Changes

Kamakura Era (1184-1333)

*Kamakura Era (1184-1333)

   

   

After defeating the Taira clan at Dan-No-Ura, Minamoto no Yorimoto  moved his shogunate to Kamakura. Emperor Gotoba, the formal ruler, remained in Kyoto. This also marked the beginning of the rule of the samurai class. Kamakura became the cultural capitol, and swordsmiths from all over the country gathered there. These are the days of Masamune and his Jittetsu (ten disciples). Today is generally agreed that best blades were made in this period and, for quality and beauty, still remains at the top.

After defeating the Taira clan at Dan-No-Ura, Minamoto no Yorimoto  moved his shogunate to Kamakura. Emperor Gotoba, the formal ruler, remained in Kyoto. This also marked the beginning of the rule of the samurai class. Kamakura became the cultural capitol, and swordsmiths from all over the country gathered there. These are the days of Masamune and his Jittetsu (ten disciples). Today is generally agreed that best blades were made in this period and, for quality and beauty, still remains at the top.

The Mongolian Invasions influenced Hamon, too. Obusa-Choji and Juka-Choji was giving way to Choji-ha based on Sugu-ha or Kataochi-gunome, because the blade with very wide Ha is easy to break. Swordsmiths realized it from experience. Ha is harder than the other parts. If the harder part hold the most of the blade, the blade is easy to break because the blade can not absorb the shock. And the top of Hi (grooves) invariably stop lower.  This is made to leave room for repair when Kissaki is damaged.

The Mongolian Invasions influenced Hamon, too. Obusa-Choji and Juka-Choji was giving way to Choji-ha based on Sugu-ha or Kataochi-gunome, because the blade with very wide Ha is easy to break. Swordsmiths realized it from experience. Ha is harder than the other parts. If the harder part hold the most of the blade, the blade is easy to break because the blade can not absorb the shock. And the top of Hi (grooves) invariably stop lower.  This is made to leave room for repair when Kissaki is damaged.

In this period, Tanto increased in  number and there is  characteristic shape. That is, Nakago is curved.  This Tanto is called "Mete-zashi ". Samurai put on this Tanto when they wore armor and they put it on the right-side of their waist, handle facing right to be easy unsheathed when armor were in contact with each other, as in a grappling close combat is expected. This Mete-zashi is to stab enemy through a crevice of armors or cut off his neck, so Mihaba is narrow.  

In this period, Tanto increased in  number and there is  characteristic shape. That is, Nakago is curved.  This Tanto is called "Mete-zashi ". Samurai put on this Tanto when they wore armor and they put it on the right-side of their waist, handle facing right to be easy unsheathed when armor were in contact with each other, as in a grappling close combat is expected. This Mete-zashi is to stab enemy through a crevice of armors or cut off his neck, so Mihaba is narrow.  

*Nambokucho Era (1334-1393)  

*Nambokucho Era (1334-1393)  

ever. This is one reason because of  in Edo period a lot of these long Tachi

ever. This is one reason because of  in Edo period a lot of these long Tachi

were shortened to fit size when put them on the waist (and to fulfil the Shogun edicts about swords length). The same happend to Nagamaki, Naginata and sometimes even to Omiyari, the long-bladed Yari.

were shortened to fit size when put them on the waist (and to fulfil the Shogun edicts about swords length). The same happend to Nagamaki, Naginata and sometimes even to Omiyari, the long-bladed Yari.

   

   

Muromachi Era (1394-1595)  

*Muromachi Era (1394-1595)  

After the dynastic war a short period of peace followed. But the Ashikaga Shogun was  “de facto” powerless, and the true power was held by the Daimyo.  

After the dynastic war a short period of peace followed. But the Ashikaga Shogun was  “de facto” powerless, and the true power was held by the Daimyo.  

This very dangerous situation unavoidably left room for troubles. The battle for the true power began in 1467 with the so-called Onin-war  That started the Sengoku-jidai - 'the age the country at war'. The whole country was in a constant state of war for almost a hundred years, until ‘’’Oda Nobunaga’’’, ‘’’Toyotomi Hideyoshi’’’, and finally ‘’’Tokugawa Ieyasu’’’ managed to gain the power, and pacify the country.  

This very dangerous situation unavoidably left room for troubles. The battle for the true power began in 1467 with the so-called Onin-war  That started the Sengoku-jidai - 'the age the country at war'. The whole country was in a constant state of war for almost a hundred years, until ‘’’Oda Nobunaga’’’, ‘’’Toyotomi Hideyoshi’’’, and finally ‘’’Tokugawa Ieyasu’’’ managed to gain the power, and pacify the country.  

This is a transitional period from Tachi to Katana, so starting from now it is hard to distinguish between the two types. Sword smith made both, and often the shape is not enough to make the difference. The only way to distinguish in between is to watch at the ‘’’Mei’’’, the swordsmith’s  signature. The Mei must face out from the body when worn. Tachi were worn edge down and Uchigatana edge up. So the position of the Mei on the tang says us which type of blade it is. If no signature is present, the difference is often merely in the mounting type.     

This is a transitional period from Tachi to Katana, so starting from now it is hard to distinguish between the two types. Sword smith made both, and often the shape is not enough to make the difference. The only way to distinguish in between is to watch at the ‘’’Mei’’’, the swordsmith’s  signature. The Mei must face out from the body when worn. Tachi were worn edge down and Uchigatana edge up. So the position of the Mei on the tang says us which type of blade it is. If no signature is present, the difference is often merely in the mounting type.     

