One-handed katana and two-handed swords. Beautiful katana weapon and its history from the past to the present day

There are many legends about Japanese swords, often unjustified. Probably a lot of people, when asked what the name of a Japanese sword is, will answer - Katana. This is partly correct, but only partly. Classifying Japanese swords is not an easy task. The simplest classification, in my opinion, is by length.

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

Kusungobu - melee dagger

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

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

Katana has several varieties, one of them is Ko-katana (kokatana) - a variant of a short katana, included together with a katana 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 and a blade length of 520 mm.

Kokatana is 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 the enemy. To carry a katana behind the back, a special sheath was used (Watarimaki is the part of the sheath of a Japanese bladed weapon that touches the back when worn). The sheath has a coupling - a ring that covers the sheath, with the help of which it is attached to a sword belt or belt.

Katana is the most modern and advanced type of Japanese edged weapon; its production has been improved over the 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 amount of blade curvature, it is generally less curvature than Tati's. Their external decoration also differs. It is much simpler and stricter than Tati’s. Has a round tsuba. The tachi was usually carried with the blade facing down in tandem with a koshigatana.

Tanto - small samurai sword.

Kozuka - Japanese combat knife used as a bladed or throwing weapon. IN Everyday life served as a household knife.

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

In addition to Daise, a samurai could also wear Nodachi - "field sword" with a blade more than a meter long 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 to defeat mounted troops.

Nodachi

Katana is the strongest sword in the world

The technology for producing a katana is very complex - special processing of steel, multi-layer (multiple) forging, hardening, etc. Katanas are the strongest swords in the world, they are capable of cutting materials of almost any hardness, be it meat, bones, iron. Masters skilled in the art of fighting with a katana in a battle with a warrior armed with an ordinary European sword could cut this sword into two parts, the force of a samurai’s blow and the steel of a katana allowed this to be done (Monuchi is the part of the blade blade of a Japanese bladed weapon, which accounts for the main force blow).

The katana could be used to stab and chop equally easily. 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 you to describe a wide amplitude with the sword without much effort. Both the Katana and the straight European sword of a knight weigh a lot, but the principles for performing cutting blows are completely different. Most of the blows are delivered in the vertical plane. There is almost no division into “block-strike” accepted in Europe. There are knocking blows to the enemy's hands or weapons, throwing his weapon away from the line of attack and making it possible to deal a damaging blow to the enemy at the next step.

Weaknesses of the katana

Speaking about the features of the manufacturing technology of a samurai sword, it is worth noting weak sides This process, namely, gaining greater hardness and power along the axis of the blade, makes this type of sword more vulnerable if hit on its flat side. With such a blow you can break the Katana even with a short mace (or Okinawan nunchucks, which were specially used for breaking samurai swords). And if a European sword usually breaks at a distance of a palm or two fingers from the guard, then a Japanese sword 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 is hit with such a blade, the speed of the tip of the sword (Kisaki) exceeded the speed of sound. And if you take into account the fact that Katana swords are among the most durable in the world, then the conclusion suggests itself.

Tati - a sword equal in length to a Katana

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

The most ancient katana self made(the sheath for the katana was also handmade and 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 mark 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 they got such famous swords as: Three - a Tibetan sword copying a samurai; Taijinjian ( chinese sword great limit) a type of jian; Korean sword, Japanese name 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 (coupling) - Fuchi,
Cord - Ito,
Blade - Kami,
The upper ring (head) of the handle is Kashira,
Entrance to the scabbard - Koiguchi,
The tip of the scabbard is Kojiri,
Tie loop - Kurikata,
Bamboo wedge for fixing the blade in the handle - Mekugi,
Decoration on the handle under (or above) the braid - Menuki,
Shank - Nakago,
Ties - Sageo,
Stingray leather on the handle - Same,
Scabbard - Saya,
Gasket between guard and ring (washer) - Seppa,
Hammer for disassembling a sword - Tetsu,
Blade - Tosin,
Garda - Tsuba,
Handle - Tsuka,
Braid - Tsukamaki,
Clutch for fixing the sword in the sheath - Habaki.

Japanese short sword wakizashi. Blade and sword in sheath.

Wakizashi is a short traditional Japanese sword.

Mainly used by samurai and worn on the belt. Blade length - from 30 cm to 61 cm. Total length 50-80 cm. Wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also tucked into the belt with the blade facing up.

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

Samurai used the wakizashi as a weapon when the katana was unavailable or unusable. In the early periods of Japanese history, the small tanto sword was worn instead of the wakizashi. And also when a samurai put on armor, instead of a katana and wakizashi, tachi and tanto were usually used. Upon entering the room, the warrior left the katana with the servant or on the katanakake. The wakizashi was always carried with him and was removed only if the samurai remained for a long period of time. The Bushi often called this sword "the guardian of their honor." Some fencing schools taught the use of both katana and wakizashi at the same time.

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

A more correct classification: It is somewhat conditionally possible to classify weapons according to the length of the blade. "Tanto" must 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.

Katana

Katana (刀) is a long Japanese sword. In modern Japanese, the word katana also means any sword. The word "katana" means "a curved sword with a single-edged blade." The shape of a katana resembles a saber, but its handle is not bent in the direction opposite to the blade, like a classic saber. The most significant difference between a katana and a saber lies in the technique of its use: it can be either a one-handed or two-handed grip (with a predominance of the latter), while a standard saber is held with one hand and therefore requires the use of a different fighting technique.

