Long Japanese sword 4 letters crossword. Japanese medieval swords: history, classification and manufacturing features

05.11.201927.05.2017

Any story about historical edged weapons would be incomplete without a story about medieval Japanese swords. This unique weapon has faithfully served its masters for many centuries - ferocious samurai warriors. In recent decades, the katana sword seems to be experiencing a rebirth, interest in it is huge. The Japanese sword has already become an element of popular culture, Hollywood directors, creators of anime and computer games “love” the katana.

It was believed that the spirits of all its previous owners live in the sword, and the samurai is just the keeper of the blade, and he is obliged to pass it on to the next generations. The will of the samurai necessarily had a clause in which his swords were distributed among his sons. If good sword was an unworthy or inept owner, then in this case they said: "The sword is crying."

Of no less interest today is the history of this weapon, the secrets of its manufacture and the fencing technique used by medieval Japanese warriors. However, before moving on to our story, a few words should be said about the very definition of the samurai sword and its classification.

Katana is a long Japanese sword, with a blade length of 61 to 73 cm, with a slight curve of the blade and one-sided sharpening. There are other types of Japanese swords, they mainly differ in their size and purpose. At the same time, the word "katana" in modern Japanese means any sword. If we talk about the European classification of edged weapons, then the katana is not a sword at all, it is a typical saber with one-sided sharpening and a curved blade. The shape of the Japanese sword is very similar to a sword. However, in the tradition of the Land of the Rising Sun, a sword is any type (well, almost any) of edged weapons that has a blade. Even a naginata, similar to a European medieval glaive, with a two-meter handle and a blade at the end, is still called a sword in Japan.

It is much easier for historians to study the Japanese sword than European or Middle Eastern historical edged weapons. And there are several reasons:

The Japanese sword has been used in the relatively recent past. Katana (this weapon had a special name gun-to) was massively used during the Second World War;
Unlike Europe, a large number of ancient Japanese swords have survived to this day. Weapons that are several centuries old are often in excellent condition;
The production of swords according to traditional medieval technologies continues in Japan to this day. Today, about 300 blacksmiths are engaged in the manufacture of these weapons, all of them have special state licenses;
The Japanese carefully preserved the basic techniques of the art of sword fighting.

Story

The Iron Age began in Japan relatively late, only by the 7th century did Japanese blacksmiths master the technology of making weapons from laminated steel. Until that moment, iron swords were imported into the country from China and Korea. The oldest Japanese swords were most often straight and had a double-edged sharpening.

Heian period (IX-XII century). During this period, the Japanese sword gets its traditional twist. At this time, the central state power weakened, and the country plunged into a series of endless internecine wars and entered a long period of self-isolation. A caste of samurai began to form - professional warriors. At the same time, the skill of Japanese blacksmiths-gunsmiths increased significantly.

Most of the fights took place on horseback, so the place of a straight sword was gradually taken by a long saber. Initially, it had a bend near the handle, later it shifted to an area spaced 1/3 from the end of the shank. It was during the Heian period that the appearance of the Japanese sword was finally formed, and the technology for its manufacture was worked out.

Kamakura period (XII-XIV century). The great improvement in armor that took place during this period led to changes in the shape of the sword. They were aimed at increasing the striking power of weapons. Its top has become more massive, the mass of blades has increased. Fencing with such a sword with one hand has become much more difficult, so they were mainly used in foot fights. This historical period is considered the "golden age" for the traditional Japanese sword; later, many blade manufacturing technologies were lost. Today blacksmiths are trying to restore them.

Muromachi period (XIV-XVI century). During this historical period, very long swords begin to appear, the dimensions of some of them exceeded two meters. Such giants are the exception rather than the rule, but the general trend was clear. A long period of constant wars required a large number of edged weapons, often due to a decrease in their quality. In addition, the general impoverishment of the population led to the fact that few could afford a truly high-quality and expensive sword. At this time, the Tatar furnaces are spreading, which makes it possible to increase the total amount of steel smelted. The tactics of fights are changing, now it is important for a fighter to get ahead of his opponent in delivering the first blow, so katana swords are becoming more and more popular. Towards the end of this period, the first firearms, which changes the tactics of battles.

