![]() ![]() There were no doubt other functional reasons why blade-side up was preferred. Human mechanics made unsheathing a sword worn with its blade facing upwards feel natural, allowing the samurai to swiftly attack by unsheathing the sword (what we modern warriors know as Iaido). Furthermore, the placement of the sword is also advantageous when parrying sudden attacks. Recall that superior combat function was a priority to samurai, over sword fashion. Save for the Tachi with its awkward curvature, why did samurai default to wearing swords with the blades facing up? Why did samurai generally prefer their blades worn up? Without armour, unsheathing a sword in an upwards motion was possible and essential to defending against an attack.īut, just for fun, what if the samurai used a tachi in kimono and hakama? The Tachi by design still has to be worn blade-side down. In contrast to Edo era, a time of peace when Japan was unified under the Tokugawa Bakufu, the samurai would be in kimono and hakama. In other words, even if the armour-clad samurai used a katana (and not a Tachi), it would be worn with its cutting-edge down. The samurai need only draw the katana by extending his arm forward. Trying to unsheathe a sword while in armour would be less awkward and faster if the blade faced down. Japanese armour hampers range of movement and greatly restricts upward arm movements. While you already know that the Tachi was likely common in this period, there was another reason why a sword would be worn with its blade down. Battle armour was therefore the norm and so was horseback combat. Time in History: Battle Armour or Kimono Warring States – Battle Armourĭuring the Warring States, Japan was in chaos when domain battled each other endlessly. Just like the Uchigatana, the katana was worn with its blade facing up. If you had carried a Tachi back then, you are more likely to strike the walls than your opponent. ![]() In an enclosed space, the katana was a far better sword to maneuver. You would most likely be attacked within a room. The popularity of the katana marked a shift towards close combat. Throughout its history, the Katana varied in length but on average its length was shorter than the Uchigatana. Being easier to unsheathe, it became widely used between 13. As a result, the Uchigatana was worn with its cutting-edge facing up. The curve was also moved to the striking tip of the sword. Unlike its predecessor, the Uchigatana was shorter and had a smaller curvature. Next in line is the descendant of the Tachi and predecessor of the Katana, the Uchigatana. So, a samurai who used a Tachi would always wear it with its blade facing down. Scottish and Borders History, Culture and Life.This sword would be longer than all its successors, perhaps due in part to horseback battles.īecause of how it was forged, unsheathing the Tachi from its scabbard was significantly easier and swifter if the sword was worn with its cutting-edge facing down.Chinese, South-East Asian & Pacific Sword Arts (CSEAPSA).Performance Swords Question and Answer Forum.Metallurgical Studies Question and Answer Forum.Bladesmiths, Blacksmiths, Artisans and Professionals.Sword Fiction: The Authors of and Historical based works.Modern-era Swords and Collecting Community.Arms Collecting Societies, Associations and Groups.Edged Weapons from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.One last thing, there is of course a sword, the nodachi, that was intentionally created for battlefield purposes and I believe saw a degree of use during the Sengoku Jidai. Really the best answer to your question would be to try and find some good translations of Japanese battlefield reports of the period, and in turn try to garner some statistics as to what was used based on the injuries sustained by the parties involved. Small, light and easy to get into weak spots or even drive right through the armor of your opponent. were a preffered weapon for really close quarters/grappling range combat. I also read somwhere, I believe in one of many of Turnbull's volumes on samurai battle, that the shorter blades ie kodachi, tanto etc. I think in practical terms should the combatants have "closed" the distance and gotten in a general melee the sword would be used at the combatant's own discretion. From my limited knowledge I believe that the Japanese sword was primarily used as a secondary, or adjunct weapon, to the main samurai weapons of bow/yari/naginata. ![]()
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