The katana was used primarily as a cutting weapon, sometimes as a piercing weapon, allowing both two-handed and one-handed grips. The oldest schools of katana art date back to the 15th century. 16th centuries. The main idea of the Japanese sword art (kenjutsu) and the techniques based on it (such as iaido) is that the longitudinal axis of the sword during an attack should not go to the target at a right angle, but along its plane, delivering cutting blows. Therefore, it is more appropriate to talk here not about blows - in the form in which they are characteristic of Western sword techniques - but about cuts. This is why the blades have a curved shape.

Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi wrote the book “Gorin no sho” (“Book of Five Rings”), in which he reveals his two-sword technique (niten-ryu) and justifies it from an esoteric perspective. Working with katana and wakizashi is similar to eskrima techniques ( modern name- Arnis de mano). Kenjutsu, the practical art of fencing with a sword, has evolved into modern look- gendai budo. The art of surprise attack and counterattack is called iaido and is a meditative type of combat fought with an imaginary opponent. Kendo is the art of fencing with a bamboo sword (shinai), in which it is mandatory to wear a set of protection, similar to European fencing and consisting of a helmet with a lattice covering the face, and armor. This type Sword fencing, depending on the specific style (ryu), can be practiced as a sport discipline. There are still numerous traditional fencing schools in Japan that managed to survive the general ban on wearing swords by Emperor Meiji. The most famous are Kashima Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shin Ryu and Katori Shinto Ryu.

Katana and wakizashi are always carried in a sheath, tucked into the belt (obi) at an angle that hides the length of the blade from the enemy. This is the accepted way of carrying in society, formed after the end of the wars of the Sengoku period at the beginning of the 17th century, when carrying weapons began more of a tradition than military necessity. When the samurai entered the house, he took out a katana from his belt. In case of possible conflicts, he held the sword in his left hand in a state of combat readiness or, as a sign of trust, in his right. When sitting down, he placed the katana on the floor within reach, and the wakizashi was not removed (the samurai wore it in a sheath in his belt). Mounting the sword for outdoor use is called koshirae and includes the lacquered sheath of the sai. If there was no frequent need to use the sword, it was stored at home in a shirasai mount made of untreated magnolia wood, which protected the steel from corrosion. Some modern katanas are initially produced in this version, in which the scabbard is not varnished or decorated. This type of installation, which lacked tsuba and other decorative elements, did not attract attention and became widespread at the end of the 19th century after the imperial ban on wearing a sword. It seemed that the sheath was not a katana, but a bokuto - a wooden sword. In the 20th century, camouflaged swords appeared, similar in design to Western cane swords: the blade of the sword rested in a sheath imitating a staff made of bamboo or wood.

Until the early Muromachi period, the weapon was a tachi - a long sword worn on a belt with the blade down. However, starting from this time (end of the 14th century), it was increasingly replaced by the katana. It was worn in a sheath secured to the belt with a ribbon of silk or other fabric (sageo). A tanto combat knife was usually carried along with the tachi, and a wakizashi was worn together with a katana.

Tati

Táchi (太刀) is a Japanese long sword. The tachi, unlike the katana, was not tucked into the obi (fabric belt) with the blade up, but hung on the belt in a sling intended for this purpose, with the blade down. To protect against damage from armor, the scabbard was often wrapped. Samurai wore katana as part of civilian clothing, and tachi as part of military armor. Paired with tachi, tantos were more common than the wakizashi short sword related to katana. In addition, richly decorated tati were used as ceremonial weapons in the courts of shoguns (princes) and the emperor.

It is usually longer and more curved than the katana (most had a blade length of over 2.5 shaku, that is, more than 75 cm; the tsuka (hilt) was also often longer and somewhat curved).

Kodati

Kodachi (小太刀) - Literally translated as "little tachi", the tachi sword is shorter than normal.

Wakizashi

Wakizashi (脇差) is a short traditional Japanese sword. Mainly used by samurai and worn on the belt. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also tucked into the belt with the blade facing up. Blade length - from 30 to 61 cm. Total length with handle 50-80 cm. Single-sided blade, slight curvature. The wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. Wakizashi was made with zukuri various shapes and length, usually thinner than that of a katana. The degree of convexity of the wakizashi blade's cross-section is much less, so compared to the katana, this sword cuts soft objects more sharply. The handle of a wakizashi is usually square.

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

Tanto

Tanto (短刀 lit. "short sword") is a samurai dagger.

“Tan to” sounds like a phrase to the Japanese, so they don’t perceive tanto as a knife (knife in Japanese is hamono (刃物)).

According to modern rules in Japan, the tanto is recognized as a national cultural treasure - one of the variants of the nippon-to or Japanese sword. Only licensed craftsmen can make tanto, of which about 300 people are currently actively working in Japan (in total, about 600 licenses were issued after World War II).