Momoyama period (16th century). During this period, the Japanese sword becomes shorter, a pair of daisho comes into use, which later became classic: a katana long sword and a wakizashi short sword.

All of the above periods belong to the so-called Age of Old Swords. AT early XVII century begins the era of new swords (shinto). At this time, many years of civil strife ceased in Japan, and peace reigned. Therefore, the sword somewhat loses its combat value. The Japanese sword becomes an element of costume, a symbol of status. Weapons are beginning to be richly decorated, much more attention is paid to it appearance. However, at the same time, its fighting qualities are reduced.

After 1868, the era of modern swords begins. Weapons forged after this year are called gendai-to. In 1876, the carrying of swords was banned. This decision dealt a serious blow to the samurai warrior caste. A large number of blacksmiths involved in the manufacture of blades lost their jobs or were forced to retrain. It was not until the beginning of the last century that a campaign to return to traditional values began.

The highest part for a samurai was to die in battle with a sword in his hands. In 1943, a plane with Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (the one who led the attack on Pearl Harbor) was shot down. When the charred body of the admiral was taken out from under the wreckage of the aircraft, they found a katana in the hands of a dead man, with which he met his death.

At the same time, swords began to be made for the armed forces. industrial way. And although they outwardly resembled a combat samurai sword, these weapons no longer had anything to do with traditional blades made in earlier periods.

After the final defeat of the Japanese in World War II, the victors issued an order to destroy all traditional Japanese swords, but thanks to the intervention of historians, it was soon canceled. The production of swords using traditional technologies was resumed in 1954. A special organization "Society for the Preservation of Artistic Japanese Swords" was created, its main task was to preserve the traditions of making katana, as part of cultural heritage Japanese nation. Currently, there is a multi-stage system for assessing the historical and cultural value of Japanese swords.

Japanese classification of swords

What other swords, besides the famous katana, exist (or existed in the past) in Japan. The classification of swords is rather complicated; in the Land of the Rising Sun, it belongs to scientific disciplines. What will be described below is just short review, which gives only a general idea of the issue. Currently, the following types of Japanese swords are distinguished:

Katana. The most famous type of Japanese sword. It has a blade length of 61 to 73 cm, with a fairly wide and thick curved blade. Outwardly, it is very similar to another Japanese sword - tachi, but differs from it in a smaller bend of the blade, in the way it is worn, and also (but not always) in length. The katana was not just a weapon, but also an invariable attribute of the samurai, part of his costume. Without this sword, the warrior simply did not leave the house. The katana could be worn behind a belt or on special strings. It was stored on a special horizontal stand, which was placed at the head of a warrior at night;
Tati. This is a long Japanese sword. It has more curve than a katana. The length of the tati blade starts from 70 cm. In the past, this sword was usually used for equestrian combat and during parades. Stored on a vertical stand handle down in peacetime and handle up in war. Sometimes another one stands out from this variety of the Japanese sword - O-dachi. These blades differed in significant size (up to 2.25 m);
Wakizashi. A short sword (blade 30-60 cm), which, together with a katana, forms the standard weapon of a samurai. The wakizashi could be used for fighting in tight spaces, and was also used in conjunction with a long sword in some fencing techniques. This weapon could be worn not only by samurai, but also by representatives of other classes;
Tanto. A dagger or knife with a blade length of up to 30 cm. It was used to cut off heads, as well as to commit hara-kiri, and for other, more peaceful purposes;
Tsurugi. A double-edged straight sword used in Japan until the 10th century. Often any ancient swords are called by this name;
Ninja something or shinobi-gatana. This is the sword used by the famous Japanese medieval spies - ninja. In appearance, it practically did not differ from a katana, but was shorter. The scabbard of this sword was thicker, the elusive shinobi hid a whole spy arsenal in them. By the way, they didn’t carry ninjas behind their backs, because it was extremely inconvenient. The exceptions were when a warrior needed free hands, for example, if he decided to climb a wall;
Naginata. This is a type of edged weapon, which was a slightly curved blade planted on a long wooden shaft. It resembled a medieval glaive, but the Japanese also refer to the naginata as a sword. Naginata fights are still held to this day;
Gun something. Army sword of the last century. These weapons were manufactured industrially and sent in huge quantities to the army and navy;
Bokken. Wooden practice sword. The Japanese treat it with no less respect than a real military weapon.

