Japanese sword. Is it just a katana

20.10.2019

Samurai sword

The Japanese technology for making iron swords began to develop from the 8th century and reached its highest perfection by the 13th century, allowing you to make not just military weapons, but a real work of art that cannot be fully reproduced even in modern times. For about a thousand years, the shape of the sword remained practically unchanged, slightly changing mainly in length and degree of bend in accordance with the development of close combat tactics. The sword, being one of the three ancient regalia of the Japanese emperor, also possessed ritual and magical meaning in Japanese society.

Terminology

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

Comparative table of Japanese swords

A 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.

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 blade up paired with a katana.

Tanto	17-30	1.7-2.9	0-0.5	5-7	Worn in tandem with a tachi sword or separately as a knife.

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 (gendai-to) 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). The mound-type graves preserved, although heavily damaged by rust, swords of that period, 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 in Japan, they began to produce their own iron, and by the 7th century they mastered composite technology. Unlike previous examples, forged from a single iron strip, swords began to be made by forging from iron and steel plates.

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 according to the 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 laminated 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, the blacksmith forges at least two bars, from solid 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 a more complex technology, up to 4 bars are welded: from the hardest steel ( hagane) form the cutting blade and top, 2 bars of less hard steel go to sides, and a bar of relatively mild steel forms the core. The composite 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 strengthen 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 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; during the Kamakura period, the line became wavy, with bizarre curls and transverse lines. It is believed that in addition to the 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 combat quality 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 work of 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" (NBTHK) was created, one of its 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 (if not related to souvenirs). The quality of the sword itself is certified by the Japanese Sword Protection Society (NTHK), which issues an expert opinion according to the established model.

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, should bring aesthetic pleasure to the observer, have perfection of form and harmony of artistic taste.

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

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.
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.
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.
Although the tachi is on average longer than the katana, it is not uncommon for the katana to be longer than the tachi.
These lengths are obtained by converting the traditional Japanese measure of length shaku (30.3 cm, approx. cubit length) into cm.
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.
Aoi Art Tokyo: Japanese auction house specializing in Japanese swords.
Japanese Sword Ginza Choshuya Magazine: Japanese sword shop, releases a catalog every month.
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 bending 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".
"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.
The butt can be flat or semicircular, but such examples are extremely rare among real Japanese swords.
A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", p. 41
A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", p. 147
Sword. Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan.
A. Bazhenov, "Examination of the Japanese sword", pp. 307-308
A shiny, clean fracture color indicates a carbon content above 1% (high carbon steel).
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.

The outstanding qualities of samurai swords are legendary. Indeed, technology-forged Japanese blades are incredibly sharp. According to the legends, they can cut both iron and a sheet of paper in the air. Yes, a blade sharpened in a razor will easily cut even rice paper in the air, but chopping iron with such a sword means immediately spoiling it. To cut iron, the sharpening of the sword must be done at a large angle (as on a chisel), otherwise, after the blow, the cutting edge will have to be corrected, removing the nicks on the blade.

With the phrase "Japanese sword", most will immediately think of a katana. Indeed, a katana is a Japanese sword, but besides it, there were still quite a few varieties of samurai bladed weapons.

Daisho - a pair of samurai swords

If you look deep into history, you will notice that the samurai carried two swords at the same time. One was long and was called daito (aka katana sword), the second was short, called seto (wakizashi). If the long Japanese sword was used in battle or in duels, then the short sword served as a spare weapon when the katana broke. When fighting in confined space a wakizashi sword was also used.

When the samurai came to visit, he gave the katana to the servant at the entrance or left it on a special stand. In the event of a sudden danger, it was the short sword that could save the life of its owner, so a lot of time was devoted to the art of owning a short sword.

If the long sword was considered a privilege of the ruling samurai class and only they could wear it, then short swords were worn by wealthy merchants and artisans who tried to learn the art of swordsmanship from the samurai. It should be noted that such knowledge in medieval Japan was worth its weight in gold and was jealously guarded by clans. And if the master (for a huge price) agreed to show the technique, then he demonstrated it only once, after which, with a sense of accomplishment, he importantly took the reward.