According to the rules of tanto, a Japanese sword must be made of tamahagane and have a characteristic hamon, a removable hilt attached to the tang with bamboo sticks and a removable round tsuba guard; in this case, the tanto must be less than 30.3 cm long (otherwise it will no longer be a tanto, but a short wakizashi sword). Each tanto (as a national treasure) must be licensed, including the found historical tanto. At the same time, manufactured in en masse tantos from the Second World War made of serial steel are not subject to licensing and are destroyed, since they have no cultural value, since they have nothing to do with the national tradition, but are a legacy of the militaristic past.

The tanto was used only as a weapon and never as a knife; for this purpose there was a kozuka, worn in tandem with the tanto in the same sheath.

Tanto has a single-edged, sometimes double-edged blade ranging from 15 to 30.3 cm in length (that is, less than one shaku).

It is believed that tanto, wakizashi and katana are, in fact, “the same sword of different sizes.” The first tantos appeared in the Heian era and were devoid of any signs of artistry. In the early Kamakura era, high-quality, skillfully executed examples began to appear, created, for example, by the famous Yoshimitsu (the most famous master who made tanto). Tanto production, which had reached significant levels during the Muromachi era, fell sharply during the Shinto ("new swords") period, and tanto from this period are quite rare. During the Shin-Shinto (“new new swords”) period, they were again in demand and production increased, but their quality was low.

Tantos are usually forged in the hira-zukuri style, that is, flat, without a stiffening rib, although there are also specimens with a stiffening rib (moroha-zukuri, double-edged). Some tantos, which had a thick triangular blade, were called yoroidoshi and were designed to pierce armor in close combat. Tanto was used mostly by samurai, but it was also worn by doctors and merchants as a weapon of self-defense - in fact, it is a dagger. Women of high society sometimes also wore small tantos, called kaiken, in the sash of their kimono (obi) for self-defense. In addition, tanto is used in the wedding ceremony of royal persons to this day.

Sometimes the tanto was worn as a shoto instead of a wakizashi in a daisho.

A dummy tanto with a wooden, plastic, and sometimes blunt metal blade is used for training in martial arts:

Aikido

Judo

Karate

Odachi

Odachi (大太刀, "big sword") is a type of Japanese long sword. The term nodachi (野太刀, "field sword") refers to another type of sword, often mistakenly used instead of odachi.

To be called an odachi, a sword must have a blade length of at least 3 shaku (90.9 cm), however, as with many other Japanese sword terms, there is no exact definition of the length of an odachi. Usually odachi are swords with blades 1.6 - 1.8 meters.

The purpose of odachi can be divided into the following types:

Offering to the temple. Some odachi were linked by worshipers with victory in war, others were placed in treasuries as legendary swords.

Weapon. Research into old texts shows that the odachi was used in battle as a weapon for foot soldiers.

Army symbol. Some odachi were too long to be used. There is, however, evidence that they were used as a symbol of the army, like a banner or a spear. (This assumption requires additional research)

Ceremonial appointment.

Demonstration of blacksmith skills.

Most of the odachi was used in the first two cases.

Odachi, which were used as weapons, were too large for samurai to carry like regular swords. There were two ways to wear it.

1) Behind your back. This was impractical because it was impossible to draw the sword quickly enough.

2) Another method was simpler - carrying a sword in your hand. In the Muromachi era, it was customary for the samurai to be followed by a squire who would help draw the odachi from its sheath at the right moment.

Odachi fencing styles placed greater emphasis on downward cutting strikes and a firm grip on the weapon.

Odachi fell completely out of use as a weapon after the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War of 1615 (a battle between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori - the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi).

Naginata

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

IN Peaceful time The naginata was used by women of the samurai class to protect their homes.

Bokken

Bokken (in Russian, often pronounced boken) (木剣) is a wooden model of a sword used in various Japanese martial arts, including aikido, for training.

Bokkens are made from oak, beech, hornbeam and other dense woods. They are often impregnated with varnish, stain or wood resin for greater density and weight.

The bokken must be strong enough to withstand strong blows to anything, as well as deflecting an attack from another bokken or jo.

A well-placed blow to a person with a bokken can lead to death. The great Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) often used bokken in actual fights, killing his opponents in most cases. The tip of the blade is most dangerous when delivering slashing blows.

In Japan, bokken are treated with great respect, almost like real weapons. For example, when transporting a bokken on an airplane, the passenger is required to check it in as baggage. And wearing it without a special case is considered by the Japanese themselves to be equivalent to carrying a bladed weapon.

Another name is bokuto (木刀, "wooden sword").

Varieties:

- “male” (男子木剣), distinguished by a relatively thick handle and “blade”, straightness and a thick wooden guard (tsuba).

- “female” (女子木剣), the most commonly used option. It is distinguished by its curvature and lightness. Often used with a plastic guard and sheath (for example, in Iaido).

- “training” (素振木剣) or suburito, characterized by thickening on the tip side, thus imitating the balancing of a real sword.

Also, different schools used for training different kinds bokken:

In Katori Shinto Ryu, it is customary to use a bokken with less bending, sometimes without it at all. Thicker and heavier.

The bokken used in Iwama Ryu (as well as the bokken used in other aikido styles), unlike the previous one, has a more graceful shape and a more pronounced bend.

The bokken in Kashima Shin Ryu (as well as in most kendo schools), unlike the previous two, has the closest resemblance in shape, balance and feel to a real katana.

