Japanese swords. Samurai sword - perfect weapon or brand name

Although many associate only the samurai sword with Japan, they are wrong. Some of the most diverse and famous Japanese swords are katana, wakizashi, tachi, tanto dagger, rare ken, various types of yari spears and naginata halberd.

Tati - a long sword (blade length from 61 cm) with a relatively large bend (sori), intended mainly for equestrian combat. There is a kind 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 by 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 (handle) was also often longer and somewhat curved). Tati, unlike the katana, was not tucked behind the obi (cloth belt) with the blade up, but hung on the thigh in a bandage designed for this, with the blade down. To protect against damage by armor, the scabbard often had a winding.

Kosigatana is a small sword that does not have a guard. The length of the blade is up to 45 cm. Sometimes a tanto dagger is worn instead or in addition.

Naginata - 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. 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 was most widely used during the reign of the Kamakura and Muromachi era emperors.

Yari is a Japanese spear that was not designed for throwing. The yari has been used by warriors since ancient times. The design of the yari somewhat resembles an ordinary sword. Simple artisans (not craftsmen) were engaged in the manufacture of yari, since structurally 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 draws a long, straight blade. But long swords were predominantly cavalry weapons and became noticeably widespread only in the Middle Ages. And even then they were much less common than short swords that served as infantry weapons. Even the knights girded themselves with long swords only before the battle, and at other times they constantly wore daggers.

Stylet

In the 16th century, the cords lengthened somewhat and acquired a closed guard. The direct successor of the legionary sword - a short sword - "Landsknecht" - remained the most massive weapon of the European infantry until the appearance of bayonets at the end of the 17th century.

"Landsknecht"
The greatest drawback of daggers was not modest length, but insufficient penetration power. In fact: the Roman sword reached 45 cm from the palm, but the long sword of the European knights of the 12th century - also only 40-50 cm. After all, it is desirable 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, as it could catch on the enemy's clothes.
So, from a practical point of view, the dagger was not short. But he did not pierce the armor either. The small weight of the dagger did not allow them to reflect the blows of heavy weapons.
But the blow of a short piercing blade could be delivered very accurately and suddenly. Great strength for fighting with short swords was not required, but only a very experienced and dexterous warrior could effectively use this weapon.

Pugio
In the middle of the century, the legionary sword not only did not disappear, but did not change at all. Under the name of stylet or cord, it continued to be the most widespread type of bladed weapon 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.

On the other hand, pig steel was very soft. The saber, forged from Asian Damascus, simply cut through the saber from English steel. Elastic, but soft blades of the 16th century blunted literally “on the air”. The soldiers were forced to spend all their leisure time with grindstone in hand.

DAGA
Since the daga served, first of all, to repel blows, the guard was its main detail. This was especially noticeable among 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 outward-curving side blades.

Misericordia
Another question is that daggers were not usually adapted specifically for throwing. They did not have the overbalance to the point necessary for throwing weapons. To defeat the enemy at a distance, there were special knives.

shurikens
The variety of shapes of small projectiles is so great that they are practically unclassifiable. Unites all the "throwing iron", perhaps, only one property: the soldiers never used it. Never before the phalanx, along with archers and slingers, did knife throwers go. Yes, and the knight preferred to practice throwing a dagi that was completely unsuitable for this purpose, and not to carry a special knife with him.
The knife could not withstand competition from other projectiles. Its penetrating power was insufficient against the lightest armor. Yes, and he flew far, inaccurately and too slowly.

Kansashi is a Japanese female combat stiletto in the form of a hair clip with a blade 200 mm long. Served as a secret weapon.

Guan Dao - Chinese cold 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). The total length of the weapon also varies within 2 meters. The shaft was made of wood, glued bamboo or metal (for ukedao). Like other types of glaive, the yanyuedao has a punch on the butt, which could be used to strike or use to parry an opponent's blow.

The reign of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 was associated with the disappearance of the art of wielding a spear. The bloody wars were replaced by the era of technology and the improvement of military competition with swords. The art associated with it was called "kenjutsu", over time turned into a means of spiritual self-improvement.

The meaning of the samurai sword

Real samurai swords were considered not just the weapons of a professional warrior, but also a symbol of the samurai class, an emblem of honor and valor, courage and masculinity. Since ancient times, weapons have been revered as a sacred gift from the goddess of the Sun to her grandson, who rules on earth. The sword was to be used only to eradicate evil, injustice and protect good. He was part of a Shinto cult. Temples and sacred places were decorated with weapons. In the 8th century, Japanese priests were involved in the production, cleaning, polishing of swords.

The samurai had to keep a warrior's kit with him at all times. Swords were given a place of honor in the house, a niche in the main corner - tokonoma. They were stored on a tachikake or katanakake stand. Going to bed, the samurai put his swords at his head at arm's length.

A person could be poor, but have an expensive blade in an excellent frame. The sword was an emblem emphasizing the class position. For the sake of the blade, the samurai had the right to sacrifice his own life and his family.

Japanese warrior set

Japanese warriors always carried two swords with them, which indicated that they belonged to the samurai. A set of a warrior (daise) consisted of a long and a short blade. The long samurai sword katana or daito (from 60 to 90 cm) has been the main weapon of the samurai since the 14th century. It was worn on the belt with the point up. The sword was sharpened on one side, and had a hilt. The masters of combat knew how to kill with lightning speed, in a split second, pulling out the blade and making one stroke. This technique was called "iaijutsu".

A short samurai sword wakizashi (seto or kodati) half as long (from 30 to 60 cm) was worn on the belt with the point up, was used less often when fighting in cramped conditions. With the help of wakizashi, the warriors cut off the heads of the killed opponents or, being captured, committed seppuku - suicide. Most often, samurai fought with a katana, although in special schools they taught combat with two swords.

Types of samurai swords

In addition to the daisy set, there were several types used by warriors.