Japanese sword making

There are legends about the hardness and sharpness of Japanese swords, as well as about the blacksmithing art of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Gunsmiths occupied a high place in the social hierarchy of medieval Japan. Making a sword was considered a spiritual, almost mystical act, so they prepared for it accordingly.

Before starting the process, the master spent a lot of time in meditation, he prayed and fasted. It was not uncommon for blacksmiths to wear the robes of a Shinto priest or court ceremonial dress while working. Before the start of the forging process, the forge was carefully cleaned, amulets were hung at its entrance, designed to scare away evil spirits and attract good ones. At the time of work, the forge became a sacred place, only the blacksmith himself and his assistant could enter it. During this period, family members (except women) were forbidden to enter the workshop, while women were not allowed to enter the forge at all, fearing their evil eye.

During the making of the sword, the blacksmith ate food cooked on the sacred fire, and a strict taboo was imposed on animal food, strong drinks, as well as sexual contacts.

The Japanese received metal for the manufacture of edged weapons in Tatar furnaces, which can be called a local variety of an ordinary domnitsa.

Blades are usually made from two main parts: the sheath and the core. To make the shell of the sword, a package of iron and high-carbon steel is welded together. It is repeatedly folded and forged. The main task of the blacksmith at this stage is to achieve homogenization of steel and clean it from impurities.

For the core of the Japanese sword, mild steel is used, it is also repeatedly forged.

As a result, for the manufacture of a sword blank, the master receives two bars, made of durable high-carbon and mild steel. In the manufacture of katana from hard steel, a V-shaped profile is formed into which a bar of mild steel is inserted. It is somewhat shorter than the overall length of the sword and slightly short of the point. There is also a more complex technology for making a katana, it consists in forming a blade from four bars of steel: the tip and cutting edges of the weapon are made from the hardest steel, slightly less hard metal goes to the sides, and the core is made of soft iron. Sometimes the butt of a Japanese sword is made from a separate piece of metal. After welding parts of the blade, the master forms its cutting edges, as well as the point.

However, the "main feature" of Japanese blacksmiths-gunsmiths is the hardening of the sword. Exactly special equipment heat treatment gives katana its incomparable properties. It differs significantly from similar technologies that were used by blacksmiths in Europe. It should be recognized that in this matter the Japanese masters have advanced much further than their European counterparts.

Before hardening, the Japanese blade is coated with a special paste made from clay, ash, sand, stone dust. The exact composition of the paste was kept a closely guarded secret and passed down from father to son. An important nuance is that the paste is applied to the blade unevenly: a thin layer of substance was applied to the blade and the tip, and much thicker layers were applied to the side edges and butt. After that, the blade was heated to a certain temperature and hardened in water. The sections of the blade covered with a thicker layer of paste cooled more slowly and turned out softer, and the cutting surfaces received the greatest hardness with such hardening.

If everything is done correctly, then a clear boundary appears on the blade between the hardened area of \u200b\u200bthe blade and the rest. It's called ham. Another indicator of the quality of the blacksmith's work was the whitish shade of the butt of the blade, it is called utsubi.

Further refinement of the blade (polishing and grinding) is usually carried out by a special master, whose work is also highly valued. In general, more than ten people can be engaged in the manufacture and decoration of the blade, the process is very specialized.

After that, the sword must be tested; in ancient times, specially trained people were engaged in this. The tests were done on rolled mats and sometimes on cadavers. It was especially honorable to test a new sword on a living person: a criminal or a prisoner of war.

Only after testing, the blacksmith stamps his name on the shank, and the sword is considered ready. Work on mounting the handle and guards are considered auxiliary. The handle of the katana was usually pasted over with stingray skin and wrapped with silk or leather cord.