Iaito

Iaito (居合刀) is a Japanese training sword for iaido. Most iaito are made from an alloy of aluminum and zinc, which is often cheaper and lighter than steel and complies with Japanese restrictions on bladed weapons, and these swords are not subject to restrictions on the transport of bladed weapons. Iaito are made as exercise weapons and are not suitable for contact use. Selecting the length and weight of the iaito in relation to the student's height and strength is essential for safe and correct execution exercises.

When making iaito, real swords of famous sword masters are often taken as a model, such as the sword of Miyamoto Musashi.

Another name is mogito (模擬刀, "imitation sword"). It is necessary to distinguish between mogito made for iaido and mogito - souvenir crafts. Souvenir swords are generally unbalanced and their parts are poorly secured. Usage last type training exercises can lead to injury.

A katana is a long, single-edged slashing weapon. It has a slightly curved one-sided blade, a long or short handle, and can be slightly developed in front, this allows it to be grasped with two palms. The shape of the blade allows for cutting and piercing blows. The length of the blade is 60 centimeters; the handle could be different. Weighs up to one kilogram.

The history of the katana

Such a sword appeared in the fifteenth century and existed until the end of the twentieth as a samurai weapon. Its “ancestor” was the long Japanese saber tachi. Their main difference was the way they were worn. Tati was tied with a special bandage on the belt, and the katana was tucked behind it. The first was worn paired with a tanto, the second with a wakizashi.

It was made of two types of metals. Viscous for the central part and hard for the blade. Before forging, the components were thoroughly cleaned. The handle was covered with leather and wrapped in silk fabric. This manufacturing method did not allow hands to slide along it. Handles made of wood or ivory, described in various patterns, can be seen on ostentatious and decorative sabers.

The carrying case was made of wood and varnished. Metal ones also took place; their mass production began in the twentieth century, but, nevertheless, they also had a wood lining.

The sword was part of the samurai's clothing and was worn on the left side of the body in a sheath, with the blade facing up. But after the seventeenth century, there was no particular need to take it with you every time. In addition, the blade could corrode. Therefore, they came up with a way to preserve the integrity of the sword. A mounting was worn behind the belt, which included a sheath. The sword itself was kept at home in a wooden case, which was not varnished, which allowed it to breathe, and moisture did not accumulate. Therefore, no corrosion appeared on the blade. In the 19th century, this method of making sword cases became widespread. In the 20th century, after the wearing of swords was banned, they began to be disguised. The scabbard began to be made in the form of a cane or staff.

Sword art

The use was as a cutting weapon, and less often as a piercing weapon. Wrapped with two or one hand. The first schools teaching young samurai were formed in the fifteenth century. The techniques of Japanese swords differ from European ones in that the axis of the sword during an attack does not go towards the enemy at a right angle, but along it, thereby cutting the enemy. A curved blade is very suitable for this type of combat.

Despite the great changes in the history of the development of the state regarding the wearing of a sword, the school of samurai art has still been preserved to this day. The most famous are Kashima Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shin Ryu and Katori Shinto Ryu.

Saber care

Cleaning the sword occurs in stages and with different tools.

Using polishing stones, nicks are removed.

Rice paper, which does not contain acid, perfectly removes the remaining oil that is used to smear the sword. Before use, rub it vigorously to make it soft so as not to scratch the blade. If you don't have rice paper on hand, you can use a regular napkin. Lime has cleaning and polishing properties. There are also no scratches left when using it.

Katana. Even the word itself cuts the air, flying from the lips, like its sharp blade, which cuts the hair lengthwise without any effort.

How many times in a wide variety of films have we seen stern men (and sometimes women) who bravely shred enemies of all stripes and types into small rags. This type of two-handed sword appears in books, art, sculpture, video games and movies. Any more or less pretentious hero, who may not have anything to do with the East, stands in a flowing cloak and shreds his adversaries with a constant grin. Blood flows like a river, pathos is maintained, the viewer is satisfied.

To have a more complete idea of what this type of blade is, we should turn to the concept of what this type of weapon is:

If you are a collector and do not want to stumble upon a fake, then you should pay attention to the jamon (it has a certain shape due to forging and hardening techniques). Particular attention should be paid to the handle, which is necessarily covered with stingray skin and entwined with a silk ribbon.

If you have a combat katana in front of you, then it is covered with either stingray or plain leather. But if the handle is wooden, or even ivory, then this is a ceremonial or decorative katana.

Manufacturing:

To understand how valuable the katana is, and why even today it costs cosmic money, it is worth turning to the process of its manufacture. Incredibly painstaking, complex and multifaceted, it can take up to six weeks.

To make such a sword, a special type of steel is used, which is called “tamahagane”. Pieces of this iron are placed together, filled with clay mass, sprinkled with ash and wait until all the slag has come off. When melted, all unnecessary impurities come out along with the clay, and the resulting block is turned into a cake. Then this metal sheet is folded again and flattened again. After some time, there are almost 12 times more such layers; By the way, it is somewhat reminiscent of pasta dough, which is rolled many times, thereby distributing its thickness evenly along the entire length.

As a result, there are about 4,000 such layers (more precisely, 2¹²), and all of this is handmade.