• Tsurugi, chokuto - the oldest sword used before the 11th century, had straight edges and was sharpened on both sides.
• Ken - a straight ancient blade, sharpened on both sides, used in religious ceremonies and rarely used in battle.
• Tati - a large curved sword (point length from 61 cm), used by horsemen, was worn with the point down.
• Nodachi or odachi - an extra-large blade (from 1 m to 1.8 m), which is a type of tachi, was worn behind the rider.
• Tanto - dagger (up to 30 cm long).
• Bamboo swords (shinai) and wooden swords (bokken) were used for training. Training weapons could be used in combat with an unworthy opponent, such as a robber.

Commoners and men of the lower classes had the right to defend themselves with small knives and daggers, since there was a law on the right to carry swords.

katana sword

Katana is a combat samurai sword, which is included in the standard armament of a warrior along with a small wakizashi blade. It began to be used in the 15th century due to the improvement of tachi. The katana is distinguished by an outward-curved blade, a long straight handle that allows it to be held with one or two hands. The blade has a slight bend and a pointed end, used for cutting and stabbing. The weight of the sword is 1 - 1.5 kg. In terms of strength, flexibility and hardness, the samurai katana sword ranks first among other blades in the world, cuts bones, rifle barrels and iron, surpasses Arab damask steel and European swords.

The blacksmith who forged weapons never made fittings; for this, he had other craftsmen under him. Katana is a constructor assembled as a result of the work of a whole team. Samurai always had several sets of accessories worn for the occasion. The blade was passed down through the ages from generation to generation, and its appearance could change depending on the circumstances.

History of the katana

In 710, the legendary first Japanese swordsman Amakuni used a sword with a curved blade in battle. Forged from dissimilar plates, it had a saber shape. Its form did not change until the 19th century. Since the 12th century, katanas have been considered the swords of aristocrats. Under the rule of the Ashikaga shoguns, the tradition of carrying two swords arose, which became the privilege of the samurai class. A set of samurai swords was part of a military, civil and festive costume. Two blades were worn by all samurai, regardless of rank: from private to shogun. After the revolution, Japanese officials were required to wear European swords, then katanas lost their high status.

Secrets of making a katana

The blade was forged from two types of steel: the core was made of tough steel, and the cutting edge was made of strong steel. Steel before forging was cleaned by repeated folding and welding.

In the manufacture of katana, the choice of metal was important, a special iron ore with impurities of molybdenum and tungsten. The master buried iron bars in a swamp for 8 years. During this time, rust eats away weak spots, then the product is sent to the forge. The gunsmith turned the bars into foil with a heavy hammer. The foil was then repeatedly folded and flattened. Therefore, the finished blade consisted of 50,000 layers of high-strength metal.

Real samurai katanas have always been distinguished by the characteristic line of jamon, which appears as a result of the use of special forging and hardening methods. The handle of the tsuka sword was wrapped in stingray skin and wrapped with a strip of silk. Souvenir or ceremonial katanas could have handles made of wood or ivory.

Katana proficiency

The long hilt of the sword allows for efficient maneuvering. To hold the katana, a grip is used, the end of the handle of which must be held in the middle of the left palm, and with the right hand, squeeze the handle near the guard. The synchronous swing of both hands made it possible for the warrior to get a wide swing amplitude without spending a lot of strength. The blows were applied vertically to the sword or hands of the enemy. This allows you to remove the opponent's weapon from the trajectory of the attack in order to hit him with the next swing.

ancient japanese weapons

Several varieties of Japanese weapons are of the auxiliary or secondary type.

• Yumi or o-yumi - combat bows (from 180 to 220 cm), which are the oldest weapon Japan. Bows have been used in combat and in religious ceremonies since ancient times. In the 16th century, they were supplanted by muskets brought from Portugal.
• Yari - a spear (length 5 m), a weapon popular in the era of civil strife, was used by the infantry to throw the enemy off the horse.
• Bo - a military fighting pole, related to sports weapons today. There are many options for the pole, depending on the length (from 30 cm to 3 m), thickness and section (round, hexagonal, etc.).
• Yoroi-doshi was considered a dagger of mercy, resembled a stiletto and was used to finish off opponents wounded in battle.
• Kozuka or kotsuka - a military knife, fixed in the sheath of a combat sword, was often used for household purposes.
• Tessen or dansen utiwa is the commander's battle fan. The fan was equipped with sharpened steel spokes and could be used in attack, as a battle hatchet and as a shield.
• Jitte - fighting iron baton, a fork with two teeth. It was used in the Tokugawa era as a police weapon. Using jitte, police intercepted samurai swords in battles with violent warriors.
• Naginata is a Japanese halberd, a weapon of warrior monks, a two-meter pole with a small flat blade at the end. In ancient times, it was used by foot soldiers to attack enemy horses. In the 17th century, it began to be used in samurai families as a female
• Kaiken is a combat dagger for female aristocrats. Used for self-defense, as well as dishonored girls for suicide.

During the internecine civil wars in Japan, firearms were made, guns with flint locks (teppo), which began to be considered unworthy with the coming to power of the Tokugawa. From the 16th century, cannons also appeared in the Japanese troops, but the bow and sword continued to occupy the main place in the armament of the samurai.

katana kaji

Swords in Japan have always been made by people of the ruling class, often by samurai relatives or courtiers. With the growing demand for swords, the feudal lords began to patronize blacksmiths (katana-kaji). Making a samurai sword required careful preparation. The forging of swords was reminiscent of a liturgical ceremony and was filled with religious activities to protect the wearer from evil forces.

Before starting work, the blacksmith kept a fast, refrained from bad thoughts and deeds, and performed the ritual of cleansing the body. The forge was carefully cleaned and decorated with sime - ritual attributes woven from rice straw. Each forge had an altar for prayers and for moral preparation for work. If necessary, the master dressed in kuge - ceremonial clothes. Honor did not allow an experienced craftsman to make low-quality weapons. Sometimes a blacksmith would destroy a sword that he could have spent several years on because of a single flaw. Work on one sword could last from 1 year to 15 years.

Japanese sword production technology

The remelted metal obtained from magnetic iron ore was used as weapon steel. Samurai swords, considered the best in the Far East, were as durable as Damascus. In the 17th century, metal from Europe began to be used in the manufacture of Japanese swords.

A Japanese blacksmith formed a blade from a huge number of iron layers, the thinnest strips with different carbon contents. The strips were welded together during melting and forging. Forging, stretching, repeated folding and new forging of metal strips made it possible to obtain a thin beam.

Thus, the blade consisted of many fused thin layers of multi-carbon steel. The combination of low-carbon and high-carbon metals gave the sword a special hardness and toughness. At the next stage, the blacksmith polished the blade on several stones and hardened it. It was not uncommon for samurai swords from Japan to be made over several years.

Murder at the crossroads

The quality of the blade and the skill of the samurai were usually tested in battle. A good sword made it possible to cut three corpses laid on top of each other. It was believed that the new samurai swords must be tried on a person. Tsuji-giri (kill at the crossroads) - the name of the rite of trial of a new sword. The victims of the samurai were beggars, peasants, travelers and just passersby, whose number soon numbered in the thousands. The authorities put patrols and guards on the streets, but the guards did not perform their duties well.

Samurai, who did not want to kill the innocent, preferred another method - tameshi-giri. By paying the executioner, it was possible to give him the blade, which he tried during the execution of the condemned.

What is the secret to the sharpness of the katana?

A real katana sword can self-sharpen as a result of the ordered movement of molecules. By simply placing the blade on a special stand, the warrior, after a certain period of time, again received a sharp blade. The sword was polished in stages, through ten reducing grit. Then the master polished the blade with charcoal dust.

At the last stage, the sword was hardened in liquid clay, as a result of this procedure, a matte thinnest strip (yakiba) appeared on the blade. Famous masters left a signature on the tail of the blade. After forging and hardening, the sword was polished for half a month. When the katana had mirror shine the work was considered completed.

Conclusion

A real samurai sword, the price of which is fabulous, as a rule, is handmade ancient master. Such tools are difficult to find, as they are passed down in families as a relic. The most expensive katana have mei - the brand of the master and the year of manufacture on the shank. Symbolic forging was applied to many swords, drawings from warding off evil spirits. The scabbard for the sword was also decorated with ornaments.

The sword has always been the weapon of the nobility. Knights treated their blades like comrades in battle, and having lost his sword in battle, a warrior covered himself with indelible shame. Among the glorious representatives of this type of melee weapons, there is also their own "know" - the famous blades, which, according to legend, have magical properties, for example, to put enemies to flight and protect their master. There is some truth in such tales - an artifact sword with its very appearance could inspire the associates of its owner. We present you 1 2 most famous deadliest relics in history.

1. The sword in the stone

Many people remember the legend of King Arthur, which tells how he plunged his sword into a stone to prove his right to the throne. Although the story is completely fantastical, it may be based on real events that only occurred much later than the alleged reign of the legendary king of the Britons.

In the Italian chapel of Monte Siepi, a block with a blade firmly planted in it is kept, which, according to some sources, belonged to the Tuscan knight Galliano Guidotti, who lived in the 12th century.

According to legend, Guidotti had a bad temper and led a rather licentious lifestyle, so one day the Archangel Michael appeared to him and urged him to embark on the path of serving the Lord, that is, to become a monk. Laughing, the knight declared that it would be as difficult for him to go to the monastery as to cut a stone, and in support of his words, he struck a nearby boulder with his blade with force. The archangel showed the stubborn a miracle - the blade easily entered the stone, and the amazed Galliano left it there, after which he embarked on the path of correction and was later canonized, and the fame of his sword that pierced the stone spread throughout Europe.

Having subjected the block and the sword to radiocarbon analysis, an employee of the University of Pavia, Luigi Garlaskelli, found that some part of this story may well be true: the age of the stone and sword is about eight centuries, that is, it coincides with the life of Senor Guidotti.

2. Kusanagi no tsurugi

This mythical sword has been a symbol of the power of Japanese emperors for several centuries. Kusanagi no tsurugi (translated from Japanese as "a sword that cuts grass") is also known as Ame-nomurakumo no tsurugi - "a sword that gathers the clouds of paradise".

The Japanese epic says that the sword was found by the wind god Susanoo in the body of an eight-headed dragon he had killed. Susanoo gave the blade to his sister, the goddess of the sun Amaterasu, later he ended up with her grandson Ninigi, and after a while he got to the demigod Jimmu, who then became the first emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Interestingly, the Japanese authorities never put the sword on public display, but, on the contrary, sought to hide it away from prying eyes - even during coronations, the sword was carried out wrapped in linen. Supposedly it is kept in the Atsuta Shinto shrine located in the city of Nagoya, but there is no evidence of its existence.

The only ruler of Japan who publicly mentioned the sword was Emperor Hirohito (Hirohito): abdicating the throne after the defeat of the country in World War II, he urged temple attendants to keep the sword, no matter what.

3. Durandal

For centuries, the parishioners of the Not Dame Chapel, located in the city of Rocamadour, could see a sword stuck in the wall, which, according to legend, belonged to Roland himself - the hero of medieval epics and legends, who actually existed.

According to legend, he threw his magic blade, protecting the chapel from the enemy, and the sword remained in the wall. Attracted by these tales of monks, numerous pilgrims flocked to Rocamadour, who retold the story of Roland's sword to each other, and thus the legend spread throughout Europe.

However, according to scientists, the sword in the chapel is not the legendary Durendal, with which Roland terrified his enemies. The famous knight of Charlemagne died on August 15, 778, in a battle with the Basques in the Ronceval Gorge, located hundreds of kilometers from Rocamadour, and rumors about Durandal, which was planted in the wall, began to appear only in the middle of the XII century, almost simultaneously with writing the Song of Roland. The monks simply tied Roland's name to a sword to ensure a steady stream of worshipers. But rejecting the version about Roland as the owner of the blade, experts cannot offer anything in return - who it belonged to will probably remain a mystery.

By the way, now there is no sword in the chapel - in 2011 it was removed from the wall and sent to the Paris Museum of the Middle Ages. It is also interesting that in French the word "Durandal" female, so Roland probably did not have a friendly affection for his sword, but a real passion and could hardly throw his beloved against the wall.

4. Muramasa's Bloodthirsty Blades

Muramasa is a famous Japanese swordsman and blacksmith who lived in the 16th century. According to legend, Muramasa prayed to the gods to endow his blades with bloodlust and destructive power. The master made very good swords, and the gods respected his request by placing a demonic spirit of extermination of all living things in each blade.

It is believed that if Muramasa's sword is gathering dust for a long time without work, it can provoke the owner to kill or commit suicide, in order to “get drunk” on blood in this way. There are countless stories of Muramasa sword wielders going insane or slaughtering countless people. After a series of accidents and murders that occurred in the family of the famous shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, which popular rumor associated with the curse of Muramasa, the government outlawed the blades of the master, and most of them were destroyed.

In fairness, it must be said that the Muramasa school is a whole dynasty of gunsmiths that has existed for about a century, so the story with the “demonic spirit of bloodthirstiness” that has settled in swords is nothing more than a legend. The curse of the blades made by the masters of the school was, paradoxically, their exceptional quality. Many experienced warriors preferred them to other swords and, apparently, due to their skill and the sharpness of Muramasa's blades, they won victories more often than others.

5. Honjo Masamune

Unlike the bloodthirsty swords of Muramasa, the blades made by the master Masamune, according to legend, endowed warriors with calmness and wisdom. According to legend, in order to find out whose blades are better and sharper, Muramasa and Masamune lowered their swords into the river with lotuses. The flowers revealed the essence of each of the masters: the blade of Masamune's sword did not inflict a single scratch on them, because his blades cannot harm the innocent, and Muramasa's product, on the contrary, seemed to want to cut the flowers into small pieces, justifying its reputation.

Of course it is the purest water fiction - Masamune lived almost two centuries earlier than the gunsmiths of the Muramasa school. Nevertheless, Masamune's swords are truly unique: the secret of their strength cannot be revealed until now, even using the latest technologies and research methods.

All the surviving blades of the master's work are the national treasure of the Land of the Rising Sun and are carefully guarded, but the best of them, Honjo Masamune, was transferred to the American soldier Colde Bimor after the surrender of Japan in World War II, and its current whereabouts are unknown. The country's government is trying to find a unique blade, but so far, alas, in vain.

6. Joyeuse

The blade Joyeuse (in translation from French “joyeuse” - “joyful”), according to legend, belonged to the founder of the Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne, and for many years served him faithfully. According to legend, he could change the color of the blade up to 30 times a day and outshine the Sun with its brightness. Currently, there are two blades that the famous monarch could have wielded.

One of them, used for many years as the coronation sword of the French kings, is kept in the Louvre, and for hundreds of years disputes have not ceased as to whether the hand of Charlemagne really squeezed its hilt. Radiocarbon analysis proves that this cannot be true: the surviving old part of the sword exhibited in the Louvre (over the past hundreds of years it has been altered and restored more than once) was created between the 10th and 11th centuries, after the death of Charlemagne (the emperor died in 814). Some believe that the sword was made after the destruction of the real Joyeuse and is an exact copy of it, or there is a part of "Joyful" in it.

The second contender for belonging to the legendary king is the so-called saber of Charlemagne, which is now in one of the museums in Vienna. Regarding the time of its manufacture, the opinions of experts differ, but many admit that it could still belong to Karl: he probably captured the weapon as a trophy during one of his campaigns in Eastern Europe. Of course, this is not the famous Joyeuse, but, nevertheless, the saber has no price as a historical artifact.

7. Sword of St. Peter

There is a legend that the blade, which is part of the exposition of the museum of the Polish city of Poznan, is nothing more than the sword with which the apostle Peter cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest during the arrest of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. This sword was brought to Poland in 968 by Bishop Jordan, who assured everyone that the blade belonged to Peter. Adherents of this myth believe that the sword was forged at the beginning of the 1st century somewhere in the eastern outskirts of the Roman Empire.

Most researchers, however, are sure that the weapon was made much later than the events described in the Bible, this is confirmed by the analysis of the metal from which the sword and the blade of the “falchion” type were smelted - they simply did not make such swords in the time of the apostles, they appeared only in the 11th century .

8. Wallace's sword

According to legend, Sir William Wallace, a Scots commander and leader in the struggle for independence from England, after the victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, wrapped the hilt of his sword with the skin of treasurer Hugh de Cressingham, who collected taxes for the British. One must think that the unfortunate treasurer had to go through many terrible moments before his death, because, in addition to the hilt, Wallace made the scabbard and belt from the same material.

According to another version of the legend, Wallace made only a belt from leather, but it is incredibly difficult to say anything for sure now, because at the request of King James IV of Scotland the sword was reworked - the old worn finish of the sword was replaced with a more appropriate one for this great artifact.

Probably, Sir William really could decorate his weapon with the skin of the treasurer: as a patriot of his country, he hated traitors collaborating with the invaders. However, there is another opinion - many believe that the story was invented by the British in order to create the image of a bloodthirsty monster for the fighter for the independence of Scotland. We will most likely never know the truth.

9. Sword of Goujian

In 1965, archaeologists found a sword in one of the ancient Chinese tombs, on which, despite the dampness that surrounded it for many years, there was not a single speck of rust - the weapon was in excellent condition, one of the scientists even cut his finger when he checked the sharpness blades. Having carefully studied the find, experts were surprised to state that it is at least 2.5 thousand years old.

According to the most common version, the sword belonged to Goujian, one of the wangs (rulers) of the Yue kingdom during the Spring and Autumn period. Researchers believe that this particular blade was mentioned in the lost work on the history of the kingdom. According to one legend, Goujian considered this sword the only worthwhile weapon in his collection, and another legend says that the sword is so beautiful that it could only be created by the combined efforts of Earth and Heaven.

The sword was perfectly preserved solely thanks to the art of ancient Chinese gunsmiths: the blade is made using a stainless alloy invented by them, and the scabbard of this weapon fit so tightly to the blade that air access to it was practically blocked.

