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Katana and its structure. Japanese medieval swords: history, classification and manufacturing features Fighting qualities of Japanese swords and their comparison with European swords

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

History of the katana

Such a sword appeared in the fifteenth century and lasted until the end of the twentieth as a weapon of the samurai. His "ancestor" was a 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 thrust behind it. The first was paired with a tanto, the second with a wakizashi.

It was made from 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 method of manufacture did not allow hands to slide over 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 20th century, but, nevertheless, they also had a wooden lining.

The sword was part of the clothing of the samurai and was worn on the left side of the body in a sheath, blade 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 mount was worn behind the belt, which included a scabbard. The sword itself was kept at home in a wooden case, which was not varnished, which made it possible for it to breathe, moisture accumulated in it. Therefore, no corrosion appeared on the blade. In the nineteenth century, this method of making sword cases became widespread. In the twentieth century, after the ban on wearing swords, they began to disguise them. The sheath began to be made in the form of a cane or staff.

The art of swordsmanship

The use was as a cutting weapon, and less often as a stabbing one. Wrapped around 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 the attack does not go to the enemy at a right angle, but along, thereby cutting the enemy. For such a construction of the battle, it is the curved blade that is very suitable.

Despite the great changes in the history of the development of the state regarding the wearing of the sword, the samurai art schools have survived to this day. The most famous are Kashima Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shin Ryu and Katori Shinto Ryu.

Saber care

The implementation of cleaning the sword occurs in stages and with different tools.

With the help of polishing stones, notches are removed.

Rice paper, which does not contain acid, perfectly removes the remnants of oil that is smeared on the sword. Before use, it is strongly rubbed to make it soft so as not to scratch the blade. If you don't have rice paper handy, you can also use a regular paper towel. Lime has cleaning and polishing properties. When using it, it also does not leave scratches.

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. "larger 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 type of Japanese edged weapons, its production has been perfected for centuries, the predecessors of 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. Their exterior finish is also different. 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 in Japanese bladed weapons, 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 gunsmiths from different countries tried to copy the katana, resulting in such well-known swords as: Three - a Tibetan sword that copies 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.

katana- a long Japanese sword (daito :). The current Russian standard GOST R 51215-98 characterizes the katana as "Japanese large two-handed saber with a blade longer than 60 cm." In modern Japanese, the word katana also refers to any sword. Katana is the Japanese reading (kun'yomi) of the Chinese character 刀; Sino-Japanese reading (onyomi) - then:. The word means "a curved sword with a one-sided blade." The blade shape of the katana resembles a saber, but its handle is straight and long, which allows the use of a two-handed grip. The top is missing. The slight curve of the blade and the sharp end also allow for thrusting. The absence of a pommel makes fencing with one hand extremely difficult, despite the standard weight (about one and a half kilograms) for a bladed hand weapon. Perhaps this is due to the anthropometric data of Japanese warriors (there is another explanation - Japanese blacksmiths at the time of the formation of edged weapons did not know how to obtain high-quality steel; the blades quickly became dull, and the weapon was effective only with chopping blows, which initially predetermined a two-handed grip. In more later, when high-quality steel was discovered, the long handle was already established as a tradition). Unlike the tachi, the katana is also a civilian weapon of the samurai, like the sword of the European nobles of the 14th-19th centuries.

History of development.
The katana appeared in the 15th century as a result of the evolution of the tachi and was used from the end of the 14th century (early Muromachi period) as a traditional samurai weapon, primarily in combination (daisho, lit. "big-small") with a short wakizashi (shoto, lit. "small sword"). The katana is similar in many ways to the earlier Chinese Miao Dao sword. A genuine Japanese katana is easily recognizable by the hardening line (jamon), which is explained by the use of special forging and hardening techniques, as well as the handle (tsuka), covered with stingray skin and wrapped in silk ribbon. Regular leather was also used for covering. Carved hardwood or ivory hilts are found only on decorative and ceremonial swords. The katana blade consists of at least two different grades of steel: tough for the base (core) and hard for the cutting part. Both components were first cleaned by repeated folding and welding before being forged into a blade.
In the narrow sense, a katana is a curved (cutting part outwards) one and a half sword with a blade two or more shaku long (2 shaku are approximately equal to 60.6 cm) and a handle of various lengths. Weight 750-1000g. If the length of the blade is less than two shaku, then it is a wakizashi, if less than one shaku, it is a dagger (tanto, aikuti, hamidashi). The scabbards for all three types of swords are called saya; they are made of wood and varnished. Only mass-produced swords of the 20th century have metal scabbards, however, they are also equipped with a wooden lining ...

Katana and wakizashi are always worn on the left side of the body in a sheath, tucked behind the belt (obi), blade up. This is the accepted way of carrying in society, formed after the end of the wars of the Sengoku period in the early 17th century, when carrying weapons became more a tradition than a military necessity. When the samurai entered the house, he took out the 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. Sitting down, he put the katana on the floor within reach, and the wakizashi was not removed (his samurai wore a sheath behind his belt). Mounting a sword for outdoor use is called a kosirae, which includes the lacquered scabbard of the sai. In the absence of frequent use of the sword, it was kept at home in a shirasai assembly made of untreated magnolia wood, which protected the steel from corrosion. Some modern katanas are originally produced in this version, in which the scabbard is not varnished or decorated. A similar installation, in which there was no tsuba and other decorative elements, did not attract attention and became widespread at the end of the 19th century after the imperial ban on carrying a sword. It seemed that the scabbard 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 period of Muromachi, the tati was in service - a long sword that was worn on a sword belt with the blade down. However, since the end of the 14th century, it has been increasingly replaced by katana. It was worn in a scabbard attached to the belt with a ribbon of silk or other fabric (sageo). Together with tati, they usually wore a tanto dagger, and paired with a katana, a wakizashi.

Design.
For a long time, a blacksmith making a sword has been faced with the task of creating a weapon that is sharp and at the same time retains combat qualities for a long time, does not lose its sharpness, does not rust and does not break. Depending on the carbon content of the steel and the quenching, he could end up with a sword with a high martensite index, therefore very hard and long-lasting, but brittle and brittle. Conversely, a softer steel blade dulls faster.
This difficulty is overcome by using a multilayer structure. In the traditional technique, the inner layer is made of low carbon steel and covered with hard high carbon steel, which forms the top layer: the blacksmith folds a long narrow bar of hard steel into a U-shape and welds a bar of mild steel into it. From the resulting combined bar, a sword blank is forged, and the closed side "U" will subsequently become the blade. This combination blank is no longer folded.
In other designs, other combinations are found: for example, hard steel is embedded in a mild steel U-shaped blank, or hard steel of the blade is combined with mild steel of the back side and medium hard steel, from which two additional side inserts are made. There are numerous complicated techniques, however, not guaranteeing a higher quality. They are practiced mostly by low-class blacksmiths, who thus tend to bypass the difficult process of hardening. Very short blades are sometimes made from one type of steel (monomaterial)

Larger specimens require a more complex design.


  • Maru- the cheapest of all designs, also used for tanto or ko-wakizashi; such single blades are not subjected to differential hardening and consist of a single grade of steel.
  • Kobuse- a simplified design of the sword, which, due to its low cost, was widely used until the Second World War in military conflicts that required large volumes of weapons
  • Khonsammai is the most common design. The side parts are reinforced with additional plates made of medium hard steel. The sword is highly durable and has the advantage that the reverse side of the blade (butt) is not hardened and does not allow it to break. Some older swords show similar marks from blows.
  • Shihozume- a design similar to the honsanmai, in which the back of the blade is protected by a rigid iron strip.
  • Makuri- a simplified design in which the core of soft iron is completely hidden in a shell of hard steel.
  • Wariha tetsu— simple, but very flexible design.
  • Orikaeshi sammai- a slightly improved form of honsanmai
  • Gomay- a slightly unusual variant with a core of hard iron, which is surrounded by a middle soft layer, in turn covered with a layer of hard steel
  • soshu kitae- one of the most complex structures, having seven layers of steel. Practiced by the blacksmith Masamune, considered exemplary work.

The katana was used primarily as a cutting weapon, sometimes as a stabbing weapon, allowing both two-handed and one-handed grips. The oldest schools of katana art originate in the 15th-16th centuries.
The main idea of ​​the Japanese art of swordsmanship (kenjutsu) and 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 here to talk not about blows - in the form in which they are characteristic of Western sword techniques, but about cuts. That is why the blades have a curved shape. The Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi wrote the book "Gorin no sho" ("The Book of Five Rings"), in which he reveals his technique of two swords (niten-ryu) and substantiates it from an esoteric perspective. Working with katana and wakizashi is similar to the techniques of eskrima (modern name - Arnis de mano). Kenjutsu, the practical art of swordsmanship, was reborn into its modern form - gendai budo. The art of surprise attack and counterattack is called iaido and is a meditative form of combat 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 the European fencing and consisting of a helmet with a lattice that covers the face, and armor. This type of sword fencing, depending on the specific style (ryu), can be practiced as a sports discipline. In Japan, there are still numerous traditional swordsmanship schools that managed to survive after Emperor Meiji's general ban on swords. The most famous are Kashima Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shin Ryu and Katori Shinto Ryu.

Main parts:

  • Ha- cutting edge
  • Khabaki- mounting sleeve (so that the blade is fixed in one position and does not move)
  • Kasira- handle head
  • Koi guchi- entrance to the scabbard
  • Monouchi- hitting surface
  • Mune- blunt blade end
  • Mekugi- a bamboo pin that secures Nakago to the blade handle
  • Nakago- blade base
  • Sageo- rope
  • Saya- scabbard
  • tsuba- guard
  • Tsuka- handle
  • Shinogi- edge of the blade



Minor parts:

  • Ada schemes (concentric, wavy and linear patterns that arose during rolling)
  • ha mati- edge ha
  • Jamon- hardening line
  • Boti- hardening line at the tip
  • Ecote- dividing line of the tip
  • Ji-ada- blade
  • Itsu- groove for Kozuka (knife)
  • Kogai- (multi-profile pin), or Uvari-Masi (shelves)
  • kissaki- point
  • Kojiri- tip of scabbard
  • Ko-shinogi- edge of the blade on the tip
  • Kurikata- loop for Sageo
  • Mune machi- Mune edge
  • May- inscriptions on Nakago (blacksmith's name, year, testing on death row or corpses, etc.)
  • Mekugi-ana- pin hole
  • menuki- handle ornament
  • Nagaza- blade length
  • Nakago-jiri- tip of Nakago
  • Nioi or Nie- martensite particles (large ones are called Nie, small ones are called Nioi)
  • Same-hada- skin of a huge stingray covering the handle
  • Shitotome- Hole for Kurikat
  • Sori- deflection
  • Sapa- washers
  • Futi- handle sleeve
  • Tsuka-ito- cord wrapped around the handle
  • shinogi-ji- the flat part of the blade
  • Yaki-a (or Yaki-ha)- hardened part of the blade
  • Yasuri-me- file notch on Nakago


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 a 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 fighting 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 the cultural heritage of the 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 a brief overview that 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.

Gunsmiths occupied a 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 received 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 also a more complex technology for making a katana, it consists in forming a blade from four bars of steel: the tip and cutting edges of the weapon are made from the hardest steel, 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 a certain temperature and hardened 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.

Studies conducted by specialists using the 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 come down 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 a Japanese sword effortlessly cuts through rocks, plate armor, or other metal objects should be left up to 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.

A sword with an outwardly curved blade more than 60 cm long (daito) with a long and straight handle, which makes it possible to use a two-handed grip. The slight bend of the blade and the pointed end also allow the use of stabbing blows. Fighting with one hand is greatly complicated by the fact that

The katana has no pommel. The mass of the Japanese katana is traditional for swords of this type (approximately 1 - 1.5 kg).

Samurai sword katana photo

History and characteristics of katana

The era of the samurai katana sword began in the 15th century as a result of the improvement of the tachi. The katana was used as a standard samurai weapon, mainly in pairs (the so-called daisho set - long and short) with a wakizashi small sword, which was used in close combat or in hara-kiri. The katana was only allowed to be worn by samurai. Katana is the most durable sword in the world, which allowed cutting almost all materials - meat, bones and even iron. Professionals with a katana in a battle with a fighter using a European sword could cut this sword (the hardness of the katana blade is 60-65 HRC versus 50-58 HRC of the hardness of European swords).

Katana skills

The long handle made it possible to effectively maneuver the katana. How to hold a katana correctly? The grip was predominantly used, in which the end of the handle lies in the middle of the left palm, and the right hand squeezes the handle near the guard. The synchronous movement of both hands makes it possible to create a wide swing amplitude without large power expenditures. Mostly strikes are applied vertically. The division into "block-strike" widespread in Europe is practically not used. Instead, blows are applied to the sword or hands of the opponent, removing his weapon from the trajectory of the attack and allowing him to hit the opponent with a further swing.

Katana grip

A genuine Japanese samurai katana sword can be distinguished by its characteristic hamon hardening line, which is formed by the use of special forging and tempering methods, and by the tsuka handle, which is wrapped in stingray skin and wrapped with a strip of silk. Plain leather could be used as a covering. Wooden handles or ivory handles are only for souvenir and ceremonial katana.

photo hardening line jamon

The blade is made from at least two different types of steel: tough at the core and tough at the cutting edge. These components before forging were purified by the method of multiple addition and welding.

The scabbard of a samurai katana sword is called a sai; they are made of wood and varnished on their surface.

Photo sheath katana sai

Wearing a katana

Japanese samurai swords katana and wakizashi are worn with the blade up on the left side in a scabbard that is placed behind the belt. When a samurai entered a house, he pulled out a katana from his belt. When threatened, he held the sword in his left hand in a state of readiness for battle, or, if he wanted to show confidence, in his right. Sitting down, he put the sword on the floor within reach, while the wakizashi remained behind the belt. If there was no need to use the katana often, it was left at home in an undecorated shirasai frame made of magnolia, which kept the sword from rusting.

Wearing a katana

katana video

A video that demonstrates the basic techniques of owning a katana, the technique of performing strikes.

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