It is worth remembering that even in the classic form of forging, pure steel is not used, and softer material is necessarily added to it, thereby protecting the sword from breaking at the most inopportune moment.

When the workpiece is completely ready for use, the blade is pulled out to its usual shape, and then a layer of special liquefied clay is applied, thereby making a recognizable pattern on the blade - hamon.

Then the blade is hardened in water and fire, as well as in solutions that will be specific only to a certain blacksmith shop.

This diagram shows a cross-section of the katana:

Now let's take a walk based on the design of the legendary sword.

But before we get into the specification, we should take a look at general diagram of the structure of the sword:

There are about 12 variations of the tip (depending on the metal) and their cost:

Maru- the most budget design of all. It is used in tanto and ko-wakizashi. All the cheapness lies in the ordinaryness of the layers, and also in the fact that the grade of steel is the same (without impurities).
Kobuse- an equally budget version from World War II, which, due to its cheapness, was in great demand among the army.
Khonsammai- the most popular design. Here both side parts are reinforced with steel plates of more average hardness. This sword is durable and also has an unhardened butt, which prevents the sword from breaking. Take a closer look at old swords: it is in this place that traces of blows are visible.
Shihozume- a type that looks like a honsanmai, which has an iron strip of increased rigidity at the back.
Makuri- the design is simple to the point of disgrace: inside is a soft heart, and outside is hard steel.
Wariha tetsu- lightweight and simple design with increased flexibility.
Orikaeshi sammai-a more advanced form of honsanmai.
Gomai- the option is absolutely strange and unusual, as it resembles a sandwich: hard iron in the middle, a soft middle layer and a hard steel shell.
Soshu kitae- the most complex design that combines 7 layers of steel. Invented by master blacksmith Masamune, it is a reference work.

Next comes polishing to a mirror shine, and then they make a handle (here the scope for imagination is limitless), which is cut out in a couple of days.

For a more detailed idea of the structure of this amazing sword, I present to your attention this photograph, however, there are no tassels on the hilt:

In addition to its aesthetics, the katana has proven to be an excellent weapon. But before we move on to a more detailed analysis of it, it is worth answering some questions

How to wear a katana correctly?

Is it true that a katana is a cutting weapon and not a chopping weapon?

To answer first question, we should look into history and go to a time when Japan ceased to be a state fragmented by wars and wearing a katana became more of a tradition than a combat necessity.

Let's go back to the Sengoku era, during which the basic rules for wearing a katana were developed.

Swords (a katana is paired with a wakizashi) are always worn on the left, with the sheath tucked behind the upper belt of the kimono (obi), with the blade pointing to the sky. As for the wearing traditions in civil times, the samurai, before entering the house, took out the sword and then took it in accordance with the situation: if problems are possible, then left hand, if as a sign of trust, then to the right. If it was necessary to sit down, the katana was placed nearby so that it could be reached by hand, while the wakizashi was not removed (the samurai kept it in a sheath that was tucked into the belt).

An interesting fact regarding the high value of the katana itself for Japanese warrior The history of World War II illustrates this to us. At all times, it was considered the highest valor to die during battle, clutching the hilt of your sword in your hand. In 1943, the plane of Ishiroku Yamamoto, an admiral, was shot down, whose charred body was found in the wreckage of the plane. In the hands of the dead man his katana was clenched, which was with the owner until the very end: on the ground and in the air.

Another eerie tradition associated with the accompanying sword is the ritual of seppuku, also known as hara-kiri.

By the way, the rules for wearing and storing are called mounting (kosirae), this design also includes a sheath.

When the sword does not have to be used often, it is stored in a special scabbard made of rough wood, often magnolia. This type of wood has the properties of protecting steel from corrosion and other damage.

In some modern versions the sword is produced with an unfinished scabbard, without varnish or decoration; By the way, this type of unattractive box gained popularity in the 19th century, after the emperor banned wearing a sword in public.

It was during this period that a new one appeared. Why not spy games?

Installation (koshirae) in detail:

It is worth noting that a complete installation consists of the following parts (be careful when purchasing supposedly original swords; if some parts are missing, this is a reason to bargain):

habaki(a coupling that is attached to the tail section under the guard, which serves to securely fix the sword in the sheath).
tsuba(guard)
seppa(washer under and above the tsuba)
footy(coupling between tsuba and handle)
Samegawa(handle cover made of regular leather or stingray)
tsuka-ito(silk or leather ribbon for braiding the handle)
Menuki(handle decor under the braid)
kashira or tsuka-gashira(cap at the end of the handle)

The decorations are futi, menuki and kashira, which are the same in theme and patterns.

By the way, this photo shows a tsuba from the Edo period:

Now let's answer second question: Is it true that a katana is a cutting weapon? Yes, despite the common misconception, as well as the incorrect presentation in films and games, a katana is primarily a cutting weapon, and only then a piercing weapon. But in no case is it slashing (unless you want to chop bamboo with it), since the fighting style is not conducive to slashing movements. Moreover, because of this manner of fighting, the katana was created with the expectation of a cutting blow (one-sided blade and cut tip):

Masters and schools:

And then great masters and schools appear on the horizon. Since we have found out that this is a cutting weapon, then perhaps it is worth figuring out who was the most skillful and deadly legislator of the eastern school of sword fighting:

The oldest schools of katana fighting date back to the 15th-16th centuries.

