History of the Samurai's Sword (Tachi, Katana,Nodachi...& More!)
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- čas přidán 29. 04. 2020
- How Did The Samurai's Sword Evolve? (History of the Katana)
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What is your favorite historical weapon?
For more great videos on Japanese history, culture and Mythology check out Linfamy’s Awesome channel
here: czcams.com/channels/BkqDNqao03ldC3u78-Pp8g.html
This video is an updated version of a video(New intro, drawings, captions and ending segment on the Daisho and larger sword versions)
I made in collaboration with Linfamy last year that premiered over on his channel.
Hope you enjoy :)
Epimetheus Polish Saber.
The Polish Saber is a very pretty weapon
The kopis
Aztec Polearm
Any type of Chinese Changdao (longsword). Miaodao, Dandao, Zhanmadao, Modao, all of em.
History of the Spork next?
please.
So the sword was mostly used as a last resort. Samurais were typically mounted archers, never knew that until now. I learn so much from your channel man, it's always top notch in quality too.
Well they were mounted horse archers for the first parts of their history however during the start of the 14th century they became infantry and soon developed guns and when this happened the samurai became one of the best pike and shot soldiers in the world
@@michaelterrell5061 they developed guns a long time after it was introduced to them by Portuguese traders. At this time, Japan had about a 100+ years of monopoly on guns in East Asia. (The Portuguese did not trade weapons at Aomen with China.) Their early crafted guns in the 1700's-1800's had barrels that looked like fireworks, directly placing gunpowder into it, plus a bullet. A rough imitation that made them a threat to the Chosun dynasty of Korea.
Tardi Grade you’re almost correct you see the Japanese had guns introduced to them in the 15 hundreds during the sengoku jidai period and that’s why they became so wide spread throughout japan infact the Japanese got so good at making guns that they became some of the strongest soldiers on the battlefield in the world
Before the 15th century, to say that you were a great swordsman was the same as saying you where a shitty archer.
@@antonisk.2165 - They were not garbage, when used correctly. You can't fence with them in the European style, like European swords are not very efficient when used in Japanese style fighting (Kendo). The sword was a last-resort weapon in medieval Europe as well. Or used in duels.
*TOTAL WAR: SHOGUN 2* is free on steam until March and if you download it you own it forever. The DLC's are also on discount. :D
I saw an advert for free Shogun 2 and got the game for free.
The war spork is by far my favorite weapon of fuedal Japan.
The use of the war spork as a siege weapon was a real game changer.
My favorite Japanese weapon is the chop sticks.
"What does Katana mean?"
"It means Japanese sword."
Ninja Cops??
刀(katana), it literally means single edge sword
@@user-yf3nl8en2g no, it means Japanese sword, I've heard it from a cop who's a samurai
No matter how familiar the content, you always manage to teach more than is known.
Thank you teacher.
That last sword is so cool
Especially how it was worn on the back
With how big that thing is, I wouldn't want to wear it in my belt. That said, don't expect to be able to get it out in a hurry.
Most very Long Weapons were on your back, but as Space Pope Tobbs said, its not to draw it quickly like in an Fantasy Video game but just to carry it around. Marching was the daily life after all.
@@ZunaZurugi As someone who's studied quite a good bit of European martial arts history, I can tell you that I'm not personally aware of *any* weapons being worn on the back in history outside of Asia; most simply had a certain way to carry them when out on campaign to lessen their burden, or they were carried by their wielder's retainer.
That said, of course, I don't know everything and if you do have some sources that indicate weapons were worn on the back outside of historical Asia, I'd love to see them!
EDIT: A few words.
@@kota86 ya i was wrong. I had images in my head that they would carry some weapons like that but... ya usaly if they carried them they would just have them on their Shoulder and holding with one hand.
@@ZunaZurugi Appreciate te update, bud!
Love the drawings especially the private armies beautiful just beautiful
That is such a cool sword. Samurai are so interesting and I like learning a bit more about them. Awesome armor. *Hire a samurai*
Your name is proof that people that once hated each other can come together and be friends.
SoldierSaint your comment is a great example of someone thinking just because two governments are full of assholes means that the people share contempt for one another.
The Katana has always fascinated me. I always thought it was the only sword used by the Samurai but I was wrong. I didn't even know they had a big Great sword.
and the small sword
@@Kalleosini 2 small swords.
