Katana

Katana (刀, Katana?)
Katana on display at Okayama Castle.
Type	Sword
Place of origin	Japan
Production history
Produced	Muromachi period (1392–1573) to present
Specifications
Blade length	approx. 60–73 cm

A katana (刀, katana^?) is a type of Japanese sword (nihontō), and is often called a "samurai sword." The term katana may be applied to any curved Japanese sword with a blade length of greater than 60 cm.^[1] The term is sometimes incorrectly used as a generic name for any kind of Japanese sword.

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. It has historically been associated with the samurai of feudal Japan, and has become renowned for its extraordinary sharpness and cutting ability, to the point that its purported cutting capabilities have reached mythical status.

Etymology

Originally used as a general term for single-edged sword, as opposed to tsurugi, which are double-edged swords, the term is now used specifically to describe nihontō that are around 70–90 cm long with a curved blade. This distinguishes them from chokutō, which feature straight blades.

Pronounced kah-tah-nah, the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji カタナ, the word has been adopted as a loanword by the English language. As Japanese does not have separate plural and singular forms, both "katanas" and "katana" are considered acceptable forms in English.

History

The katana originated in the Muromachi period (1392–1573) as a result of changing battle conditions requiring faster response times. The katana facilitated this by being worn with the blade facing up, which allowed the samurai to draw and cut their enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved sword of the samurai was worn with the blade facing down. The ability to draw and cut in one motion also became increasingly useful in the daily life of the samurai.^[2]

The length of the katana's blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to be between 70 and 73 cm in length. During the early 16th century, average length was much closer to 60 cm, but late in the 16th century, it was again approximately 73 cm.^[2]

The katana was paired most often with the wakizashi or shōtō, a similarly made but shorter sword, both worn by the members of the warrior class. It could also be worn with the tantō, an even smaller similarly shaped dagger. The katana and wakizashi when paired with each other were called the daishō and they represented the social power and personal honour of the samurai.

Forging and construction

Main article: Katana construction

The legitimate Japanese sword is made from a specialised Japanese steel called "Tamahagane"^[3]. The katana gets its gentle curve from quenching during forging, as it is straight prior to quenching. A process of differential tempering causes martensite to form predominantly in the edge of the blade rather than the back; as the spine has lower retained lattice strain, it cools and contracts, and the blade takes on a gently curved shape.^[4]

Usage

The katana's unique design and in particular its sharpness necessitate quite a few specialized precautions to handle it. Failure to observe these precautions can easily lead to damage to the weapon or severe injury.

Combat

See also: Battōjutsu, Iaidō, Iaijutsu, and Kenjutsu

Storage and maintenance

If mishandled in its storage or maintenance, the katana may become irreparably damaged. It is extremely important that the blade remain well-oiled and polished, as the natural moisture residue from the hands of the user will rapidly cause the blade to rust if not cleaned off. Similarly, when stored for longer periods, it is important that the katana be inspected frequently and aired out if necessary in order to prevent rust or mold from forming (mold may feed off the salts in the oil used to polish the katana).^[5]

Ownership and trade in the United Kingdom

As of April 2008, the British government added swords with a curved blade of 50 centimetres or over in length (and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph, the length of the blade shall be the straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade) to the Offensive Weapons Order.^[6] This ban was a response to reports that Samurai swords were used in more than 80 attacks and four killings over the four preceding years.^[7] Those who violate the ban would be jailed up to six months and charged a fine of £5,000. Martial arts practitioners, historical re-enactors and people currently possessing such swords may still own them. The sword can also be legal provided if it was made in Japan before 1954, or was made using traditional sword making methods. It is also legal to buy if it can be classed as a 'martial artists weapon' (see Government legislation http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/draft/em/ukdsiem_9780110817774_en.pdf). This ban currently applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

See also

• Tatara (furnace)

Myths and Fiction

Main article: Katanas in fiction

Further reading

• Kapp, Leon (1987). The Craft of the Japanese Sword. Kodansha Intl. Ltd.. 
• Perrin, Noel (1979). Giving Up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 1543-1879. Boston: David R. Godine. 
• Robinson, H. Russell (1969). Japanese Arms and Armor. New York: Crown Publishers Inc.. 
• Sinclaire, Clive. Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior. 
• Takeuchi, S. Alexander (September, 2005). "Common Length of Tsuka on Nihon-to from a Socio-Historical Perspective". Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
• Yumoto, John M (1958). The Samurai Sword: A Handbook. Boston: Tuttle Publishing. 

References