The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: •
Jōkotō (ancient swords, until around 900) •
Kotō (old swords from around 900–1596) •
Shintō (new swords 1596–1780) •
Shinshintō (newer swords 1781–1876) •
Gendaitō (modern or contemporary swords 1876–present)
Kotō (Old swords) . As it was owned by
Ishida Mitsunari, it was commonly called Ishida Masamune. Important Cultural Property. Tokyo National Museum
katana modified from a
tachi,
Kiriha Sadamune, forged by
Sadamune, son of
Masamune. 14th century,
Kamakura period.
Important Cultural Property.
Tokyo National Museum (勢州桑名住村正) from the
Tokyo National Museum Katana originates from
sasuga (刺刀), a kind of
tantō (short sword or knife) used by lower-ranking samurai who fought on foot in the
Kamakura period (1185–1333). Their main weapon was a long
naginata and
sasuga was a spare weapon. In the
Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392) which corresponds to the early
Muromachi period (1336–1573), long weapons such as
ōdachi were popular, and along with this,
sasuga were gradually lengthened and finally became
katana. Also, there is a theory that
koshigatana (腰刀), a kind of
tantō which was equipped by high ranking samurai together with
tachi, developed into
katana through the same historical background as
sasuga, and it is possible that both developed to
katana. The oldest
katana in existence today is called
Hishizukuri uchigatana, which was forged in the Nanbokuchō period, and was dedicated to
Kasuga Shrine later. The first use of
katana as a word to describe a long sword that was different from a
tachi, occurs as early as the Kamakura period. By the 15th century, Japanese swords, including
katana, had already gained international fame by being exported to China and Korea. For example, Korea learned how to make Japanese swords by sending swordsmiths to Japan and inviting Japanese swordsmiths to Korea. According to the record of June 1, 1430 in the
Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, a Korean swordsmith who went to Japan and mastered the method of making Japanese swords presented a Japanese sword to the King of Korea and was rewarded for the excellent work which was no different from the swords made by the Japanese. Traditionally,
yumi (bows) were the main weapon of war in Japan, and
tachi and
naginata were used only for close combat. The
Ōnin War in the late 15th century in the Muromachi period expanded into a large-scale domestic war, in which employed farmers called
ashigaru were mobilized in large numbers. They fought on foot using
katana shorter than
tachi. In the
Sengoku period (period of warring states) in the late Muromachi period, the war became bigger and
ashigaru fought in a close formation using
yari (spears) lent to them. Furthermore, in the late 16th century,
tanegashima (muskets) were introduced from Portugal, and Japanese swordsmiths mass-produced improved products, with
ashigaru fighting with leased guns. On the battlefield in Japan, guns and spears became main weapons in addition to bows. Due to the changes in fighting styles in these wars, the
tachi and
naginata became obsolete among samurai, and the
katana, which was easy to carry, became the mainstream. The dazzling looking
tachi gradually became a symbol of the authority of high-ranking samurai. On the other hand,
kenjutsu (swordsmanship) that makes use of the characteristics of
katana was invented. The quicker draw of the sword was well suited to combat where victory depended heavily on short response times. (The practice and martial art for drawing the sword quickly and responding to a sudden attack was called
battōjutsu, which is still kept alive through the teaching of
iaido.) The
katana further facilitated this by being worn thrust through a belt-like sash (
obi) with the sharpened edge facing up. Ideally, samurai could draw the sword and strike the enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved
tachi had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt. From the 15th century, low-quality swords were mass-produced under the influence of the large-scale war. These swords, along with spears, were lent to recruited farmers called
ashigaru and swords were exported. Such mass-produced swords are called
kazuuchimono, and swordsmiths of the
Bisen school and
Mino school produced them by division of labor. The export of
katana and
tachi reached its peak during this period, from the late 15th century to early 16th century when at least 200,000 swords were shipped to
Ming dynasty China in official trade in an attempt to soak up the production of Japanese weapons and make it harder for
pirates in the area to arm. In the Ming dynasty of China, Japanese swords and their tactics were studied to repel pirates, and
wodao and
miaodao were developed based on Japanese swords. From this period, the
tang (
nakago) of many old
tachi were cut and shortened into
katana. This kind of remake is called
suriage (磨上げ). For example, many of the
tachi that
Masamune forged during the Kamakura period were converted into
katana, so his only existing works are
katana and
tantō. From around the 16th century, many Japanese swords were exported to
Thailand, where katana-style swords were made and prized for battle and art work, and some of them are in the collections of the Thai royal family.
style handachi'' sword mounting. 16th–17th century,
Azuchi–Momoyama or
Edo period. From the late Muromachi period (Sengoku period) to the early
Edo period,
samurai were sometimes equipped with a
katana blade pointing downwards like a
tachi. This style of sword is called
handachi, "half
tachi". In
handachi, both styles were often mixed, for example, fastening to the
obi was
katana style, but metalworking of the scabbard was
tachi style. In the Muromachi period, especially the Sengoku period, people such as farmers, townspeople, and monks could have a sword. However, in 1588
Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned farmers from owning weapons and conducted a
sword hunt to forcibly remove swords from anyone identifying as a farmer. .
Tsuba (top left) and
fuchigashira (top right) made by Ishiguro Masayoshi in the 18th or 19th century.
Kogai (middle) and
kozuka (bottom) made by Yanagawa Naomasa in the 18th century, Edo period.
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. As the
Sengoku period (period of warring states) ended and the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the
Edo period started,
katana-forging also developed into a highly intricate and well-respected art form. Lacquered
saya (scabbards), ornate engraved fittings, silk handles and elegant
tsuba (handguards) were popular among
samurai in the Edo period, and eventually (especially when Japan was in peace time), katana became more cosmetic and ceremonial items than practical weapons. The Umetada school led by Umetada Myoju who was considered to be the founder of
shinto led the improvement of the artistry of Japanese swords in this period. They were both swordsmiths and metalsmiths, and were famous for carving the blade, making metal accouterments such as
tsuba (handguard), remodeling from
tachi to
katana (
suriage), and inscriptions inlaid with gold. During this period, the
Tokugawa shogunate required samurai to wear
katana and shorter swords in pairs. These short swords were
wakizashi and
tantō, and
wakizashi were mainly selected. This set of two is called a
daishō. Only
samurai could wear the
daishō: it represented their social power and personal
honour.
Samurai could wear decorative sword mountings in their daily lives, but the Tokugawa shogunate regulated the formal sword that
samurai wore when visiting a castle by regulating it as a
daisho made of a black scabbard, a hilt wrapped with white ray skin and black string. Japanese swords made in this period are classified as
shintō.
Shinshintō (New swords) (Katana
and Wakizashi'') forged by Minamoto no Kiyomaro. 1848, Late Edo period. (not to scale) . Late Edo period. In the late 18th century, swordsmith Suishinshi Masahide criticized that the present
katana blades only emphasized decoration and had a problem with their toughness. He insisted that the bold and strong
kotō blade from the Kamakura period to the
Nanboku-chō period was the ideal Japanese sword, and started a movement to restore the production method and apply it to
Katana.
