separate movements were required. But in the era of conspiracies and treacherous attacks, it was necessary to place the sword so that drawing and striking were accomplished in one motion. At the same time, uchigatana swords appeared - precisely those that Europeans used to call samurai swords. They were divided into katanas (more than 60 cm) and wakizashi (less than 60 cm).

The swords of the Koto period are considered more advanced and valuable than the swords of the Shinto period - the era of “new swords”. The great masters of the past were based on the principle of reasonable sufficiency. Each of them was content with the assistance of a pair of hammermen and perhaps an apprentice when working with the blade. Paying a lot of attention to the fighting qualities of samurai weapons, they did not consider it necessary to unnecessarily decorate them. Masamune and Muramasa, the legendary gunsmiths of the Koto period, limited themselves to creating a wavy line of “hamon”, but modern masters developed and enriched the art of blade decoration. Patterns such as “chrysanthemums in water” or “blooming carnations” appeared. The external beauty of the weapon is the main feature of combat and ceremonial swords of the Shinto period. At this time, the katana-kaji (gunsmith) becomes the master who creates the blade and oversees the process of creating the sword. Other craftsmen are engaged in polishing, creating a sheath, and decorating the hilt of a sword. Richly and sometimes even ornately decorated blades, the hilt, tsuba and scabbard of which are made with jewelry craftsmanship - weapons of the “new swords” period

The handle (tsuka) is one of the main parts of the Japanese military weapons. Its classic form, which also serves as decoration, is the wrapping with a special braid (ito). The winding forms a diamond-shaped pattern on the handle, which is dictated not by simple chance, but by considerations of convenience in using the sword. The hand does not slip, but the threads laid friend on each other in a special way, they will never break. The most unique part of a Japanese sword is the tsuba. Having a round, oval, rectangular or polygonal shape, it is located between the blade and the handle. During the Shinto period, tsuba could be made of cast bronze, red copper and gold. The tsuba could be decorated with a variety of ornaments, images of animals and plants.

Blade classification

Japanese swords were usually named based on the way they were worn. Long sword, daito - 95-120 cm, short sword, shoto - 40-70 cm.

Tsurugi- An ancient Japanese sword, used before the Heian era. It had a long handle and a straight, double-edged blade. They wore it obliquely behind their back and uncovered it, grabbing the handle with both hands at once.

Nodachi- a “field sword” with a blade more than a meter long and a total length of about 1.5 m. It was usually worn behind the back, holding it with the hand.

Long sword. It was worn on its side in a sling tied to a sheath, in which it was placed with the blade down, being drawn from the bottom up.

A long sword that is worn in a scabbard tucked into the belt with the blade facing upward and drawn from the sheath, unsheathed, in a downward motion.

A short sword that was always worn in a sheath in the belt. But only if it is worn in conjunction with a tachi.

A short sword worn in a sheath in the belt. When worn as a shoto for a long katana.

Kusungobu- dagger for hara-kiri. The length is about 25 cm. If the samurai did not have this dagger, harakiri could be committed with the help of a tanto.

Kaiken- a knife required to be worn by women from samurai families. Intended for ritual suicide (opening the carotid artery)

Japanese sword- a bladed single-edged chopping weapon, produced using traditional Japanese technology from multilayer steel with controlled carbon content. The name is also used to refer to a single-edged sword with characteristic shape a slightly curved blade that was the main weapon of a samurai warrior.
Let's try to understand a little about the variety of Japanese swords.
Traditionally, Japanese blades are made of refined steel. The process of their manufacture is unique and is due to the use of iron sand, which is cleaned under the influence of high temperatures to obtain iron with higher purity levels. Steel is extracted from iron sand.
Curving the sword (sori), performed in different options, is not accidental: it was formed during the centuries-long evolution of weapons of this type (simultaneously with changes in samurai equipment) and was constantly varied until the perfect form was eventually found, which is a continuation slightly curved hand. The bend is partly due to the characteristics heat treatment: with differentiated hardening, the cutting part of the sword stretches more than the back.
Just like the Western blacksmiths of the Middle Ages, who used zone hardening, Japanese craftsmen do not harden blades evenly, but in a differentiated manner. Often the blade starts out straight and receives its characteristic curve as a result of hardening, giving the blade a hardness of 60 Rockwell, but the back of the sword only 40.

Give-sho

Daisho (Japanese 大小, daisho:, lit. “big-small”) - a pair of samurai swords, consisting of a seto (short sword) and a daito (long sword). The length of the daito is more than 66 cm, the length of the shoto is 33-66 cm. The daito served as the main weapon of the samurai, the shoto as an additional weapon.
Until the early Muromachi period, the weapon was a tachi - a long sword worn on a belt with the blade down. However, starting from the end of the 14th century, it was increasingly replaced by the katana. It was worn in a sheath secured to the belt with a ribbon of silk or other fabric (sageo). A tanto dagger was usually worn along with a tachi, and a wakizashi dagger paired with a katana.
Thus, daito and shoto are classes of swords, but not the name of a specific weapon. This circumstance caused the incorrect use of these terms. For example, in European and domestic literature only a long sword (daito) is mistakenly called a katana. Daisho was used exclusively by the samurai class. This law was religiously observed and repeatedly confirmed by decrees of military leaders and shoguns. Daisho was the most important component of a samurai’s costume, his class identification. The warriors treated their weapons accordingly - they carefully monitored their condition and kept them near them even during sleep. Other classes could only wear wakizashi or tanto. Samurai etiquette required taking off a long sword when entering a house (as a rule, it was left with a servant or on a special stand); samurai always carried a short sword with them and used it as a personal weapon.