Combat samurai sword - its parameters and varieties

The Japanese sword katana or daito had a length of 95 to 110 centimeters. The width of its blade was about three centimeters, with a blade thickness of 5-6 millimeters. The handle of the sword was wrapped with a silk cord or covered with shark skin to prevent slipping. The length of the katana handle was about three fists, which allowed them to work using a two-handed grip.

The Japanese seto or wakizashi sword is practically no different from a katana, except for the length. It is 50-70 centimeters. Naturally, the short swords of merchants and samurai differed significantly from each other in quality and finish. The short sword of the samurai, as a rule, was part of the daisho kit and was made in the same style as the katana. Even the tsuba of both swords was made in the same style.

Samurai swords were not limited to katana and wakizashi models. There were also such variants of this weapon:

The kokatana is a variant sometimes used in place of the short sword in a daisho kit. This sword was distinguished by an almost straight blade, in cramped corridors such a blade perfectly delivered stabbing blows (the legendary ninja sword may have come from this particular type of samurai sword). The length of the kokatana was about 600 millimeters;
Tachi is a Japanese sword common from the 10th to the 17th century. Tachi is a weapon older than the katana and was worn only by noble samurai. This sword was intended for equestrian combat. Its great length and curvature contributed to delivering a powerful chopping blow. Over time, the combat value of the tati was lost, and this sword was used as a ceremonial or ceremonial weapon;
Nogachi was a huge sword with a blade length of a meter or more. There were swords with a three-meter blade. Of course, such a monster weapon could not be controlled by one person. He was taken by several samurai and cut down by mounted troops. The most powerful warriors, who, as a rule, were the bodyguards of their master, were armed with standard nails;
Tanto or short sword. Despite the fact that now tanto is considered a knife, its name clearly indicates that this is a type of sword. Most often, tanto was used to break through armor or finish off a wounded enemy.

The katana sword and its varieties were worn on the belt or behind the back (the longest blades). For fastening, a sageo silk cord was used, which could be used to bind an enemy or for other purposes (sageo ninja were especially inventive). If the sword was worn behind the back, then a special design scabbard was used for this.

Katana - strengths and weaknesses of this sword

There are many myths regarding the quality of samurai swords:

Katana is made of steel, which is forged tens of thousands of times, while acquiring the qualities of a real one. damascus steel. In fact, the steel that was mined in Japan has never had outstanding characteristics. To give the necessary hardness, it had to be forged several thousand times. As a result of this, multi-layered blades were obtained, which had nothing to do with Damascus steels;
The katana easily cuts through any material, be it flesh or iron. In fact, Japanese armor has never been particularly strong, so it was not difficult to cut it;
A katana blade could easily cut through a European sword. This situation is absurd in itself. The European sword was intended for breaking through heavy iron armor, and the katana for precise strikes. If European knights could block blows with swords, samurai evaded blows, since one single blow to the sword could chip the cutting edge of the sword. The sword fighting technique of the samurai was fundamentally different from the battle of the knights.

Most likely, the myth about the quality of Japanese swords came from the fact that the katana easily cut through the light swords of Europeans, who no longer had heavy swords in this era.

You can often hear the opinion that a katana can both cut and deliver effective stabbing blows. In fact, stabbing with a katana is quite inconvenient. Its shape emphasizes that its main purpose is felling. Of course, there are samurai swords that can cut iron, but these are single copies. If we compare them with the total number of European swords capable of the same feat, then the comparison will turn out not in favor of the katana.

The weaknesses of the samurai sword blade were as follows:

Since the katana is not designed for swordsmanship, its main weakness is its fragility;
Possessing great hardness, the katana blade can easily break from a blow to the plane of the blade, so in battle the samurai carefully took care of their weapons, which could cost the annual income of a large village;
By the way, the katana blade could be broken by hitting its flat side with nunchucks.

What are the parts of a samurai sword?

Any samurai sword, regardless of size, consists of the following parts:

Directly the katana blade itself, which is inserted and removed from the handle using special bamboo wedges;
The handle, the dimensions of which depend on the type of samurai sword and the personal preferences of the owner;
Garda, she is a tsuba, which has a more decorative role than a protective one;
Handle wrap. For this, a silk cord was used, which was wound around the handle according to a special pattern;
To fix the sword in the scabbard, a habaki clutch served.