Katana made after this is classified as a
shinshintō. The idea that the blade of a sword in the Kamakura period is the best has been continued until now, and as of the 21st century, 80% of Japanese swords designated as
National treasure in Japan were made in the Kamakura period, and 70% of them were
tachi. The arrival of
Matthew Perry in 1853 and the subsequent
Convention of Kanagawa caused chaos in Japanese society. Conflicts began to occur frequently between the forces of
sonnō jōi (尊王攘夷派), who wanted to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and rule by the Emperor, and the forces of
sabaku (佐幕派), who wanted the Tokugawa Shogunate to continue. These political activists, called the
shishi (志士), fought using a practical
katana, called the
kinnōtō (勤皇刀) or the
bakumatsutō (幕末刀). Their
katana were often longer than 90 cm (35.43 in) in blade length, less curved, and had a big and sharp point, which was advantageous for stabbing in indoor battles. In 1889, the army adopted a French-style sword that could be wielded with one hand. The katana was deemed unfit for modern war because it needed two hands to be used properly. Skilled swordsmiths had trouble making a living during this period as Japan modernized its military, and many swordsmiths started making other items, such as farm equipment, tools, and cutlery. The craft of making swords was kept alive through the efforts of some individuals, notably Miyamoto Kanenori (宮本包則, 1830–1926) and Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一, 1836–1918), who were appointed
Imperial Household Artist. The businessman Mitsumura Toshimo (光村利藻, 1877－1955) tried to preserve their skills by ordering swords and sword mountings from the swordsmiths and craftsmen. He was especially enthusiastic about collecting sword mountings, and he collected about 3,000 precious sword mountings from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. About 1,200 items from a part of his collection are now in the
Nezu Museum. Military action by Japan in China and Russia during the Meiji period helped revive interest in swords, but it was not until the
Shōwa period that swords were produced on a large scale again. Japanese military swords produced between 1875 and 1945 are referred to as
guntō (military swords). , World War II era
guntō During the pre-
World War II military buildup, and throughout the war, all Japanese officers were required to wear a sword. Traditionally made swords were produced during this period, but in order to supply such large numbers of swords, blacksmiths with little or no knowledge of traditional Japanese sword manufacture were also recruited. In addition, supplies of the Japanese steel (
tamahagane) used for swordmaking were limited, so several other types of steel were also used. Quicker methods of forging were also used, such as the use of
power hammers, and
quenching the blade in oil, rather than hand forging and water. The non-traditionally made swords from this period are called
shōwatō, after the
regnal name of the Emperor
Hirohito, and in 1937, the Japanese government started requiring the use of special stamps on the
tang (
nakago) to distinguish these swords from traditionally made swords. During this period of war, older antique swords were remounted for use in military mounts. Presently, in Japan,
shōwatō are not considered to be "true" Japanese swords, and they can be confiscated. Outside Japan, however, they are collected as historical artifacts.
Post–World War II with a modern training
katana or
iaitō. This sword was custom-made in Japan to suit the weight and size of the student. The blade is made of aluminum alloy and lacks a sharp edge for safety reasons. Between 1945 and 1953, sword manufacture and sword-related
martial arts were banned in Japan. Many swords were confiscated and destroyed, and swordsmiths were not able to make a living. Since 1953, Japanese swordsmiths have been allowed to work, but with severe restrictions: swordsmiths must be licensed and serve a five-year apprenticeship, and only licensed swordsmiths are allowed to produce Japanese swords (
nihonto), only two longswords per month are allowed to be produced by each swordsmith, and all swords must be registered with the
Japanese Government. Outside Japan, some of the modern
katanas being produced by western swordsmiths use modern steel alloys, such as
L6 and A2. These modern swords replicate the size and shape of the Japanese
katana and are used by martial artists for
iaidō and even for cutting practice (
tameshigiri). Mass-produced swords including
iaitō and
shinken in the shape of
katana are available from many countries, though China dominates the market. These types of swords are typically mass-produced and made with a wide variety of steels and methods. According to the Parliamentary Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Japanese Swords, organized by
Japanese Diet members, many
katana distributed around the world as of the 21st century are fake Japanese swords made in China. The
Sankei Shimbun analyzed that this is because the Japanese government allowed swordsmiths to make only 24 Japanese swords per person per year in order to maintain the quality of Japanese swords. Many swordsmiths after the Edo period have tried to reproduce the sword of the Kamakura period which is considered as the best sword in the history of Japanese swords, but they have failed. Then, in 2014, Kunihira Kawachi succeeded in reproducing it and won the Masamune Prize, the highest honor as a swordsmith. No one could win the Masamune Prize unless he made an extraordinary achievement, and in the section of
tachi and
katana, no one had won for 18 years before Kawauchi. == Types ==