Katana

Katana (Japanese 刀) is a long Japanese sword. In modern Japanese, the word katana also means any sword. Katana - Japanese reading (kun'yomi) Chinese character刀; Sino-Japanese reading (on'yomi) - then:. The word means "a curved sword with a single-sided blade."
Katana and wakizashi are always worn in a sheath, tucked into the belt (obi) at an angle that hides the length of the blade from the enemy. This is an accepted way of carrying in society, formed after the end of the wars of the Sengoku period at the beginning of the 17th century, when carrying weapons became more of a tradition than a military necessity. When the samurai entered the house, he took out a katana from his belt. In case of possible conflicts, he held the sword in his left hand in a state of combat readiness or, as a sign of trust, in his right. When sitting down, he placed the katana on the floor within reach, and the wakizashi was not removed (the samurai wore it in a sheath in his belt). Mounting the sword for outdoor use is called koshirae and includes the lacquered sheath of the sai. If there was no frequent need to use the sword, it was stored at home in a shirasai mount made of untreated magnolia wood, which protected the steel from corrosion. Some modern katanas are initially produced in this version, in which the scabbard is not varnished or decorated. This type of installation, which lacked tsuba and other decorative elements, did not attract attention and became widespread in late XIX centuries after the imperial ban on wearing a sword. It seemed that the sheath was not a katana, but a bokuto - a wooden sword.

Wakizashi

Wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差) is a short traditional Japanese sword. Mainly used by samurai and worn on the belt. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also tucked into the belt with the blade facing up. Blade length - from 30 to 61 cm. Total length with handle 50-80 cm. Single-sided blade, slight curvature. The wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. The wakizashi was made with zukuri of various shapes and lengths, usually thinner than that of the katana. The degree of convexity of the wakizashi blade's cross-section is much less, so compared to the katana, this sword cuts soft objects more sharply. The handle of a wakizashi is usually square.
The Bushi often called this sword "the guardian of their honor." Some fencing schools taught the use of both katana and wakizashi at the same time.
Unlike the katana, which could only be worn by samurai, wakizashi was allowed to merchants and artisans. They used this sword as a full-fledged weapon, because according to their status they did not have the right to carry a katana. Also used for the ritual of seppuku.

Tati

Tachi (Japanese: 太刀) is a long Japanese sword. The tachi, unlike the katana, was not tucked into the obi (fabric belt) with the blade up, but hung on the belt in a sling intended for this purpose, with the blade down. To protect against damage from armor, the scabbard was often wrapped. Samurai wore katana as part of civilian clothing, and tachi as part of military armor. Paired with tachi, tantos were more common than the wakizashi short sword related to katana. In addition, richly decorated tati were used as ceremonial weapons in the courts of shoguns (princes) and the emperor.
It is usually longer and more curved than the katana (most had a blade length of over 2.5 shaku, that is, more than 75 cm; the tsuka (hilt) was also often longer and somewhat curved).
Another name for this sword is daito (Japanese: 大刀, lit. " big sword") - in Western sources is sometimes mistakenly read as "daikatana". The error occurs due to ignorance of the difference between on and kun reading of characters in Japanese; The kun reading of the character 刀 is “katana”, and the on reading is “to:”.

Tanto

Tanto (Japanese 短刀 tanto:, lit. “short sword”) is a samurai dagger.
“Tan to” for the Japanese sounds like a phrase, so they do not perceive tanto as a knife (knife in Japanese is hamono (Japanese 刃物 hamono)).
The tanto was used only as a weapon and never as a knife; for this purpose there was a kozuka, worn in tandem with the tanto in the same sheath.
Tanto has a single-edged, sometimes double-edged blade ranging from 15 to 30.3 cm in length (that is, less than one shaku).
It is believed that tanto, wakizashi and katana are, in fact, “the same sword of different sizes.”
Some tantos, which had a thick triangular blade, were called yoroidoshi and were designed to pierce armor in close combat. Tanto was used mostly by samurai, but it was also worn by doctors and merchants as a weapon of self-defense - in fact, it is a dagger. Women of high society sometimes also wore small tantos, called kaiken, in the sash of their kimono (obi) for self-defense. In addition, tanto is used in the wedding ceremony royalty to this day.
Sometimes the tanto was worn as a shoto instead of a wakizashi in a daisho.