@@larrygonzalez3903 one at a time
Ya would be pretty shitty sitation for them to only have Katana, this sword is just to short. 70cm blade lengh is kinda oddly short for a Two hander. But for indoors it seems quite effective as explained, makes sense. Its kinda the Colt 1911 or Luga of its Time Period. Got it mythical propagation during ww2 by the japanese i think, as they gave it to the officers to look cool for the troops :D
TsunaTsurugi the 70cm length limit thing mainly comes from the sword restriction laws enacted during the early Edo period. It led to numerous Japanese swords being confiscated and cut down. (Ōsuriage 大磨上げ)
After the law loosened at the end of the Edo & Bakumutsu period, we start to see longer katana becoming prominent again. new.uniquejapan.com/an-echigo-no-kami-kanesada-nidai-katana/
new.uniquejapan.com/late-edo-long-handachi-koshirae-katana-unsigned-mumei/?com=Swords
The length range of the katanas above (roughly 2 shaku 5 sun, so 74~78 cm more or less) are prominent among modern batto practitioners. We also have styles like Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu that specifically prefers even longer katanas.
Tang infantry also used something like a nodachi/odachi; it had a long handle with buttspike and could be stuck into the ground for easy retrieval for their vanguard combined arms infantry
Me : *Fights samurai*
Me : *breaks Samurai's Naginata*
Me : "Haha! I beat you, surrender!"
Samurai : *pulls out Katana*
Me : *screams in agony*
The Samurai artwork is absolutely *amazing!* 👍
Great video! I'm actually working on putting out my own Samurai Sword History video, cheers!
Everyone rants and raves about folded forge welding and differing hardness as if Europeans weren't doing exactly that 700 years before these types of Japanese blades existed. During the Viking Age some of the finest swords ever made were produced by Illiterate blacksmiths working on a stump anvil with a working surface half that of a modern brick - for all the guys getting into blacksmithing that think they absolutely must have a massive 300lb anvil.
Katana's kanji is 刀 which is a Chinese word mean single-edge sword. it's interesting that Japanese swords were originally influenced by Chinese swords and then during the Ming Dynasty, many Japanese swords were captured by the Chinese military due to Wako pirates activity as well as the Korean war of 1590s, where the Japanese swords were taken by Chinese imperial army, they then incorporated the Japanese design back into some Chinese single-edge sword design haha.
The existence of Japanese swords has been known since the Song Dynasty.
Poet (欧陽脩) Ōuyáng Xiū has released a song called Katana's Song.
This poem praised katana.
As one of the Japanese exports traded between Japan and the Ming Dynasty, katana was very popular.
Known for a long time in mainland China, katana was produced in court in the early tomorrow. Also called "Wo-Dao".
But a complete reproduction of katana was impossible.
I asked my Japanese teacher once, why Katana was similar to the Tang Dynasty swords, my teacher said the Chinese influenced the Japanese swords and after taking a closer look it has similarities. The Tang Dynasty influenced the Katana And the Japanese swords. If you check out the Tang Dynasty swords they have big similarities. Japan during the Tang were welcomed into the country and many Japanese took note of the Tang culture and tradition and adopted and refined it. They took note on the design and so forth and the sword was also exported. The Katana was the refined version of its ancestor, the Tang dao, the the Tang Dynasty Sword And first original.
What would become Japanese sword comes from the warabiteto first created by the Emishi.
gunbai-militaryhistory.blogspot.com/2020/02/wanto-early-curved-japanese-swords.html?m=1
And there is no such thing as a Tang Dao,it's a modern marketing thing Tang Blade you will find on the market.
m.imgur.com/gallery/9f5iskK
Historical.
m.imgur.com/RLIsark
Swords during the Tang Dynasty were not even called Tang Dao.
@@eagle162 So confusing
Linfamy is another favorite channel. Keep up the great work, you two!
Ok! Now this explains why Zack's sword is facing up and Cloud's sword is facing down. History metaphor.
Depends on which elemental stone they used.
Thanks for the shout out!
I like that sweet intro ;)
Excellent choice for a collaboration. Linfamy is fuckin great.
he is
Who tf downvotes a video 40 second after it was released
It is also worth mentioning Nagamaki, afterall LOTR elven swords were based off them :)
Actually none of the elven swords of LOTR were inspired by japanese swords. P.Jackson and his consultants were inspired mostly on fachions, Cossack sabres, Assyrian and Filipino swords.
Woohoo! Another great Epimetheus/Linfamy collaboration!
The katana truly was the samurai's lifelong companion
Thanks for this brief overview. Pretty cool and informative. I'm late to the party but hope you continue making many more of these!
"The Japanese katana is considered by many to be the finest class of sword ever made, unlike the Spork or Rubix Cube."
Cool vid! I hope you make more of these amazing vids!
Ooo do more weapons history! This was great! So much cool weaponry through time, this could be a little miniseries!
I wonder if the reasons the samurai started prefering shorter katanas was similar to why arming swords were so popular in europe, smaller and more convenient.
when the warring states period ended the katana was mostly used for statues and civilian self defense and didn't see my battles because battles became rare. in that context a shorter blade was convenient.
also the government began standardizing the sizes of swords.
It's similar to modern day. The US army, like the samurai of old opted for a shorter weapon because of a common reason. Urban warfare.
The faster sword wins.
@@gerbilkill what the hell is a faster sword ?
@@grainherstal1912 ha ha good one. But in truth . Musashi used a boken carved from palm wood for alot of his duels. It was thought an insult . But wood is much faster to wield that metal. And he went on to be the greatest swordsman who ever lived
0:38 - *Morpheus?!* What are you doing in Japan ?!
🤣🤣🤣
Katana was made during the Heian period (794-1185). Blacksmith heaven (8c-9c) and Yasutsu Ohara (-987) made many swords. These are currently stored in the museum. Japan exported swords to the Song Dynasty. Song politician Ou Yan Shu (1007-1072) announced the poetry Japanese Katana Song. The contents of the poem praise the sword and Japanese technology. Since the sword was used in actual battle, it showed superiority and was also exported to the Yuan Dynasty/Ming Dynasty. There are records of watching actual battles among generals, martial artists, and missionaries, and it is said that katana is the best sword.
Great video!
I thought the major difference between the tachi and the katana was the curve, with the tachi having more curve to be better suited for cavalry. I always assumed that katana evolved because it was better suited for use on foot, a more versatile sidearm instead of a melee backup for mounted archers.
Probably you are right too.
It's interesting that, like the classic medieval European sword, the most iconic sword in all the history of Japan, the legendary Kusanagi-no-tsurugi, is a single-hand, straight-bladed, double-edged sword. This is the sword that is connected with the story of the creation of Japan. Thank you for pointing out that the sword was not the Samurai's primary weapon. A typical weapons set would be yari(spear), katana and tanto(dagger).
The most iconic sword type in Europe is two handed. Sorry
Hinduism swordsman
Déja vu, I loved your cross-over collaboration.
A few more differences:
Katanas (I'm assuming due to their better use indoors) developed over time to have straighter handles while the blade itself retained its curve. The metal elements set on the handle of the tachi (known as Menuki) later saw themselves rearranged to be on the opposite side on Katanas. Some historians believe that this was to allow said ornaments to be displayed when sheathed the same as Tachi, but to ill effect. Whereas before the menuki would act as palm swells and add grip (especially for active samurai who would be wearing gloves in the field), now they would often add no sort of extra grip whatsoever except for the awkward placement under one's fingers.
Tamehagane, which is the steel used in order to forge many japanese swords, was not in fact some kind of perfect metal. The folding process you often see ritualized thats used during the forging of these swords was used to help even the distribution of carbon and iron. If you used it on modern day steel today however, you would in fact more likely be making a weaker blade. The heating and reheating process needed to help fold tamehagane would burn off a sizable amount of carbon in the process; your modern steel would likely actually be more brittle after all is said and done.
It's intertesing that even though it was always around, it wasn't used that much in battle
Probably because it was ineffective against armour, so other weapons had to be used.
It's a similar case in medieval Europe. On battlefield, people wielded, let's say, a spear or a mace to pierce or crush through the armour.
In times of peace, swords were there for personal protection / duels and stuff.
@@klaus_poppe true
This wideo was made by someone who has read many books, but held no swords
What information find you wrong? What i only didnt hear that katana came after new type of warfare with mongol invasion.
@@23Disciple 0:50 the trope of "katana is the best sword ever". If you ever wielded one in comparison to any other sword you'll find them no more special.
That wording is VERY indicative of someone who like i said "read many books but held no swords"
The past 2:30 differencial hardening doesnt just "solve" the issue of choosing between a hard and soft blade. Katanas were still rather brittle.
2:55 the wearing a katana/tachi edge down or up is insignificant.
If you ever wielded several swords in comprarison you'll know that the most significant difference is balance and length.
Enouther important difference is katanas have a tsuba wich makas a noticible difference in combat. Those are significant.
4:51 thats just not true. Simply impossible
One last thing i want to say is that i dont want to be mean. I made an observation on how the wideo bases all its information of academic knowledge without the empirical to back it up. Im sorry if it came of the wrong way but its true. Many books but no swords.
Oh, thats true. I didnt notice it. I agree. I am "katana guy" a i am pretty sure (historical) japanese sword isnt "best" (thats part of polemic, but i dont believe there is ultimate sword above swords) and yes, they are brittle. And thanks to balance/durability/exc. i dont think they are light, if you want real battle sword with hiraniku/haniku without bo-hi, which makes sword more fragile. I still dont know where these stereotypes gets from. Movie industry?
@@23Disciple most myths about historical weapons come from
a mixture of movie industry, the repetition of old victorian historians theories and good old hyperboly.
After all a sword that can kill both the rider and the horse in a single strike is more attractive than something wich requires more work.
There also a recent development of overcorection. As myths become debunked in some circles some people will go the other way too far. And we end up with the same thing.
@@23Disciple im glad we had productive conversation. Im pretty sure i see a lot at wideo i watch.
Great work Epimitheus. A video about the early indo-europeans europeans would be interesting as well.
Sand iron, which is the material of katana, is a good quality material with less phosphorus and sulfur. Phosphorus and sulfur are impurities that make steel brittle.
In Japan, impurities were removed by the Tatara iron-making method, which was created from the 5th century. The Tatara ironmaking method uses the difference in melting temperatures of iron, phosphorus, and sulfur to remove impurities. Old craftsmen called the impurities Noro. The ingredients of tamahagane are carbon 1.36% silicon 0.03% manganese 0.01% phosphorus 0.029% sulfur 0.0026% copper 0.01%. The content of impurities such as phosphorus and sulfur in tamahagane is much lower than in modern steel. By removing unnecessary carbon by smithing, the carbon content is reduced to around 0.7%, which is suitable for katana and is not too hard. And the steel of katana is in a state where microstructures with different hardness, austenite and martensite, are dispersed.
When katana is sharpened with a sharpening stone, austenite is easy to scrape and martensite remains, so it becomes like a "micro saw".
The person who handles katana pulls katana at the moment of slashing.
Today, in Japan, a special steel called Yasugi Specialty Steel is made from the method of making katana materials. This special steel has the same properties as katana, and since it is hard and elastic, it is used for various purposes.
This special steel is high-speed tool steel, cutting tool steel, cutlery steel, electronics materials, high-grade kitchen knife materials, razor materials, automotive parts materials, automotive engine parts, aircraft engine parts, cutter for artificial satellite separations, etc. It is used for various purposes.
I'm surprised you didn't go one step further in the evolution with the kyu-gunto which is a katana blade mounted of a bowl guard in the 19th-20th century.
New subscriber here. Your videos are gold.
Hey this is a old vid but I really love your content!!!
Interesting Video.
I'd like to see a video on the Seax blade, or Bagh Nakh.
Fuedal Japan: gives babies swords
Modernday: gives babies iphones
[BIG SHAME]
Thank you. If you are looking for content to make more videos, a deeper discussion of the Katana and its use and other attributes woud make a nice choice.
Hey I’d love you to do a fully fledged video on the Gauls and their other Celtic relatives
(and perhaps make a note when taking about their origins that it is still uncertain whether or not they originally came from the western bell beaker complex, the Central European Hallstatt, or the earlier Central European Urnfield cultures)
Katana means "japanese sword"
I love your work so much! I had to tweet this out, thanks for doing what you do. Xoxo
💜💀💙
Thank you so much!! :D I am happy you like it WDYM :)
Epimetheus, please make a video on the history of Burma.
Hello, I'm searching for further information on the web on the 812-814 Japanese smallpox epidemic mentioned at 1:38 in the video, any suggestions?
Interesting
Hey I’m sorry to do this but as I said before I love your videos and I know you told me this earlier but I was busy with my college classes so I forgot but what platforms do you use I know photoshop is one of them. What were the others?
P. S Polish saber would be a great video or any video on Poland.
Differential heat treating of swords predates the tachi and started in China
Japan: can I copy your homework
China: ok, but change it up a bit so it's not too obvious
I suppose weapons that are largely for slashing are going to be curved, particularly for quick, short engagements. Probably easier to draw out of a scabbard and strike in one movement. But for the classic duel, you wonder what the advantage of a straight blade would be.
Nice content, do a video about Filipino Swords like the Kampilan
Can you do one on the Khopesh?
I was hoping for a Metatron comment
Sigh, i had hoped Epimetheus of all people you wold not make this mistake.
Katana was used by anyone, all rank and file soldiers could use it as a side arm.
The exclusive 'Samurai Sword' was the Wakizashi, that only the Samurai and higher ups could use, it was a shorter Katana.
The main armament of a Samurai warrior was a ranged weapon, often a Yumi bow, then a polearm a Yari or a Naginata and then a sidearm a katana with a Wakizashi. (you mention that without emphasis)
Stop associating Katana with a Samurai, it was not exclusive to them, it spreads the Western Holywood stereotype and association of the Western Knights's sword to Japanese culture.
But during the Edo periods only the Bushi caste could have swords as long as a katana,all the others could only use a kodachi.
The samurais really did always have their sword with them
I've read/heard that the 1st Mongol invasion of Japan forced the Japanese to make their swords slightly shorter and broader due to encountering the stronger Mongol armour. I don't know how true this is.
Adrian Louw yep I read on a library on Tokyo that when the long old arrived it was a battle of archery first then the samurai s were surprised the edge of the sword have hard time penetrating the hard lamellar armor of mongols. In some ways even the jutsu of how to fight in katana changed. And the Japanese also learned how to fight in field battles
@@thewayofaxiom Thank you for your reply I really appreciate it! Very interesting.
No, that's just a myth it comes from war tales written after both invasion happen no actual Source makes mention of it.
The truth is that the previous tachi were longer and thinner, and weren’t suited in the close quarter situations they were supposed to be used, which means on the deck of Mongol ships. You were likely to hit ship’s furnitures, so they made a shorter and more sturdier sword for the occasion. Beside this, uchigatana were already being used as dirk in the role of secondary weapons.
And sword didn't stay shorter they got longer after this.
Either did samurai learn how to fight in field battle the whole one-on-one dueling style of warfare well Duels were thing, that also comes from War tales as well samurai fought in groups long before the mongol invasions.
@@eagle162 Thank you for your response gives me plenty to consider since what you say makes sense.
Samurai jack....
Was the sword in the room when born was it supposed to be the one he used as an adult?
In some cases I would think so(Swords were very expensive, so swords would be used by many generations of a family, some cases maybe a family ceremonial sword was used)...probably more often it would be used to train while young etc...then upgrade later. I am not sure on that/just a semi-educated guess. But good question.
@@EpimetheusHistory
Thank you for your insight. you have clearly researched this.
Did emishi swords have an impact on the curved Japanese sword? I believe at one point the emishi were using single edge curved swords while the yamato used double edge straight swords.
Emishi basically means Barbarians. Wikipedia is not correct source of information
@@juriueno9471 my source wasnt wikipedia
@@deanrakic34 Sorry.
@@juriueno9471 you're fine
Yes it's basically the ancestor to what would become the katana unfortunately people always forget about it.
gunbai-militaryhistory.blogspot.com/2020/02/wanto-early-curved-japanese-swords.html?m=1
Can you cover the history of indian arms?
Don't forget the Shin Gunto!
History of the Shamshir/ Szabla next?
Do the Ayyubid Dynasty next
Guys total war shogun 2 is free now any if you download it you can keep it forever
The Katana is one of the best sword in human history.
@Master Yoda
This specific Japanese design was adopted in several countries in Asia; in Korea, China, Burma and Vietnam, both in terms of longsword as well as greatswords: these are in fact called Chang Dao (長刀), Wo Yao Dao (倭腰刀), and we have similarities in some styles of Joseon Korean Hwando (環刀) and some types of Vietnamese sabers
Wait until you see the Kriegsmesser.
@Master Yoda The material of katana, tamahagane, removes phosphorus and sulfur, which are impurities harmful to steel.
Carbon 0.89% Silicon 0.04% Manganese traces Phosphorus 0.008% Sulfur traces
Tamahagane was created to solve the difficult problem of having a sword that is hard, sharp, and has good elasticity.
The Tatara ironmaking method burns it so that it does not exceed 1300 degrees.
It is an iron-making method that does not melt carbon and impurities like in Western countries and China.
Engineers are trying to make tamahagane with modern technology but it has not been successful.
The existence of Japanese swords has been known since the Song Dynasty.
Poet (欧陽脩) Ōuyáng Xiū has released a song called Katana's Song.
This poem praised katana.
As one of the Japanese exports traded between Japan and the Ming Dynasty, katana was very popular.
Known for a long time in mainland China, katana was produced in court in the early tomorrow. Also called "Wo-Dao".
But a complete reproduction of katana was impossible.
Lmao it's not
@@lucanic4328 Korea already had curved swords before japan
Answer: The Samurai Sword evolved from _Katana Kombat._
.... Please don't Google who that is! 😄 But if you did anyway, here is a bro fist, guys. 👊
Oh no! The naginata broke!! Poor samurai!
Have you heard about the lands of akavir? I heard they used curved blades, CURVED BLADES!
curved blades is actually very common, I can't think of a medieval culture that didn't use curved blades to some extent in warfare.
I had no idea that the samurais rarely used the katana in battle
A samurai, a knight of japan, rich and important people hired samurais.
Poor and unimportant people who couldnt hire samurais didnt hire samurais.
You think you could do a video of the same type on black powder firearms in the near east/Europe? Interesting to see how they evolved in the Christian world and in the Muslim world
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼⚔️🗡
Can you do history of Peru 🙏🏽
I had always thought that the katana was the samurais main weapon
Can you make Cambodia history video?
Do a video on the more famous greek city states
Your speech plain and simple
Important to know not all katanas were made to the same standards. Various times throughout japanese history especially during times of war, when the demand was high, the quality of katanas and tachis was indeed lower also in battle no matter how well a weapon is made it is still quite common for them to break so they did not even need to be high quality.
Japanese history is the best!
Wasn't there a point in time where one of the Shogun or Emperor made a law to halt further progress of the Katana thus kept its iconic shape for more than 500 years alongside some weaknesses or faults that could've been fixed?
Vin the Hunter Only during the ~200 years of peace Japan had during the early and mid Edo period. Even then some samurai and factions far away from the capital (ex. Satsuma) continued to use whatever they wanted - for instance not keeping up with the regulations the shogunate put in place regarding sword length.
If a samurai fights unreasonably, he or she will be punished, but a non-samurai will often fight, and a law will be created that limits the length of the sword. If the samurai is registered, there is no limit to the length of the sword. Also, since the law differs from region to region, some people had a long katana.
I guess it was more ceremonial
ما رأيك في رحلة عبر التاريخ ؟؟ في دقائق قصيرة ننقلك لزمن مضى نستقيه مباشرة من كتابات من عايشوه! اكتشفوا هذا العالم الرائع من خلال قناتنا
Kampilan sir for next episode
Is it not also true that the Japanese had a lack of good iron suitable to make weapons from at that time?
No that's a common myth on the internet.
www.quora.com/Would-the-Japanese-forging-techniques-have-worked-in-Medieval-Europe-if-it-was-introduced-to-the-blacksmiths-there-If-so-how-would-European-swords-have-looked-like/answer/Luca-Nic-1?ch=10&share=dd5a5e27&srid=3z2sJ
20+YRS AGO BOUGHT A KANENAGA, KATANA & WAKIZASHI, WITH THE ALMOST NEVER TANTO! KEEP IN STORAGE(IN CALIFORNIA) AND SENT TO JAPAN TO HAVE CLEANED, RESTORED AND 'SHARPENED' ... EVERY 2 YEARS. THE LOVES OF MY LIFE, BUT I LIVE IN HAWAII AND, WELL STEEL AND HUMIDITY FIGHT THE NEVER ENDING BATTLE ... ID HAVE TO SEND TO JAPAN EVERY 6MOS.
Please visit Micahistory 2, it would mean a lot!
Was there ever a sword called the kodachi? I heard that it was just another name for the wakizashi but I’m not sure.
I'm not entirely sure on this, but from what I've read the kodachi was very similar to a wakizashi and could even look identical. The only difference I can find is that the kodachi is a set length and never deviates from it, and in addition to this it was for the most part only worn together with a tachi. Whereas the wakizashi would have both its blade and handle length adjusted depending on the individual samurai's height and personal preferences, and would be mostly used along side a katana instead of a tachi.
Considering how long these blades were in use, they might have been one and the same, with just the terminology differing between regions and eras.
Torbarik thanks for the detailed Information.
Always been fascinated by the Samurai! I need to start working on Season two of Historical Weapons tbh lol!
No one ever talks about the Hadachi, a Katana sharing some aspects of the Tachi, a once(Edo period) very popular hybrid.
Banzai time :3
Great that you included the difference between Odachi and Nodachi.