The device of the sword is quite simple, but requires very careful fitting of parts.

Wakizashi - partner of the katana

A short wakizashi sword was worn paired with a katana. Its total length was 50-80 centimeters, of which 30-60 were on the blade. With his appearance, the wakizashi completely copied the katana, they only held it with one hand (although, if necessary, a two-handed grip could be used). For merchants and artisans, the wakizashi was the main weapon and was worn in tandem with the tanto.

Samurai used the short sword in castles or close combat when there was no room for a long sword. Although it is believed that the katana and wakizashi are a combat set, they were most often worn by samurai in times of peace. A more serious sword was taken to war - tati, which, in addition to length, was also a generic weapon. Instead of wakizashi, they used tanto, which perfectly pierced the enemy’s armor in close combat.

Since often the wakizashi remained the only weapon available to the warrior (since when entering someone else's house as a guest, the samurai without fail took off his katana). In this regard, a lot of time was devoted to the art of owning a short sword. Some clans even practiced fighting with a katana in one hand and a wakizashi in the other. The art of fighting with a weapon in each hand was quite rare and most often came as a complete surprise to the enemy.

Wakizashi samurai wore in Everyday life almost always. This sword was often called the "Guardian of Dignity and Honor", as it was constantly at hand.

How to properly wear a katana

The Japanese sword is worn on the left side (for left-handers it is allowed to wear it on the right) in a special scabbard. The scabbard is held by a belt called an obi. The katana is worn in such a position that its blade is directed upwards. This position of the sword allows you to pull it out and deliver a fatal blow in one movement (now there is such a martial art as yaido, where exactly this technique is honed).

When a threat appeared or surrounded by ill-wishers, the samurai took a katana in a sheath in left hand so that in case of danger, instantly get it with your right hand. If he wanted to show his trust in the interlocutor, then the katana was held in his right hand. When the samurai sat down, the katana lay within reach (if she did not give up at the entrance to someone else's house).

Katana fighting technique

Although formally a katana is considered a sword (even a two-handed one), by the principle of its action it is more like a saber. You should not think that Japanese swords were fenced, as shown in modern films. A real samurai had to kill the enemy with one single blow. This is not a whim at all, but the need to save expensive blades, since getting a new one was quite problematic.

The long blade of the samurai sword allowed for a wide range of different strikes. Since the katana was most often held with two hands, one blow could not only cut off a head or limb, but also cut the enemy in half.

There are three main stances in katana combat:

Jodan - upper stance;
Chudan - stand at the middle level;
Gedan is the lower level stance.

To fight using a samurai sword, you need to take into account and analyze all the movements of the enemy and understand his fighting style. In accordance with this, one should plan his attacks, and the implementation should follow as quickly as possible.

Now that Japanese fencing (kendo and yaido) is quite popular, it is easy to find a section where this exciting sport is practiced. Several such schools in Japan trace their lineage to the samurai clan schools of the Middle Ages. During the period of the ban on the wearing of swords, many schools disappeared, but some managed to preserve the ancient traditions of swordsmanship to the present day.

How was the sharpness of the katana blade achieved?

Although the Japanese metal was of rather low quality, the forging technique used by the blacksmiths of Japan made it possible to forge blades of excellent quality. Due to the many layers obtained during the forging process, the sharpness of the katana was at its best. Zone hardening and careful polishing gave the blade even more outstanding qualities.

Now in any souvenir shop you can buy a copy of the samurai sword, which is only suitable for decorating the interior. Real katanas are quite expensive. If you want to buy an inexpensive but high-quality replica of a Japanese sword, order it from a blacksmith who works according to ancient technology.

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 the handiwork of an 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.

Any story about historical edged weapons would be incomplete without a story about medieval Japanese swords. This unique weapon has faithfully served its masters for many centuries - ferocious samurai warriors. In recent decades, the katana sword seems to be experiencing a rebirth, interest in it is huge. The Japanese sword has already become an element of popular culture, Hollywood directors, creators of anime and computer games “love” the katana.

It was believed that the spirits of all its previous owners live in the sword, and the samurai is just the keeper of the blade, and he is obliged to pass it on to the next generations. The will of the samurai necessarily had a clause in which his swords were distributed among his sons. If a good sword had an unworthy or inept owner, then in this case they said: "The sword is crying."