Odachi

Odachi (Japanese 大太刀, “big sword”) is one of the types of long Japanese swords. The term nodachi (野太刀, "field sword") refers to another type of sword, but is often mistakenly used instead of odachi.
To be called an odachi, a sword had to have a blade length of at least 3 shaku (90.9 cm), however, as with many other Japanese sword terms, precise definition There is no odachi length. Usually odachi are swords with blades 1.6 - 1.8 meters.
Odachi fell completely out of use as a weapon after the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War of 1615 (a battle between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori - the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi).
The Bakufu government issued a law according to which it was forbidden to have a sword of more than a certain length. After the law went into effect, many odachi were trimmed to conform to the regulations. This is one of the reasons why odachi are so rare.
Odachi were no longer used for their intended purpose, but were still a valuable gift during the Shinto (“new swords”) period. This became their main purpose. Because their manufacture required the utmost skill, it was recognized that the reverence inspired by their appearance corresponded to prayer to the gods.

Nodachi

Sephiroth with the nodachi sword "Masamune"

Nodachi (野太刀 "field sword") is a Japanese term referring to a large Japanese sword. The main reason that the use of such swords was not widespread was that the blade was much more difficult to forge than a regular length sword blade. This sword was worn on the back due to its large size. This was an exception because other Japanese swords such as the katana and wakizashi were worn tucked into the belt, while the tachi was hung with the blade down. However, the nodachi was not snatched from behind the back. Due to its great length and weight, it was a very complex weapon.
One of Nodati's assignments was to fight horsemen. It was often used in conjunction with a spear because with its long blade it was ideal for striking an opponent and his horse in one fell swoop. Due to its weight, it could not be used everywhere with ease and was usually discarded when close combat began. The sword could hit several enemy soldiers with one blow. After using nodachi, samurai used a shorter and more convenient katana for close combat.

Kodati

Kodachi (小太刀) - literally translated as "small tachi", is a Japanese sword that was too short to be considered a daito (long sword) and too long to be a dagger. Due to its size, it could be grabbed very quickly and also used for fencing. It could be used where movement was restricted or when attacking shoulder to shoulder. Since this sword was shorter than 2 shaku (about 60 cm), it was allowed to be worn by non-samurai, usually merchants, during the Edo period.
The kodachi is similar in length to the wakizashi, and although their blades differ significantly in design, the kodachi and wakizashi are so similar in technique that the terms are sometimes (incorrectly) used one instead of the other. The main difference between both is that the kodachi is (usually) wider than the wakizashi. In addition, kodachi, unlike wakizashi, was always worn in a special sling with the curve downward (like a tachi), while wakizashi was worn with the blade tucked behind the obi with the curve of the blade upward. Unlike other types Japanese weapons, no other sword was usually carried along with the kodati.

Kaiken

Kaiken (Japanese 懐剣, before the spelling reform kwaiken, also futokoro-gatana) is a dagger carried by men and women of the samurai class in Japan, a type of tanto. Kaikens were used for indoor self-defense, where long katanas and medium-length wakizashi were less convenient and effective than short daggers. Women wore them in an obi for self-defense or (rarely) for suicide (jigaya). They could also be carried in a brocade bag with a drawstring that allowed the dagger to be quickly retrieved. Kaiken was one of the wedding gifts for women. Currently, it is one of the accessories of the traditional Japanese marriage ceremony: the bride takes the kaiken to ensure good luck.

Kusungobu, yoroidoshi, metezashi.

Kusungobu (Japanese nine sun five bu) is a straight thin dagger with a blade 29.7 cm long. In practice, yoroidoshi, metezashi and kusungobu are one and the same.

Naginata

Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀, literal translation - “long sword”) is a Japanese edged weapon with a long oval-shaped handle (namely a handle, not a shaft, as it might seem at first glance) and a curved one-sided blade. The handle is about 2 meters long and the blade is about 30 cm. Over the course of history, a shortened (1.2-1.5 m) and lighter version has become much more common, used in training and showing greater combat effectiveness. It is an analogue of a glaive (although it is often mistakenly called a halberd), but much lighter. The first information about the use of naginata dates back to the end of the 7th century. There were 425 schools in Japan where they studied naginatajutsu fighting techniques. It was the favorite weapon of the Sohei, warrior monks.

Bisento

Bisento (Japanese: 眉尖刀 bisento) is a Japanese bladed weapon with a long handle, a rare type of naginata.
Bisento differs from naginata in its larger size and different style of handling. These weapons must be used with a wide grip, using both ends, while the leading hand should be near the guard.
There are also advantages to the bisento fighting style over the naginata fighting style. In combat, the back of the bisento blade, unlike a katana, can not only repel and deflect a blow, but also apply pressure and control. The Bisento is heavier than the katana, so its slashes are more forward than fixed. They are applied on a much larger scale. Despite this, the bisento can easily cut off the head of both a person and a horse, which is not so easy to do with a naginata. The weight of the sword plays a role in both the piercing and pushing properties.
It is believed that the Japanese took the idea of ​​this weapon from Chinese swords.