10. Seven prong sword

This unusually beautiful blade was discovered in 1945 in the Shinto shrine of Isonokami-jingu (Japanese city of Tenri). The sword is strikingly different from the cold weapons familiar to us from the Land of the Rising Sun, first of all, the complex shape of the blade - it has six bizarre branches, and the tip of the blade was obviously considered the seventh - therefore, the weapon found was named Nanatsusaya-no-tachi (in the translation from Japanese - "Seven-toothed sword").

The sword was kept in terrible conditions (which is very uncharacteristic for the Japanese), so its condition leaves much to be desired. There is an inscription on the blade, according to which the ruler of Korea presented this weapon to one of the Chinese emperors.

A description of exactly the same blade is found in the Nihon Shoki, the oldest work on the history of Japan: according to legend, the seven-pronged sword was presented as a gift to the semi-mythical Empress Jingu.

After carefully examining the sword, the experts came to the conclusion that, most likely, this is the same legendary artifact, since the estimated time of its creation coincides with the events described in the Nihon shoki, in addition, the Isonokami-jingu shrine is mentioned there, so the relic simply lay there more than 1.5 thousand years until it was found.

11. Tison

The weapon that belonged to the legendary Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid Campeador, is now located in the cathedral of the city of Burgos and is considered a national treasure of Spain.

After the death of Sid, the weapons fell to the ancestors Spanish king Ferdinand II of Aragon, and the king who inherited him presented the relic to the Marquis de Falses. The descendants of the Marquis carefully kept the artifact for hundreds of years, and in 1944, with their permission, the sword became part of the exposition of the Royal Military Museum in Madrid. In 2007, the owner of the sword sold it to the authorities of the region of Castile and León for $ 2 million, and they transferred it to the cathedral where El Cid is buried.

The employees of the Ministry of Culture were offended by the sale of the sword, and they began to spread the word that it was a later fake that had nothing to do with de Vivar. However, careful analysis confirmed that although the worn “native” hilt of the weapon was replaced in the 16th century with another, its blade was made in the 11th century, that is, the sword must have belonged to the hero.

12. Ulfbert

In our time, such swords are almost forgotten, but in the Middle Ages, the enemies of the Vikings experienced genuine horror at the word "Ulfbert". The honor of having such a weapon belonged exclusively to the elite of the Scandinavian armed forces, because the Ulfberts were much stronger than other swords of that time. Most of the medieval edged weapons were cast from brittle low-carbon steel mixed with slag, and the Vikings bought crucible steel from Iran and Afghanistan for their swords, which is much stronger.

Now it is not known who this Ulfbert was, and whether he was the first to guess to create such swords, but it was his brand that stood on all swords made in Europe from Iranian and Afghan metal. Ulfberts are perhaps the most advanced edged weapons of the early Middle Ages, far ahead of their time. Blades comparable in strength began to be mass-produced in Europe only in the second half of the 18th century with the beginning of the global industrial revolution.

Japanese names are often used in the literature to refer to varieties Japanese sword and its details. A short glossary of the most commonly used terms:

Comparative table of Japanese swords

Type	Length (nagasa), cm	Width (motohuba), cm	Deflection (sorry), cm	Thickness (kasane), mm	Notes
Tati	61-71	2,4-3,5	1,2-2,1	5-6,6	Appeared in the XI century. Worn on the belt with the blade down, paired with a tanto dagger. A variation of odachi could be worn on the back.
katana	61-73	2,8-3,1	0,4-1,9	6-8	Appeared in the XIV century. Worn behind the belt with the blade up, paired with a wakizashi.
Wakizashi	32-60	2,1-3,2	0,2-1,7	4-7	Appeared in the XIV century. Worn with the blade up, paired with a katana or alone as a dagger.
Tanto	17-30	1.7-2.9	0-0.5	5-7	Worn in tandem with a tati sword or separately as a dagger.
All dimensions are given for the blade, excluding the shank. Width and thickness are indicated for the base of the blade, where it passes into the tang. The data are taken for the swords of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods (- years) according to the catalogs. The length of tachi in the initial period of Kamakura and modern tachi (gendaito) reaches 83 cm.

History of the Japanese sword

Ancient swords. Until the 9th century.

The first iron swords were brought to the Japanese islands in the 2nd half of the 3rd century by Chinese merchants from the mainland. This period Japanese history bears the name of Kofun (lit. "mounds", III - centuries). In the mound-type graves, swords of that period were preserved, albeit badly damaged by rust, divided by archaeologists into Japanese, Korean, and the most common Chinese designs. Chinese swords had a straight narrow single-edged blade with a large annular pommel on the shank. Japanese examples were shorter, with a wider straight double-edged blade and a massive pommel. In the Asuka period (- years), with the help of Korean and Chinese blacksmiths, Japan began to produce its own iron, and by the 7th century they mastered the technology of forging multilayer steel. Unlike previous examples, forged from a single iron strip, swords began to be made by forging from iron and steel plates.

In total, after the end of the Second World War, about 650 licenses for the manufacture of swords were issued to blacksmiths. About 300 licensed blacksmiths continue to work today. Many of them are trying to restore the traditions of making swords of the Kamakura and Koto periods. The swords produced by them are considered primarily as works of traditional Japanese art.

sword manufacturing technology

Blacksmiths-gunsmiths

Blacksmiths had a high social status in Japanese society, many of them are known by name thanks to the lists. The lists of ancient blacksmiths begin with the name Amakuni from the Yamato province, who, according to legend, lived at the beginning of the 8th century during the reign of Emperor Taiho (-).

In the old days (the koto period of swords, about - BC), there were about 120 blacksmith schools that over the centuries produced swords with characteristic stable features developed by the founding master of the school. In modern times (the period of Shinto swords, - gg.), 80 schools are known. There are about 1000 outstanding masters blacksmith craft, and in total over a thousand years of the history of the Japanese sword, more than 23 thousand blacksmiths-gunsmiths were recorded, of which most (4 thousand) during the period of koto (old swords) lived in Bizen Province (modern Okayama Prefecture).