Of no less interest today is the history of this weapon, the secrets of its manufacture and the fencing technique used by medieval Japanese warriors. However, before moving on to our story, a few words should be said about the very definition of the samurai sword and its classification.

Katana is a long Japanese sword, with a blade length of 61 to 73 cm, with a slight curve of the blade and one-sided sharpening. There are other types of Japanese swords, they mainly differ in their size and purpose. At the same time, the word "katana" in modern Japanese means any sword. If we talk about the European classification of edged weapons, then the katana is not a sword at all, it is a typical saber with one-sided sharpening and a curved blade. The shape of the Japanese sword is very similar to a sword. However, in the tradition of the Land of the Rising Sun, a sword is any type (well, almost any) of edged weapons that has a blade. Even a naginata, similar to a European medieval glaive, with a two-meter handle and a blade at the end, is still called a sword in Japan.

It is much easier for historians to study the Japanese sword than European or Middle Eastern historical edged weapons. And there are several reasons:

The Japanese sword has been used in the relatively recent past. Katana (this weapon had a special name gun-to) was massively used during the Second World War;
Unlike Europe, a large number of ancient Japanese swords have survived to this day. Weapons that are several centuries old are often in excellent condition;
The production of swords according to traditional medieval technologies continues in Japan to this day. Today, about 300 blacksmiths are engaged in the manufacture of these weapons, all of them have special state licenses;
The Japanese carefully preserved the basic techniques of the art of sword fighting.

Story

The Iron Age began in Japan relatively late, only by the 7th century did Japanese blacksmiths master the technology of making weapons from laminated steel. Until that moment, iron swords were imported into the country from China and Korea. The oldest Japanese swords were most often straight and had a double-edged sharpening.

Heian period (IX-XII century). During this period, the Japanese sword gets its traditional twist. At this time, the central state power weakened, and the country plunged into a series of endless internecine wars and entered a long period of self-isolation. A caste of samurai began to form - professional warriors. At the same time, the skill of Japanese blacksmiths-gunsmiths increased significantly.

Most of the fights took place on horseback, so the place of a straight sword was gradually taken by a long saber. Initially, it had a bend near the handle, later it shifted to an area spaced 1/3 from the end of the shank. It was during the Heian period that the appearance of the Japanese sword was finally formed, and the technology for its manufacture was worked out.

Kamakura period (XII-XIV century). The great improvement in armor that took place during this period led to changes in the shape of the sword. They were aimed at increasing the striking power of weapons. Its top has become more massive, the mass of blades has increased. Fencing with such a sword with one hand has become much more difficult, so they were mainly used in foot fights. This historical period is considered the "golden age" for the traditional Japanese sword; later, many blade manufacturing technologies were lost. Today blacksmiths are trying to restore them.

Muromachi period (XIV-XVI century). During this historical period, very long swords begin to appear, the dimensions of some of them exceeded two meters. Such giants are the exception rather than the rule, but the general trend was clear. A long period of constant wars required a large number of edged weapons, often due to a decrease in their quality. In addition, the general impoverishment of the population led to the fact that few could afford a truly high-quality and expensive sword. At this time, the Tatar furnaces are spreading, which makes it possible to increase the total amount of steel smelted. The tactics of fights are changing, now it is important for a fighter to get ahead of his opponent in delivering the first blow, so katana swords are becoming more and more popular. By the end of this period, the first firearms appear in Japan, which changes the tactics of battles.

Momoyama period (16th century). During this period, the Japanese sword becomes shorter, a pair of daisho comes into use, which later became classic: a katana long sword and a wakizashi short sword.

All of the above periods belong to the so-called Age of Old Swords. At the beginning of the 17th century, the era of new swords (shinto) begins. At this time, many years of civil strife ceased in Japan, and peace reigned. Therefore, the sword somewhat loses its combat value. The Japanese sword becomes an element of costume, a symbol of status. Weapons are beginning to be richly decorated, much more attention is paid to its appearance. However, at the same time, its fighting qualities are reduced.