Nagamaki

Nagamaki (Japanese 長巻 - “long wrapper”) is a Japanese edged weapon consisting of a polearm with a large tip. It was popular in the XII-XIV centuries. It was similar to an owl, naginata or gleyvia, but differed in that the lengths of the handle and tip were approximately equal, which allows it to be classified as a sword.
Nagamaki are weapons manufactured on various scales. Usually the total length was 180-210 cm, the tip - up to 90-120 cm. The blade was only on one side. The handle of the nagamaki was wrapped with cords in a crossed manner, similar to the handle of a katana.
This weapon was used during the Kamakura period (1192-1333), Namboku-cho (1334-1392) and during the Muromachi period (1392-1573) and reached its greatest prevalence. It was also used by Oda Nobunaga.

Tsurugi

Tsurugi (Japanese: 剣) is a Japanese word meaning straight double-edged sword(sometimes with a massive pommel). Its shape is similar to a tsurugi-no-tachi (straight one-sided sword).
It was used as a combat weapon in the 7th-9th centuries, before the advent of one-sided curved tati swords, and subsequently for ceremonial and religious purposes.
One of the three sacred relics of Shintoism is the sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi.

Chokuto

Chokuto (Japanese: 直刀 chokuto, “straight sword”) is the general name for an ancient type of sword that appeared among Japanese warriors around the 2nd-4th centuries AD. It is not known for sure whether chokuto originated in Japan or was exported from China; It is believed that in Japan blades were copied from foreign samples. At first, swords were cast from bronze, but later they began to be forged from a single piece of low-quality steel (there was no other at that time) using rather primitive technology. Like its Western counterparts, chokuto was intended primarily for stabbing attacks.
The characteristic features of the chokuto were a straight blade and one-sided sharpening. The most common were two types of chokuto: kazuchi-no-tsurugi (sword with a hammer-shaped head) had a hilt with an oval guard ending in an onion-shaped copper head, and koma-no-tsurugi ("Korean sword") had a hilt with a head in ring shape. The length of the swords was 0.6-1.2 m, but most often it was 0.9 m. The sword was worn in a scabbard covered with sheet copper and decorated with perforated patterns.

Shin-gunto

Shin-gunto (1934) is a Japanese army sword created to revive samurai traditions and raise the morale of the army. This weapon repeated the shape of the Tati combat sword, both in design (similar to the Tachi, the shin gunto was worn on a sword belt with the blade down and its design used a kabuto-gane handle cap, instead of the kashiro adopted on katanas), and in the techniques of handling it. Unlike tachi and katana swords, which were made individually by blacksmiths using traditional technology, shin-gunto was mass-produced in a factory manner.
Shin-gunto was very popular and went through several modifications. IN recent years During the Second World War, they were mainly associated with the desire to reduce production costs. Thus, the hilts of swords for junior army ranks were made without braiding, and sometimes even from stamped aluminum.
For naval ranks, in 1937, their own military service was introduced - kai-gunto. It was a variation on the sin-gunto theme, but differed in design - the braid of the handle was brown, the handle had black stingray leather, the scabbard was always wooden (for the sin-gunto it was metal) with black trim.
After the end of World War II, most of the Shin Gunto were destroyed by order of the occupation authorities.
Ninjato, Shinobigatana (fictional)
Ninjato (Japanese: 忍者刀 ninjato:), also known as ninjaken (Japanese: 忍者刀) or shinobigatana (Japanese: 忍刀), is a sword used by ninjas. It is a short sword forged with much less effort than a katana or tachi. Modern ninjato often have a straight blade and a square tsuba (guard). Some sources claim that the ninjato, unlike the katana or wakizashi, was used to deliver only cutting blows, not piercing ones. This statement may be erroneous, since the main enemy of the ninja was the samurai, and his armor required an accurate piercing blow. However, the main function of the katana was also a powerful cutting blow.

Shikomizue

Shikomizue (Japanese: 仕込み杖 Shikomizue) - a weapon for “hidden war”. In Japan it was used by ninjas. Nowadays, this blade often appears in films.
The Shikomizue was a wooden or bamboo cane with a hidden blade. The shikomizue blade could be straight or slightly curved, because the cane had to exactly follow all the curves of the blade. The Shikomizue could be either a long sword or a short dagger. Therefore, the length of the cane depended on the length of the weapon.

Zanbato, zambato, zhanmadao

The Japanese reading of the zhanmadao characters is zambato (Japanese: 斬馬刀 zambato:) (also zammato), but it is unknown whether such weapons were actually used in Japan. However, zambato is mentioned in some contemporary Japanese works of popular culture.
Zhanmadao or mazhangao (Chinese: 斬馬刀, pinyin zhǎn mǎ dāo, literally “sword for cutting horses”) is a Chinese two-handed saber with a wide and long blade, used by infantrymen against cavalry during the Song Dynasty (mention of mazhangao is present, in particular, in the "Biography of Yue Fei" dynastic history "Song Shi"). The tactics of using mazhangao, according to the Song Shi, are attributed to the famous military leader Yue Fei. Infantry detachments armed with mazhangao, operating before the formation of the main part of the troops in a scattered formation, tried to use it to cut off the legs of enemy horses. Similar tactics were used in the 1650s by the troops of Zheng Chenggong in battles with the Qing cavalry. Some foreign researchers claim that the mazhangao saber was also used by the Mongol army of Genghis Khan.