The main idea of Japanese fencing (kendyutsu) and its techniques (for example, iaido) is that, due to the design of the sword, blows should not be struck in the Western manner (that is, chopping), but along the plane of the blade, delivering cutting blows. Therefore, when they talk about the Japanese school of fencing, the specifics of the weapon itself stand out: length and curvature.

There are several variations of schools and training, which were perfectly described in his book by the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (“The Book of Five Rings”).

He himself pays special attention to his own two-sword technique (niten-ryu), and also justifies it from an esoteric perspective. The master says that working with a katana and the accompanying sword is similar to escrima (in the modern concept: Arnis de mano)

The art of Japanese fencing has undergone many changes and evolutionary processes, for example:

Kenjutsu turned into gendai budo.

Iaido(surprise attack and counterattack) has a more meditative form and fights an imaginary enemy.

Kendo(fighting) instead of a combat discipline turned into a sports one. As in the Western style of rapier fencing, there is also a set of face protection and armor. How athletic or military training varies depending on the style (ryu).

To this day, Japan abounds in a wide variety of schools of traditional fencing that have survived the imperial ban (Meiji era) on wearing katana and other types of swords. The most famous schools: Kashima Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shin Ryu and Katori Shinto Ryu

12 Defects that can be found when examining a katana:

As mentioned at the beginning, a katana costs exorbitant amounts of money, and the older it is, the more valuable it is. When choosing such a weapon, you should pay attention to possible defects. They are critical, there are fixable ones, and there are those that make the sword completely damaged and unsuitable for battle. How to recognize them, as well as their names (and a picture with a clear example), will be given below:

Karasunokuchi (1). Crack inside the blade. Such a crack, when passing through a parallel plane, divides parts with and without hardening in half. May be reflected in the shape of the sword. If it affects the shape, then the sword is defective.

Shinae (2). A small defect at the bend appears as a result of metal fatigue. It runs along the perpendicular part of the blade, most often in the area with unhardened steel. Not a critical defect.

Fukure(3). Jambs from the welding process. Mostly leftovers. They appear after polishing, spoil the aesthetics and reduce the strength of the sword.

Kirikomi (4). Defect on the back of the blade due to the beating guard. Easily erased when polished. An indicator of the use of a sword in battle. Not a serious defect.

Umegane (5). Kuznetsk patch that covers some kind of jamb. This thing is made to seal the inner layer of steel, which bleeds through frequent polishing.

Hagire (6). A notch on the jamon, or a strong bend that provokes a very small crack - hagire. The notch is often visible, but the crack is not, and it is this that is the most dangerous jamb.

Hakobore (7). It's just a very noticeable cylindrical notch, which is often the cause of cracks.

Hajimi (8) A matte area that often occurs after multiple sharpenings. The sword may lose its shine. Not dangerous.

Nioi gire (9). The reason is poor hardening.

Such a defect can be well masked by grinding, but not in all cases.

Mizukage (10). Dark area on the cutting part. The reason is several hardenings or coolings.

Shintetsu (11) Multiple polishing defect. An erased area of the top layer of steel, under which the core of the sword appears. This is also metal fatigue.

Tsukare (12)(it's not in the picture). A sharpened sword from constant grinding and sharpening. Tired and old sword.

Rules for caring for a katana:

Like any expensive item, a katana needs care. There are several rules for its care, cleaning and polishing:

Notches remove with a polishing stone.

From old oil (camellias or carnations) and dirt clean with rice paper. Before cleaning, the paper is crumpled so as not to scratch the sword with small particles. If you don’t have rice paper on hand, you can clean the sword with a regular napkin without impurities or odors.

A dirty sword can be cleaned with lime. It has cleaning and polishing properties, and does not scratch the surface. Using a sheet of rice paper and chalk powder, you can scrub away any remaining oil and dirt.

After cleansing the blade is again opened with oils. You need to take a fresh sheet of paper or napkin. Can't take essential oils, (they are the most common in our open spaces). It must be applied in microscopic doses so that a thin film appears. In theory, two drops will be enough. Before returning the blade to its sheath, make sure that there is no excess oil left, otherwise dirt, dust and microcracks are guaranteed.

Frequency of repetition of procedures: once every 3 months, depending on the level of humidity in the air.

By the way, each sword can be safely break down into components:

A wedge made of bamboo or horn that secures the blade in the handle. It is pulled out using a mekuginuki, which is somewhat reminiscent of a hammer.
The blade itself, which can be seen in the picture below.

For those who like to do everything themselves: There is no need to disassemble the sword yourself; in the same way, you should remove rust yourself or polish the tang of old swords. This should be done by a specialist who can not only determine the age of the sword and its price, but also do everything correctly, without risk to the blade and your wallet.

This is what the sword looks like disassembled condition:

Legends and popular culture:

But where are we without legends? Everyone loves a good story. In mythology, there are a lot of mythical weapons, but just like our guests, the legends will be associated with it.

One of the ancient legends is the Kusanagi sword - a holy sword that was presented to the great Amaterasu by the god Susanoo, and also has its place among the Three Great Treasures of the Emperor. According to legend, the sword was obtained from the tail of an eight-headed dragon. It is believed that the sword controlled the element of wind and had destructive power.

Another notable sword was the Muramasa sword, a sword that "awakens bloodlust" which, according to legend, survived the ordeal of the lotus river by cutting the flowers into strips.

There are also many historically oriented legends, I will give a few of them below:

It was believed that the blades of the blacksmith Monju from Chikuzen (Heian period) had a distinctive feature: they were incredibly sharp. His hand belonged to the legendary sword Higegiri, which translates as Beard Carver. They called it that because when cutting off an enemy’s head, the samurai also cut off his beard (which only added to the coolness of the blade).

Another eerie blade is Hizamaru (“Lord of the Knees”), which, when cutting off the head of a condemned man, in addition to the head itself, also cut off the kneecaps.

Another super-sharp blade was called Azuki (“bean”), which cut bean grains on the fly. The sword belonged to the forge of master Nagamitsu from the Kamakura period.

During World War II, soldiers of the Japanese army were shown a pretentious and patriotic film designed to massively promote the country's military might. The film showed a master swordsman cutting the barrel of a machine gun in half.

In fact, it is still not known how true this film was, since its legend has not been refuted.

But it is worth indicating the source of this idea. And the idea of cutting a weapon with a blade appeared back in the 17th century, when Ono Hankei cut a gun in half.

Of course, even an uninitiated person understands that the barrel of a machine gun is designed to withstand higher loads than the gun from the old legend. But nevertheless, it's still a beautiful wartime bike that you don't want to destroy.

However, if you suddenly want to see how “MythBusters” are trying to destroy this myth, then this video can be found somewhere in the depths of YouTube.

In 1662, the blade tester Yamano cut two corpses with his Shinto brainchild, which were stacked one on top of the other. But, no matter how cool it may sound, Yamano's achievement was not at all unique, because for complete success it was necessary to cut down four corpses. This was due to the ongoing military conflicts, which gave rise to a lot of rumors among the samurai specifically about the cutting of four corpses.

Another legend not only among swords, but also among masters. There was a maestro of knife and sword fighting, Kajiwara Nagato, who was so skilled that he cut a swallow in mid-flight in a jump. This was due not only to the great man’s colossal skills, but also to his incredibly sharp sword.

Pop culture and video games also like to speculate on “legendary” swords.

For example, manga and anime very often feature various forms of katana, knives and other pseudo-mythical blades.

In the One Piece anime, there are as many as five types of katanas, from cursed to enchanted, with a variety of big names. For example: Wado Ichimonji, Yubashiri, Black Sword and similar shiny pathos.

Also, comrades from Hollywood did not miss the Japanese theme, having recently shot the not-so-bad film “47 Ronin,” which is based on the legend of the same name. The number of legendary, fictional and simply beautiful katanas in one frame is off the charts. For lovers of beautifully choreographed battles, this is a must-see.

The Japanese, as befits people who are proud of their country, use many legends and myths in their mass culture, so if you suddenly want to see a heroic picture, go to the Japanese branch of the tracker.

In video games, they also don’t shy away from using swords left and right. For example, in the legendary series of games and anime Devil May Cry, there is an equally extensive arsenal of bladed weapons, of which we are interested in Yamato - the demonic katana that belonged to Dante's brother Virgil. She, like Dante's Rebel, is the legacy of Sparda, their demon father. According to the history of the Devil May Cry Universe, it is capable of opening and closing gates between the worlds of demons and humans.

In general, as you can see, the katana is not only a beautiful weapon, but also a very widespread mass cultural phenomenon, which with its brilliance and cold sophistication will not leave even the most hardened pacifist indifferent.

This article contains the history of this truly amazing weapon, its manufacturing intricacies, as well as advice to potential buyers.

But, first of all, as an author and adviser, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that each sword has its own soul. If you buy such an authentic type of weapon, then take the trouble to give it a name. By the way, this belief arose on the basis of samurai superstitions, dating back to the times of Ako and other districts. It was believed that the better the name for the blade, the more faithful the weapon will be to its owner. Therefore you will never see a bad name. In addition to Japan, the tradition of naming weapons was also widespread in Europe, in particular in the northern countries (Scandinavia, Germany, Finland, Norway). The local inhabitants, stern and cruel warriors, gave their swords, hammers, axes and halberds fearsome names. The most famous hammer from Scandinavia was Thor's hammer, and it had a bit funny name- Mionmil.

As for where to buy, if you have enough money for a truly Japanese katana, then the Land of the Rising Sun is always happy to meet admirers of its culture. But, if you are just an admirer of the East, and do not have fabulous funds in stock, then our online store provides a wide selection of a wide variety of swords, including katanas.

And that is all. Thank you for your attention and time. May your blade be forever sharp.

Although the skill of a warrior depends on many factors and characteristics, I will give a general comparison of the weapons of a knight and a samurai from the late 14th to early 15th centuries.

