The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: • Jōkotō (ancient swords, until around 900 CE) • Kotō (old swords from around 900–1596) • Shintō (new swords 1596–1780) • Shinshintō (new new swords 1781–1876) • Gendaitō (modern or contemporary swords 1876–present) The
tsurugi was the earliest type of sword made in Japan. The
chokutō, on the other hand, was among the earliest types of sword to be forged in Japan, its basic style and forging techniques probably originated in ancient China and Korea. The
chokutō was brought to Japan by way of Korean Peninsula and China in the
Han dynasty times. The is a Chinese style, characterized by a ring-shaped ornament shaped like a dragon or a phoenix on the tip of the handle.
Chokutō typically come in
hira-zukuri and
kiriha-zukuri tsukurikomi (blade styles) which make them very distinct from later
tachi and
katana which rarely use these forms. Swords of this period are classified as
jōkotō and are often referred to in distinction from Japanese swords. And
Kenukigata-tachi evolved into
tachi, which became the mainstream of Japanese swords for a long time. ==
Sugari no Ontachi ==