I constantly thought that medieval sword ax is complicated. A couple of years earlier when I first heard of the different katana parts and components it completely blew mine mind.
You are watching: Parts of a samurai sword
There were so plenty of indistinguishable words because that sections that the Japanese swords. Therefore, I had to perform a the majority of research.
And due to the fact that I don’t want to bore you with negative infographics, I created a real-life example for you. I fetched one of my katanas turn off the shelf and also took some an excellent pictures. So, you deserve to learn about the various katana parts the ideal way.
Table of Contents
All Katana parts Explained
Main Katana Parts
First things first, a katana has actually three key parts.
Blade – stole component that the katana which is provided for cutting.
Tsuka – The manage of the sword.
Saya – Scabbard the the sword used to protect the blade. Built fromwood.
All Katana components Explained
In this section, you will certainly find detailed information on every the parts and also components the a samurai sword.
Blade
Obviously, the tongue is the most vital component that a sword. Classic Japanese Katanas to be forged from stole containing much more than 4% of carbon.
Thus, the Japanese swordsmiths had actually to come up through a solution to reduce the carbon content. Due to the fact that a knife with much more than 1% of carbon becomes also brittle.
They discovered a an approach called folding. This provides the katana a an extremely special look and also makes the parts of the tongue quite various in to compare to europe swords.
Furthermore, Japanese swordsmiths provided a forging technique called differential hardening, which create the look the katana is most famous for. In case you want to learn much more about sword steels and forging techniques you can inspect it out.
Kissaki
The kissaki is the pointof the blade. In contrast to the middle ages swords, the shape of the blade reminder isdifferent. While european swords usually form their allude in the centre, thekissaki lies on the sheet of the blade.
The kissaski theatre a keyrole in the substantial cutting ability of a katana. The is designed come improvethe lethality that the blade, by adding the possibility for advertise attacks.Otherwise, the blade might only be provided for cutting, i beg your pardon severely reduces theoptions the wielder has.
After all, everykatana has actually a kissaki. The kissaki can vary in size.
Boshi
The Boshi is thetemper heat of the kissaki. Just differentially hardened katanas have actually a temperline.
Yokote
The Yokote is thedividing line between the kissaki (point) and also the human body of the blade. Mostkatanas have a yokote although there are some exceptions. On some katana types,the reminder of the tongue is rather used for slicing instead of thrusting.
Hasaki/Ha
Hasaki, additionally calledHa, is the tempered advanced of the blade.
Mune
The mune is exactlythe the contrary of the hasaki. Rather of a spicy edge provided for cutting it is theblunt earlier edge the the blade.
Ji
This is the component ofthe sword in between the ridge (shinogi) and also the temper line (hamon).
Mono-Uchi
The Mono-Uchi is the thirdof the blade that is closest come the kissaki (point). The tantamount to the Europeansword is referred to as debole.
Shinogi
The shinogi is theridge running along the the sword. Generally it is closer come the back (mune)than come the modern (hasaki). In ~ this line the tongue transitions indigenous theangled portion of the modern to the flat section native the back of the sword.
Blades that do nothave a shinogi are called Hira-Zukuri.
Shinogi-Ji
The Shinogi-Ji is thearea between the shinogi and the mune (back).
Sori
The sori is not a realpart the the sword. It procedures the curvature that the blade.
Nagasa
The nagasa is the size of the blade. It is measure in a straight line from the kissaki (point) to the habaki/munemachi.
Above friend see an image of the nagasa measure up on the basis of among my own katana.
Hi/Bo-Hi
The hello is a groove sculpted into the blade. Favor the fuller of a middle ages sword, its primary duty is to alleviate the weight of the sword. No every katana has a bo-hi.
Hamon
The hamon heat is aside-effect that clay tempering the blade. Through differentially tempering a knife aline is developed that off the part of the sword that was spanned in clayand the uncovered part.
Traditional Japanese katanas room differentially tempered to increase the durability of the sword. In this post, friend can uncover out much more about clay tempering and also sword steels.
