My katana
Some cool Japanese swords katana images: My katana Image by Wolfhowl Musashi Hand Honed Katana Samurai Sword Terminologies A-Z Guide ...
Some cool Japanese swords katana images:
My katana
Image by Wolfhowl
Musashi Hand Honed Katana
Samurai Sword Terminologies A-Z Guide
A samurai sword, or Japanese sword, is one of the traditional cold weapons of Japan. There are many different types of Japanese swords based on size, wearing method, and purpose of the weapon. There are many different terminologies associated with samurai sword and its complicated forging process. Here at www.xandlnet.com, we compiled this list of samurai sword terminology A-Z guide for sword enthusiasts to reference.
A
Ai: Sword Tempering Process
Aikuchi: Small Japanese Tanto sword up to 1 foot long without tsuba
Akihagi No Tsuyu: A dew-like spot on the hamon
Aosan No Mitsuke: Straight temper lines on blade
Aoyaki No Kitae: A white gold line along dark ji part of blade.
Arare No Midare: A traditional hamon style with small irregular lines mixed here and there in the hamon
Aratogi: The stage of Japanese sword forging before tempering
Asai No Tare: A type of hamon with shallow wavy lines
Asagido: A grindstone formerly used for Japanese sword forging
Ashi Sadamaru: A type of hamon with straigh line
Asobi Tama: A gem-like spot on the hamon
Atobi: Carvings on a blade by a smith after the sword is forged
Atobori: Carvings added later to decorate or to hide defects on the sword.
Ato Mei: Smith signature added after the forging date
Awase Do: Whetstone
Azuki Midare: Temper line on the Japanese sword that looks like a row of small beans
B
Bagai Mono: Japanese sword that made by average or lower class swordsmiths
Bakufu: Shogun military government
Batto: Sword drawing action
Bizen: A province in Japan, modern day Okayama, well-known for its katana forging
Bizen-to: Japanese sword forged in Bizen province
Bizen Zori: A special kind Katana forging style with deep curvature close to the nakago area of the blade, also known as Koshi Zori. Japanese swords forged from Bizen province typicall carry this type of characteristics
Bohi: Wide groove on the blade, also called Hi
Bohi Soyebi: Wide groove beside a narrow groove
Bokken: Wooden sword normaly in Katana shape for kata sword practicing
Bokuto: Wood sword
Boshi: Temper line near kissaki (point)
Boshigata: Smooth and small round shape Boshi
Boshisaki: Tip of Boshi
Botan Ba: A peony flower pattern in the hamon about 6 inches below the kissaki in Katana blade
Bu: Japanese measurement unit (approx 0.1 inch)
Budachi: General name for Japanese military sword
Bugei: Martial Arts
Bueito: Special kind of Japanese Military sword in Tachi style
Bu Jin (Bujin): “People of the Samurai Spirit.” A philosophy of honor, respect, and contemplation of life’s mysteries developed in both women and men, and the people who lived by the samurai code.
Buke: Miliarty men
Bun No Kitae: Japanese sword forging style in which the back half of the blade surface is faintly white
Bushido: A code of ethics, honor, and moral principles for Samurai.
Bushi: Another term for samurai – the warrior class
C
Chiburi: The action of slinging blood off the sword before re-sheath
Chigusa: A special kind of steel produced in Harima area. This type steel contains about 0.7% to 0.8% carbon (AISI 1070 1080 Grade High Carbon steel)
Chiisa (Chisa) katana: Shorter katana. A general term for all swords shorter than the katana but longer than wakizashi
Chikuto: A bamboo sword. Also, a bamboo fencing sword. In olden times a bamboo knife was used to cut the umbilical cord of new-born babies.
Chiri: The narrow surface on either side of a groove
Choji: Clove seed shaped folds in hamon
Choji Midare: Choji pattern with irregularity patterns in hamon
Choji Kage: Choji pattern with shiny spots in hamon
Choji Oil: Japanese sword care oil
Chokuto: Straight sword with single edge, ancient Japanese sword appeared before Katana
Chu-Handachi: Medium length tachi sword
Chu Kissaki: Medium sized kissaki (tip)
Chu Suguba: Medium size straight hamon
D
Dabira Hiro: Wide Japanese broadsword, similar to Chinese Dao, usually single edged
Dabira Seba: Narrow Japanese broadsword, usually single edged
Dai Mei: Student smith signing master’s name on behalf of the master
Daimyo: Japanese feudal warlord
Daisho: Matching pair of katana and wakizashi
Daito: General name for long sword, such as Katana and Tachi
Dambira(Danpira, Dabira): Very wide blade
Denaori: Re-tempered blade
Dogane: A metal band around the tsuka
Doran (Toran): High wave patterns hamon
Doyo No Juka: Double choji patterns of different sizes along the blade
E
Ebira Katana: Extra long sword carried on the back, also called seoi katana
Eboshigata: Boshi pattern that looks like feudal offical hat
F
Fuchi: Hilt collar between tsuba and tsuka
Fukura: Kissaki cutting edge
Fukura Karu: Sharply curved kissaki edge
Fukura-Kareru: Straight line kissaki edge
Fukura-Sugu: Nearly straight line kissaki edge
Fukura-Tsuku: Curved kissaki edge
Fukure: Flaws on the blade
Funagata: Ship bottom shaped nakago
Funbari: Type of katana blade that is noticeably wider near the base notch than regular katana blade
Furisode: A style of Japanese sword tang construction with the end deeply curved toward the back side which resembles a kimono sleeve
Futamata Yari: Two prong spear
Futokoro Katana: Katana or tanto sword that can be worn inside of cloth. Normally without tsuba
G
Gaku Mei: Signature from original nakago inserted in shortened (o-suriage) nakago
Gendaito: Traditionally forged sword blades by modern smiths before WWII
Gennoba Tetsu: Steel of 0.3 to 0.4% carbon, softer low carbon steel
Gijoto: Ceremonial court sword, the mountings on the sword indicate the rank of the wearer.
