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The History of Samurai Sword
A samurai sword, also known as katana or nihinto, is a kind of two handed attack backsword or long sword generally used in the 14th century Japan. Katana sword has a single-edged attribute and commonly paired with wakizashi (a short sword used by the buke warriors). In relation, samurai swords are also coupled with the use of a smaller type of blade saber called the tanto. Collectively, these two swords are referred as the daisho. The sheath for holding the samurai sword or its scabbard is called as the saya while the tsuba (the sword's round guard which also serves as its controller) is the samurai sword's handguard piece.
The samurai sword is typically applied for cutting even tough its form, figure, and design are also perfect for thrusting. It is crafted out from a special Japanese steel called tamahagane (pronounced as tom-ah-ha-gan-ay). This kind of steel is low in iron ore and does not easily melt.
The history of the samurai sword started in the era of the feudal lords during the 6th century BC. The acclaimed founder of Japan, Emperor Jimmu (also known as Kamuyamato Iwarebiko who lived from January 1, 711 BCE to March 11, 585 BCE), established the use of ancient Japanese swords upon his colonization of the country. However, these traditional swords bear a resemblance with the early Chinese swords. During the Asuka era (538 to 710 AD), Japanese swords began having its own identity. From the 8th to 11th centuries, sword-making ideas were bought from neighboring Russia and the northern areas of Hokkaido. Japan's first settlers, the Ainus, created the samurai sword's forefather, the Warabite. Historical accounts stated that Amakuni, a famous smith of the ancient period, created Japan's first ever samurai sword in 700 AD. During that time, the process of making swords was through the folded steel method.
Civil war then started in Japan at some point in the 12th century. The War of Onin, first fought by Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Souzen during the Muromachi era which lasted from 1467 to 1477, greatly transformed the types of armory used in Japan. These incidents highly developed and advanced the Japanese swords. As a result, the demand for samurai swords rose up.
The samurai sword has reached its summit during the Kamakura era. Throughout this period, Japanese swords experienced its Golden Age. The Muromachi epoch also introduced the exportation of the samurai sword to other countries especially to China. An average of 200,000 katanas were transported and traded to the Ming dynasty.
At some point in 1876, the Haitori Proclamation prohibited the carrying of swords and other types of deadly weapons in the streets of Japan. As a result, samurai warriors have mixed well in the public along with the commoners. This in turn decreased the katana's presence.
The samurai sword's parts include the its blade, blade tip, kissaki (point of the sword), boshi (the design of hardened border), yokote (the line which separates the sword's tip from the body), ji (the blade area situated above the hamon), hira, ha, hamashi, mei, mekugi ana, nakagojiri, mune, munemachi, nakago, shinogi (the samurai sword's ridgeline), blade signature (the sword maker's unique mark), the hamon, and the habaki.
Among the famous samurai sword smiths include Amakuni Munechika, Rai Kunitoshi, Rai Kunimitsu, Soshu Masamune, Soshu Sadamune, Sengo Muramasa, Inoue Shinkai, Nagasone Kotetsu, Gassan Sadakazu, Yosozaemon Sukesada, Yamato Kaneuji, Bizen Saburo, Kunimune, Etchu Norishige, Go Yoshihiro, and Magoroku Kanemoto.
Some of the world's most popular samurai sword users are Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Tsukahara Bokuden, Iizasa Ienao, Miyamoto Musashi, Sasaki Kojiro, Okita Soji, Saito Hajime, and Yukio Mishima.
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