Although many people associate only the samurai sword with Japan, they are wrong. Some of the most diverse and famous are the Japanese swords katana, wakizashi, tachi, tanto dagger, rare ken, various types spears of the yari and the naginata halberd. Tachi is a long sword (blade length from 61 cm) with a relatively large bend (sori), intended mainly for mounted combat. There is a type of tachi called odachi, that is, a “large” tachi with a blade length of 1 m (from 75 cm from the 16th century). Visually, it is difficult to distinguish a katana from a tachi based on the blade; they differ, first of all, in the manner of wearing. Tachi is usually longer and more curved (most have a blade length of over 2.5 shaku, that is, more than 75 cm; the tsuka (hilt) was also often longer and somewhat curved). The tachi, unlike the katana, was not tucked into the obi (fabric belt) with the blade up, but hung on the hip in a sling designed for this purpose, with the blade down. To protect against damage from armor, the scabbard was often wrapped.


Koshigatana is a small sword that does not have a guard. The length of the blade is up to 45 cm. Sometimes, instead or in addition, a tanto dagger is worn. Naginata is an intermediate weapon between a sword and a spear: a strongly curved blade up to 60 cm long, mounted on a handle as long as a person’s height. Since the naginata was adopted by the samurai, it was usually and most often used by women to protect themselves from attack during the absence of men. It became most widespread during the reign of the emperors of the Kamakura and Muromachi eras.
Yari is a Japanese spear that was not designed to be thrown. Yari has been used by warriors since ancient times. The design of the yari is somewhat reminiscent of a regular sword. The production of yari was carried out by simple artisans (not masters), since the design of this weapon did not require great skill and was made “from a single piece.” The length of the blade is about 20 cm. Yari was used by both samurai and ordinary soldiers.
When the word “sword” is pronounced, the imagination pictures a long straight blade. But long swords were primarily cavalry weapons and became noticeably widespread only in the Middle Ages. And even then they were found much less frequently than short swords, which served as infantry weapons. Even knights girded themselves with long swords only before battle, and at other times they constantly carried daggers.
Stylet

In the 16th century, the cords lengthened somewhat and acquired a closed guard. The direct successor of the legionary sword - the short sword - “landsknecht” - remained the most popular weapon of the European infantry until the advent of bayonets at the end of the 17th century.
"Landsknecht"
The greatest drawback of the daggers was not their modest length, but their lack of penetrating power. Indeed: the Roman sword reached 45 cm from the palm, but the long sword European knights 12th century - also only 40-50 cm. After all, it is advisable to cut with the middle of the blade. Even shorter were katanas, scimitars and checkers. The cutting blow is applied with a section of the blade as close as possible to the handle. Blades of this type were not even equipped with a guard, since it could get caught on the enemy’s clothing.
So, from a practical point of view, the dagger was not short. But he didn’t pierce the armor either. The small weight of the dagger did not allow it to reflect blows from heavy weapons.
But the blow of a short piercing blade could be delivered very accurately and suddenly. Great strength it was not required to fight with short swords, but only a very experienced and dexterous warrior could use this weapon effectively.
Pugio
In the middle of the century, the legionary sword not only did not disappear, but also did not change at all. Under the name of stiletto or cord, it continued to remain the most in mass form bladed weapons in Europe. Cheap, light and compact cords were used by both nobles and residents of medieval cities as “civilian” weapons. Medieval infantry also wore short swords for self-defense: pikemen and crossbowmen.
Cleaver

On the other hand, conversion steel was very soft. A saber forged from Asian Damascus simply cut through a saber made from English steel. Elastic but soft blades of the 16th century dulled literally “on air.” The soldiers were forced to spend all their leisure time with a grindstone in their hand. DAGA
Since the daga served primarily to repel blows, its main part was the guard. This was especially noticeable in European dagas of the 16th century, the guard of which was a large bronze plate. Such a guard could be used as a shield. Sai - Okinawa, trident stiletto with a faceted or round central blade and two side blades that curve outward.
Misericordia
Another question is that daggers were usually not specially adapted for throwing. Didn't have what it took to throwing weapons advantage to the tip. There were special knives to defeat the enemy at a distance.
Shurikens
The variety of shapes of small projectiles is so great that they practically defy classification. All “throwing iron” has, perhaps, only one thing in common: warriors never used it. Knife throwers never walked ahead of the phalanx along with archers and slingers. And the knight preferred to practice throwing a dagger that was completely unsuitable for this purpose, rather than carry a special knife with him.
The knife could not withstand competition from other projectiles. His penetrating power was insufficient against himself light armor. And he flew not far, inaccurately and too slowly.
Kansashi is a Japanese women's combat stiletto in the form of a hair clip with a blade 200 mm long. Served as a secret weapon. Guan Tao - Chinese edged weapon - a glaive, often mistakenly called a halberd, consisting of a long shaft with a warhead in the form of a wide curved blade; weight within 2-5 kg. for combat samples and from 48 to 72 kg. - for weapons used during the Qing period to conduct examinations for military positions (the so-called ukedao). Total length

Many martial arts were invented in Japan. Many of them require handling edged weapons. Samurai immediately come to mind - warriors who fought primarily in this way. And today, fencing with a Japanese sword is quite popular, especially in the country where this art originated.

But to the question: “What is the name of the Japanese sword?” — there can be no definite answer. However, if you ask it to an ignorant person, in most cases the answer will be: “Katana.” This is not entirely true - a Japanese sword cannot be limited to one name. It is necessary to understand that there is large number representatives of this cold weapon. The types of Japanese swords can be listed for a long time, there are dozens of them, the most famous of them will be given below.

Manufacturing

The tradition of fencing goes back to the distant past, to the times of the samurai. Dangerous weapon- Japanese sword. Making it is a whole science that is passed on from master to master. Of course, it is almost impossible to fully describe how a real work is created in the hands of blacksmiths; each one uses different techniques and special additions and tricks. However, in general, everyone adheres to the following.

The use of laminated steel with controlled carbon content is mandatory. This gives the sword special ductility and strength at the same time. Refined steel is refined at high temperatures, and iron becomes pure.

Sorry

Absolutely all Japanese swords have a characteristic curve called sori. It can be done in various options. The centuries-old evolution of this type of bladed weapon, and at the same time the samurai equipment, made it possible to find an almost ideal option.

The sword is an extension of the arm, and a fencer’s arm is almost always slightly bent, so the weapon also has a bend. Everything is simple, but at the same time wise. Sori appears in part due to special processing that uses extreme temperatures. Hardening is not uniform, but zonal; some parts of the sword are exposed to much greater impact. By the way, in Europe craftsmen used exactly this method. After all the procedures, the Japanese sword has different hardness, the blade has 60 Rockwell units, and reverse side- only 40 units. So what is the name of the Japanese sword?

Bokken

To begin with, it is worth identifying the simplest of all Japanese swords. Bokken are wooden weapons, they are used in training, since it is difficult to inflict serious injuries on them; only masters of the art are able to kill with them. An example would be Aikido. The sword is created from various types of wood: oak, beech and hornbeam. They grow in Japan and are quite durable, so the choice is clear. For safety and appearance resin or varnish is often used. The length of the bokken is about 1 m, the handle is 25 cm, the blade is 75 cm.

The weapon must be strong enough, so manufacturing also requires skill. The bokken can withstand strong blows with the same sword and with a jo, a wooden pole. The most dangerous is the tip, which can cause serious harm.

As already mentioned, a professional is capable of delivering a killing blow using a Japanese wooden sword. For example, just take the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, who often used a wooden sword in fights, most often the fight ended in the death of the enemy. Therefore, in Japan, not only real blades, but also bokken are treated with great respect. For example, when entering a plane, it must be checked in as luggage. And if you do not use a case, then this is equivalent to carrying a bladed weapon. This Japanese sword is dangerous. The name can be applied to all swords made of wood.

Interestingly, there are three types of wooden sword: male, female and training. However, you should not think that only the fair sex uses the second one. Women's is the most popular, as it has a special curve and lightness. Male - thick blade and directness. The training blade imitates a steel blade; the blade has a particularly large thickening, implying the weight of an iron blade. What other types of Japanese swords are there?

Daisho

The name literally translates as “big-small”. This is the main weapon of the samurai. The long sword is called daito. Its length is about 66 cm. A short Japanese sword (dagger) is a shoto (33-66 cm), which serves as a secondary weapon for a samurai. But it is a mistake to believe that these are the names of certain swords. Throughout history, the bundle has changed, different types have been used. For example, before the early Muromachi period, the tachi was used as a long sword. Then it was replaced by the katana, which was worn in a sheath secured with a ribbon. If a dagger (short sword) tanto was used with tachi, then wakizashi - Japanese swords, photos of which can be seen below, were usually taken with it.

In Europe and Russia it is believed that the katana is a long sword, but this is not entirely true. He really long time is such, but its application is a matter of taste. Interestingly, in Japan, the use of daisho was strictly enforced only by samurai. Military leaders and shoguns sacredly revered this rule and issued corresponding decrees. The samurai themselves treated weapons with special reverence; they kept them close to them even while sleeping. The long sword was removed at the entrance to the house, and the short sword was always with you.

Other classes of society did not have the right to use daisho, but could take them individually. The bundle of swords was main part samurai costume. It was she who confirmed the class affiliation. From an early age, warriors were taught to take care of their master's weapons.

Katana

And finally, perhaps the most popular of the best Japanese swords. Katana on modern language denotes absolutely any representative of this type of weapon. As mentioned above, it was used by samurai as a long sword, most often it is paired with a wakaji. Weapons are always carried in a sheath to avoid accidental injury to others and yourself. Interestingly, the angle at which the katana is usually placed on the belt allows its true length to be hidden from others. A cunning and simple method appeared back in the Sengoku period. In those days, weapons were no longer a necessity; they were used more for the sake of tradition.

Manufacturing

Like any Japanese sword, the katana has a complex design. The manufacturing process may take several months, but the result is a real work of art. First, pieces of steel placed together are filled with a solution of clay and water, and also sprinkled with ash. This is necessary so that the slag that is formed during the smelting process is absorbed. After the steel is hot, the pieces are joined.

Then the most difficult process begins - forging. The pieces are repeatedly flattened and folded, thereby allowing the carbon to be evenly distributed throughout the workpiece. If you fold it 10 times, you get 1024 layers. And this is not the limit. Why is this necessary? In order for the hardness of the blade to be the same. If there are significant differences, then under conditions of heavy loads there is a high probability of breaking. Forging lasts several days, during which time the layers reach a truly large number. The structure of the blade is created by the composition of the metal strips. This is its original appearance; later it will become part of the sword.

To avoid oxidation, the same layer of clay is applied. Then hardening begins. The sword is heated to a certain temperature, which depends on the type of metal. After this, instant cooling occurs. The cutting edge becomes hard. Then the final work is carried out: sharpening, polishing. The master carefully works on the blade for a long time. Finally, when the edges are flat, he works with small stones held with one or two fingers, some use planks. Today, engraving has become popular, which usually depicts scenes with Buddhist themes. Work is done on the handle, which takes a few more days, and the katana is ready. This Japanese sword is dangerous. The name can be attributed to a large number of representatives that differ from each other.

View

Real Japanese swords must have not only a sharp blade and strength, but also durability. They should not break when strong blows, and also for a long time without sharpening. Carbon gives hardness, but at the same time the sword loses its elasticity, which means it becomes brittle. Blacksmiths in Japan invented various shapes, which could provide both elasticity and durability.

Ultimately it was decided that layering would solve the problem. The traditional technique involves making the core of the blade from low-carbon steel. The remaining layers are elastic. Various combinations and methods help to create such a Japanese sword. A combat blade should be convenient for a certain warrior. The blacksmith can also change the type of steel, which greatly affects the entire sword. In general, katanas can differ greatly from each other due to the reasons described above.

Due to the complexity of manufacturing, blade designs cost differently. For example, the cheapest one involves the use of one type of steel. Typically used to create tanto. But the soshu kitae is the most complex structure; it has seven layers of steel. An exemplary work created using it is a work of art. One of the first to use soshu kitae was the blacksmith Masamune.

In the house and on the street

As you know, in Japan there are a huge number of traditions, many of which directly relate to edged weapons. For example, when entering a house, a warrior never took off a short Japanese samurai sword. The Wakaji remained in its sheath as a reminder of the guest's combat readiness. With the katana (long sword) it was different. The samurai held it in his left hand if he feared for his own life. As a sign of trust, he could shift it to the right. When the warrior sat down, he also did not part with his swords.

On the street, the samurai carried a katana in a sheath called a saya. The mounting for the sword was called koshirae. If there was a need, the warrior never parted with his katana. However, in peacetime the long sword was left at home. There it was stored in a special shirasaya assembly, which was created from untreated magnolia wood. It was able to protect the blade from corrosion.

If you compare the katana with Russian analogues, then it most closely resembles a checker. However, thanks to the long handle, the first one can be used with two hands, which is a distinctive feature. A useful property of the katana is that it is also easy to deliver stabbing blows, since the bend of the blade is small and the blade is sharp.

Wearing

The katana was always worn to the left of the body in a sheath. The obi belt securely fastens the sword and prevents it from falling out. In society, the blade should always be higher than the hilt. This is a tradition, not a military necessity. But in armed conflicts The samurai held a katana in his left hand, that is, in a state of combat readiness. As a sign of trust, as already mentioned, the weapons were transferred to right hand. The Japanese katana sword replaced the tachi by the end of the 14th century.

Usually everyone chose a handle decorated with decorative elements, but no one chose an ugly and untreated one. However, at the end of the 19th century, the wearing of swords, all except wooden ones, was prohibited in Japan. And the untreated hilt began to gain popularity, since the blade was not visible in the scabbard, and the sword could be mistaken for a bokken. In Russia, a katana is characterized as a two-handed saber with a blade over 60 cm.

However, not only the katana was used by samurai. There are lesser known and popular types of Japanese swords. They are written about below.

Vikazashi

This is a short Japanese sword. The traditional type of bladed weapon was quite popular among samurai. It was often worn in tandem with a katana. The length of the blade actually made it not a sword, but rather a dagger; it is about 30-60 cm. The entire wakizashi was about 50-80 cm, depending on the previous indicator. The slight curvature made it look like a katana. The sharpening was one-sided, like most Japanese swords. The convex section is much larger than that of a katana, so soft objects were cut more sharply. A distinctive feature is the square-section handle.

Wakizashi was very popular; many fencing schools taught their students to use it and a katana at the same time. The sword was called the guardian of one's honor and was treated with special respect.

However, the main advantage of the katana was the free wearing of wakizashi by absolutely everyone. If only samurai had the right to use a long sword, then artisans, workers, merchants and others often took a short sword with them. Due to the considerable length of the wakizashi, it was often used as a full-fledged weapon.

Tati

The long Japanese sword, which was replaced by the katana, was quite popular at one time. The fundamental differences between them could be identified even at the stage of creating the blade - a different design was used. Katana has much better performance, but tachi also deserves attention. It was customary to carry a long sword with the blade down; it was secured to the belt with a special bandage. The scabbard was most often wrapped to prevent damage. If the katana was part of civilian clothing, then the tati was exclusively military. Paired with it was a tanto sword. Also, tachi was often used as a ceremonial weapon at various events and in the courts of shoguns and emperors (the former can also be called princes).

When compared with the same katana, the blade of the tachi is more curved and also longer, about 75 cm. The katana is straight and relatively short. The handle of the tachi, like the sword itself, is quite strongly curved, which is the main distinguishing aspect.

Tati also had a second name - daito. In Europe it is usually pronounced "daikatana". Error due to incorrect reading of hieroglyphs.

Tanto

Paired with the tati was a short sword, which could also be classified as a dagger. Tanto is a phrase, so in Japan it is not considered a knife. There is also another reason. Tanto was used as a weapon. However, the kozuka knife was worn in the same sheath. The length of the blade ranged from 15-30 cm. Most often the blade was single-edged, but sometimes double-edged ones were created, but as an exception.

Interestingly, wakizashi, katana and tanto are the same swords, only differing in length. There was a type of yoroi-doshi, which had a triangular blade. It was needed to pierce armor. Tanto was not banned for use ordinary people, so not only samurai wore it, but also doctors, merchants and others. In theory, a tanto, like any short sword, is a dagger. Another variety was the kaiken, which was shorter in length. It was most often worn by ladies of high society in an obi belt and used for self-defense. Tanto did not disappear, it remained in traditional royal wedding ceremonies. And some samurai wore it instead of a wakizashi in conjunction with a katana.

Odachi

In addition to the above types of long sword, there were less known and widespread ones. One of these is odachi. The term is often confused with nodachi, which is described below, but these are two different swords.

Literally, odachi translates as “big sword.” Indeed, the length of its blade exceeds 90.9 cm. However, there is no exact definition, which is also observed with other species. In fact, every sword exceeding the above value can be called odachi. The length is about 1.6 m, although it often exceeds it; the hilt of the Japanese sword was considerable.

Swords have not been used since the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War of 1615. After it, a special law was issued prohibiting the use of bladed weapons of a certain length. Unfortunately, only a tiny amount of odachi survives today. The reason for this is that the owners cut their own bladed weapons in order to meet the standards. After the ban, swords were used as gifts, as they were quite valuable. This became their purpose. The high cost was explained by the fact that manufacturing was extremely complex.

Nodachi

The name literally means field sword. Nodachi, like odachi, had enormous length. Because of her, creation was difficult. The sword was worn on the back, since this was the only way possible. Nodachi did not become widespread precisely due to the complexity of its manufacture. In addition, it also required skill when fighting. The complex technique of possession was determined by large sizes and enormous weight. It was almost impossible to snatch a sword from behind your back in the heat of battle. But where then was it used?

Perhaps the most best use there was a struggle with the horsemen. Long length and the sharp end made it possible to use the nodachi as a spear, hitting both a person and a horse. The sword was also quite effective when dealing damage to several targets at once. But nodachi is completely unsuitable for close combat. Samurai, if necessary, threw away the sword and picked up a more convenient katana or tachi.

Kodati

The name translates as “little tati”. Kodachi is a Japanese edged weapon that cannot be classified as either a long or short sword. It's rather something in between. Thanks to its size, it can be easily and quickly grabbed and perfectly fencing. The versatility of the sword, due to its size, made it possible to use it in close combat, where movements are constrained and at a distance.

It is best to compare kodachi to wakizashi. Although their blades are very different (the first one is wider), the technique of wielding is similar. The length of one and the other are also similar. Kodachi was allowed to be worn by everyone, since he could not relate to long swords. It is often confused with wakizashi for the reasons described above. Kodachi was worn like a tachi, that is, with a downward curve. The samurai who used it did not take a second bladed weapon into the daisho due to its versatility. The Japanese combat sword was not required in a bundle.

A large number of swords were created in Japan, for which there was no exact definition. Some, related to small ones, could be worn by all people. The samurai usually himself chose the types of swords that he used in a combination of daisho. The swords supplanted each other, as the new ones possessed best characteristics, a shining example Tachi and katana serve. Made with high quality by great craftsmen, these swords were true works of art.