Ingots of iron were flattened into thin plates, cooled rapidly in water and then broken into pieces the size of a coin. After that, the selection of pieces was carried out, pieces with large inclusions of slag were discarded, the rest were sorted by color and granular structure of the fault. This method allowed the blacksmith to select steel with a predictable carbon content ranging from 0.6 to 1.5%.

Further isolation of slag residues in steel and a decrease in carbon content was carried out in the process of forging - joining individual small pieces into a blank for a sword.

Blade forging

Section of a Japanese sword. Shown are two common structures with excellent combination in the direction of the steel layers. Left: Blade metal will show texture itame, on right - masame.

Pieces of steel with approximately the same carbon content were poured onto a plate of the same metal, everything in a single block is heated to 1300 ° C and welded together with hammer blows. The forging process begins. The workpiece is flattened and doubled, then flattened again and doubled in the other direction. As a result of repeated forging, a multi-layer steel is obtained, finally cleaned of slags. It is easy to calculate that with a 15-fold folding of the workpiece, almost 33 thousand layers of steel are formed - a typical Damascus density for Japanese swords.

The slag still remains a microscopic layer on the surface of the steel layer, forming a peculiar texture ( hada), resembling a pattern on the surface of wood.

To make a sword blank, a blacksmith forges at least two bars: from hard high-carbon steel ( kawagane) and softer low-carbon ( shingane). From the first, a U-shaped profile about 30 cm long is formed, inside which a bar is inserted shingane, not reaching the part that will become the top and which is made of the best and hardest steel kawagane. Then the blacksmith heats the block in the furnace and welds the component parts by forging, after which he increases the length of the workpiece at 700-1100 ° C to the size of a sword by forging.

With more sophisticated technology up to 4 bars are welded: from the hardest steel ( hagane) form the cutting edge and tip, 2 bars of less hard steel go to the sides, and a bar of relatively soft steel forms the core. The multi-layer structure of the blade can be even more complex with separate butt welding.

Forging forms the blade of the blade to a thickness of about 2.5 mm (near the cutting edge) and its edge. The upper tip is also straightened by forging, for which the end of the workpiece is cut diagonally. Then the long end (from the side of the blade) of the diagonal cut is forged to the short (butt), as a result of which the metal structure at the top provides increased strength in the strike zone of the sword, while maintaining hardness and thus the possibility of very sharp sharpening.

Blade hardening and polishing

The next important step in the manufacture of the sword is the heat treatment of the blade to harden the cutting edge, as a result of which the jamon pattern appears on the surface of the sword, which is specific to Japanese swords. Up to half of the blanks in the hands of the average blacksmith never become real swords as a result of failed tempering.

For heat treatment, the blade is covered with an uneven layer of heat-resistant paste - a mixture of clay, ash and stone powder. The exact composition of the paste was kept secret by the master. The blade was covered with a thin layer, the thickest layer of paste was applied to the middle part of the blade, where hardening was undesirable. The liquid mixture was leveled and, after drying, scratched in a certain order in the area closer to the blade, due to which a pattern was prepared jamon. The blade with dried paste is heated evenly along its length to approx. 770 ° C (controlled by the color of the hot metal), then immersed in a container of water with the blade down. Rapid cooling changes the structure of the metal near the blade, where the thickness of the metal and thermal protective paste is the smallest. The blade is then reheated to 160°C and cooled down again. This procedure helps to reduce the stresses in the metal that have arisen during hardening.

The hardened area of ​​the blade has an almost white tint compared to the rest of the blade's darker grey-bluish surface. The boundary between them is clearly visible in the form of a patterned line. jamon, which is interspersed with shiny crystals of martensite in iron. In ancient times, the jamon looked like a straight line along the blade, in the Kamakura period the line became wavy, with bizarre curls and transverse lines. It is believed that in addition to aesthetic appearance, the wavy heterogeneous line of the jamon allows the blade to better withstand shock loads, damping sharp stresses in the metal.

If the procedure is followed, as an indicator of the quality of hardening, the butt of the blade acquires a whitish tint, utsuri(lit. reflection). Utsuri recalls jamon, but its appearance is not a consequence of the formation of martensite, but an optical effect as a result of a slight change in the structure of the metal in this zone compared to the nearby body of the blade. Utsuri is not a mandatory attribute of a quality sword, but indicates a successful heat treatment for some technologies.

When the blade is heated during the hardening process to a temperature of more than 770 °, its surface becomes rich in shades and rich in pattern details. However, the strength of the sword may suffer. Only the blacksmiths of the Sagami province during the Kamakura period managed to combine the fighting qualities of the sword with the luxurious design of the metal surface; high-quality swords from other schools are distinguished by a rather strict style of blade design.

The final finishing of the sword is no longer carried out by a blacksmith, but by an artisan polisher, whose skill was also highly valued. Using a series of polishing stones of varying grits and water, the polisher would polish the blade to perfection, after which the blacksmith would engrave his name and other information on the unpolished tang. The sword was considered ready, the remaining operations for attaching the hilt ( tsuki), guards ( tsuba), the application of jewelry belonged to the category of auxiliary procedures that did not require magical skill.

fighting qualities

The fighting qualities of the best Japanese swords cannot be assessed. Due to their uniqueness and high price, testers do not have the opportunity to test and compare them with the best works gunsmiths from other regions of the world. It is necessary to distinguish between the possibilities of the sword for different situations. For example, sharpening a sword for the greatest sharpness (for tricks with cutting handkerchiefs in the air) will be unsuitable for cutting through armor. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, legends were circulated about the capabilities of weapons that could not be demonstrated in modern times. Below are collected individual legends and facts on the capabilities of the Japanese sword.

Modern evaluation of Japanese swords

After the surrender of Japan in World War II, the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition issued an order to destroy all Japanese swords, but after the intervention of experts, in order to preserve historical relics of significant artistic value, the order was changed. The "Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords" was created (jap. 日本美術刀剣保存協会 Nippon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, NBTHK, nippon bujutsu to: ken hozon kyo: kai), one of his tasks was an expert assessment of the historical value of the sword. In 1950, Japan passed the law "On Cultural Property", which, in particular, determined the procedure for preserving Japanese swords as part of the cultural heritage of the nation.