After 1868, the era of modern swords begins. Weapons forged after this year are called gendai-to. In 1876, the carrying of swords was banned. This decision dealt a serious blow to the samurai warrior caste. A large number of blacksmiths involved in the manufacture of blades lost their jobs or were forced to retrain. It was not until the beginning of the last century that a campaign to return to traditional values began.

The highest part for a samurai was to die in battle with a sword in his hands. In 1943, a plane with Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (the one who led the attack on Pearl Harbor) was shot down. When the charred body of the admiral was taken out from under the wreckage of the aircraft, they found a katana in the hands of the dead man, with which he met his death.

At the same time, swords began to be manufactured industrially for the armed forces. And although they outwardly resembled a combat samurai sword, these weapons no longer had anything to do with traditional blades made in earlier periods.

After the final defeat of the Japanese in World War II, the victors issued an order to destroy all traditional Japanese swords, but thanks to the intervention of historians, it was soon canceled. The production of swords using traditional technologies was resumed in 1954. A special organization "Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords" was created, its main task was to preserve the traditions of making katana, as part of cultural heritage Japanese nation. Currently, there is a multi-stage system for assessing the historical and cultural value of Japanese swords.

Japanese classification of swords

What other swords, besides the famous katana, exist (or existed in the past) in Japan. The classification of swords is rather complicated; in the Land of the Rising Sun, it belongs to scientific disciplines. What will be described below is just short review, which gives only a general idea of the issue. Currently, the following types of Japanese swords are distinguished:

Katana. The most famous type of Japanese sword. It has a blade length of 61 to 73 cm, with a fairly wide and thick curved blade. Outwardly, it is very similar to another Japanese sword - tachi, but differs from it in a smaller bend of the blade, in the way it is worn, and also (but not always) in length. The katana was not just a weapon, but also an invariable attribute of the samurai, part of his costume. Without this sword, the warrior simply did not leave the house. The katana could be worn behind a belt or on special strings. It was stored on a special horizontal stand, which was placed at the head of a warrior at night;
Tati. This is a long Japanese sword. It has more curve than a katana. The length of the tati blade starts from 70 cm. In the past, this sword was usually used for equestrian combat and during parades. Stored on a vertical stand handle down in peacetime and handle up in war. Sometimes another one stands out from this variety of the Japanese sword - O-dachi. These blades differed in significant size (up to 2.25 m);
Wakizashi. A short sword (blade 30-60 cm), which, together with a katana, forms the standard weapon of a samurai. The wakizashi could be used for fighting in tight spaces, and was also used in conjunction with a long sword in some fencing techniques. This weapon could be worn not only by samurai, but also by representatives of other classes;
Tanto. A dagger or knife with a blade length of up to 30 cm. It was used to cut off heads, as well as to commit hara-kiri, and for other, more peaceful purposes;
Tsurugi. A double-edged straight sword used in Japan until the 10th century. Often any ancient swords are called by this name;
Ninja something or shinobi-gatana. This is the sword used by the famous Japanese medieval spies - ninja. In appearance, it practically did not differ from a katana, but was shorter. The scabbard of this sword was thicker, the elusive shinobi hid a whole spy arsenal in them. By the way, they didn’t carry ninjas behind their backs, because it was extremely inconvenient. The exceptions were when a warrior needed free hands, for example, if he decided to climb a wall;
Naginata. This is a type of edged weapon, which was a slightly curved blade planted on a long wooden shaft. It resembled a medieval glaive, but the Japanese also refer to the naginata as a sword. Naginata fights are still held to this day;
Gun something. Army sword of the last century. These weapons were manufactured industrially and sent in huge quantities to the army and navy;
Bokken. Wooden practice sword. The Japanese treat it with no less respect than a real military weapon.

Japanese sword making

There are legends about the hardness and sharpness of Japanese swords, as well as about the blacksmithing art of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Armourers occupied high place in the social hierarchy of medieval Japan. Making a sword was considered a spiritual, almost mystical act, so they prepared for it accordingly.

Before starting the process, the master spent a lot of time in meditation, he prayed and fasted. It was not uncommon for blacksmiths to wear the robes of a Shinto priest or court ceremonial dress while working. Before the start of the forging process, the forge was carefully cleaned, amulets were hung at its entrance, designed to scare away evil spirits and attract good ones. At the time of work, the forge became a sacred place, only the blacksmith himself and his assistant could enter it. During this period, family members (except women) were forbidden to enter the workshop, while women were not allowed to enter the forge at all, fearing their evil eye.

