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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).

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What Weapon is Synonymous With Samurai Warriors

What weapon is synonymous with samurai warriors? The answer is simple. Katana swords. Katana swords have been widely accepted as the perfect weapon for its strength, precision cutting and balance. It has been feaatured in National Geographic Channel (which I have watched of course). The craftsmanship is stunning but very laborious.

According to wikipedia,

A katana is a type of Japanese sword, and is often called a “samurai sword.” The term katana may be applied to any curved Japanese sword with a blade length of greater than 60 cm. The term is sometimes incorrectly used as a generic name for any kind of Japanese sword.

The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single edged blade, circular or squared guard, and long grip to accommodate two hands. It has historically been strongly associated with the samurai of feudal Japan, and has become renowned for its extraordinary sharpness and cutting ability. Indeed, in modern popular culture, the purported cutting capabilities of katanas have far exceeded their real life counterparts. Cool, huh!

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