The sword evaluation system is multi-stage, starting with the assignment of the lowest category and ending with the award of the highest titles (the top two titles are within the competence of the Ministry of Culture of Japan):

• National Treasure ( kokuho). About 122 swords have the title, mainly tachi of the Kamakura period, katanas and wakizashi in this list less than 2 dozen.
• Important cultural asset. The title has about 880 swords.
• A very important sword.
• Important sword.
• A highly guarded sword.
• Protected sword.

In modern Japan, it is only possible to keep a registered sword with one of the above titles, otherwise the sword is subject to confiscation as a type of weapon (unless it belongs to souvenir products). The actual quality of the sword is certified by the Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords (NBTHK), which issues an expert opinion according to the established pattern.

At present, it is customary in Japan to evaluate the Japanese sword not so much by its combat parameters (strength, cutting ability), but by the criteria applicable to a work of art. A high-quality sword, while retaining the properties of an effective weapon, must bring aesthetic pleasure to the observer, have the perfection of form and harmony of artistic taste.

see also

• Uchigatana

Sources

The article is based on the materials of the following publications:

• Sword. Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan. 1st ed. 1983. ISBN 0-87011-620-7 (U.S.)
• A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", - St. Petersburg, 2001, 264 p. ISBN 5-901555-01-5
• A. G. Bazhenov, "Examination of the Japanese sword", - S.-Pb., 2003, 440 p. ISBN 5-901555-14-7.
• Leon and Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara, "The Craft of the Japanese Sword". Translation into Russian on the site www.katori.ru.

Notes

1. There are discussions in the literature about whether to call Japanese samurai-shaped swords produced using non-traditional Japanese technologies. The article uses the established term "sword", but some believe the term "saber" is more correct for a curved single-edged weapon. According to the current Russian GOST R 51215-98 (Cold weapons, terminology), the "Japanese sword" refers to sabers - "4.4 saber: Contact blade cutting and cutting and piercing and cutting weapons with a long curved single-edged blade." Definition of a sword: "4.9 sword: A contact blade stabbing and slashing weapon with a straight medium or long massive double-edged blade"
2. The term "tati" was established in Russian-language literature. Russian phonetics does not allow to accurately convey the sound, English phonetics reproduces the name as tachi.
3. There is no exact standard for deflection for tati. At the beginning, the tati sword had an almost saber curvature; by the 14th century, the blade straightens. The deflection of the "sori" is standardly measured as the maximum distance from the butt to a straight line between the tip of the sword and the base of the blade. The handle is not taken into account in the calculation of curvature.
4. The definitions of the types of Japanese swords are given in the book by A. Bazhenov "Expertise of the Japanese sword" according to the explanation of the Japanese association NBTHK ("Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords"), which is responsible for the certification of Japanese blades.
5. Although the tachi is on average longer than the katana, it is not uncommon for the katana to be longer than the tachi.
6. These lengths are obtained by converting the traditional Japanese measure of length shaku (30.3 cm, approx. cubit length) into cm.
7. That is, until the end of the Momoyama period. Traditionally, Japanese history is divided into unequal periods, defined by the names of the settlements that became the residence of the emperor.
8. Kokan Nagayama. The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords. - First edition. - Japan: Kodansha International Ltd., 1997. - S. 3. - 355 p. - ISBN 4-7700-2071-6
9. Leon and Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara. Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths. - First edition. - Japan: Kodansha International Ltd., 2002. - S. 13. - 224 p. - ISBN 978-4-7700-1962-2
10. Aoi Art Tokyo: Japanese auction house specializing in Japanese swords.
    Japanese Sword Ginza Choshuya Magazine: Japanese sword shop, releases a catalog every month.
11. The Kogarasu-Maru sword is in the unusual kissaki-moroha style popular during the Nara period. Half of the blade is double-edged to the tip, the other half with a blunt butt. A central hollow runs along the blade, the blade itself is very slightly curved, but there is a rather strong bend of the shank in relation to the blade. There is no signature on the sword. Stored in the collection of the imperial family. See photo in Bazhenov's book "The History of the Japanese Sword".
12. "Lumbar bend" ( koshi-zori) is so named because the maximum deflection of the blade when wearing a sword comfortably fit the body just in the lumbar region.
13. The butt can be flat or semicircular, but such examples are extremely rare among real Japanese swords.
14. A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", p. 41
15. A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", p. 147
16. Tamio Tsuchiko. The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths. - First edition. - Japan: Kodansha International Ltd., 2002. - S. 8. - 256 p. - ISBN 4-7700-2854-7
17. Sword. Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan.
18. A. Bazhenov, "Examination of the Japanese sword", pp. 307-308
19. A shiny, clean fracture color indicates a carbon content above 1% (high carbon steel).
20. The sword forging process is described according to the booklet of the All Japan Swordsmiths Association and the book "The Craft of the Japanese Sword" (see sources), which describes the ancient technology restored by a modern master.
21. There are up to 30 varieties hada(metal textures), the main ones are 3: itame(knotted wood), masame(straight-grained wood), mokume(tree bark). Unlike the hardening pattern (hamon), the hada may not be visible to the naked eye. Its absence as a result of special polishing is typical only for Shinto blades.
22. According to the authors of The Craft of the Japanese Sword (see sources).
23. Jamon in the form of a straight line is called sugu-ha(lit. straight).
24. The pattern of the jamon is a stable feature for identifying one or another blacksmithing school or the time when the sword was made. Conventionally, more than 60 types of jamon are distinguished for certification of the sword.
25. A. Bazhenov, "Examination of the Japanese sword", p. 76

Miniature "Equestrian samurai of the 16th - 17th centuries."

