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In Kanbun 8 (a.d 1668) the Tokugawa Shogunate issued the famous Muto Rei,
In Kanbun 8 (a.d 1668) the Tokugawa Shogunate issued the famous Muto Rei,
(No Sword Order), a law that firmly prohibit the commoner class carrying/wearing
(No Sword Order), a law that firmly prohibit the commoner class carrying/wearing
any swords longer than "ko-wakizashi" (i.e., small wakizashi) unless specifically
any swords longer than "Ko-Wakizashi" (i.e., small wakizashi) unless specifically
permitted by the government. According Muto Rei, "ko-wakizashi" is defined as
permitted by the government. According Muto Rei, "Ko-Wakizashi" is defined as
a sword with blade length shorter than 1 shaku and 5 sun (45.54cm).
a sword with blade length shorter than 1 shaku and 5 sun (45.54cm).
Others edicts followed to fix balde lebghts for high-ranking Samurai and
Others edicts followed to fix balde lenghts for high-ranking Samurai and
Hatamoto when on duty in Edo and in the mid-Edo period we can find what is
Hatamoto when on duty in Edo and in the mid-Edo period we can find what is
generally accepted as the standard lenghts for japanese swords blades .
generally accepted as the standard lenghts for japanese swords blades .
specifically,
specifically,
**Ko-wakizashi (i.e., small wakizashi) to be from 1 shaku (= 30.3cm) up to 1 shaku 4 sun 9 bu (= 45.147cm);
**Ko-Wakizashi (i.e., small wakizashi) to be from 1 shaku (= 30.3cm) up to 1 shaku 4 sun 9 bu (= 45.147cm);
**Chu-wakizashi (i.e., mid size wakizashi) to be from 1 shaku 5 sun (= 45.45cm) to 1 shaku 7 sun 9 bu (= 54.237cm), and
**Chu-Wakizashi (i.e., mid size wakizashi) to be from 1 shaku 5 sun (= 45.45cm) to 1 shaku 7 sun 9 bu (= 54.237cm), and
**O-wakizashi (i.e., large size wakizashi) - to be from 1 shaku 8 sun up to 1 shaku 9 sun 9 bu (= 60.297cm);
**O-Wakizashi (i.e., large size wakizashi) - to be from 1 shaku 8 sun up to 1 shaku 9 sun 9 bu (= 60.297cm);
*Katana - to be 2 shaku (=60.6cm) and longer.
*Katana - to be 2 shaku (=60.6cm) and longer.