Knight and crossbowman of the late XIV - early XV centuries. The knight has a tophelm harness on his head, his torso is protected by brigant armor, and chain mail is on his limbs. In his hands is a battle ax and a small shield, and in his sheath is a one-handed, double-edged straight sword. The crossbowman has a chapel on his head, his torso is also covered with brigand armor, and he has chain mail protection on his limbs and metal knee pads on his legs.
1. Swords, sabers, checkers:
The knights used one-handed double-edged straight swords about 1 meter long and half-tara swords 1.2 and 1.5 meters long. Knights did not carry very bulky swords.
Japanese samurai did not use katanas, but tachi and nodachi sabers. Tachi were 90~120cm long and nodachi were 130~200cm long.
European swords were better controlled and controlled, they were easier to fencing, and Japanese sabers had a larger impact area and during a strike formed a triangular lever due to their shape, which increased the force of the blows. And samurai sabers were often sharpened on the reverse side in order to reduce the time for rearranging the sword, turning the saber into something like a sickle on the reverse side. There can be no talk of fencing here: the Japanese were hacking away while the Europeans were replaying fencing training in their heads. +1 in favor of samurai.

2. Polearms:
Knights used horse pikes, halberds and glaives. The horse pike had enormous energy when ramming, and the halberd and glaive combined several weapons.
Samurai used yari spears, which were inferior in length to European pikes, as well as naginatas, which did not combine several weapons, thus losing to glaives and halberds. +1 in favor of the knights.

3. Ranged weapons:
The knights used large simple bows, as well as crossbows, and when firing they were forced to dismount.
Samurai used asymmetrical composite bows, as well as crossbows, and were able to shoot from the saddle, which is why the samurai was more mobile than a knight. +1 in favor of samurai.

4. Shields:
European knights wore oak large rectangular or teardrop-shaped shields with an iron edge and umbon.
And the samurai used tate shields, which were boards fastened with nails and did not have an iron edge, and were often even devoid of umbon, being used mainly for protection from arrows, but in the absence of a better shield they were also used in close combat. +1 in favor of the knights.

5. Armor:
European knights wore brigands and splints, as well as plate armor (plate armor hasn't happened yet!). Brigantine armor consisted of three layers - on the outside there was reinforced leather (sometimes covered with fabric on the outside), on the inside there were metal plates sewn or riveted onto a gambeson. Splint armor most often consisted of splint protection for limbs, when metal strips (most often in the form of rings) were attached to leggings and bracers. On the palms are mittens made of chain mail or gloves made of durable cowhide. On his head is a chain mail hauberk (something like a balaclava, but made of chain mail). At this time, classic Gothic armor appeared. The legs were protected by chain mail pants or shoss (men's tights).
Japanese samurai wore plate laminar-lemellar armor, inside of which there was light brigand armor worn on a cotton underarmor. The arms also had limb splints or plates. In addition, in equestrian combat, laminar or lemellar, as well as scaly shields were worn to protect against arrows.
European armor provided poor protection from arrows, but provided better protection in close combat thanks to high-quality chain mail. Japanese armor protected well from arrows, but provided worse protection in close combat. The fastenings of Japanese plates were not inferior in strength to European ones - there were no decorative elements or numerous decorated lacing on the combat armor; basically, the armor was fastened with iron rivets, nails, rings, or inconspicuous silk threads. On ceremonial and decorative armor there is a lot of lacing, paint, varnish, horns and much more that is not found in battle armor at all. Since no armor is superior to another in protective properties or lightness and convenience, it turns out to be a draw.

6. Physiological data:
A European knight could be 140 cm tall and a giant 180 cm tall. Basically, the average height of knights was somewhere between 148 and 172 cm.
A Japanese samurai could also be 140 cm tall and a giant 180 cm tall. In general, the average height of a samurai was somewhere between 147 and 173 cm. Genetics and nutrition played an important role. Samurai consumed no less protein than European knights, the only question was that their protein sources differed, but were comparable in nutritional value. Another factor is that height does not factor into physical strength. And since both knights and samurai were mostly sinewy people, and their strength was not so much in the volume of muscles, but rather in tendons and nerves. The tendons turned the joints into powerful levers, and the high current power in the nerves made it possible to enhance the warrior’s physical strength. Draw.

7. Equipment weight:
The European one-handed sword weighed 1 kg.
The European half-handed sword weighed 2-2.5 kg.
The Japanese Tachi saber weighed 2-3 kg.
Nodachi weighed 4-5 kg.
Glaives and halberds weighed 8-9 kg.
Horse lances weighed 9-10 kg.
The Japanese naginata weighed 7-8 kg.
The Yari spear weighed 8-9 kg.
The European crossbow weighed 6-10 kg.
The European bow weighed 3-5 kg.
The Japanese crossbow weighed 5-8 kg.
The Japanese bow weighed 3-4 kg.
The European teardrop shield weighed 6-8 kg.
The European rectangular large shield weighed 8-9 kg.
The Japanese tate shield weighed 7-8 kg.
European armor weighed 15-20 kg.
Japanese armor weighed 14-22 kg.

The knights scored 2 points.
Samurai scored 2 points.
So it turns out to be a draw. Each warrior had strengths and weaknesses that compensate and balance each other. No matter how much you would like one warrior to be stronger than another, history clearly shows that this is not the case. For example, German warriors led by the leader Arminius defeated the Roman legions of Quintilius Varus in the Teutoburg Forest. And it would seem - how were the “primitively armed” Germans able to defeat entire legions? No, the German soldiers were not worse equipped, they were simply equipped differently. As history teaches, there is no single “indicator of strength” like in computer games...