Changes

Before the mid Heian period:  before the appearance of the Japanese sword.

Before the mid Heian period:  before the appearance of the Japanese sword.

The mid-late Heian and the early Kamakura period: Divided by the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate government at the end of the 12th century.

The mid-late Heian and the early Kamakura period: Divided by the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate government at the end of the 12th century.

The mid and the late Kamakura period: A hundred years until the downfall of the Hojo clan in the 3rd year of Genko (1333). A lot of excellent smiths turn up in various places and they establish unique workmanship.

 

The mid and the late Kamakura period: A hundred years until the downfall of the Hojo clan in the 3rd year of Genko (1333). A lot of excellent smiths turn up in various places and they establish unique workmanship.

The Nambokucho period: For sixty years from the 3rd year of Genko era to the 9th year of Genchu era (1392) when the peace treaty was concluded between the southern Imperial court and the northern Imperial court. Up until this time, all long blades were Tachi.

The Nambokucho period: For sixty years from the 3rd year of Genko era to the 9th year of Genchu era (1392) when the peace treaty was concluded between the southern Imperial court and the northern Imperial court. Up until this time, all long blades were Tachi.

The Muromachi period: In the political chronology, for a hundred and eighty years from the 9th of the Genchu era to the 1st of the Tensho era (1573) including the Sengoku period. This is the last period of the Koto times and Katana takes the place of Tachi.

The Muromachi period: In the political chronology, for a hundred and eighty years from the 9th of the Genchu era to the 1st of the Tensho era (1573) including the Sengoku period. This is the last period of the Koto times and Katana takes the place of Tachi.

The Momoyama period: In the political chronology from the 2nd year of Tensho to the 5th year of the Keicho era (1600) when Tokugawa Ieyasu won the battle of Sekigahara and began to hold the reins of government.

The Momoyama period: In the political chronology from the 2nd year of Tensho to the 5th year of the Keicho era (1600) when Tokugawa Ieyasu won the battle of Sekigahara and began to hold the reins of government.

The Edo period: In the political chronology the Edo period is ended by the Taisei Hokan (1867) when the last Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu handed over the reign to the Emperor. There are only a small number of smiths after the Genroku era (1688-).

The Edo period: In the political chronology the Edo period is ended by the Taisei Hokan (1867) when the last Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu handed over the reign to the Emperor. There are only a small number of smiths after the Genroku era (1688-).

The end of the Edo period and the early Meiji era: From the Tenmei era (1781-) to the 9th year of the Meiji era (-1876) when the Haito Rei was decreed. This is the Shinshinto times.

The end of the Edo period and the early Meiji era: From the Tenmei era (1781-) to the 9th year of the Meiji era (-1876) when the Haito Rei was decreed. This is the Shinshinto times.

The mid Meiji era to the present era: This is the so-called Gendaito times. There is little demand for the Japanese sword between the Meiji and the Taisho era but swordsmiths manage somehow to hold to the traditional method of sword making. A large number of mass-produced swords which are generally called "Showato" were produced by the end of the last war. Soon after the last war the sword production was resumed and nowadays they must be art sword because it is illegal to make swords as weapons by today's Japanese law.  

 

The mid Meiji era to the present era: This is the so-called Gendaito times.  

There is little demand for the Japanese sword between the Meiji and the Taisho era but swordsmiths manage somehow to hold to the traditional method of sword making. A large number of mass-produced swords which are generally called "Showato" were produced by the end of the last war. Soon after the last war the sword production was resumed and nowadays they must be art sword because it is illegal to make swords as weapons by today's Japanese law.  

(Nagayama Kokan, Token Kantei Dokuhon)

(Nagayama Kokan, Token Kantei Dokuhon)