Ginken: Iron sword with silver plated fittings, commonly used as gift
Gimei: A fake signature of a well known smith on a blade
Gin No Ha: Silvery lines about one to three inches long appearing along a straight temper line or on the surface of blades
Gito: General term for ceremonial swords
Gomae Kitae: Five layer sword forging
Gonome Midare: Irregularly waved hamon
Gunome: Wavy hamon
Gunto: Machine made blade for Japanese army or military sword
Gyaku: Reversed or slanted hamon patterns
Gyaku Ashi: Hamon patterns with reversed slanted ashi pattern
Gyaku Choji: Hamon patterns with reversed slanted Choji pattern
H
Hirazaya Tachi: A tachi only placed in Imperial carriage
Hirazukuri: Flat surface blade without shinogi ridges
Hiro Suguba: Wide straight temper line
Hisaki-Agaru: Style of Bo-Hi that reaches the kissaki
Kisaki-Sagaru: Style of Bo-Hi that does not reach the point.
Hishu (Hishu-Katana): Small dagger
Hitatsura: Full temper pattern scattered all over the blade
Hitoye Habaki: One piece habaki
Ho: Kozuba blade
Hocho Tetsu: Soft steel contains 0.1 to 0.3%
Hokkoku-Midare: Zigzag hamon pattern
Honsanmai Gitae: A three blade lamination forging+B37
Horimono: Engravings on blade, usually at the bottome of the blade near tsuba
Hoso Suguba: Narrow straight yakiba
Hotsure: Strays along a hamon
Hoso Dachi: Slim decorative ceremonial tachi not for actual use
Hyotan Ba: Gourd shape irregular patterns Hamon
I
Ibuse: Huge round boshi on tachi sword, typically seen in Northern Japan
Ichimae Gitae: Blades forged from one piece of steel
Ichimai: one-piece sword construction
Ichimai Boshi: Fully templered Kissaki
Ikari Kissaki: Strong curve on Kissaki
Imono Tsuru: Thick nie hamon line like sweet potato vine
Inazuma: Lightening shape marks in yakiba or hada
Irokogata: Fish scales patterend hamon
Ito: Silk or cotton hilt wrapping
Itomaki No Tachi: Tachi with top of saya wrapped with ito
Ito Sugu: Thin, thread like hamon
Ito Sugba: Narrow straight yakiba
J
Jami: Steel contains 0.3 to 0.4% carbon, medium carbon steel
Ji (Hiraji): Sword surface between the shinogi and the hamon
Ji Gane (Jigane, Shigane): Soft sword steel
Ji Han Getsu: Half moon patterns in Ji
Jindachi (Jintachi): Another name for Tachi sword
Jinto: A fighting Tachi sword
Jin Wakizashi: Medium length sword worn with a tachi
Juka: Reheated or re-tempered blade
Jukaba: Large choji hamon
Juka Choji: Double choji patterned hamon
Jumonji Yari: A spear with doubled-edged cross blades
Juzu: Rosary bead shaped hamon
K
Kabuto: A helmet used with traditional Japanese armour as worn by samurai
Kabuto Gane: Tachi style pommel cap
Kabuto-Wari: Helmet breaker, it’s a square pointed rod about 12″ long with hook
Kadoba: Box pattern hamon
Kagehi: Small groove beside a regular groove on a blade
Kai Gunto: WWII Imperial Naval sword
Kaji: Japanese swordsmith
Kaki Nagashi: Pointed shape end of groove
Kaki Toshi: Groove continuing to end of sword tang
Kaku Dome: Square shape end of groove
Kaku-Mune: Square shaped back ridge of sword
Kamakura Mono: A general term for Japanese sword forged by most well-known swordsmiths including Shintogo Kunimitsu, Yukimitsu, Masamune, Sadamine in Sagami province.
Kamasu Kado (Kamasu Zukuri): Large kissaki with straight edge
Kamishimo Zashi (Kamishimozashi): Daisho sword pair with conservative black mountings
Kamon (mon): Family crest
Kanasuji:
