Changes

The japanese swords are divided in periods as follows :

The japanese swords are divided in periods as follows :

Jokoto 上古刀 pre-938  

Jokoto 上古刀 pre-938,

early Koto 初古刀 938 ~ 1319  

early Koto 初古刀 938 ~ 1319,

middle Koto 中古刀 1319 ~ 1460  

middle Koto 中古刀 1319 ~ 1460,

late Koto 末古刀 1460 ~ 1596  

late Koto 末古刀 1460 ~ 1596,

Keigen-Shinto 慶元新刀 1596 ~ 1624  

Keigen-Shinto 慶元新刀 1596 ~ 1624,

Kanei-Shinto 寛永新刀 1624 ~ 1658  

Kanei-Shinto 寛永新刀 1624 ~ 1658,

Kambun-Shinto 寛文新刀 1658 ~ 1684  

Kambun-Shinto 寛文新刀 1658 ~ 1684,

Genroku-Shinto 元禄新刀 1684 ~ 1764  

Genroku-Shinto 元禄新刀 1684 ~ 1764,

early Shinshinto 初新々刀 1764 ~ 1818  

early Shinshinto 初新々刀 1764 ~ 1818,

middle Shinshinto 中新々刀 1818 ~ 1854  

middle Shinshinto 中新々刀 1818 ~ 1854,

late Shinshinto 末新々刀 1854 ~ 1868  

late Shinshinto 末新々刀 1854 ~ 1868,

Gendaito 現代刀 1868 ~ today

Gendaito 現代刀 1868 ~ today.

There is another term we usually find when talking about japanese swords : Shinsakutô 新作刀. This means "recently made swords" and is referred to swords made by a living smith and after 1952 when the 1945 ban of forging swords ended. It's basically a sub-group of Gendaitô, because if the smith pass away, for the NBTHK (Nippon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai) Shinsa (judgement) the sword begins Gendaito.

There is another term we usually find when talking about japanese swords : Shinsakutô 新作刀. This means "recently made swords" and is referred to swords made by a living smith and after 1952 when the 1945 ban of forging swords ended. It's basically a sub-group of Gendaitô, because if the smith pass away, for the NBTHK (Nippon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai) Shinsa (judgement) the sword begins Gendaito.