Japanese sword

A family of sword forms developed in Japan, distinguished by curved blades, characteristic mounts, and changing designs shaped by warfare and use.

Tachi: A Japanese sword form worn suspended with its edge downward, commonly associated with mounted combat before the katana became dominant. Its suspended carry and early prominence show a major form within the family.
Tamahagane: Traditional Japanese steel produced in a tatara furnace from iron sand and charcoal. It supplied steel that swordsmiths selected and assembled for blades.
Heian period: A period of Japanese history from 794 to 1185, marked by aristocratic court culture and the rise of warrior power. Early curved swords developed as mounted warfare gained prominence in this era.
Samurai: The hereditary warrior class that served Japan's military governments and regional lords. Samurai status and sword-bearing customs strongly shaped how swords were worn and valued.
European sword: A broad family of swords developed across Europe, with forms shaped by changing combat and social practices. Comparing blade shapes and construction avoids treating Japanese design as universal.
Katana: A Japanese sword with a curved, single-edged blade, usually worn edge-up through the sash. It is the best-known Japanese sword form and a distinct development in carrying practice.
Tatara furnace: A traditional Japanese clay furnace used to smelt iron sand into steel. Its bloomery process produced the heterogeneous steel used in traditional swordmaking.
Kamakura period: A Japanese historical period from 1185 to 1333, when the warrior government established by the shogunate held power. Its warfare and sword production shaped influential early Japanese blades.
Japanese swordsmanship: Japanese martial practices for using swords, transmitted through schools and later modern disciplines. Combat techniques gave sword forms their practical context and influenced blade preferences.
Chinese sword: A family of Chinese bladed weapons, including the single-edged dao and double-edged jian. Chinese traditions offer a nearby but distinct history of sword forms and manufacture.

Linked from 5 pages