Tsuka
The tsuka is the other main part of the katana. The tsuka is the handle of the sword. Similar to the blade, the tsuka is likewise divided into many small sub-sections.
Habaki
The habaki is the steel collar situated at the base of the blade. Although this ingredient is quite little it offer a an extremely important function. The habaki supports the security of the sword during its warehouse in the scabbard (saja).
Another objective of this katana part is to strengthen the fittings listed below (seppa, tsuba, fuchi). The habaki is fitted at the hamachi and also munemachi.
Munemachi
The munemachi is the tiny 3-5 mm (0.1-0.2 in) notch in the back of a Japanese sword’s spine (mune). It divides the blade and nakago (tang).
The habaki (blade collar) is slotted right into both machi. The main role of the munemachi is to ensure a chop fit in between the habaki and the blade.
Furthermore, once measuring the blade size (nagasa) that a katana you attract a straight line beginning from the kissaki (point) approximately the munemachi.
Hamachi
The hamachi is a tiny 3-5 mm (0.1-0.2 in) notch in the advanced (ha) that a Japanese sword. The divides the tongue from the tang.
Alongside the munemachi, the machi’s main duty is to ensure a tight fit in between habaki and blade.
Tsuba
Thetsuba is the security of the sword. In general, the tsuba is round. Furthermore,it is quite typical to decorate the tsuba. There are a lot of awesome designsfor the guard. In mine opinion, castle look great.
Justas every consistent guard the main purpose that the tsuba to be to safeguard the hand ofthe wielder native cuts.
Seppa
These tiny steel piecesare located on both political parties of the safety (tsuba). They mostly serve together spacers.
Fuchi
The fuchi is thecollar in between the guard and also the manage of the sword. This ornament oftenfeatures nature motives.
Menuki
The menuki are small decorativesculptures. Many of the moment they are depicting animals or mythologicalcreatures, such as dragons. These ornaments are meant to fit into the palm toincrease the grip.
Nakago
The nakago is the tangof the sword, which is concealed underneath the handle.
Mekugi
These room the tiny pegs that settle the sword’s tang (nakago) underneath the hilt. They are made the bamboo. Versatility of this component is an extremely important. Once the sword gets impacted by a win the mekugi must not break.
Tsuka-Ito
The tsuka-ito is thewrapping the the tsuka (handle). The tsukaito is created from silk or cotton.
Tsukamaki
Tsukamakidescribes the method used come wrap the tsuka-ito around the handle (tsuka).
Same-Kawa
This is the ray orshark skin pack the manage of the sword. It is situated under the tsuka-ito.
Same-Hada
Same-Hada is thepattern the the beam skin.
Kashira
This kashira is the last part of the katana. The European equivalent is called pommel. The kashira has a tiny hole, which is important in the makidome process.
Makidome
Makidome is the last processof wrapping the tsuka-ito silk about the hilt. The tsuka-ito normally creates aknot top top one side of the tsuka (handle). The wrapping then goes v thekashira forming the last knot.
Keep in psychic thatthere are many different techniques that can be used.
Saya
The saya is thescabbard the the katana. Usually it is manufactured from an extremely lightweight woodwith a cloak of lacquer on the exterior.
Sageo
The sageo is a hangingcord made of silk, cotton or leather. The textile is passed v the feet ofthe kurikata. It is commonly used to attach the scabbard come the belt of the wielder.
Kurikata
The kurikata is the knobthat the sageo it s okay passed trough.
Shitodome
The installation of thekurikata is called shitodome.
Koiguchi
Koiguchi representsthe scabbard mouth. When the knife is in the saya the koiguchi has directcontact through the habaki.
If the katana iscrafted effectively you deserve to turn that upside-down there is no the knife falling out. However,you can likewise push the knife out quickly with the pressure of your thumb.
Kojiri
The Kojiri is the end-capof the scabbard.
Conclusion
I expect I could provideyou through the info you were looking for. If friend got any kind of suggestions make sureto leave them in the comment ar below.
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In instance you are interested in medieval swords as well, then examine out my post around the parts and components of medieval swords too.