During the making of the sword, the blacksmith ate food cooked on the sacred fire, and a strict taboo was imposed on animal food, strong drinks, as well as sexual contacts.

The Japanese obtained metal for the manufacture of edged weapons in Tatar furnaces, which can be called a local variety of an ordinary domnitsa.

Blades are usually made from two main parts: the sheath and the core. To make the shell of the sword, a package of iron and high-carbon steel is welded together. It is repeatedly folded and forged. The main task of the blacksmith at this stage is to achieve homogenization of steel and clean it from impurities.

For the core of the Japanese sword, mild steel is used, it is also repeatedly forged.

As a result, for the manufacture of a sword blank, the master receives two bars, made of durable high-carbon and mild steel. In the manufacture of katana from hard steel, a V-shaped profile is formed into which a bar of mild steel is inserted. It is somewhat shorter than the overall length of the sword and slightly short of the point. There is more sophisticated technology the manufacture of a katana, it consists in the formation of a blade from four bars of steel: the point and cutting edges of the weapon are made from the hardest steel, a slightly less hard metal goes to the sides, and the core is made of soft iron. Sometimes the butt of a Japanese sword is made from a separate piece of metal. After welding parts of the blade, the master forms its cutting edges, as well as the point.

However, the "main feature" of Japanese blacksmiths-gunsmiths is the hardening of the sword. It is the special heat treatment technique that gives the katana its incomparable properties. It differs significantly from similar technologies that were used by blacksmiths in Europe. It should be recognized that in this matter the Japanese masters have advanced much further than their European counterparts.

Before hardening, the Japanese blade is coated with a special paste made from clay, ash, sand, stone dust. The exact composition of the paste was kept a closely guarded secret and passed down from father to son. An important nuance is that the paste is applied to the blade unevenly: a thin layer of substance was applied to the blade and the tip, and much thicker layers were applied to the side edges and butt. After that, the blade was heated to certain temperature and quenched in water. The sections of the blade covered with a thicker layer of paste cooled more slowly and turned out softer, and the cutting surfaces received the greatest hardness with such hardening.

If everything is done correctly, then a clear boundary appears on the blade between the hardened area of \u200b\u200bthe blade and the rest. It's called ham. Another indicator of the quality of the blacksmith's work was the whitish shade of the butt of the blade, it is called utsubi.

Further refinement of the blade (polishing and grinding) is usually carried out by a special master, whose work is also highly valued. In general, more than ten people can be engaged in the manufacture and decoration of the blade, the process is very specialized.

After that, the sword must be tested; in ancient times, specially trained people were engaged in this. The tests were done on rolled mats and sometimes on cadavers. It was especially honorable to test a new sword on a living person: a criminal or a prisoner of war.

Only after testing, the blacksmith stamps his name on the shank, and the sword is considered ready. Work on mounting the handle and guards are considered auxiliary. The handle of the katana was usually pasted over with stingray skin and wrapped with silk or leather cord.

Fighting qualities of Japanese swords and their comparison with European swords

Today, the katana can be called the most popular sword in the world. It is difficult to name another type of edged weapons, around which there are so many myths and frank tales. The Japanese sword is called the pinnacle of blacksmithing in the history of mankind. However, this assertion can be disputed.

Research conducted by experts using latest methods, showed that European swords (including those of the ancient period) were not much inferior to Japanese counterparts. The steel used by European blacksmiths to make weapons turned out to be as refined as the material of Japanese blades. They were welded from many layers of steel, had a selective hardening. In the study of European blades, modern Japanese craftsmen were involved, and they confirmed the high quality of medieval weapons.

The problem is that very few samples of European bladed weapons have survived to our time. Those swords that are found during archaeological excavations are usually in a deplorable state. There are especially revered European swords that have survived the centuries and are today in museums in good condition. But there are very few of them. In Japan, due to the special attitude to edged weapons, a huge number of ancient swords have survived to our time, and the condition of most of them can be called ideal.

