Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns; but their most famous weapon and their symbol was the sword.
Generally, samurai swords are made of steel, single bladed, curved, and tempered. Following are four important periods in the history of the samurai swords:
Jokoto (pre800) refers to ancient sword period. The Age of the Straight-bladed sword. They are generally straight-bladed swords with both single and double cutting edges and curved point sections.
Koto(pre1596) refers to the "old sword period"; It is the period of founding of the Gokaden, the "Five Traditions" of Japanese sword-making:
Yamato (present Nara area)
Yamashiro (modern Kyoto area)
Bizen (present Okayama Prefecture)
Soshu (Sagami) (Kamakura region)
Mino (Seki) (modern Gifu Prefecture)
During this period, the sword became an everyday weapon and was carried constantly by the samurai. The swords with the cutting edge of more than 4 feet were often employed.
Shinto(1597-1780) refers to the "new sword period";The swords of this period were deemed "new" at the time because forging techniques underwent radical changes: most smiths used metal obtained from a central source located in the modern Shimane prefecture and also methods adopted from European technology. Many smiths forged blades of vastly inferior quality. During this time, samurai wore katana and wakizashi. The end of the long civil war caused the sword lost its functional value. The smiths engraved extravagant of flowers, shrubbery, and dragons on the swords. Besides, pictures of maple leaves, cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, or Mount Fuji could be found in the tempered lines of the swords in this period.
Shinshinto(1781-1876) is the "new, new sword period"; The feudal system and the prestige of the samurai came to an end in this period. Swords could no longer be worn. The smiths of swords lost their trade and turned to make hoes, scissors, and knives for their livelihood.
Besides the above 4 periods, there are two more periods in Japanese sword history by now:
Gendaito (1877-1945) is the "modern sword period"; During this period, not all swords were made by the orthodox methods of hand forging-shaping and the water-quench tempering process. Two types of Japanese swords made in this period are not properly classified as Nihon-to:
The Murata-to(Machine-made but of good quality, the Murata-to can be recognized by the high degree of metallic sheen in its blade.)
The Showa-to(also a machine-made weapon, but vastly inferior to the Murata-to because of its generally poor-quality steel. The Showa-to can easily be identified by the presence of a serial number and a cherry-blossom design engraved on his tang.)
Shinsakuto: refers to newly swords period. Swords made after 1953 when the post-war blade manufacture prohibition was rescinded. They have an emphasis on 'art' rather than 'use'.
Expecting more. Any feedbacks will be highly appreciated.
Generally, samurai swords are made of steel, single bladed, curved, and tempered. Following are four important periods in the history of the samurai swords:
Jokoto (pre800) refers to ancient sword period. The Age of the Straight-bladed sword. They are generally straight-bladed swords with both single and double cutting edges and curved point sections.
Koto(pre1596) refers to the "old sword period"; It is the period of founding of the Gokaden, the "Five Traditions" of Japanese sword-making:
Yamato (present Nara area)
Yamashiro (modern Kyoto area)
Bizen (present Okayama Prefecture)
Soshu (Sagami) (Kamakura region)
Mino (Seki) (modern Gifu Prefecture)
During this period, the sword became an everyday weapon and was carried constantly by the samurai. The swords with the cutting edge of more than 4 feet were often employed.
Shinto(1597-1780) refers to the "new sword period";The swords of this period were deemed "new" at the time because forging techniques underwent radical changes: most smiths used metal obtained from a central source located in the modern Shimane prefecture and also methods adopted from European technology. Many smiths forged blades of vastly inferior quality. During this time, samurai wore katana and wakizashi. The end of the long civil war caused the sword lost its functional value. The smiths engraved extravagant of flowers, shrubbery, and dragons on the swords. Besides, pictures of maple leaves, cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, or Mount Fuji could be found in the tempered lines of the swords in this period.
Shinshinto(1781-1876) is the "new, new sword period"; The feudal system and the prestige of the samurai came to an end in this period. Swords could no longer be worn. The smiths of swords lost their trade and turned to make hoes, scissors, and knives for their livelihood.
Besides the above 4 periods, there are two more periods in Japanese sword history by now:
Gendaito (1877-1945) is the "modern sword period"; During this period, not all swords were made by the orthodox methods of hand forging-shaping and the water-quench tempering process. Two types of Japanese swords made in this period are not properly classified as Nihon-to:
The Murata-to(Machine-made but of good quality, the Murata-to can be recognized by the high degree of metallic sheen in its blade.)
The Showa-to(also a machine-made weapon, but vastly inferior to the Murata-to because of its generally poor-quality steel. The Showa-to can easily be identified by the presence of a serial number and a cherry-blossom design engraved on his tang.)
Shinsakuto: refers to newly swords period. Swords made after 1953 when the post-war blade manufacture prohibition was rescinded. They have an emphasis on 'art' rather than 'use'.
Expecting more. Any feedbacks will be highly appreciated.
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