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(Schiller, Guido)
(Schiller, Guido)
Another thing we have to consider when fixing a date for a Japanese sword is the '''Eto'''. Eto originally is a Chinese calender invented in the ancient period. It consists of ten ordinal signs and twelve zodiacal symbols and the combination of both characters makes a cycle of sixty years, the '''[[Sexegenary cycle]]'''. In Japan the Eto was used not only to count time by years but also to show time by hours (In this case one day is divided into twelve fractions.) and direction. Dates based on Eto can often be seen on the '''Nakago''' of the Japanese sword.
A third, very important thing to know about the japanese sword is the way the schools were placed along the eight main roads of ancient japan.
A third, very important thing to know about the japanese sword is the way
the schools were placed along the eight main roads of ancient japan.
In Japan there was a division of the local administration called '''Go Kinai''' Shichi Do. Go Ki consists of the capital Kyo (Yamashiro) and four neighbouring provinces. Shichi Do means the provinces along the seven main roads spreading throughout the country.
In Japan there was a division of the local administration called '''Go Kinai''' Shichi Do. Go Ki consists of the capital Kyo (Yamashiro) and four neighbouring provinces. Shichi Do means the provinces along the seven main roads spreading throughout the country.
There are eight provinces in the Sanyo Do, eight provinces in the San-in Do, six provinces in the Nankai Do, fifteen provinces in the Tokai Do, thirteen provinces in the Tosan Do, seven provinces in the [[Hokuriku|Hokuriku Do]] and nine provinces with two islands in the Saikai Do.
There are eight provinces in the Sanyo Do, eight provinces in the San-in Do, six provinces in the Nankai Do, fifteen provinces in the Tokai Do, thirteen provinces in the Tosan Do, seven provinces in the [[Hokuriku|Hokuriku Do]] and nine provinces with two islands in the Saikai Do.
(Nagayama Kokan, Token Kantei Dokuhon)
(Nagayama Kokan, Token Kantei Dokuhon)
Finally, though swords are often displayed in museums and elsewhere as a blade alone, it is not the blade alone, but rather the blade along with the mounting and decoration which comprise a sword as a total object.<ref>Kondô Yoshikazu 近藤好和, "Girei to tôken" 儀礼と刀剣, ''Rekihaku'' 200 (Jan 2017), 11.</ref>
==History of the Japanese sword in relation to Japanese historical periods==
==History of the Japanese sword in relation to Japanese historical periods==
