In this day and age, the Tanto is an appealing Nihonto to a lot of sword enthusiasts. The Tanto and Wakizashi have their own advantages so both are excellent weapons. It was to make it easier and quicker for them to draw the weapon when necessary. These companion swords had the blade facing up while the handle was set marginally on the right.Ī Samurai had to position the sword correctly. Either the Tanto or Wakizashi was carried alongside the Katana. As Part of the DaishoĪlthough they had their differences, both the Tanto and Wakizashi were both utilized as a part of the Daisho. During the Kamakura Period, the Tanto created by swordsmiths started having more emphasis on aesthetics. When it comes to the Tanto, it was around during the Heian Period of Japan, making it older than the Wakizashi. It was instead an abbreviation of the words, Wakizashi no Katana or “Sword Thrust on the Side”. In the past, the term didn’t really specify swords with an official blade length. ![]() The Wakizashi was a functional weapon used as far back as the 15th or 16th century. Most Tanto blades measure 20cm or around 7in long. It’s more of a dagger measuring about 1/3 of a Katana sword’s length. Technically, the Tanto isn’t exactly a sword. When it measures closer to a Tanto, it is the Ko-Wakizashi. A Wakizashi that’s close to the length of the Katana is the O-Wakizashi. The Wakizashi has a blade measuring between 30 and 60cm. It also preserved their honor when a military defeat happened. ![]() They do this when their husband committed Seppuku or if they have brought dishonor to their families. Wives of Samurai warriors committed Jigai by slitting their throats with the Kaiken. Women also used this shorter Tanto for another type of ritual suicide called Jigai. It had a smaller version called the Kaiken, which women usually carried for self-defense. The Tanto, on the other hand, was a weapon for executing efficient and swift stabbing or slashing attacks. Other words they use were the Yoroi Toushi and Chisa Katana. In addition, the Wakizashi was one of the few short swords available to the Samurai warrior. It was sometimes used for committing Seppuku, a ritualistic suicide. Aside from this, the sword was a Samurai warrior’s tool for beheading a defeated opponent. The Wakizashi was a Samurai warrior’s backup weapon that was used for close-quarter battles. Other than that, the differences between the two are the time of production. The primary difference between the Tanto and the Wakizashi is their blade lengths which differ for various applications. What is the Difference Between a Tanto and a Wakizashi? Some modern Tanto has blades that are 4.75 inches long, while others measure around 7 to 8 inches. The Westernized modern Tanto features a chisel-like point, and its blade is thick towards the end. With the demand of the American and European markets, the Tanto has been reproduced from the 1960s until today. One of the main contributors to forging the Tanto during this age was Suishinshi Masahide. These blades reflected the pieces from the Kamakura, Nambokucho, and Muromachi eras. Higher demand resulted in lower quality blades, so these became narrow with less curvature.ĭuring the late Edo Period, only a few Tanto was being forged. The blades of these Tanto were thinner between the Ura and Omote, but wider between the Ha and Mune.Īt the beginning of the Muromachi Period, wars were constant, which caused the mass production of the Tanto. Swordsmiths forged blades measuring 40 inches long. In the era of the Northern and Southern Courts, the Tanto blade became longer than the usual size of 1 Shaku. At this time, the Tanto also developed into a weapon and was paired with the Tachi in the Daisho. This was the time when the Kanmuri-Oshi style became popular, and the Tachi was introduced. Tanto Blades – From the Heian to Muromachi Periodsĭuring the Kamakura Period, swordsmiths forged Tanto with longer and wider blades. With its size, this short Tanto was extremely useful for self-defense when indoors, when the Japanese Katana and Wakizashi were inconvenient.Īside from being a weapon, it was also one of the wedding gifts given to women. This is a small guard or Tsuba that made the blade easier to hide and conceal. The Kaiken usually featured the Aikuchi mounts. ![]() It’s to keep their family’s honor after a military defeat. When necessary, the wives of Samurai warriors used it for ritual suicide or Jigai. ![]() The women of feudal Japan usually carried this type of Tanto for self-defense. The Kaiken, also known as the Futokoro-Gatana, is a short Tanto that measured around 20-25 centimeters.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |