The Japanese samurai had a sword. But did they only fight with swords? It will probably be interesting to get acquainted with their arsenal in detail in order to better understand the traditions of ancient Japanese military art.

Let's start by comparing the arsenal of a Japanese samurai with that of a medieval knight from Western Europe. The difference in both the quantity and quality of their samples is immediately evident. The arsenal of the samurai will first of all be much richer. In addition, many types of weapons will be practically incomparable with European ones. In addition, what we consider to be true is in fact very often just another myth. For example, everyone has heard about the fact that the sword is the “soul of the samurai”, since they wrote about it more than once. However, was it their main weapon, and if so, was it always so? Here is a knight's sword - yes, indeed, it has always been a symbol of chivalry, but with a samurai sword, everything is far from so simple.

Firstly, this is not a sword, but a saber. We just traditionally call the samurai blade a sword. And secondly, he was far from always his main weapon! And here it would be best to remember ... the legendary musketeers of Alexandre Dumas! They were called so because their main weapon was a heavy matchlock musket. However, the heroes of the novel use it only during the defense of the Saint-Gervais bastion. In the remaining chapters of the novel, they make do with swords. This is understandable. After all, it was the sword, and then its light version - the sword, that were symbols of chivalry and belonging to the nobility in Europe. Moreover, even a peasant could wear a sword in Europe. Bought and wear! But to master it, you had to study for a long time! And only the nobles could afford it, but not the peasants. But the musketeers fought by no means with swords, and the situation was exactly the same with the Japanese samurai. The sword among them became especially popular in the years of ... peace, that is, in the Edo era, after 1600, when it turned from a military weapon into a symbol of the samurai class. There was no one to fight with the samurai, it was beneath their dignity to work, so they began to hone their fencing art, open fencing schools - in a word, cultivate the art of antiquity and promote it in every possible way. In a real battle, samurai, of course, also used swords, but at first they did it only as a last resort, and before that they used a bow!

Like the French nobles, the samurai did not part with their swords both in the days of peace and in the days of war, and even a sidelong glance was considered as an insult! Woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada (1786 - 1865).

An ancient Japanese verse said, “Bow and arrows! Only they are the stronghold of the happiness of the whole country! And these lines clearly show how important kyudo, the art of archery, was for the Japanese. Only a noble warrior ancient japan could become an archer. His name was yumi-tori - "bow holder". The bow - yumi and arrow I - were among the Japanese sacred weapons, and the expression "yumiya no miti" ("the way of the bow and arrows") was synonymous with the word "bushido" and meant the same thing - "the way of the samurai." Even the purely peaceful expression “samurai family” literally means “bow and arrow family” when translated from Japanese, and the Chinese in their chronicles called the Japanese “Big Bow”.

A fragment of the scroll "Heiji no Ran" depicts a rider in a white o-yoroi, armed with a bow and sword. The scroll was created at the beginning of the 14th century.

In the Heike Monogatari (The Tale of Heike), a well-known Japanese military chronicle of the 14th century, for example, it is reported that in 1185, during the Battle of Yashima, the Minamoto no Kuro Yoshitsune (1159 - 1189) commander fought desperately to return the bow, which he accidentally dropped into the water. The enemy warriors tried to knock him out of the saddle, his own warriors begged him to forget about such a trifle, but he fearlessly fought the first, and did not pay attention to the second. He took out his bow, but his veterans began to openly resent such recklessness: “It was terrible, lord. Your bow may be worth a thousand, ten thousand gold pieces, but is it worth risking your life?”

To which Yoshitsune replied: “It’s not that I didn’t want to part with my bow. If I had a bow like my uncle Tametomo's, which could only be drawn by two or even three people, I might even deliberately leave it to the enemy. But my bow is bad. If the enemies knew that it was I who owned it, they would laugh at me: “Look, this is the bow of the Minamoto commander Kuro Yoshitsune!” I wouldn't like it. So I risked my life to get him back."

In Hogan Monogatari (The Tale of the Hogan Era), which tells about the hostilities of 1156, Tametomo (1149 - 1170), Yoshitsune's uncle, is said to be an archer so strong that the enemies, having taken him prisoner, knocked him out chisel hands out of the joints to make it impossible to shoot a bow in the future. The title of "archer" was an honorary title for any distinguished samurai, even when the sword and spear replaced the bow. For example, the military leader Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519 - 1560) was given the nickname "The First Archer of the East Sea".

The Japanese made their bows from bamboo, while unlike the bows of other peoples who also used bamboo for this, they were very large in size and at the same time also asymmetrical, since it was believed that with such a warrior it would be more convenient to aim and shoot. Moreover, such a bow was especially convenient for shooting from a horse. The length of the yumi usually exceeds the English "longbows", as it often reaches 2.5 meters in length. There are cases that there were bows and even longer. So, the legendary archer Minamoto (1139 - 1170) had a bow 280 cm long. Sometimes the bows were made so strong that one person could not pull them. For example, yumi, intended for naval battles, had to be pulled by seven people at once. The modern Japanese bow, as in ancient times, is made from bamboo, various woods and rattan fibers. The usual distance of an aimed shot is 60 meters, well, in the hands of a master, such a weapon is capable of sending an arrow up to 120 meters. On some bows (at one of the ends), the Japanese strengthened the tips, like spears, which allowed this type of weapon, which was called yumi-yari (“spear bow”), to combine the functions of a bow and a spear.

Ancestral arrow and case for it.

The shafts of the arrows were made of polished bamboo or willow, and the plumage was made of feathers. The tip of the yajiri was often a real work of art. They were made by special blacksmiths, and often they signed their tips. Their forms could be different, for example, bifurcated moon-shaped tips were very popular. Each samurai had a special "ancestral arrow" in his quiver, on which his name was written. It was used to recognize the dead on the battlefield in the same way as in Europe it was done by the coat of arms on the shield, and the winner took it as a trophy. Tsuru - bow string - was made from plant fibers and rubbed with wax. Each archer also had a spare string with him - a gen, which was put in a quiver or wound around a special tsurumaki coil ring that hung on his belt.

