History and Usage of Katana Swords
In my previous article titled “What Weapon is Synonymous With Samurai Warriors” I have discussed there a brief background of Katana swords. This time, let us take a closer look at the history of Katana swords – the perfect weapon of Samurai warriors:
The katana originated in the Muromachi period (1392–1573) as a result of changing battle conditions requiring faster response times. The katana facilitated this by being worn with the blade facing up, which allowed the samurai to draw and cut their enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved sword of the samurai was worn with the blade facing down. The ability to draw and cut in one motion also became increasingly useful in the daily life of the samurai.
The length of the katana’s blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to be between 70 and 73 cm in length. During the early 16th century, average length was much closer to 60 cm, but late in the 16th century, is again approximately 73 cm.
The katana was paired most often with the wakizashi or shoto, a similarly made but shorted sword, both worn by the members of the warrior class. It could also be worn with the tanto, an even smaller similarly shaped dagger. The katana and wakizashi when paired with each other were called the daish? and they represented the social power and personal honour of the samurai.
The katana’s unique design and in particular its sharpness necessitate quite a few specialized precautions to handle it. Failure to observe these precautions can easily lead to damage to the weapon or severe injury.
If mishandled in its storage or maintenance, the katana may become irreparably damaged. It is extremely important that the blade remain well-oiled and polished, as the natural moisture residue from the hands of the user will rapidly cause the blade to rust if not cleaned off. When stored for longer periods, it is likewise important that the katana be inspected frequently and aired out if necessary in order to prevent rust or mold from forming (mold may feed off the salts in the oil used to polish the katana).
4 Responses so far to "History and Usage of Katana Swords"
November 10th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Nakakatakot naman itong post mo, Jess. Naalala ko tuloy ang film na the Last Samurai at Kill Bill, daming swords sa mga films na yun.
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Technology and Gadgets Reply:
November 11th, 2008 at 3:41 am
Mhy,
Oh I love swords fren. May old samurai sword (Katana) kami dito sa haus. Sa lolo ko pa yun. Nakuha nya nung panahon ng hapon. Hindi nga lang matalas. Ipapahasa ko pa. Hahaha!
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December 1st, 2008 at 9:27 am
fascinating indeed huh!..i dont have a katana on my place but i am planning to buy in the future (expensive abe)hehe!..i only have a bokken on my place were i also placed my sword in a sword rack..actually 2 of them..hehe!!..i practice my bokken 3 times a day to improved my grip in aikido and my posture..bokken fyi if you have seen the movie the last samurai; its a wooden sword which they used to practice their technique with a partner to prevent them from injuries or cuts..
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September 8th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Actually samurai would still use swords for training purposes and in everyday practice.I like your artical but i felt you looked over important details of the sword itself, like the fact that a true battle ready katana was 40 iches from tsubo to the tip of the blade. Overall you did fine research but please do not compare the hollywood film to the actual life of a samurai.
P.S. If you are going to get a katana you should try not to get a showblade, they are weak and completely usless if you have any kind of training. Go battle ready all the way. You will be able to tell the difference because battle ready will be $200 or more. They are expencive but worth every penny.
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