A few words should be said about the strength and cutting characteristics of Japanese swords. Without a doubt, the traditional katana is an excellent weapon, the quintessence of the centuries-old experience of Japanese gunsmiths and warriors, but it is still not capable of cutting “iron like paper”. Scenes from movies, games and anime where the Japanese sword is without special efforts cuts stones, plate armor or other metal objects should be left to the writers and directors. Such abilities are beyond the capabilities of steel and contrary to the laws of physics.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

There are many legends about Japanese swords, often not justified. Probably, a lot of people will answer the question of what the Japanese sword is called - Katana. This is true in part, but only in part. The classification of Japanese swords is not an easy task. The most simple classification, in my opinion, is by length.

It is known that the samurai wore two swords - long and short.. This couple was called Daisho(lit. "greater and smaller") and consisted of Daito ("greater sword"), we will call it Katana, which was the main weapon of the samurai, and Seto ("smaller sword"), in the future Wakazashi, which served as a spare or additional weapon, used in close combat, for chopping off heads or hara-kiri, if the samurai did not have a Kusungobu or Tanto dagger specially designed for this. If the wearing of a large Katana sword was allowed only for samurai wars and aristocrats, then Wakazashi had the right to wear both artisans and merchants.

Kusungobu - melee dagger

So the long sword was called Daito (Katana)- 95-120 cm, short - Seto (Wakazashi)- 50-70 cm. The Katana handle is usually designed for 3.5 fists, Wakazashi - for 1.5. The width of the blade of both swords is about 3 cm, the thickness of the back is 5 mm, while the blade has a razor sharpness. The hilt is usually covered with sharkskin or wrapped in such a way that the hilt does not slip in the hands. Katana weight about 4 kg. The guard of both swords was small, only slightly covering the hand, had a round, petal or multifaceted shape. It was called "tsuba".

Katana and other Japanese swords were kept on a special stand - Katanakake.

Katana, has several varieties, one of them is Ko-katana (kokatana) - a variant of a short katana, which, along with a katana, is included in a regular samurai set of edged weapons. The handle of the kokatana is straight without a bow, the blade is slightly curved. The specimen described in the domestic literature has a length of 690 mm, a blade length of 520 mm.

Kokatana a type of katana

The katana was attached to the belt or behind the back. Tied with a special Sageo cord, this cord could also be used to bind an opponent. To carry a katana behind the back, special scabbards were used (Watarimaki, the part of the scabbard of Japanese bladed weapons that touches the back when worn).

Katana is the most modern and perfect view Japanese edged weapons, its production has been perfected for centuries, the predecessors of the katana were:

Tati - a sword common in Japan from the 10th to the 17th centuries, equal in length to the Katana. Although Katana swords also have a decent blade curvature, overall it is less than that of the Tachi. They also differ exterior finish. It is much simpler and stricter than Tati's. Has a round tsuba. The tachi was usually worn with the blade down, paired with the koshigatana.

Tanto - small samurai sword

Kozuka - Japanese combat knife used as a melee or throwing weapon. In everyday life, it served as a household knife.

Ta-chi - a single-edged sword of small curvature, worn on the back. Total length 710 mm.

In addition to Daise, a samurai could also wear Nodachi - "field sword" with a blade longer than a meter and a total length of about 1.5 m, sometimes its length reached three meters! Several samurai wielded such a sword at once, and its only use was the defeat of cavalry troops.

Nodachi

Katana - the strongest sword in the world

Katana production technology is very complex - special steel processing, multi-layer (repeated) forging, hardening, etc. Katanas are the strongest swords in the world, they are able to cut materials of almost any hardness, be it meat, bones, iron. Masters who know the art of katana fighting in a battle with a warrior armed with an ordinary European sword could cut this sword into two parts, the samurai's strike force and katana steel made it possible to do this (Monuchi is the part of the blade of the blade of the Japanese bladed weapon, which accounts for the main force hit).

A katana could be equally easily stabbed and cut. The long handle allows you to actively maneuver the sword. In this case, the main grip is the position when the end of the handle rests in the middle of the palm, and the right hand holds it near the guard. The simultaneous movement of both hands allows the sword to describe a wide amplitude without much effort. Both the Katana and the straight European sword of a knight weigh a lot, but the principles for performing chopping blows are completely different. Most of the blows are applied in a vertical plane. There is almost no division into “block strike” accepted in Europe. There are knockback blows to the hands or weapons of the enemy, throwing his weapon out of the line of attack and making it possible to deliver a striking blow to the enemy in the next step.