Katakura Kadetune - a samurai in black o-yoroy armor and with the same black bow with a characteristic braid. On a belt the coil for a spare bowstring. The back flag of the sashimono depicts a Buddhist bell. Sendai City Museum.

Much kyudo, according to European concepts, lies beyond the reasonable understanding of reality and is inaccessible to a person with a Western mentality. So, for example, it is still believed that the shooter in this half-mystical art plays only the role of an intermediary, and the shot itself is carried out, as it were, without his direct participation. At the same time, the shot itself was divided into four stages: greeting, preparation for aiming, aiming and launching an arrow (moreover, the latter could be fired standing, sitting, kneeling). A samurai could shoot even while riding a horse, and not from a stationary position, but at full gallop, like the ancient Scythians, Mongols and North American Indians!

An ancestral arrow (left) and two tsuba guards on the right.

According to the rules, the bushi warrior received an arrow and a bow from his squire, got up from his seat and assumed the appropriate posture, demonstrating his dignity and complete self-control. At the same time, breathing was required in a certain way, which achieved “peace of mind and body” (dojikuri) and readiness to shoot (yugumae). Then the shooter stood at the target with his left shoulder, with a bow in his left hand. The legs were supposed to be placed at the length of the arrow, after which the arrow was placed on the bowstring and held with the fingers. Meanwhile, relaxing the muscles in his arms and chest, the samurai raised his bow over his head and pulled the string. It was necessary to breathe at this moment with the stomach, which allowed the muscles to relax. Then the shot itself was fired - khanare. The samurai had to concentrate all his physical and mental strength on the “great goal”, the desire for one goal - to connect with the deity, but by no means on the desire to hit the target and not on the target itself. Having fired, the shooter then lowered the bow and calmly walked to his place.

Archery gloves.

Over time, yumi turned from a weapon of a noble rider into a weapon of a simple infantryman, but even then he did not lose respect for himself. Even the advent of firearms did not detract from its importance, since the bow was faster and more reliable than the primitive muzzle-loading arquebus. The Japanese knew crossbows, including Chinese ones, multiply charged doku, but they were not widely used in their country.

By the way, horses and riders were specially trained in the ability to swim across rivers with a turbulent current, and at the same time they had to shoot from a bow! Therefore, the bow was varnished (usually black) and also dyed. Short bows, similar to the Mongolian ones, were also well known to the Japanese, and they used them, but this was difficult because the Buddhists in Japan were disgusted with such things as the hooves, sinews and horns of dead animals and could not touch them, and without this they could make a short but powerful enough bow is simply impossible.

But in Western Europe, the feudal lords bow for military weapon did not recognize. Already the ancient Greeks considered the bow a weapon of a coward, and the Romans called it "insidious and childish." Charlemagne demanded that his soldiers wear a bow, issued the appropriate capitularies (decrees), but he did not succeed much in this! A sports equipment for training muscles - yes, a hunting weapon - to earn a living in the forest, combining a pleasant pastime with useful work - yes, but to fight with a bow in your hands against other knights like himself - yes, God forbid! Moreover, bows and crossbows were used in European armies, but ... they recruited commoners for this: in England - yeomen-peasants, in France - Genoese crossbowmen, and in Byzantium and the crusader states in Palestine - Muslim Turkopoulos. That is, in Europe, the main weapon of a knight was originally a double-edged sword, and the bow was considered a weapon unworthy of a noble warrior. Moreover, horseback archers in European armies were forbidden to shoot from horseback. With a noble animal, which was considered a horse, you had to first get off, and only after that take up the bow! In Japan, it was the opposite - it was from the very beginning that the bow was the weapon of noble warriors, and the sword served for self-defense in close combat. And only when the wars in Japan stopped, and archery by and large lost all meaning, the sword came to the first place in the samurai's arsenal, in fact, which by that time had become an analogue of the European sword. Of course, not in terms of his combat characteristics, but in terms of the role that he played in the then Japanese society.

And with spears, the situation was about the same! Well, why does a warrior need a spear when a powerful and long-range bow is at his service ?! But when spears in Japan became a popular weapon, there were so many types of them that it was simply amazing. Although, unlike Western European knights, who used spears from the very beginning of their history, in Japan they received them only in the middle of the 14th century, when infantrymen began to use them against samurai horsemen.

Senzaki Yagoro Noriyasu is one of the 47 loyal ronin who runs with a spear in his hand. Woodcut by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798 - 1861)

The length of the spear of the Japanese infantry yari could be from 1.5 to 6.5 m. Usually it was a spear with a double-edged tip ho, however, spears with several points at once are known, with hooks and moon-shaped blades attached to the tip and taken away from it to the sides .

The rarest kuradashi yari spear of blacksmith Mumei. Edo period, circa 1670. Next to it is a suitably shaped case.

Using the yari spear, the samurai struck right hand, trying to pierce the armor of the enemy, and with the left he simply held his shaft. Therefore, it was always varnished, and the smooth surface made it easy to rotate in the palms. Then, when long yari appeared, which became a weapon against cavalry, they began to be used rather as a striking weapon. Ashigaru foot warriors were usually armed with such spears, resembling the ancient Macedonian phalanx with long pikes lined one to one.

The tip of the yari spear and its case.

Well, if the tip of the spear broke, then they didn’t throw it away, but turned it into such an elegant tanto-yari dagger.

The shapes of the tips varied, as did their length, of which the longest reached 1 m. In the middle of the Sengoku period, the shaft of the yari lengthened to 4 m, but it was more convenient for riders to control spears with short shafts, and the longest yari remained the weapon of the ashigaru foot soldiers. Another interesting type of polearm such as a pitchfork was the sasumata sojo garama or futomata-yari with a metal tip like a slingshot, sharpened from the inside. It was often used by samurai police officers to detain intruders armed with a sword.

Sasumata sojo garama

In Japan, they also came up with something resembling a garden trident cultivator and called kumade (“bear paw”). In his representations, one can often see a chain wrapped around the shaft, which must have been attached to the wrist or to armor so that it would not be lost in battle. This weapon curiosity was used during the storming of castles, during boarding, but in a field battle with its help it was possible to hook an enemy warrior by the kuvagata horns on a helmet or by cords on armor and pull them off a horse or from a wall. Another version of the "bear's paw" was a mace with outstretched fingers, and entirely made of metal!

