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| Katana (刀?) | |
|---|---|
 Katana on display at Okayama Castle. |
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| Type | Sword |
| Place of origin |  Japan |
| Production history | |
| Produced | Muromachi period (1392–1573) to present |
| Specifications | |
| Blade length | approx. 60–73 cm |
A katana (刀?) is a type of Japanese sword (nihontō), and often referred to as a "samurai sword." The term katana may be applied to any curved Japanese sword with a blade length of greater than 60 cm.[1] The term is sometimes incorrectly used as a generic name for Japanese swords.
The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance; a curved, slender, single edged blade, circular or squared guard, and long grip to accommodate two hands. Historically, it has become inseparable from image of the samurai of feudal Japan, and has become renowned for its extraordinary sharpness and cutting ability. Indeed, in modern popular culture the capabilities of the katana have far exceeded its real-life limitations.
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Originally used as a general term for single-edged sword, as opposed to tsurugi, which are double-edged swords, the term is now used specifically to describe nihontō that are around 70–90 cm long with a curved blade.citation needed This is different from chokutō, which is a straight blade.
Pronounced kah-tah-nah in the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀, the word has been adopted as a loanword by the English language. As Japanese does not have separate plural and singular forms, both "katanas" and "katana" are considered acceptable plural forms in English.citation needed Strictly speaking, the word "katana" only refers to the longer variants of nihontō.
The katana originated in the Muromachi period (1392–1573), as a result of changing battle conditions requiring faster response times. The katana facilitated this by being worn with the blade facing up, which allowed the samurai to draw and cut their enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved sword of the samurai was worn with the blade facing down. This sort of response was also increasingly useful in the daily life of the samurai.[2]
The length of the katana's blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to be between 70 and 73 cm in length. During the early 16th century, average length was much closer to 60 cm, but late in the 16th century, is again approximately 73 cm.[2]
The katana was mostly paired with the wakizashi or shōtō, a similarly made but smaller sword, both worn by the members of the warrior class. It could also be worn with the tantō, an even smaller similarly shaped blade. The two weapons together were called the daishō and represented the social power and personal honour of the samurai. Although the name katana is more common it only refers to the longer swords.
The katana gets its gentle curve from quenching during forming; it is actually straight prior to quenching. Differential quenching causes martensite to form predominantly in the edge of the blade rather than the back; as the edge expands, the blade takes on a gently curved shape.citation needed
The katana's unique design and in particular its sharpness necessitate quite a few specialized procedures to handle it. Failure to observe these procedures can easily lead to damage to the weapon or severe injury to the wielder.
If mishandled in its storage or maintenance, the katana may become seriously damaged. It is extremely important that the blade remain well-oiled and polished, as the natural moisture residue from the hands of the user will rapidly cause the blade to rust if allowed to remain. When stored for longer periods, it is likewise important that the katana be checked frequently and aired out if necessary to prevent rusting, or mold from forming (which would feed off the salts in the oil used to polish it).[3]
As of April 2008, the British government added swords with a curved blade of 50 centimetres or over in length (and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph, the length of the blade shall be the straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade) to the Offensive Weapons Order.[4] This ban was a response to reports that Samurai swords were used in more than 80 attacks and four killings over the four preceding years.[5] Those who violate the ban would be jailed up to six months and charged a fine of £5,000. Martial arts practitioners, historical re-enactors and people currently possessing such swords may still own them. The sword can also be legal provided it was made in Japan before 1954, or was made using traditional sword making methods. This ban currently applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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