Changes

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.