Katana Swords
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The katana (刀?) is one of the traditional Japanese swords (日本刀 nihonto?) worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan, also commonly referred to as a "samurai sword".[1]
The katana is generally defined as the standard size moderately curved (as opposed to the older "tachi" style featuring more curvature) Japanese sword with a blade length greater than 60 cm (23.6 inches).[3]
With a few exceptions katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other if signed, by the location of the signature (mei) on the tang (nakago). In general the mei should be carved into the side of the nakago that would face outward when the sword was worn. Since a tachi was worn cutting edge down and the katana was worn cutting edge up, the mei would be in opposite locations on the nakago of both types of swords.[4]
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.[3] It has historically been associated with the samurai of feudal Japan, and has become renowned for its sharpness and cutting ability.
In the strictest sense the term katana in Japanese is applied to any kind of single-edged sword, of any origin, and does not necessarily refer to a Japanese sword.
"Katana" was originally used as a general term for a single-edged sword having a "sori" or curvature of the blade. While the "sugata" or form can take many shapes, including double edged, the term is now used incorrectly to describe nihontÅ that are 2 shaku (606 mm / 24 in) and longer, also known as "dai" or "daito" among Western sword enthusiasts although daito is actually a generic name for any long sword.[5]
This distinguishes them from the straight-bladed chokutÅ, which was brought from China by way of Korea.[6] The chokutÅ is speculated to have been the first "sugata" type the katana took on, being modeled after the imported swords. This emergence of the first nihontÅ took place the same time period as the beginning of Japanese feudalism and recognition of the daimyo or "great family" in the late ninth century.[6]
Pronounced [katana], the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀, originally meaning dao (sword) or knife/saber in Chinese, the word has been adopted as a loanword by the Portuguese language.[7] In Portuguese the designation (spelled catana) means "large knife" or machete.[7] As Japanese does not have separate plural and singular forms, both "katanas" and "katana" are considered acceptable forms in English.[8]
Meibutsu (noted swords) is a special designation given to sword masterpieces which are listed in a compilation from the 1700s called the "Kyoho Meibutsucho". The swords listed are Koto blades from several different provinces, 100 of the 166 swords listed are known to exist today with Soshu blades being very well represented. The "Kyoho Meibutsucho" also listed the nicknames, prices, history and length of the Meibutsy with swords by Yoshimitsu, Masamune, Yoshihiro, and Sadamune being very highly priced.[9]
History
The katana evolved as a more sleek and compact alternative to the tachi. Its origins go at least as far back as the Kamakura Period, with several blades dated from that time residing in various national repositories.
Its growth in popularity is believed to have been due to the changing nature of close-combat warfare. The quicker draw of the sword was well suited to combat where victory depended heavily on fast response times. The katana further facilitated this by being worn thrust through a belt-like sash (obi) with the bladed edge facing upwards. Ideally, samurai could draw the sword and strike down the enemy in a single motion.[6] Previously, the curved tachi had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt.[3][6]
The length of the blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to be between 70 to 73 cm (27.6 to 28.7 in) in length. While during the early 16th century, the average length was closer to 60 cm (23.6 in). By the late 16th century, the average length returned to approximately 73 cm (28.7 in).
The katana was often paired with a similar smaller companion sword, such as a wakizashi or it could also be worn with the tantÅ, an even smaller similarly shaped sword. The pairing of a katana with a smaller sword is called the daishÅ. The daisho could only be worn by samurai and it represented the social power and personal honor of the samurai.[3][6][10]
More at including pictures at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana
