History of Japanese Swords

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The Japanese sword, later known as the Katana, was the primary weapon used throughout Japanese history. A samurai or Japanese warlord was spiritually connected to the sword. It is legend that a samurai’s sword is part of his soul.

During the Kofun and Nara periods of Japanese history (300-794AD), Japanese swords were mainly imported from China and Korea. Blades varied in size to the massive 31 inch blades that have been found and many are still preserved by collectors. These are known as Chokuto blades. These were straight bladed weapons which slowly developed into the curved blade.

The Heian period (794-1185AD) was the development of pure Japanese culture and a break from Chinese culture. The military guards and armed gentlemen became the Samurai class and the Sohei or warrior monks became the political force. It is in this period that the sword became seen as an object of art as well as a weapon for war. The Tachi sword that was used now had a small curve, and mounted samurai carried this weapon because it did not touch the horse when sheathed. The weapon could be used to cut or thrust and was used in one or two hands.

The Kamakura period (1185-1392) was the age that the slender Tachi blade was developed into a sturdier sword. Blade curve became deeper to increase slashing power. In 1232 the Hōjō government published a detailed legal code about the duties of samurai and banned non-samurai from carrying swords. In 1274 the first Mongol invasion under Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, the samurai faced an organized army not interested in duels that the samurai usually did. The swords of the samurai could not cut through the iron armor of the Mongols. Luckily for the Japanese a typhoon scattered the Mongol fleet and ended the invasion. Seven years later the Mongols returned to invade, but the Japanese had learned the value of longer weapons and long bladed spears called Yari. During the invasion the demand for weapons greatly increased. During the battles with the Mongols many swords were broken and badly re-made on the battlefield. The swords that were fixed correctly became longer and curved.

The Yoshino period (1333-1393) was a period of civil war following the destruction of the Mongols. Swords of this period reached 40 inches making them suitable for foot soldiers that fought cavalry, and they were often carried across the back and became known as Seoi Tachi, some had disposable sheaths made of paper or straw.

The Muromachi period and the Age of Wars (1392-1477) was the re-establishment of trade with China and long periods of civil war. This period saw the rise of the spearman or Ashigaru and a change in Japanese weapons, many swords were mass produced and of poor quality. A 24 inch weapon wielded in one hand became popular. It was the Uchigatana or hitting sword. During this period the wearing of two swords became popular also, they were the Katana or long sword and the Wakizashi or companion sword. The pair was worn outdoors with the Katana and indoors with the shorter Wakizashi. In 1543 the first matchlock guns arrived in Japan marking the start of the end of the swords.

The Edo period (1603-1867) was the end of the old sword traditions and the rise of new Shinto (part of the religion Shintoism) sword traditions. The feudal lords did not need swordsmen causing the merchants to thrive and many samurai to live in poverty. During this period many unemployed samurai gave up their swords and became tutors or took other jobs, while others became bandits or lived to duel and die in violent deaths. Laws started to restrict swords to a certain extent and again commoners were forbidden to carry them in 1623. Then samurai were forbidden to carry long swords in 1640. In 1798 wearing a Wakizashi over 21 inches was forbidden. Most samurai that kept the traditions lived in poverty with shabby weapons. By 1867 wearing swords in public was banned.

After 1867, commoners did not carry weapons and the military used guns in battle. Many of the traditions of sword fighting are still passed on through karate.

By Kurt Effinger

Based upon Swords, Japanese at www.historyofwar.org