Weaknesses of the katana

Speaking about the features of the manufacturing technology of the samurai sword, it is worth noting the weaknesses of this process, namely, gaining greater hardness and power along the axis of the blade, this type of sword is more vulnerable if hit on its flat side. With such a blow, you can even knock out a Katana with a short mace (or Okinawan nunchucks, which were specially used to break samurai swords). And if the European sword usually breaks at a distance of the palm or two fingers from the guard, then the Japanese one breaks at a distance of 1/3 or 1/2 of the length of the blade from the guard.

Yes, those stories are also true when metal was cut with a katana. It's possible! It is documented that when a master strikes with such a blade, the speed of the tip of the sword (Kisaki) exceeded the speed of sound. And if we take into account the fact that Katana swords are among the most durable in the world, then the conclusion suggests itself.

Tachi - a sword as long as a katana

Japanese long sword tachi. The wavy hamon pattern on the blade is clearly visible.

The most ancient handmade katana (sheaths for katana were also decorated with ornaments) are most valued and passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom. Such katana are very expensive, especially if you can see Mei on it - a brand with the name of the master and the year of manufacture on the shank of a Japanese bladed weapon - of any famous master.

Many master gunsmiths from different countries they tried to copy the katana, as a result of which such famous swords were obtained as: Three - a Tibetan sword copying a samurai; Taijinjian (Chinese sword of the great limit) a type of jian; Korean sword, the Japanese name for katana in the 7th-13th centuries; etc. But, real katana can only be found in Japan, and if a katana is not made in Japan, it is no longer a katana!

Components of a katana:

Decoration adjacent to the tsuba, a ring that strengthens the handle (clutch) - Fuchi,
Cord - Ito (Ito),
Blade - Kami,
The upper ring (head) of the handle is Kashira,
Entrance to the scabbard - Koiguchi,
The tip of the scabbard - Kojiri (Kojiri),
Tie loop - Kurikata,
Bamboo wedge for fixing the blade in the handle - Mekugi (Mekugi),
Decoration on the handle under (or above) braid - Menuki (Menuki),
Shank - Nakago,
Ties - Sageo (Sageo),
Stingray leather on the handle - Same (Same),
Scabbard - Saya,
Laying between the guard and the ring (washer) - Seppa,
Hammer for dismantling the sword - Tetsu,
Blade - Tosin,
Garda - Tsuba (Tsuba),
Handle - Tsuka (Tsuka),
Braid - Tsukamaki,
Clutch for fixing the sword in the scabbard - Habaki.

Japanese short sword wakizashi. Blade and sword in scabbard.

Wakizashi is a short traditional Japanese sword.

Mostly used by samurai and worn on the belt. The length of the blade is from 30 cm to 61 cm. The total length is 50-80 cm. Wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also plugged into the belt with the blade up.

In a pair of daisho (the two main swords of the samurai: long and short), the wakizashi was used as a short sword (shoto).

The samurai used the wakizashi as a weapon when the katana was unavailable or unusable. In the early periods of Japanese history, a small tanto sword was worn in place of the wakizashi. And also when a samurai put on armor, instead of katana and wakizashi, tachi and tanto were usually used. Entering the room, the warrior left the katana with the servant or on the katanakake. The wakizashi was always worn with him and was only removed if the samurai stayed for a long period of time. The bushi often referred to this sword as the "guardian of one's honor". Some schools of swordsmanship taught to use both the katana and the wakizashi at the same time.

Unlike the katana, which could only be worn by samurai, the wakizashi was reserved for merchants and artisans. They used this sword as a full-fledged weapon, because by status they did not have the right to wear a katana.

A more correct classification: Somewhat conventionally, it is possible to classify weapons according to the length of the blade. "Tanto" should have a blade no shorter than 30 cm and no longer than 40 cm, "wakizashi" - from 41 to 60 cm, "katana" - from 61 to 75 cm, "tachi" - from 75 to 90 cm. "Odachi" from 3 shaku 90.9 cm. The largest odachi that has survived to this day has a length of 3 m 77 cm.