Fighting qualities of Japanese swords and their comparison with European swords

Today, the katana can be called the most popular sword in the world. It is difficult to name another type of edged weapons, around which there are so many myths and frank tales. The Japanese sword is called the pinnacle of blacksmithing in the history of mankind. However, this assertion can be disputed.

Studies carried out by specialists using the latest methods have shown that European swords (including ancient period) were not much inferior to their Japanese counterparts. The steel used by European blacksmiths to make weapons turned out to be as refined as the material of Japanese blades. They were welded from many layers of steel, had a selective hardening. In the study of European blades, modern Japanese craftsmen were involved, and they confirmed the high quality of medieval weapons.

The problem is that very few samples of European bladed weapons have come down to our time. Those swords that are found during archaeological excavations are usually in a deplorable state. There are especially revered European swords that have survived the centuries and are today in museums in good condition. But there are very few of them. In Japan, due to the special attitude to edged weapons, a huge number of ancient swords have survived to our time, and the condition of most of them can be called ideal.

A few words should be said about the strength and cutting characteristics of Japanese swords. Without a doubt, the traditional katana is an excellent weapon, the quintessence of the centuries-old experience of Japanese gunsmiths and warriors, but it is still not capable of cutting “iron like paper”. Scenes from movies, games, and anime where a Japanese sword effortlessly cuts through rocks, plate armor, or other metal objects should be left up to writers and directors. Such abilities are beyond the capabilities of steel and contrary to the laws of physics.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

There are many legends about Japanese swords, often not justified. Probably, a lot of people will answer the question of what the Japanese sword is called - Katana. This is true in part, but only in part. The classification of Japanese swords is not an easy task. The most simple classification, in my opinion, is by length.

It is known that the samurai wore two swords - long and short.. This couple was called Daisho(lit. "greater and smaller") and consisted of Daito ("greater sword"), we will call it Katana, which was the main weapon of the samurai, and Seto ("smaller sword"), in the future Wakazashi, which served as a spare or additional weapon, used in close combat, for chopping off heads or hara-kiri, if the samurai did not have a Kusungobu or Tanto dagger specially designed for this. If the wearing of a large Katana sword was allowed only for samurai wars and aristocrats, then Wakazashi had the right to wear both artisans and merchants.

Kusungobu - melee dagger

So the long sword was called Daito (Katana)- 95-120 cm, short - Seto (Wakazashi)- 50-70 cm. The Katana handle is usually designed for 3.5 fists, Wakazashi - for 1.5. The width of the blade of both swords is about 3 cm, the thickness of the back is 5 mm, while the blade has a razor sharpness. The hilt is usually covered with sharkskin or wrapped in such a way that the hilt does not slip in the hands. Katana weight about 4 kg. The guard of both swords was small, only slightly covering the hand, had a round, petal or multifaceted shape. It was called "tsuba".

Katana and other Japanese swords were kept on a special stand - Katanakake.

Katana, has several varieties, one of them is Ko-katana (kokatana) - a variant of a short katana, which, along with a katana, is included in a regular samurai set of edged weapons. The handle of the kokatana is straight without a bow, the blade is slightly curved. The specimen described in the domestic literature has a length of 690 mm, a blade length of 520 mm.

Kokatana a type of katana

The katana was attached to the belt or behind the back. Tied with a special Sageo cord, this cord could also be used to bind an opponent. To carry a katana behind the back, special scabbards were used (Watarimaki, the part of the scabbard of Japanese bladed weapons that touches the back when worn).

Katana is the most modern and perfect type of Japanese edged weapons, its production has been perfected for centuries, the predecessors of katana were:

Tati - a sword common in Japan from the 10th to the 17th centuries, equal in length to the Katana. Although Katana swords also have a decent blade curvature, overall it is less than that of the Tachi. Their exterior finish is also different. It is much simpler and stricter than Tati's. Has a round tsuba. The tachi was usually worn with the blade down, paired with the koshigatana.

Tanto - small samurai sword

Kozuka - Japanese combat knife used as a melee or throwing weapon. AT Everyday life served as a household knife.

Ta-chi - a single-edged sword of small curvature, worn on the back. Total length 710 mm.

In addition to Daise, a samurai could also wear Nodachi - "field sword" with a blade longer than a meter and a total length of about 1.5 m, sometimes its length reached three meters! Several samurai wielded such a sword at once, and its only use was the defeat of cavalry troops.

Nodachi

Katana - the strongest sword in the world

Katana production technology is very complex - special steel processing, multi-layer (repeated) forging, hardening, etc. Katanas are the strongest swords in the world, they are able to cut materials of almost any hardness, be it meat, bones, iron. Masters who know the art of katana fighting in a battle with a warrior armed with an ordinary European sword could cut this sword into two parts, the samurai's strike force and katana steel made it possible to do this (Monuchi is the part of the blade of the blade in Japanese bladed weapons, which accounts for the main force hit).

A katana could be equally easily stabbed and cut. The long handle allows you to actively maneuver the sword. In this case, the main grip is the position when the end of the handle rests in the middle of the palm, and right hand keeps it near the guard. The simultaneous movement of both hands allows the sword to describe a wide amplitude without much effort. Both katana and straight european sword knights weigh a lot, but the principles for performing chopping blows are completely different. Most of the blows are applied in a vertical plane. There is almost no division into “block strike” accepted in Europe. There are repulsive blows to the hands or weapons of the enemy, throwing his weapons out of the line of attack and making it possible to next step inflict a damaging blow on the enemy.

Weaknesses of the katana

Speaking about the features of the manufacturing technology of the samurai sword, it is worth noting the weaknesses of this process, namely, gaining greater hardness and power along the axis of the blade, this type of sword is more vulnerable if hit on its flat side. With such a blow, you can even knock out a Katana with a short mace (or Okinawan nunchucks, which were specially used to break samurai swords). And if the European sword usually breaks at a distance of the palm or two fingers from the guard, then the Japanese one breaks at a distance of 1/3 or 1/2 of the length of the blade from the guard.

Yes, those stories are also true when metal was cut with a katana. It's possible! It is documented that when a master strikes with such a blade, the speed of the tip of the sword (Kisaki) exceeded the speed of sound. And if we take into account the fact that Katana swords are among the most durable in the world, then the conclusion suggests itself.

Tachi - a sword as long as a katana

Japanese long sword tachi. The wavy hamon pattern on the blade is clearly visible.

The most ancient handmade katana (sheaths for katana were also decorated with ornaments) are most valued and passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom. Such katana are very expensive, especially if you can see Mei on it - a brand with the name of the master and the year of manufacture on the shank of a Japanese bladed weapon - of any famous master.

Many master gunsmiths from different countries they tried to copy the katana, as a result of which such famous swords were obtained as: Three - a Tibetan sword that copies the samurai; Taijinjian (Chinese sword of the great limit) a type of jian; korean sword, Japanese name katana in the 7th-13th centuries; etc. But, real katana can only be found in Japan, and if a katana is not made in Japan, it is no longer a katana!

Components of a katana:

Decoration adjacent to the tsuba, a ring that strengthens the handle (clutch) - Fuchi,
Cord - Ito (Ito),
Blade - Kami,
The upper ring (head) of the handle is Kashira,
Entrance to the scabbard - Koiguchi,
The tip of the scabbard - Kojiri (Kojiri),
Tie loop - Kurikata,
Bamboo wedge for fixing the blade in the handle - Mekugi (Mekugi),
Decoration on the handle under (or above) braid - Menuki (Menuki),
Shank - Nakago,
Ties - Sageo (Sageo),
Stingray leather on the handle - Same (Same),
Scabbard - Saya,
Laying between the guard and the ring (washer) - Seppa,
Hammer for dismantling the sword - Tetsu,
Blade - Tosin,
Garda - Tsuba (Tsuba),
Handle - Tsuka (Tsuka),
Braid - Tsukamaki,
Clutch for fixing the sword in the scabbard - Habaki.

Japanese short sword wakizashi. Blade and sword in scabbard.

Wakizashi is a short traditional Japanese sword.

Mostly used by samurai and worn on the belt. The length of the blade is from 30 cm to 61 cm. The total length is 50-80 cm. Wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also plugged into the belt with the blade up.

In a pair of daisho (the two main swords of the samurai: long and short), the wakizashi was used as a short sword (shoto).

The samurai used the wakizashi as a weapon when the katana was unavailable or unusable. In the early periods Japanese history a small tanto sword was worn instead of a wakizashi. And also when a samurai put on armor, instead of katana and wakizashi, tachi and tanto were usually used. Entering the room, the warrior left the katana with the servant or on the katanakake. The wakizashi was always worn with him and was only removed if the samurai stayed for a long period of time. The bushi often referred to this sword as the "guardian of one's honor". Some schools of swordsmanship taught to use both the katana and the wakizashi at the same time.

Unlike the katana, which could only be worn by samurai, the wakizashi was reserved for merchants and artisans. They used this sword as a full-fledged weapon, because by status they did not have the right to wear a katana.

A more correct classification: Somewhat conventionally, it is possible to classify weapons according to the length of the blade. "Tanto" should have a blade no shorter than 30 cm and no longer than 40 cm, "wakizashi" - from 41 to 60 cm, "katana" - from 61 to 75 cm, "tachi" - from 75 to 90 cm. "Odachi" from 3 shaku 90.9 cm. The largest odachi that has survived to this day has a length of 3 m 77 cm.

“Buy mochi from a mochi maker; for rice cakes - go to the pieman"
(Japanese proverb)

We can endlessly "dig" into the details of the Japanese sword and ... it will still be interesting. In general, this is a real "Pandora's box", it is not for nothing that Japanese swords have so many fans. But this is not surprising. Every detail in them is not only functional, but also beautiful. But this is not easy to achieve. Behind this, centuries of thinking about beauty, understanding the measure of things, the ability to feel the material and work with it.

Let's take a look at this one again - the line on the point, which is called boshi. How beautiful are these waves on polished steel! Such a hardening line also has its own name - midari-komi, that is, “wavy”. Although, it would seem, we have before us a completely utilitarian thing. By the way, here we see a naginata blade, not a tachi or katana.

But this photo shows kissaki - the point itself, the hardened part of the blade (yakiba), and the hardening line - boshi, separating the hardened blade ha (or ha-saki) from the blade itself - ji-tsuya. It is darker, but the hardened part is lighter and the Japanese naturally distinguish them. The light part is called ha-tsuya and is practically the same as yakiba. In any case, we will not be mistaken in calling this part of the blade this way and that. But there is also a line of yokote - separating the tip and the blade. As you can see, everything is very, very complicated in the Japanese sword. A lot of terms describing the width of the blade (mihaba), its surface pattern (jihada), the name of the butt of the blade at the tip (mune-saki), and so on.

Khad pattern. According to him, an experienced master could recognize the author of the sword, without even reading his signature on the tang of the nakago.

Naturally, the nihonto's nakado blade tang was also not a very utilitarian detail. In the photo you see such a wakizashi blade shank signed mei. The notches on the surface of the shank attract attention. They also had a special name - yasuri-me. There are 13 types of them and all of them are not similar to each other. And they were made for a reason, but in order to ensure a stronger contact of the wooden handle with the shank. The blacksmith’s name could be engraved on the shank - kao, “name with a title” (zure-mei), if the blacksmith worked at the court, the age of the blacksmith, his pseudonym, the name of the assistant (dai-mei), poems (!), the name of the temple, which the blade was dedicated, and the result of the test was how many corpses and how many blows were cut with this sword. It's good that they never wrote it all together on one shank. With a dozen hieroglyphs - this is already a big text!

This photo shows a beautiful 25.1 cm long Hamidashi dagger with the emblem of the Tokugawa clan. Very similar to tanto... but not tanto. The difference is the absence of a tsuba. Instead, a small roller and that's it. A ko-gotana with an engraved metal handle is inserted into the scabbard. Noteworthy is his blade with a fuller (hee). There were eight types of fullers running along the entire blade and four fullers at the shank.

Disassembled tanto dagger from the collections of the British Museum. A blade with a long fuller - kuitigai-hi. From left to right: tsuba, seppa, habaki, kari-kogai - a kogai divided in the middle (it was discussed in the previous material), and a “knife” of a ko-gotana.

It also seems to be an inconspicuous detail on the blade of a Japanese sword or dagger, but of great importance - habaki - the blade fastening sleeve. Here we see mekugi-ano - a hole for a mounting pin.

And here this detail (habaki) is clearly visible, which firmly fixed the tsuba.

This is what the habaki looks like when this part is removed. But interestingly - it is not quite smooth. It has embossed stripes. What for? For some reason...

The habaki sleeve has the least artistic merit, but it is absolutely necessary, and it is on every Japanese sword, dagger, and even on spears. It is a thick metal sleeve, which is designed in such a way that its inner side fits snugly against the last few centimeters of the blade of a sword or dagger and also its shank (nakago). It has several functions: first of all, it eliminates the friction of the blade and, first of all, its hardened part on the surface of the sheath. The blade of the sword under the habaki should be lightly lubricated with oil to protect this place from corrosion. But main function habaki is that it is she who allows you to transfer the recoil from the blow through the guard of the tsuba to the entire handle, and not to the mekugi peg made of bamboo or horn.

It was customary to make habaki from copper, cover with silver or gilding, or gold or silver foil, as well as shakudo alloy foil. Its surface is either polished or covered with oblique strokes of neko-gaki (“cat scrapers”). The foil can be decorated with a stamped pattern. Habaki with the mon family crest are usually owned by good swords.

Khabaki close-up.

Two seppa and tsuba. Habaki rested against the seppu and thus pressed it against the handle of the tsuke. But not immediately to the handle ...

Sometimes a mon-coat of arms was embossed on the habaki.

Khabaki with smooth polishing.

Directly behind the seppa, facing the handle, was another clutch - futi. The fuchi wraps around the hilt where it meets the seppa. This item can be easily removed. But despite all its utilitarian purpose - to strengthen the end of the handle, it is a small work of art. She gets off in a pair with another detail, which is called - kashira (jap. "head"). (Walters Art Museum, Baltimore)

Slot for blade tang in footi. Since the futi was made by a separate master (together with the cashier), it was signed by him on the outside, adjacent to the seppa muff. (Walters Art Museum, Baltimore)

Hole in the handle for the cashier's head.

Kasira - Sparrow and Orchid. (Walters Art Museum, Baltimore)

Both futi, and kashira, and tsuba had to be made out in the same style. But this rule was not always followed. Tsuba "Hares". (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

A very important thing is the mekugi mounting pin. It was on it that the entire frame of the Japanese sword was kept! It keeps the blade from falling out of the handle. The material is usually wood (!), bamboo, but sometimes made from rhinoceros horn. On one side of the handle is hidden by a winding, on the other it is visible.

Menuki, on the contrary, is a decorative detail, but it seems to help to grip the handle more tightly. Again, a sign of the good taste of the owner of the sword is the uniform style of decoration of the kogai, ko-gotana and the actual menuki. Daisho-sorimono - that's what this complete set for two swords was called. They attach menuki not only under the sheath, but simply on the close-fitting handle.

Tsuka dagger tanto. And it has menuki on it. All the above-mentioned details of the blade frame are also clearly visible.

Manuki is big. Samurai loved to give them to each other (it is clear that they are complete with other details). As they say, a trifle - but nice.

A very original tanto-yari dagger - the "spear dagger" of the Edo era. All the details of the kosirae are shown - frames: scabbard, hilt, braid, vari-kogai, go-gotana.

A jutte is, in fact, neither a dagger nor a knife, since it has a cylindrical or polyhedral blade without a blade and without a point. The jutte was a special Japanese police officer of the Edo era. With a blade with a side hook, they caught the enemy's sword and thus could snatch it from their hands or then break it with a blow with a second blade. A lanyard with a colored brush was attached to the ring on the handle, the color of which testified to the rank of the policeman.