The whole history of ancient and medieval Japan is constant wars. At the same time, the wars were not diplomatic and, so to speak, “quiet”, but real ones, in which serious armies participated. Unlike European countries and mainland Asia, the main part of the wars of the Land of the Rising Sun was between the Japanese, that is, within the boundaries of a single nation and a common culture. The opposing sides used similar weapons and similar military tactics and strategies. Under such conditions, such, usually not very significant factors, as the personal skill of warriors in the possession of weapons (mastery of martial arts) and the personal talents of army commanders, acquired importance.

From all this, we can conclude that the history of the military periods of Japan lends itself to a targeted classification based on the types of weapons used in a given period. The unity of Japanese military culture provides an opportunity to form a reasonable idea of ​​the period precisely on the basis of this factor of military history. If for the history of Europe, changes in weapons and methods of their use had political consequences (and therefore they cannot be considered in isolation from politics), then for Japanese history these changes had only cultural significance, and therefore can be studied independently and separately.

There are three fundamental periods in classical Japanese military history: the bow, the spear, and the sword.

Age of Bow

Onion ( yumi) is the most ancient Japanese weapon. It has been actively used since prehistoric times. has traditionally been presented in two forms - as an important part of Shinto rituals ( kyudo- "The Way of the Bow") and directly as a military art ( kyujitsu"The Art of Archery" Kyudo was usually practiced by aristocrats, and kyujitsu was included in the list of samurai disciplines.

Japanese bow is asymmetrical. Its upper half is approximately twice as long as the lower half. The length of the bow is 2 m, and often more. The limbs of the bow are traditionally made in composite, that is, the outer part is wooden, and the inner part is bamboo. Because of this, the arrow almost never flies straight. And this makes accurate aiming a matter of serious preparation. The usual distance of an aimed shot is about 60 meters, for a master - up to 120 meters.

Often the arrowheads were hollow, so that a whistle was heard during the flight. According to legend, this whistle scared away evil spirits.

In ancient times, there were bows, for the tension of which not one person was needed, but several. Bows designed for seven people are known in history! Such heavy bows were used not only against people, but also in naval battles to destroy enemy boats.

In addition to classical archery, the art of shooting from a horse was also practiced ( bakyujitsu).

Age of the Spear

Yari Spearheads

In the 16th century, European muskets brought from Portugal began to gain ground in Japan. The value has dropped drastically. At the same time, the value of the spear rose ( yari). Therefore, the period of the Civil War is called the Age of the Spear.

The main tactic when using a spear was to knock out mounted samurai from the saddle. Falling to the ground from a height, a warrior in armor became almost helpless. Accordingly, spears were usually used by foot soldiers. The spear length was approximately 5 meters, and possession of it implied the presence of considerable physical strength. Various samurai clans used spears of different lengths and tip shapes.

Age of the Sword

Components of a katana

With the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603, the art of war as the art of "victory at any cost" is a thing of the past. Budo has become a self-sufficient way of cultivation and martial competition. Therefore, the physical strength of the spear masters changed ( kenjutsu).

It was during this period that the samurai sword began to be called the "soul of the samurai." It is sharpened on one side (convex), and the concave side serves as a kind of "shield" during the fight. Special multi-layer forging technologies turn the sword into an incredibly strong and sharp weapon. Its manufacture is a very long and laborious occupation, so any sword has always cost a lot of money. And the ancient sword, also created by a famous master, is a fortune. The distribution of swords among the heirs has always been separately stipulated in the wills of the samurai.

The main varieties of the sword were:

• Chokuto- An ancient straight sword.
• Ken- An ancient straight double-edged sword that had religious uses and was rarely used in combat.
• Tanto- a dagger or knife up to 30 cm long.
• wakizashi, Shoto or Kodachi- small sword (from 30 to 60 cm).
• Tati- a large sword (from 60 cm), worn with the tip down.
• katana or Daito- a large sword carried with the point up.
• Nodachi or Oh-date- an extra-large sword (from 1 m to 1.5-1.8 m), worn behind the back.

Shinai swords were used for training

Swords were used for training shinai from bamboo (introduced Ono Takada) and wooden swords- bokken(introduced Miyamoto Musashi). The latter were also raised in real fights as a weapon to fight with an "unworthy" opponent, for example, with a robber.

Men of the lower classes could only carry small swords or daggers - for self-defense from robbers. Samurai owned the right to carry a pair of swords - large and small. Fenced at the same time, however, only with a large sword, although there were schools where they taught to fight with both swords at the same time. It was believed that the skill of a warrior is determined by the number of movements that he needed to defeat the enemy. The fewer of them, the higher the skill. The highest achievement was considered the ability to kill, only by drawing a sword from its scabbard - in one imperceptibly quick movement (). Such contractions lasted literally a fraction of a second.

Less significant types of samurai weapons

Auxiliary and secondary weapons include, in particular:

Bo- war pole. Now used as . Present big number options of various lengths (from 30 cm to 3 m) and sections (from round to hexagonal).

girl with naginata

Jitte- a weapon in the form of a two-toothed iron "fork". It was in service with the police of the Tokugawa era to intercept the sword of a violent samurai, and also as a combat baton.

Yoroi doshi- "dagger of mercy." A kind of stylet, which was used to finish off the wounded.

Kaiken- female combat dagger. It was used by girls from aristocratic families as a suicide weapon in an attempt on their honor.

Kozuka- combat knife. That did not prevent it from being used as a household.

Kotsuka- a combat knife, fastened in the sheath of a combat sword.

Naginata- . A pole on which a flat blade is fixed. First used by foot soldiers to attack the legs of the enemy's horses. In the 17th century, it began to be considered a weapon of girls from samurai families, intended for self-defense. The approximate length of the naginata is about 2 m.

Tessen (Dansen uchiwa)- battle fan. Fan with steel spokes. Weapons of the military leaders. It was used as a specific attack weapon, as well as a small shield. The needles were sharpened, and then such a fan turned into a kind of battle hatchet.

Firearms- especially often used during the Civil War. These were single-shot arquebus guns, which were usually owned by light infantrymen ( ashigaru). After the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, guns quickly fell into disuse as weapons "unworthy of a true warrior."