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 early Koto 初古刀 938 ~ 1319 middle Koto 中古刀 1319 ~ 1460 late Koto 末古刀 1460 ~ 1596 Keigen-Shinto 慶元新刀 1596 ~ 1624 Kanei-Shinto 寛永新刀 1624 ~ 1658 Kambun-Shinto 寛文新刀 1658 ~ 1684 Genroku-Shinto 元禄新刀 1684 ~ 1764 early Shinshinto 初新々刀 1764 ~ 1818 middle Shinshinto 中新々刀 1818 ~ 1854 late Shinshinto 末新々刀 1854 ~ 1868 Gendaito 現代刀 1868 ~ today

Jokoto 上古刀 pre-938  

early Koto 初古刀 938 ~ 1319  

middle Koto 中古刀 1319 ~ 1460  

late Koto 末古刀 1460 ~ 1596  

Keigen-Shinto 慶元新刀 1596 ~ 1624  

Kanei-Shinto 寛永新刀 1624 ~ 1658  

Kambun-Shinto 寛文新刀 1658 ~ 1684  

Genroku-Shinto 元禄新刀 1684 ~ 1764  

early Shinshinto 初新々刀 1764 ~ 1818  

middle Shinshinto 中新々刀 1818 ~ 1854  

late Shinshinto 末新々刀 1854 ~ 1868  

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.