The kumade mace is a striking fusion of two styles of Chinese and Japanese island weapons.

The police also used sode-garami (“tangled sleeve”), a weapon with hooks diverging from the shaft, with which they caught on the sleeves of the criminal so that he could not use his weapon. The way to work with it is simple to genius. It is enough to approach the enemy and forcefully poke him with the tip of the sode-garami (it doesn’t matter whether he is injured or not!) so that his hooks with the ends bent like fishhooks dig into his body.

Sode-garami tip.

It was in this way that murderers, robbers and violent revelers were captured in Edo times. Well, in battle, sode-garami tried to hook the enemy by the lacing on the armor and pull him off the horse to the ground. So the presence on Japanese armor a large number cords represented a "double-edged sword". In certain cases, for their owner, it was simply deadly! The navy also used something similar to it - the uchi-kagi grappling hook.

The reign of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 was associated with the disappearance of the art of wielding a spear. The bloody wars were replaced by the era of technology and the improvement of military competition with swords. The art associated with it was called "kenjutsu", over time turned into a means of spiritual self-improvement.

The meaning of the samurai sword

Real samurai swords were considered not just weapons of a professional warrior, but also a symbol of the samurai class, an emblem of honor and valor, courage and masculinity. Since ancient times, weapons have been revered as a sacred gift from the goddess of the Sun to her grandson, who rules on earth. The sword was to be used only to eradicate evil, injustice and protect good. He was part of a Shinto cult. Temples and sacred places were decorated with weapons. In the 8th century, Japanese priests were involved in the production, cleaning, polishing of swords.

The samurai had to keep a warrior's kit with him at all times. Allotted for swords place of honor in the house, the niche in the main corner is the tokonoma. They were stored on a tachikake or katanakake stand. Going to bed, the samurai put his swords at his head at arm's length.

A person could be poor, but have an expensive blade in an excellent frame. The sword was an emblem emphasizing the class position. For the sake of the blade, the samurai had the right to sacrifice his own life and his family.

Japanese warrior set

Japanese warriors always carried two swords with them, which indicated that they belonged to the samurai. A set of a warrior (daise) consisted of a long and a short blade. The long samurai sword katana or daito (from 60 to 90 cm) has been the main weapon of the samurai since the 14th century. It was worn on the belt with the point up. The sword was sharpened on one side, and had a hilt. The masters of combat knew how to kill with lightning speed, in a split second, pulling out the blade and making one stroke. This technique was called "iaijutsu".

The short samurai sword wakizashi (seto or kodachi) was twice as short (from 30 to 60 cm) worn on the belt with the tip up, used less often when fighting in cramped conditions. With the help of wakizashi, the warriors cut off the heads of the killed opponents or, being captured, committed seppuku - suicide. Most often, samurai fought with a katana, although in special schools they taught combat with two swords.

Types of samurai swords

In addition to the daisy set, there were several types used by warriors.

• Tsurugi, chokuto - the oldest sword used before the 11th century, had straight edges and was sharpened on both sides.
• Ken - a straight ancient blade, sharpened on both sides, used in religious ceremonies and rarely used in combat.
• Tati - a large curved sword (point length from 61 cm), used by horsemen, was worn with the point down.
• Nodachi or odachi - an extra-large blade (from 1 m to 1.8 m), which is a type of tachi, was worn behind the back of the rider.
• Tanto - dagger (up to 30 cm long).
• Bamboo swords (shinai) and wooden swords (bokken) were used for training. Training weapons could be used in combat with an unworthy opponent, such as a robber.

Commoners and men of the lower classes had the right to defend themselves with small knives and daggers, since there was a law on the right to carry swords.

katana sword

Katana is a combat samurai sword, which is included in the standard armament of a warrior along with a small wakizashi blade. It began to be used in the 15th century due to the improvement of tachi. The katana is distinguished by an outward-curved blade, a long straight handle that allows it to be held with one or two hands. The blade has a slight bend and a pointed end, used for cutting and stabbing. The weight of the sword is 1 - 1.5 kg. In terms of strength, flexibility and hardness, the samurai katana sword ranks first among other blades in the world, cuts bones, rifle barrels and iron, surpasses Arab damask steel and European swords.

The blacksmith who forged weapons never made fittings; for this, he had other craftsmen under him. Katana is a constructor assembled as a result of the work of a whole team. Samurai always had several sets of accessories worn for the occasion. The blade was passed down through the ages from generation to generation, and its appearance could change depending on the circumstances.

History of the katana

In 710, the legendary first Japanese swordsman Amakuni used a sword with a curved blade in battle. Forged from dissimilar plates, it had a saber shape. Its form did not change until the 19th century. Since the 12th century, katanas have been considered the swords of aristocrats. Under the rule of the Ashikaga shoguns, the tradition of carrying two swords arose, which became the privilege of the samurai class. A set of samurai swords was part of a military, civil and festive costume. Two blades were worn by all samurai, regardless of rank: from private to shogun. After the revolution, Japanese officials were required to wear European swords, then katanas lost their high status.

Secrets of making a katana

The blade was forged from two types of steel: the core was made of tough steel, and the cutting edge was made of strong steel. Steel before forging was cleaned by repeated folding and welding.

In the manufacture of katana, the choice of metal was important, a special iron ore with impurities of molybdenum and tungsten. The master buried iron bars in a swamp for 8 years. During this time, rust eats away weak spots, then the product is sent to the forge. The gunsmith turned the bars into foil with a heavy hammer. The foil was then repeatedly folded and flattened. Therefore, the finished blade consisted of 50,000 layers of high-strength metal.

Real samurai katanas have always been distinguished by the characteristic line of jamon, which appears as a result of the use of special forging and hardening methods. The handle of the tsuka sword was wrapped in stingray skin and wrapped with a strip of silk. Souvenir or ceremonial katanas could have handles made of wood or ivory.

