4/10/2023 0 Comments Katana sheath![]() ![]() Recall that superior combat function for sword-fashion was a priority to samurai. Save for the Tachi with its awkward curvature, why did samurai default to wearing swords with the blades facing up? Why did samurai generally prefer their blades worn up? Without armour, unsheathing a sword in an upwards motion was possible and essential to defending against an attack.īut, just for fun, what if the samurai used a tachi in kimono and hakama? The Tachi by design still has to be worn blade-side down. ![]() In contrast to Edo era, a time of peace when Japan was unified under the Tokugawa Bakufu, the samurai would be in kimono and hakama. In other words, even if the armour-clad samurai used a katana (and not a Tachi), it would be worn with its cutting-edge down. ![]() The samurai need only draw the katana by extending his arm forward. Trying to unsheathe a sword while in armour would be less awkward and faster if the blade faced down. Japanese armour hampers range of movement and greatly restricts upward arm movements. While you already know that the Tachi was likely common in this period, there was another reason why a sword would be worn with its blade down. Battle armour was therefore the norm and so was horseback combat. Time in History: Battle Armour or Kimono Warring States – Battle Armourĭuring the Warring States, Japan was in chaos when domain battled each other endlessly. Just like the Uchigatana, the katana was worn with its blade facing up. If you had carried a Tachi back then, you are more likely to strike the walls than your opponent. In an enclosed space, the katana was a far better sword to maneuver. You would most likely be attacked within a room. The popularity of the katana marked a shift towards close combat. Throughout its history, the Katana varied in length but on average its length was shorter than the Uchigatana. Being easier to unsheathe, it became widely used between 13.įinally, the Katana. As a result, the Uchigatana was worn with its cutting-edge facing up. The curve was also moved to the striking tip of the sword. Unlike its predecessor, the Uchigatana was shorter and had a smaller curvature. Next in line is the descendent of the Tachi and predecessor of the Katana, the Uchigatana. So, a samurai who used a Tachi would always wear it with its blade facing down. This sword would be longer than all its successors, perhaps due in part to horseback battles.īecause of how it was forged, unsheathing the Tachi from its scabbard was significantly easier and swifter if the sword was worn with its cutting-edge facing down. In response to the Mongol invasion, and having experienced how deadly effective curved swords were, the Tachi was forged with a curvature near its hilt. Essentially the ancestor of all Japanese swords, it was produced and used before the 10th century. The Chokuto is a single-edged straight sword inspired by the ancient Chinese sword. Let’s ignore the short swords (Wakizashi and Tanto) and instead focus on the primary sword for attack and defense.ĭepending on the period in history, these are the main swords that samurai would carry. The shorter swords served as backup and, in the Edo era, worn for symbolic show of power. Samurai wore a combination of two swords, one long and short. Samurai Sword History: How does sword type affect how it is worn? ![]() So, blade up or down?īoth up and down can be the proper way depending on the era, sword-type and dressing. No warrior would want that kind of disgrace. Of course, the samurai weren’t afraid to die due to their ingrained values from Bushido, but losing a battle had potentially disastrous consequences to those they serve. But does that mean they would?Įxercising your freedom of “sword fashion” for any reason other than combat function is certain death. The samurai can wear his sword any way he wants to, since there are no laws dictating sword fashion in feudal Japan. “Yes, I can lean on my katana if I want to. ![]()
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