I know there is a katana, and a wazakshi, but what is the one in between called?
2007-02-04 03:51:53 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
A medium sized Samurai sword is a Katana.
The larger, battlefield blades were called Daito.
During the 'Meiji Restoration' period, the blades were made smaller due to the lack of consistant warfare and a daily need to carry a war sword.
Now, with your line of thought : you're referring to a Nodachi (also called Shinobigatana).
It's a smaller blade, with the same cutting edge and basic curvature as a Katana.
Traditional Nodachi have matching sized Saya (scabbard), whereas Shinobigatana would be sheathed into a traditional Katana/Daito sized Saya.
This method was utilized by Ninjutsu practitioners, it was intended for both utilitarian and kiyojutsu (exchanging of truth and falsehood) purposes.
Utilitarian purposes: the remaining length of sheath could hold scrolls, metsubishi (blinding powder), and other such implements.
Kiyojutsu purposes : because the shorter blade was housed in a standard sheath, it provided a much quicker draw upon combat instances. This draw would be unsuspected by a common Samurai (again, because of simple appearances) and the Ninja's Iai draw would take his hand or forearm on the initial stroke due to both speedened Iai, and length of blade clearance.
2007-02-05 12:07:45 · answer #1 · answered by Manji 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are 3 basic lengths. Katana is the longest, wakizashi is the middle, and the tanto is the shortest one. A kodachi is approximately 2 feet, while the wakizashi may differ, depending on the height of the user or the length of the katana.
2007-02-04 08:43:56 · answer #2 · answered by The World Ends with You 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is three basic types of "samurai" swords. The Katana wich means long sword, the wakisashi wich means companion sword or side sword and the tanto or knife. There is a different saya or mount for the swords called tachi normally used with armour and on horseback.
2007-02-04 03:59:29 · answer #3 · answered by bpshark74 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bpshark has it right, but there is also a sword called kotachi. it means half tachi and it should be a size between katana and wazakshi. but it is built like a tachi, which means that it was a deep curve.
2007-02-04 06:44:35 · answer #4 · answered by Jas Key 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Wakizashi is the medium sized sword. The Tanto is the smaller one.
2007-02-04 03:56:25 · answer #5 · answered by kungfufighter20002001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a katana
2007-02-04 04:36:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