Katana proficiency

The long hilt of the sword allows for efficient maneuvering. To hold the katana, a grip is used, the end of the handle of which must be held in the middle of the left palm, and with the right hand, squeeze the handle near the guard. The synchronous swing of both hands made it possible for the warrior to get a wide swing amplitude without spending a lot of strength. The blows were applied vertically to the sword or hands of the enemy. This allows you to remove the opponent's weapon from the trajectory of the attack in order to hit him with the next swing.

ancient japanese weapons

Several varieties of Japanese weapons are of the auxiliary or secondary type.

• Yumi or o-yumi - combat bows (from 180 to 220 cm), which are the oldest weapon Japan. Bows have been used in combat and in religious ceremonies since ancient times. In the 16th century, they were supplanted by muskets brought from Portugal.
• Yari - a spear (length 5 m), a weapon popular in the era of civil strife, was used by the infantry to throw the enemy off the horse.
• Bo - a military fighting pole, related to sports weapons today. There are many options for the pole, depending on the length (from 30 cm to 3 m), thickness and section (round, hexagonal, etc.).
• Yoroi-doshi was considered a dagger of mercy, resembled a stiletto and was used to finish off opponents wounded in battle.
• Kozuka or kotsuka - a military knife, fixed in the sheath of a combat sword, was often used for household purposes.
• Tessen or dansen utiwa is the commander's battle fan. The fan was equipped with sharpened steel spokes, could be used in attack, as a battle hatchet and as a shield.
• Jitte - fighting iron baton, a fork with two teeth. It was used in the Tokugawa era as a police weapon. Using jitte, police intercepted samurai swords in battles with violent warriors.
• Naginata is a Japanese halberd, a weapon of warrior monks, a two-meter pole with a small flat blade at the end. In ancient times, it was used by foot soldiers to attack enemy horses. In the 17th century, it began to be used in samurai families as a female
• Kaiken is a combat dagger for female aristocrats. Used for self-defense, as well as dishonored girls for suicide.

During the period of internecine civil wars in Japan, firearms were made, guns with flint locks (teppo), which began to be considered unworthy with the coming to power of the Tokugawa. From the 16th century, cannons also appeared in the Japanese troops, but the bow and sword continued to occupy the main place in the armament of the samurai.

katana kaji

Swords in Japan have always been made by people of the ruling class, often by samurai relatives or courtiers. With the growing demand for swords, the feudal lords began to patronize blacksmiths (katana-kaji). Making a samurai sword required careful preparation. The forging of swords was reminiscent of a liturgical ceremony and was filled with religious activities to protect the wearer from evil forces.

Before starting work, the blacksmith kept a fast, refrained from bad thoughts and deeds, and performed the ritual of cleansing the body. The forge was carefully cleaned and decorated with sime - ritual attributes woven from rice straw. Each forge had an altar for prayers and for moral preparation for work. If necessary, the master dressed in kuge - full dress. Honor did not allow an experienced craftsman to make low-quality weapons. Sometimes a blacksmith would destroy a sword that he could spend several years on because of a single flaw. Work on one sword could last from 1 year to 15 years.

Japanese sword production technology

The remelted metal obtained from magnetic iron ore was used as weapon steel. Samurai swords, considered the best in the world Far East, were as strong as Damascus. In the 17th century, metal from Europe began to be used in the manufacture of Japanese swords.

A Japanese blacksmith formed a blade from a huge number of iron layers, the thinnest strips with different carbon contents. The strips were welded together during melting and forging. Forging, stretching, repeated folding and new forging of metal strips made it possible to obtain a thin beam.

Thus, the blade consisted of many fused thin layers of multi-carbon steel. The combination of low-carbon and high-carbon metals gave the sword a special hardness and toughness. At the next stage, the blacksmith polished the blade on several stones and hardened it. It was not uncommon for samurai swords from Japan to be made over several years.

Murder at the crossroads

The quality of the blade and the skill of the samurai were usually tested in battle. good sword allowed to cut three corpses laid on top of each other. It was believed that the new samurai swords must be tried on a person. Tsuji-giri (kill at the crossroads) - the name of the rite of trial of a new sword. The victims of the samurai were beggars, peasants, travelers and just passersby, whose number soon numbered in the thousands. The authorities put patrols and guards on the streets, but the guards did not perform their duties well.

Samurai, who did not want to kill the innocent, preferred another method - tameshi-giri. By paying the executioner, it was possible to give him the blade, which he tried during the execution of the condemned.

What is the secret to the sharpness of the katana?

A real katana sword can self-sharpen as a result of the ordered movement of molecules. By simply placing the blade on a special stand, the warrior, after a certain period of time, again received a sharp blade. The sword was polished in stages, through ten reducing grit. Then the master polished the blade with charcoal dust.

At the last stage, the sword was hardened in liquid clay, as a result of this procedure, a matte thinnest strip (yakiba) appeared on the blade. Famous masters left a signature on the tail of the blade. After forging and hardening, the sword was polished for half a month. When the katana had a mirror finish, the work was considered complete.

Conclusion

A real samurai sword, the price of which is fabulous, as a rule, is the handiwork of an ancient master. Such tools are difficult to find, as they are passed down in families as a relic. The most expensive katana have mei - the brand of the master and the year of manufacture on the shank. Symbolic forging was applied to many swords, drawings from warding off evil spirits. The scabbard for the sword was also decorated with ornaments.

Literature often uses Japanese names to refer to varieties of the Japanese sword and its details. A short glossary of the most commonly used terms:

Comparative table of Japanese swords

Type	Length (nagasa), cm	Width (motohuba), cm	Deflection (sorry), cm	Thickness (kasane), mm	Notes
Tati	61-71	2,4-3,5	1,2-2,1	5-6,6	Appeared in the XI century. Worn on the belt with the blade down, paired with a tanto dagger. A variation of odachi could be worn on the back.
katana	61-73	2,8-3,1	0,4-1,9	6-8	Appeared in the XIV century. Worn behind the belt with the blade up, paired with a wakizashi.
Wakizashi	32-60	2,1-3,2	0,2-1,7	4-7	Appeared in the XIV century. Worn with the blade up, paired with a katana or alone as a dagger.
Tanto	17-30	1.7-2.9	0-0.5	5-7	Worn in tandem with a tati sword or separately as a dagger.
All dimensions are given for the blade, excluding the shank. Width and thickness are indicated for the base of the blade, where it passes into the tang. The data are taken for the swords of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods (- years) according to the catalogs. The length of tachi in the initial period of Kamakura and modern tachi (gendaito) reaches 83 cm.