The swords of this era can be divided to three groups:  

The swords of this era can be divided to three groups:  

*Early Muromachi  (1394-1466)  

 

* Early Muromachi  (1394-1466)  

As the armies grew, the mounted soldiers became ever rarer, and the main force of armies consisted of foot soldiers. Even if many Tachi were still made, the time of the Katana was already dawning. Shorter blades were easier to carry and faster to draw. The centre of curvature of the blade moved to the center as the blades were increasingly designed for a fast draw and to be used on foot. Most swords were 69,7-72,7 cm in length and narrowed towards the point.  

As the armies grew, the mounted soldiers became ever rarer, and the main force of armies consisted of foot soldiers. Even if many Tachi were still made, the time of the Katana was already dawning. Shorter blades were easier to carry and faster to draw. The centre of curvature of the blade moved to the center as the blades were increasingly designed for a fast draw and to be used on foot. Most swords were 69,7-72,7 cm in length and narrowed towards the point.  

*Middle Muromachi  (1467-1554)  

* Middle Muromachi  (1467-1554)  

As the mobility of troops became strategically more important, the swords got even shorter. Most swords manufactured in this period were 60-65 cm long and had the same width all the length of the blade. Such blades were suitable for chopping with one hand and for quick-draw. These Katana are referred to as ‘’’Katate-uchi’’’. Katate means one hand. There is no difference of width between Monouchi and and ‘’’Habakimoto’’’ and the shape has a strong appearance. Nakago became to be short to be suitable for one-hand grip.

As the mobility of troops became strategically more important, the swords got even shorter. Most swords manufactured in this period were 60-65 cm long and had the same width all the length of the blade. Such blades were suitable for chopping with one hand and for quick-draw. These Katana are referred to as ‘’’Katate-uchi’’’. Katate means one hand. There is no difference of width between Monouchi and and ‘’’Habakimoto’’’ and the shape has a strong appearance. Nakago became to be short to be suitable for one-hand grip.

The Katana is replacing the Tachi. The ever-increasing need for swords also meant that not all swords were manufactured to the same high standards as before. The term ‘’’Kazuuchimono’’’ or ‘’’Taba-gatana’’’ was used to denote the mass-produced swords from the quality swords. Kazu-uchi means mass-produced and Taba-gatana means they were sold in a bundle as such swords were sold this way inside Japan and exported to Ming-dynasty China in their ten of thousand… These swords are disliked by collectors due to their low quality, but this doesn’t mean at all they weren’t very effective.

The Katana is replacing the Tachi. The ever-increasing need for swords also meant that not all swords were manufactured to the same high standards as before. The term ‘’’Kazuuchimono’’’ or ‘’’Taba-gatana’’’ was used to denote the mass-produced swords from the quality swords. Kazu-uchi means mass-produced and Taba-gatana means they were sold in a bundle as such swords were sold this way inside Japan and exported to Ming-dynasty China in their ten of thousand… These swords are disliked by collectors due to their low quality, but this doesn’t mean at all they weren’t very effective.

A particular type of Tanto, called ‘’’Yoroi-doshi’’’ (armor-piercing began to be made. Yoroi-doshi is to stab enemy through a crevice of armor and the cross-section triangular. Very thick but not broad, with a very strong Kissaki, not very long.   

A particular type of Tanto, called ‘’’Yoroi-doshi’’’ (armor-piercing began to be made. Yoroi-doshi is to stab enemy through a crevice of armor and the cross-section triangular. Very thick but not broad, with a very strong Kissaki, not very long.   

*Late Muromachi  (1555-1595)  

* Late Muromachi  (1555-1595)  

In the 12th year of Tenmon, a.D. 1543, the face of warfare in Japan was changed forever. This year the Portuguese first introduced firearms to Japan ,named Tanegashima Teppo  from the isle in the southern Kyushu where the first portugueses casually landed.  Japanese Daimyo immediately realized the potential of such a weapon, and soon Japan begun the country with the higher number of arquebuses all around the world. A Teppo is very effective and needs much less training in front of a ‘’’Yumi’’’ the Japanese bow.  

In the 12th year of Tenmon, a.D. 1543, the face of warfare in Japan was changed forever. This year the Portuguese first introduced firearms to Japan ,named Tanegashima Teppo  from the isle in the southern Kyushu where the first portugueses casually landed.  Japanese Daimyo immediately realized the potential of such a weapon, and soon Japan begun the country with the higher number of arquebuses all around the world. A Teppo is very effective and needs much less training in front of a ‘’’Yumi’’’ the Japanese bow.  

Even if the early guns were not accurate and it took a long time to reload, ‘’’Oda Nobunaga’’’ used them very  effectively in the battle of ‘’’Nagashino’’’ in 1573. The mounted troops of the ‘’’Takeda’’’ clan - considered to be the finest in the country and invincible - were heavly beated by men that were simples ‘’’Ashigaru’’’, but trained to use gunlocks.     

Even if the early guns were not accurate and it took a long time to reload, ‘’’Oda Nobunaga’’’ used them very  effectively in the battle of ‘’’Nagashino’’’ in 1573. The mounted troops of the ‘’’Takeda’’’ clan - considered to be the finest in the country and invincible - were heavly beated by men that were simples ‘’’Ashigaru’’’, but trained to use gunlocks.