Korean swordsis primarily a generic but specific traditional Korean sword, the Koreans have produced some of the current name for the original meaning is the most unsuitable katana(Japanese sword) what is the imitation, the issue has become a kind of Korean origin theory.
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Stone swords from prehistoric times begin the history of Korean blade manufacturing. Prehistoric finds offer suggestions that Korean sword manufacturing may go back as far as 3000 years.[1] These finds span:
Long swords were used by commanders and cavalry. At this time land warfare consisted mostly of spearmen and bowmen on foot, mounted archers on horseback using two-handed bows, and mounted swordsmen with twin blades. Swords were used for shock attacks, defensive strokes, and for close-in fighting. Blades were heavy as they were made mostly of iron, and pommels were often knobbed and used as balances or for very close-in work. Short swords may have been used in follow-up attacks, as short sword carriers were armoured completely.
Goryeo period exported certain amounts of swords in trade missions in Asia.
Despite founding and continued by a family of generals, the Yi bloodline, the Korean Confucian culture of this period placed more emphasis on intellectual and practical achievements in the sciences and arts and agriculture rather than on martial practices.
While the Joseon Kingdom was begun and continued by generals, the yangban (noble) scholarly class did not pursue swordsmanship, only the military holded swords. Bows, firearms, and cavalry units were valued more than swords as they were the primary weapons used in battle.
Swords were still made continuously for ceremonial and traditional purposes. Of note among these sword types are two series of jingeom (dragon sword) and ingeom (tiger sword), which by tradition could be forged only at certain times. The highest grade of these, sa-ingeom (four tigers sword) and possibly sa-jingeom (four dragons sword, none extant) were reserved for the monarch and could only be made during a window of 2 hours every 12 years. The lower-grade swords - i-jingeom, sam-jingeom, i-ingeom, sam-ingeom (two dragons, three dragons, two tigers, three tigers) - could be made more frequently.
Korean swords are very scarce, since most surviving examples were confiscated and destroyed during the colonial period. A systematic attempt was made to collect and destroy all Korean swords, coats of armour, and all Korean martial arts equipment. The entire history of Korean swords and armour was almost lost forever, along with much of Korea's culture and traditions.[2][3][4]
After the liberation of Korea in 1945, ceremonial swords once again began to be made both in the south, and the north, and by the 1960s, sword-making had begun again, but with many traditions and techniques lost. The reconstruction of swordmaking began in the 1950s, and has only by the mid-1990s come back to expert levels comparable to the times before the colonial period.
Sword ownership in Korea is restricted, and there are very few traditional sword collectors today. General/Flag-grade officers are given dress swords upon assuming command in the Republic of Korea (ROK) army. Despite restrictions on sword ownership and a lingering social preference against armed martial arts (dating to the Joseon era), practical sword fighting is enjoying a small revival amongst elite regiments, and fencing is once again attracting interest in Korean universities. Korea fields an Olympic fencing team.
Traditionally there are about fifteen types of Korean swords with some better known than others.
Elements of the Korean sword include: geomjip or scabbard, most often of lacquer; hyuljo or fuller (most genuine Korean swords didn't have a fuller); hwando magi or collar; ho in or collar; kodeungi or hand guard; a ring-design pommel; tassels; a round and wide designed sword guard, or a straight lotus design.[5]
As well there are practice wooden swords (mokgeom), metal swords (shingeom) and practical swords (Jingeom); the list would include:
The In Geom (Tiger Swords) were usually of the same designs but of different strengths. They were all made according to the Year, Month, Week, Day, or Hour of the Tiger.[6]
There are a couple of schools that claim that they still hold the techniques of these swords practitioners in the past. Kuksoolwon and Haidong Gumdo claims that the hold the genuine Swords techniques that are written in the Muye Dobo Tongji (The Manual Of Korean Martial arts). It is said that there were 24 fighting postures in training; The Korean practitioners of the past generally used low kicking techniques to distract, dismantle and disable the opponent when holding the sword in one hand and sheath in the other. The kicking techniques were generally from Taekkyeon or Subak.
Most traditional and "true" Korean Swordsmanship schools would use the terms "mu sul" meaning technique or "beop" meaning the way; Hence, the term "geombeop" meaning Sword way or 'how to use the sword' in literal translations, or Geomsul meaning 'Sword technique'. Most Korean martial arts that use the word "Do" or "The Way" are just modernistic schools that rarely have any ties to the past. Many schools existed, however the leading document that the past has given us is Mu Ye dobo Tongji or "Illustrated Comprehensive Martial Arts Manual" of Master Lee Dok Mu, as ordered by King Jeong-jo published in 1795. The book is basically an overall book of the many techniques that were being used at the time.
Most Korean armour was based with leather, cloth, and iron. The generals and other high-ranking officials of the Korean kingdoms generally wore plate-mail along with a helmet with a red tassle on the top and there were leather flaps on the sides and back of the helmet that were covered in plate-mail. The armor was usually black, and for the royal courts: gold. There are no real documented gauntlets. The shoulders were covered in plate-mail and there was a large metal breast plate that was covered in smoky designs. In the interior, they usually wore cloth, and for the rest of the uncovered body, they generally wore leather.
The sword was generally held in the hand. There was no real reason to hold it on their sides. However, they did strap it to their back at times when they were riding horses or using other weapons such as spears and bows. The Korean sword was first and foremost one-handed, though for more powerful strikes, two hands were used. The Korean techniques were generally hand and a half.
Korean historical action films have elements of swordsmanship within them. Important recent films readily available (and subtitle in Chinese/English) include:
Chung Doo-Hong martial arts director. Set in the Goryeo dynasty, during 1375 chronicles General Choi Jung's mission to the Ming to make peace during their wars against the Yuan.
A Korean production that is a variant of Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War. This is set in the Three Kingdoms of Korea period where there were various uprisings in the military and many assassination attempts on the King.