History of the Japanese sword

Ancient swords. Until the 9th century.

The first iron swords were brought to Japanese islands in the 2nd half of the 3rd century by Chinese traders from the mainland. This period of Japanese history is called Kofun (lit. "mounds", III - centuries). In the mound-type graves, swords of that period, albeit heavily damaged by rust, were preserved, divided by archaeologists into Japanese, Korean, and the most frequent Chinese samples. Chinese swords had a straight narrow single-edged blade with a large annular pommel on the shank. Japanese examples were shorter, with a wider straight double-edged blade and a massive pommel. In the Asuka period (- years), with the help of Korean and Chinese blacksmiths, Japan began to produce its own iron, and by the 7th century they mastered the technology of forging multilayer steel. Unlike previous examples, forged from a single iron strip, swords began to be made by forging from iron and steel plates.

In total, after the end of the Second World War, about 650 licenses for the manufacture of swords were issued to blacksmiths. About 300 licensed blacksmiths continue to work today. Many of them are trying to restore the traditions of making swords of the Kamakura and Koto periods. The swords produced by them are considered primarily as works of traditional Japanese art.

sword manufacturing technology

Blacksmiths-gunsmiths

Blacksmiths had a high social status in Japanese society, many of them are known by name thanks to the lists. The lists of ancient blacksmiths begin with the name Amakuni from the Yamato province, who, according to legend, lived at the beginning of the 8th century during the reign of Emperor Taiho (-).

In the old days (the period of koto swords, about - BC), there were about 120 blacksmith schools that over the centuries produced swords with characteristic stable features developed by the founding master of the school. In modern times (the period of Shinto swords, - gg.), 80 schools are known. There are about 1,000 outstanding blacksmith craftsmen, and in total over a thousand years of the history of the Japanese sword, more than 23 thousand gunsmiths were recorded, of which most (4 thousand) during the period of koto (old swords) lived in the province of Bizen (modern Okayama Prefecture ).

Ingots of iron were flattened into thin plates, cooled rapidly in water and then broken into pieces the size of a coin. After that, the selection of pieces was carried out, pieces with large inclusions of slag were discarded, the rest were sorted according to the color and granular structure of the fault. This method allowed the blacksmith to select steel with a predictable carbon content ranging from 0.6 to 1.5%.

Further separation of slag residues in steel and a decrease in carbon content was carried out in the process of forging - joining individual small pieces into a blank for a sword.

Blade forging

Section of a Japanese sword. Shown are two common structures with excellent combination in the direction of the steel layers. Left: Blade metal will show texture itame, on right - masame.

Pieces of steel with approximately the same carbon content were poured onto a plate of the same metal, everything in a single block is heated to 1300 ° C and welded together with hammer blows. The forging process begins. The workpiece is flattened and doubled, then flattened again and doubled in the other direction. As a result of repeated forging, a multi-layer steel is obtained, finally cleaned of slags. It is easy to calculate that with a 15-fold folding of the workpiece, almost 33 thousand layers of steel are formed - a typical Damascus density for Japanese swords.

The slag still remains a microscopic layer on the surface of the steel layer, forming a peculiar texture ( hada), resembling a pattern on the surface of wood.

To make a sword blank, a blacksmith forges at least two bars: from hard high-carbon steel ( kawagane) and softer low-carbon ( shingane). From the first, a U-shaped profile about 30 cm long is formed, inside which a bar is inserted shingane, not reaching the part that will become the top and which is made of the best and hardest steel kawagane. Then the blacksmith heats the block in the furnace and welds the component parts by forging, after which he increases the length of the workpiece at 700-1100 ° C to the size of a sword by forging.

With a more complex technology, up to 4 bars are welded: from the hardest steel ( hagane) form the cutting edge and top, 2 bars of less hard steel go to sides, and a bar of relatively mild steel forms the core. The multi-layer structure of the blade can be even more complex with separate butt welding.

Forging forms the blade of the blade to a thickness of about 2.5 mm (near the cutting edge) and its edge. The upper tip is also straightened by forging, for which the end of the workpiece is cut diagonally. Then the long end (from the side of the blade) of the diagonal cut is forged to the short (butt), as a result of which the metal structure at the top provides increased strength in the strike zone of the sword, while maintaining hardness and thus the possibility of very sharp sharpening.

Blade hardening and polishing

The next important step in the manufacture of the sword is the heat treatment of the blade to harden the cutting edge, as a result of which the jamon pattern appears on the surface of the sword, which is specific to Japanese swords. Up to half of the blanks in the hands of the average blacksmith never become real swords as a result of failed tempering.

For heat treatment, the blade is covered with an uneven layer of heat-resistant paste - a mixture of clay, ash and stone powder. The exact composition of the paste was kept secret by the master. The blade was covered with a thin layer, the thickest layer of paste was applied to the middle part of the blade, where hardening was undesirable. The liquid mixture was leveled and, after drying, scratched in a certain order in the area closer to the blade, due to which a pattern was prepared jamon. The blade with dried paste is heated evenly along its length to approx. 770 ° C (controlled by the color of the hot metal), then immersed in a container of water with the blade down. Rapid cooling changes the structure of the metal near the blade, where the thickness of the metal and thermal protective paste is the smallest. The blade is then reheated to 160°C and cooled down again. This procedure helps to reduce the stresses in the metal that have arisen during hardening.

The hardened area of ​​the blade has an almost white tint compared to the rest of the blade's darker grey-bluish surface. The boundary between them is clearly visible in the form of a patterned line. jamon, which is interspersed with shiny crystals of martensite in iron. In ancient times, the jamon looked like a straight line along the blade; during the Kamakura period, the line became wavy, with bizarre curls and transverse lines. It is believed that in addition to aesthetic appearance, the wavy heterogeneous line of the jamon allows the blade to better withstand shock loads, damping sharp stresses in the metal.

If the procedure is followed, as an indicator of the quality of hardening, the butt of the blade acquires a whitish tint, utsuri(lit. reflection). Utsuri recalls jamon, but its appearance is not a consequence of the formation of martensite, but an optical effect as a result of a slight change in the structure of the metal in this zone compared to the nearby body of the blade. Utsuri is not a mandatory attribute of a quality sword, but indicates a successful heat treatment for some technologies.

When the blade is heated during the hardening process to a temperature of more than 770 °, its surface becomes rich in shades and rich in pattern details. However, the strength of the sword may suffer. Only the blacksmiths of the Sagami province during the Kamakura period managed to combine the fighting qualities of the sword with the luxurious design of the metal surface; high-quality swords of other schools are distinguished by a rather strict style of blade design.

The final finishing of the sword is no longer carried out by a blacksmith, but by an artisan polisher, whose skill was also highly valued. Using a series of polishing stones of varying grits and water, the polisher would polish the blade to perfection, after which the smith would engrave his name and other details on the unpolished tang. The sword was considered ready, the remaining operations for attaching the hilt ( tsuki), guards ( tsuba), the application of jewelry belonged to the category of auxiliary procedures that did not require magical skill.

fighting qualities

The fighting qualities of the best Japanese swords cannot be assessed. Due to their uniqueness and high price, testers do not have the opportunity to test and compare them with the best works gunsmiths from other regions of the world. It is necessary to distinguish between the possibilities of the sword for different situations. For example, sharpening a sword for the greatest sharpness (for tricks with cutting handkerchiefs in the air) will be unsuitable for cutting through armor. In antiquity and the Middle Ages, legends were circulated about the capabilities of weapons that could not be demonstrated in modern times. Below are collected individual legends and facts on the capabilities of the Japanese sword.

Modern evaluation of Japanese swords

After the surrender of Japan in World War II, the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition issued an order to destroy all Japanese swords, but after the intervention of experts, in order to preserve historical relics of significant artistic value, the order was changed. The "Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords" was created (jap. 日本美術刀剣保存協会 Nippon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, NBTHK, nippon bujutsu to: ken hozon kyo: kai), one of his tasks was an expert assessment of the historical value of the sword. In 1950, Japan passed the law "On Cultural Property", which, in particular, determined the procedure for preserving Japanese swords as part of the cultural heritage of the nation.

The sword evaluation system is multi-stage, starting with the assignment of the lowest category and ending with the award of the highest titles (the top two titles are within the competence of the Ministry of Culture of Japan):

• National Treasure ( kokuho). About 122 swords have the title, mainly tachi of the Kamakura period, katanas and wakizashi in this list less than 2 dozen.
• Important cultural asset. The title has about 880 swords.
• A very important sword.
• Important sword.
• A highly guarded sword.
• Protected sword.

In modern Japan, it is possible to keep a registered sword with only one of the above titles, otherwise the sword is subject to confiscation as a type of weapon (if not related to souvenirs). The actual quality of the sword is certified by the Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords (NBTHK), which issues an expert opinion according to the established pattern.

At present, in Japan, it is customary to evaluate the Japanese sword not so much by its combat parameters (strength, cutting ability), but by the criteria applicable to a work of art. Quality sword, keeping properties effective weapon, should deliver aesthetic pleasure to the observer, have the perfection of form and harmony of artistic taste.

see also

• Uchigatana

Sources

The article is based on the materials of the following publications:

• Sword. Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan. 1st ed. 1983. ISBN 0-87011-620-7 (U.S.)
• A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", - St. Petersburg, 2001, 264 p. ISBN 5-901555-01-5
• A. G. Bazhenov, "Examination of the Japanese sword", - S.-Pb., 2003, 440 p. ISBN 5-901555-14-7.
• Leon and Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara, "The Craft of the Japanese Sword". Translation into Russian on the site www.katori.ru.

Notes

1. There are discussions in the literature about whether to call Japanese samurai-shaped swords produced using non-traditional Japanese technologies. The article uses the established term "sword", but some believe the term "saber" is more correct for a curved single-edged weapon. According to the current Russian GOST R 51215-98 (Cold weapons, terminology), the "Japanese sword" refers to sabers - "4.4 saber: Contact blade cutting and cutting and piercing and cutting weapons with a long curved single-edged blade." Definition of a sword: "4.9 sword: A contact blade stabbing and slashing weapon with a straight medium or long massive double-edged blade"
2. The term "tati" was established in Russian-language literature. Russian phonetics does not allow to accurately convey the sound, English phonetics reproduces the name as tachi.
3. There is no exact standard for deflection for tati. At the beginning, the tati sword had an almost saber curvature; by the 14th century, the blade straightens. The deflection of the "sori" is standardly measured as the maximum distance from the butt to a straight line between the tip of the sword and the base of the blade. The handle is not taken into account in the calculation of curvature.
4. The definitions of the types of Japanese swords are given in the book by A. Bazhenov "Expertise of the Japanese sword" according to the explanation of the Japanese association NBTHK ("Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords"), which is responsible for the certification of Japanese blades.
5. Although the tachi is on average longer than the katana, it is not uncommon for the katana to be longer than the tachi.
6. These lengths are obtained by converting the traditional Japanese measure of length shaku (30.3 cm, approx. cubit length) into cm.
7. That is, until the end of the Momoyama period. Traditionally, Japanese history is divided into unequal periods, defined by the names of the settlements that became the residence of the emperor.
8. Kokan Nagayama. The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords. - First edition. - Japan: Kodansha International Ltd., 1997. - S. 3. - 355 p. - ISBN 4-7700-2071-6
9. Leon and Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara. Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths. - First edition. - Japan: Kodansha International Ltd., 2002. - S. 13. - 224 p. - ISBN 978-4-7700-1962-2
10. Aoi Art Tokyo: Japanese auction house specializing in Japanese swords.
    Japanese Sword Ginza Choshuya Magazine: Japanese sword shop, releases a catalog every month.
11. The Kogarasu-Maru sword is in the unusual kissaki-moroha style popular during the Nara period. Half of the blade is double-edged to the tip, the other half with a blunt butt. A central hollow runs along the blade, the blade itself is very slightly curved, but there is a rather strong bending of the shank in relation to the blade. There is no signature on the sword. Stored in the collection of the imperial family. See photo in Bazhenov's book "The History of the Japanese Sword".
12. "Lumbar bend" ( koshi-zori) is so named because the maximum deflection of the blade when wearing a sword comfortably fit the body just in the lumbar region.
13. The butt can be flat or semicircular, but such examples are extremely rare among real Japanese swords.
14. A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", p. 41
15. A. G. Bazhenov, "History of the Japanese sword", p. 147
16. Tamio Tsuchiko. The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths. - First edition. - Japan: Kodansha International Ltd., 2002. - S. 8. - 256 p. - ISBN 4-7700-2854-7
17. Sword. Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan.
18. A. Bazhenov, "Examination of the Japanese sword", pp. 307-308
19. A shiny, clean fracture color indicates a carbon content above 1% (high carbon steel).
20. The sword forging process is described according to the booklet of the All Japan Swordsmiths Association and the book "The Craft of the Japanese Sword" (see sources), which describes the ancient technology restored by a modern master.
21. There are up to 30 varieties hada(metal textures), the main ones are 3: itame(knotted wood), masame(straight-grained wood), mokume(tree bark). Unlike the hardening pattern (hamon), the hada may not be visible to the naked eye. Its absence as a result of special polishing is typical only for Shinto blades.
22. According to the authors of The Craft of the Japanese Sword (see sources).
23. Jamon in the form of a straight line is called sugu-ha(lit. straight).
24. The pattern of the jamon is a stable feature for identifying one or another blacksmithing school or the time when the sword was made. Conventionally, more than 60 types of jamon are distinguished for sword certification.
25. A. Bazhenov, "Examination of the Japanese sword", p. 76

Types of Japanese swords

Large Nagamaki Swords Nodachi Odachi

Long swords - Katana Tachi Tsurugi

Short swords - Kodachi Wakizashi

Knives/Daggers- Tanto

Training Weapon-Bokken Iaito Shinai

Other-Naginata

Big swords-

1. Nagamaki

Nagamaki (jap. 長巻 - "long wrap") is a Japanese melee weapon consisting of a pole handle with a large tip. It was popular in the XII-XIV centuries. It was similar to an owl, naginata or glevia, but differed in that the lengths of the handle and tip were approximately equal, which allows it to be classified as a sword.

Nodachi (野太刀 "field sword") is a Japanese term referring to a large Japanese sword. Some, however, are of the opinion that nodachi is a close synonym for odachi (大太刀 ​​"great sword", "o-tachi") and means a very large tachi. The term did not originally refer to any type of very large Japanese combat sword (daito), such as tachi, but in modern times it is often (incorrectly) used that way.

The Nodachi was used as an infantry weapon in combat. The use of nodachi indoors or other confined spaces presents certain difficulties. The main reason that the use of such swords was not widespread was that the blade is much more difficult to forge than the blade of a sword of ordinary length. This sword was worn behind the back due to its large size. This was something special because other Japanese swords such as the katana and wakizashi were worn tucked into the belt, with the tachi hung blade down. However, he was not snatched from behind. The Nodachi, due to its great length and weight, was a very sophisticated weapon.

Odachi (Jap. 大太刀?, "great sword") is a type of Japanese long sword. The term nodachi (野太刀?, "field sword") means a different type of sword, often mistakenly used instead of odachi.

To be called an odachi, a sword had to have a blade length of at least 3 shaku (90.9 cm), however, as with many other Japanese sword terms, exact definition there is no length. Usually odachi are swords with blades 1.6 - 1.8 meters.

long swords-

Katana (jap. 刀) is a curved Japanese sword.

Along with the short sword, the wakizashi was part of the samurai's carry kit, known as the pair of daisho swords.

Japanese swords were kept on a special stand - Katanakake.

The handle was covered with stingray, shark or other material and braided with silk cord. There are dozens of braiding methods. Particularly prized are katanas bearing "mei" - a signature with the blacksmith's name, often supplemented by the year of manufacture and the name of the province. However, even on the most valuable blades, the creation of which experts attribute to famous masters, "mei" is often absent.

Tachi, tachi (jap. 太刀) is a long Japanese sword. Tati, unlike the katana, was not tucked behind the obi (cloth belt) with the blade up, but hung on the belt in a sling designed for this, with the blade down. To protect against damage by armor, the scabbard often had a winding. The samurai wore the katana as part of their civilian clothing, and the tachi as part of their military armor. Paired with tachi, the tantō were more common than the katana short sword wakizashi. In addition, richly decorated tachi were used as ceremonial weapons at the courts of the shoguns (princes) and the emperor.

Tsurugi (長剣) is a Japanese word meaning a straight double-edged sword. Similar in shape to tsurugi-no-tachi (straight one-sided sword).

It was used as a combat weapon in the 7th-9th centuries, before the appearance of one-sided curved tati swords, and later for ceremonial and religious purposes.

One of the three sacred relics of Shinto is the sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi.

short swords-

Odachi (小太刀) - Literally translated as "little tachi", the tachi sword is shorter than usual.

2. Wakizashi

Wakizashi (脇差) is a short traditional Japanese sword. Mostly used by samurai and worn on the belt. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also plugged into the belt with the blade up. The length of the blade is from 30 to 61 cm. The total length with the handle is 50-80 cm. The blade is one-sided sharpening, small curvature. Wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. Wakizashi were made with zukuri of various shapes and lengths, usually thinner than those of the katana. The degree of convexity of the section of the wakizashi blade is much less, therefore, compared to the katana, this sword cuts soft objects more sharply. The handle of the wakizashi is usually square in section.

In a pair of daisho (the two main swords of the samurai: long and short), the wakizashi was used as a short sword (shoto).

The samurai used the wakizashi as a weapon when the katana was unavailable or unusable. In the early periods of Japanese history, a small tanto sword was worn in place of the wakizashi. And also when a samurai put on armor, instead of katana and wakizashi, tachi and tanto were usually used. Entering the room, the warrior left the katana with the servant or on the katanakake. The wakizashi was always worn with him and was only removed if the samurai stayed for a long period of time. The bushi often referred to this sword as the "guardian of one's honor". Some schools of swordsmanship taught to use both the katana and the wakizashi at the same time.

Unlike the katana, which could only be worn by samurai, the wakizashi was reserved for merchants and artisans. They used this sword as a full-fledged weapon, because by status they did not have the right to wear a katana. It was also used for the seppuku (hara-kiri) ceremony.

Knives/daggers-

Anto (jap. 短刀 tan - short, then - sword) - an auxiliary short sword of the samurai.

“Tan to” for the Japanese sounds like a phrase, because they do not perceive tanto as a knife in any way (a knife in Japanese is “hocho”).

According to modern rules in Japan, tanto is recognized as a national cultural treasure - one of the variants of the nippon-to or Japanese sword. Only certified craftsmen can make tanto, there are only a few of them in Japan, since it is very difficult to obtain such a right.

According to the rules of tanto, like a Japanese sword, it must be made of Tamahogane and have a characteristic jamon, a removable handle attached to the shank with bamboo sticks and a removable round tsuba guard; while the tanto must be less than 30 cm long (otherwise it will no longer be a short sword). Each tanto (as a national treasure) must be licensed, including the found historical tanto. At the same time, mass-produced tantos from the Second World War from mass-produced steel are not subject to licensing and are destroyed, as they have no cultural value, since they have nothing to do with the national tradition, but are a legacy of the militaristic past.

Tanto was used only as a weapon and never as a knife, for this there was a kozuka worn in pair with Tan-To in the same sheath.

Tanto has a one-sided, sometimes double-edged blade 15 to 30 cm long (that is, less than one shaku).

It is believed that tanto, wakizashi and katana are actually "the same sword different sizes". The first tanto appeared in the Heian era and were devoid of any signs of artistry. In the early Kamakura era, high-quality, intricate designs began to appear, created by, for example, the famous Yoshimitsu (the most famous master who made tanto). Tanto production, which reached significant levels during the Muromachi era, fell sharply during the Shinto ("new swords") period, and tanto from this period are quite rare. During the Shin-Shinto ("new new swords") period, they were again in demand, and production increased, but their quality was not high.

Tanto is usually forged in the hirazukuri style, that is, flat, without a stiffener. Some tanto, which had a thick triangular blade, were called yoroidoshi and were designed to pierce armor in close combat. Tanto was used mostly by samurai, but it was also worn by doctors, merchants as a weapon of self-defense - in fact, it is a short sword. High society women sometimes also wore small tanto called kaiken in their kimono belt (obi) for self-defense. In addition, tanto is used in the wedding ceremony of royal people to this day.

Sometimes tantō were worn as shōto instead of wakizashi in daishō.

A fake tanto with a wooden, plastic, and sometimes blunt metal blade is used for training in martial arts:

Training weapon-

Bokken (often pronounced as boken in Russian) (Jap. 木剣?) is a wooden model of a sword used in various Japanese martial arts, including aikido, for training.

Bokkens are made from oak, beech, hornbeam and other dense woods. Often they are impregnated with varnish, stain or wood resin, for greater density and weight.

The bokken must be strong enough to withstand strong blows to something, as well as repelling an attack with a bokken or jo.

A well-placed bokken blow to a person can lead to death. The great Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) often used bokken in real fights, in most cases killing his opponents. The tip of the blade is most dangerous when applying chopping blows.

In Japan, bokken are treated with great respect, almost like a real weapon. For example, when carrying a bokken on an airplane, the passenger must check it in as baggage.

Another name is bokuto (jap. 木刀 bokuto, "wooden sword").

Varieties:

"Male" (Jap. 男子木剣 danshi bokken?), It is distinguished by a relatively thick handle and "blade", straightness and a thick wooden guard.

"female" (Japanese: 女子木剣 joshi bokken?), the most commonly used variant. Differs in curvature, ease. Often used with a plastic guard and with a scabbard (for example, in iaido).

“training” (Jap. 素振木剣 suburi bokken?), characterized by a thickening on the side of the tip, thus imitating the balance of a real sword.

Iaito (居合刀, iaito is a Japanese practice sword for iaido. Most iaito are made from an alloy of aluminum and zinc, which is often cheaper and lighter than steel and complies with Japanese restrictions on the use of it as melee weapons, and such swords are not subject to restrictions on the transport of melee weapons. Weapons Iaito are made as exercise weapons and are not suitable for contact use Matching the length and weight of iaito to the student's height and strength is essential for safe and correct exercise.

In the manufacture of iaito, the model is often taken real swords famous sword masters, such as the sword of Miyamoto Musashi.

Another name is mogito (jap. 模擬刀 mogito, "imitation sword"). A distinction should be made between mogito made for iaido and mogito, souvenir crafts. Souvenir swords are generally not balanced and their details are poorly fixed. Using the latter type of mogito for training can lead to injury.

Shinai (竹刀 - shinai, takemitsu, "bamboo sword") is a bamboo sword used for training in the Japanese art of kendo. There are also plastic swords that are used during competitions. They are also called "bamboo" - shinai.

Design

The shinai consists of four bamboo strips (take) held together with two pieces of leather, a rope (tsuru), a handle (tsukagawa) and a tie (nakayu), as well as a protective device (tsuba) and its rubber fixer (tsubadome). Bamboo strips are fastened on both sides with leather handles and a tip, which, in turn, are firmly fixed with a rope. A tie is used to mark the striking part of the shinai and ensure a good tension of the rope.

Options

The length of the shinai depends on the age of the fencer:

10-14 years - 109 cm;

14-16 years - 112 cm;

From 18 years old - 115-118 cm.

1.Naginata

Aginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a Japanese melee weapon with a long shaft and a long blade diverging to the tip, has a handle about 2 meters long and a blade about 30 cm. It is an analogue of a glaive (although often mistakenly called a halberd), but much lighter . The first information about the use of naginata dates back to the end of the 7th century. In Japan, there were 425 schools where they studied the technique of fighting naginatajutsu. It was the favorite weapon of the sohei, warrior monks.

In peacetime, the naginata was used by women from the samurai class to protect their home.