Glossary of Japanese swords

This is the glossary of Japanese swords, including major terms the casual (or brand-new) reader might find useful in understanding articles on Japanese swords. Within definitions, words set in boldface are defined elsewhere in the glossary.

A

- thin line that runs across the temper line (hamon) to the cutting edge (ha). - regular wavy surface grain pattern (jihada). Also known as gassan-hada after the name of a school which usually produced swords of this type.

B

- temper line (hamon) of the blade point (kissaki). (see image) (also see ko-maru)

C

- black gleaming lines of nie that appear in the ji. - distinctly visible mokume-hada with a clearer steel than in similar but coarser patterns. - an irregular hamon pattern resembling clove

Clove

Cloves are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world...

s, with a round upper part and a narrow constricted lower part. - a straight sword primarily produced during the ancient period (jokotō). Their definition as is specifically chronological, as it refers solely to ancient pre- Heian swords, unlike which refers to later swords. These ancient Japanese swords are also known as .

F

- the cutting edge (ha) of the blade point (kissaki). (see image) - tapering of the blade from the base (machi) to the point (kissaki)

G

- see ayasugi-hada. - swords produced after 1876. Also the name for the period in sword history from 1876 to the present day, i.e., the period that succeeded the shinshintō period. - swordsmiths summoned by the retired Emperor Go-Toba

Emperor Go-Toba

was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198....

 to work at his palace in monthly rotations. - the five basic styles of swords which during the kotō period were associated with the provinces: Yamashiro

Yamashiro Province

was a province of Japan, located in Kinai. It overlaps the southern part of modern Kyoto Prefecture on Honshū. Aliases include , the rare , and . It is classified as an upper province in the Engishiki....

, Yamato

Yamato Province

was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...

, Bizen

Bizen Province

was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of Honshū, in what is today the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bitchu and Bingo Provinces. Bizen borders Mimasaka, Harima, and Bitchū Provinces....

, Sagami

Sagami Province

was an old province in the area that is today the central and western Kanagawa prefecture. It was sometimes called . Sagami bordered on Izu, Musashi, Suruga provinces; and had access to the Pacific Ocean through Sagami Bay...

/Sōshū and Mino

Mino Province

, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....

. - pair of parallel grooves running partway up the blade resembling chopsticks. - a wave-like outline of the temper line (hamon) made up of similarly sized semicircles.

H

- the tempered

Tempering

Tempering is a heat treatment technique for metals, alloys and glass. In steels, tempering is done to "toughen" the metal by transforming brittle martensite or bainite into a combination of ferrite and cementite or sometimes Tempered martensite...

 cutting edge of a blade. The side opposite the mune. Also called . (see image) - misty spots in the temper line (hamon) resulting from repeated grinding

Grinding (abrasive cutting)

Grinding is an abrasive machining process that uses a grinding wheel as the cutting tool.A wide variety of machines are used for grinding:* Hand-cranked knife-sharpening stones * Handheld power tools such as angle grinders and die grinders...

 or faulty tempering

Tempering

Tempering is a heat treatment technique for metals, alloys and glass. In steels, tempering is done to "toughen" the metal by transforming brittle martensite or bainite into a combination of ferrite and cementite or sometimes Tempered martensite...

. - notch in the cutting edge (ha), dividing the blade proper from the tang

Tang (weaponry)

A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...

 (nakago). (see image) - border between the tempered

Tempering

Tempering is a heat treatment technique for metals, alloys and glass. In steels, tempering is done to "toughen" the metal by transforming brittle martensite or bainite into a combination of ferrite and cementite or sometimes Tempered martensite...

 part of the ha (cutting edge) and the untempered part of the rest of the sword; the temper-line. (see image) - patterns and shapes such as lines, streaks, dots and hazy reflections that appear in addition to the grain pattern (jihada) and the temper line (hamon) on the surface of the steel and are a result of sword polishing. - see matsukawa-hada. - see hiraji. - curved surface between ridge (shinogi) and temper line (hamon). Also called hira. If polished, the hiraji appears blue-black. (see image) - a nearly flat blade without ridge (shinogi) or yokote. (see image) - temper line (hamon) with tempering marks visible around the ridge and near the edge of the blade. - see shinogi-zukuri.

I

- a fully tempered point area (kissaki) because the hamon turns back before reaching the point. - a bōshi which turns back in a straight horizontal line with a short kaeri. - a short, stubby blade point (kissaki). - top ridge of the back edge (mune), the back ridge. (see image) - surface grain pattern (jihada) of scattered irregular ovals resembling wood grain

Wood grain

In speaking of wood the term grain refers to the alternating regions of relatively darker and lighter wood resulting from the differing growth parameters occurring in different seasons . The term is used in several ways. Perhaps most important is that in woodworking techniques...

. The small/large grain pattern of this type is called ko-itame-hada/ō-itame-hada.

J

- area between the ridge (shinogi) and the hamon. - generally used to refer to the material of the blade. - visible surface pattern of the steel resulting from hammering and folding during the construction. (also see masame-hada, mokume-hada, itame-hada and ayasugi-hada) - nie that appears in the hiraji. - a sword produced before the mid-Heian period

Heian period

The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...

. Unlike later blades, these are straight swords. The term is also used to refer to the respective period of swordmanship which was followed by the kotō period. - multiple overlapping clove

Clove

Cloves are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world...

 shaped chōji midare patterns.

K

- part of the temper line (hamon) that extends from the tip of the bōshi to the back edge (mune). - a tantō dagger concealed in the clothing. - blade thickness measured across the back edge (mune). (see also motokasane and sakikasane) - curved sword with a blade length (nagasa) longer than 60 cm (23.6 in). Worn thrust through the belt with the blade edge (ha) facing upward. It superseded the older starting in the Muromachi period

Muromachi period

The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...

, after 1392. - a gunome with a straight top and an overall slant. - a variation of the chōji midare pattern with the peaks resembling tadpole

Tadpole

A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...

s. - a straight double-edged sword. - short straight thin radiant black line of nie that appears in the temper-line (hamon). - fan-shaped point of the blade; separated from the body of the sword by the yokote. (see image) - a skewer for the owner's hair-do, carried in a pocket of the scabbards of katana and wakizashi on the side opposite of the kozuka. - see itame-hada. - a bōshi that runs parallel to the cutting edge of the point area (kissaki) and then forms a small circle as it turns back towards the back edge (mune). - see mokume-hada. - diagonal line that separates the point of a blade (kissaki) from the shinogiji and extends the ridge (shinogi) to the back edge (mune) in the kissaki area. (see image) - curvature (sori) of the blade with the center of the curve lying near or inside of the tang

Tang (weaponry)

A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...

 (nakago). - a pre-Edo period

Edo period

The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

 sword as opposed to a shintō. The year of transition is generally taken to be 1596. The term is also used to refer to the respective period of swordmanship where the lower limit is given by the appearance of curved swords in the mid-Heian period

Heian period

The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...

. The kotō period succeeded the jokotō period. - handle of a small utility knife (kogatana) carried in a pocket of the scabbards of katana and wakizashi on the side opposite of the kōgai. Also used to refer to the whole knife, i.e. hilt plus blade. - Register of masterpiece swords (meibutsu) compiled by the Hon'ami family in the Kyōhō

Kyoho

was a after Shōtoku and before Gembun. This period spanned the years from July 1716 through April 1736. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...

 era.

M

- notches that divide the blade proper from the tang. (also see munemachi and hamachi) -straight surface grain pattern (jihada). - ten excellent students of Masamune

Masamune

, also known as , is widely recognized as Japan's greatest swordsmith. As no exact dates are known for Masamune's life, he has reached an almost legendary status. It is generally agreed that he made most of his swords in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, 1288–1328. He created swords, known as...

: Gō Yoshihiro, Norishige, Kaneuji, Kinju, Rai Kunitsugu, Hasebe Kunishige, Osafune Kanemitsu, Chogi, Samonji, Sekishi Naotsuna. - surface grain pattern (jihada) resembling the bark of a pine tree. A type of ō-mokume-hada or ō-itame-hada with thick chikei. Also known as hijiki

Hijiki

is a brown sea vegetable growing wild on rocky coastlines around Japan, Korea, and China. The written kanji forms of its two names, which are examples of ateji, literally mean deer-tail grass and sheep-nest grass, respectively.Hijiki is a traditional food and has been a part of a balanced diet in...

-hada. - signature, usually engraved on the tang (nakago). - swords designated as masterpieces. Sometimes used to refer specifically to swords listed in the Kyōhō Meibutsuchō. - a peg of bamboo or horn which passes through the mekugiana to secure the tang

Tang (weaponry)

A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...

 in the hilt

Hilt

The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard,grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A ricasso may also be present, but this is rarely the case...

. - hole in the tang

Tang (weaponry)

A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...

 (nakago) for the retaining peg (mekugi) that secures the tang in the hilt

Hilt

The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard,grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A ricasso may also be present, but this is rarely the case...

. (see image) - an irregular temper line (hamon). (also see suguha) - irregular temper line (midareba) that continues into the point (kissaki). - distance from the blade edge (ha) to the back edge (mune). (also see sakihaba and motohaba) - point at which the yokote, shinogi and ko-shinogi meet. (see image) - surface grain pattern (jihada) of small ovals and circles resembling the burl

Burl

A burl or bur or burr is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds.A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress. It may be caused...

-grain

Wood grain

In speaking of wood the term grain refers to the alternating regions of relatively darker and lighter wood resulting from the differing growth parameters occurring in different seasons . The term is used in several ways. Perhaps most important is that in woodworking techniques...

 in wood. The small/large grain pattern of this type is called ko-mokume-hada/ō-mokume-hada. - blade width (mihaba) at the bottom of the blade (machi). - blade thickness (kasane) at the bottom of the blade (machi). - back edge of a blade, i.e., the side opposite the cutting edge (ha). (see image) - notch in the back edge (mune), dividing the blade proper from the tang

Tang (weaponry)

A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...

 (nakago). (see image)

N

- pole weapon

Pole weapon

A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is placed on the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range. Spears, glaives, poleaxes, halberds, and bardiches are all varieties of polearms...

 wielded in large sweeping strokes. Typically with a wide blade, long tang and without yokote. It often has a distinctive carved groove. - unpolished part of a blade that is concealed by the hilt

Hilt

The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard,grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A ricasso may also be present, but this is rarely the case...

. (see image) - end of the tang

Tang (weaponry)

A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...

 (nakago), i.e., the butt of a blade. (see image) - blade length measured from the point to the back edge notch (munemachi). - surface grain pattern (jihada) resembling the flesh of a sliced pear (jap. nashi

Pyrus pyrifolia

Pyrus pyrifolia is a pear tree species native to China, Japan, and Korea. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, Chinese pear, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Taiwan pear, and sand pear.....

); i.e. essentially fine dense ko-mokume-hada with surface nie throughout. - small distinct crystalline particles due to martensite

Martensite

Martensite, named after the German metallurgist Adolf Martens , most commonly refers to a very hard form of steel crystalline structure, but it can also refer to any crystal structure that is formed by displacive transformation. It includes a class of hard minerals occurring as lath- or...

, austenite

Austenite

Austenite, also known as gamma phase iron, is a metallic non-magnetic allotrope of iron or a solid solution of iron, with an alloying element. In plain-carbon steel, austenite exists above the critical eutectoid temperature of ; other alloys of steel have different eutectoid temperatures...

, pearlite

Pearlite

Pearlite is often said to be a two-phased, lamellar structure composed of alternating layers of alpha-ferrite and cementite that occurs in some steels and cast irons...

 or troostite that appear like twinkling stars. - a curved blade with ridge (shinogi). - indistinguishable crystalline particles due to martensite

Martensite

Martensite, named after the German metallurgist Adolf Martens , most commonly refers to a very hard form of steel crystalline structure, but it can also refer to any crystal structure that is formed by displacive transformation. It includes a class of hard minerals occurring as lath- or...

, austenite

Austenite

Austenite, also known as gamma phase iron, is a metallic non-magnetic allotrope of iron or a solid solution of iron, with an alloying element. In plain-carbon steel, austenite exists above the critical eutectoid temperature of ; other alloys of steel have different eutectoid temperatures...

, pearlite

Pearlite

Pearlite is often said to be a two-phased, lamellar structure composed of alternating layers of alpha-ferrite and cementite that occurs in some steels and cast irons...

 or troostite that appear together like a wash of stars. - see yō. - very large and heavy sword with lengths (nagasa) up to 120 centimetre for the use in field battles. Worn across the back. - gently waving temper line (hamon).

O

- very large sword invented in the 14th century. with lengths (nagasa) of 4 foot. Worn slung from the shoulder. - a large grain pattern (jihada). - see itame-hada. - see mokume-hada.

S

- blade width (mihaba) at the yokote. - blade thickness (kasane) at the yokote. - curvature (sori) of the blade with the center of the curve lying near the point. - bōshi seen in the works of the three swordsmiths: Osafune Nagamitsu, Kagemitsu and Sanenaga: hamon continues as straight line inside the point (kissaki) area running towards the tip of the blade. Just before reaching the tip, the bōshi turns in a small circle (ko-maru) a short distance to the back edge (mune) remaining inside the kissaki. - sword of the Imperial Japanese Army

Imperial Japanese Army

-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...

 with a metal scabbard

Scabbard

A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade. Scabbards have been made of many materials over the millennia, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel.-Types of scabbards:...

 (saya) produced from the 1930s to the end of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 in 1945. - a real sword as opposed to unsharpened or wooden practice weapons. - ridge running along the side of the sword, generally closer to the back (mune) than the cutting edge (ha). (see image) - flat surface between ridge (shinogi) and back edge (mune). (see image) - a curved blade with yokote and a ridge (shinogi) quite close to the back edge (mune). Also known as . (see image) - period in sword history characterized by the revival of old sword styles, especially those from the Kamakura period

Kamakura period

The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....

. It follows the shintō period and is generally dated from the late 18th century to about 1876, when the wearing of swords was prohibited. The term is also used to denote swords produced in this period. - a post-Edo period

Edo period

The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

 sword produced after the end of the kotō period (after 1596) and before the period of revival of old styles at the end of the 18th century which is known as shinshintō. The term is also used to refer to the respective period of swordmanship. - a curved blade without yokote and a ridge (shinogi) quite close to the back edge (mune); basically shinogi-zukuri without yokote. (see image) - curvature of the sword measured as the greatest perpendicular distance between the back edge (mune) and the chord connecting the back edge notch (munemachi) with the point of the blade. - the overall shape of the blade. - straight temper line (hamon). (also see midareba) - plain dark spots on the ji that differ considerably from the surface pattern in both color and grain. - marks in the temper line (hamon) that resemble the pattern left behind by a broom sweeping over sand.

T

- straight sword (chokutō

Chokuto

The is a type of Japanese sword that dates back to pre-Heian times. Chokutō were made in later periods, but usually as temple offering swords. Chokutō were straight and single-edged hacking swords. That chokutō's design was originally imported to Japan from China, though seemingly most often...

) produced in ancient times with a blade length (nagasa) longer than 60 cm (23.6 in). Not to be confused with the . - curved sword with a blade length (nagasa) longer than 60 cm (23.6 in) and typically 70 centimetre. Worn slung across the hip with the blade edge (ha) facing down. Primarily produced in the kotō period. Not to be confused with the . - knife

Knife

A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...

 or dagger

Dagger

A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...

 with a length (nagasa) shorter than 30 cm (11.8 in) and typically about 26 cm (10.2 in). Usually constructed in flat style (hira-zukuri). (also see kaiken) - a tempered

Tempering

Tempering is a heat treatment technique for metals, alloys and glass. In steels, tempering is done to "toughen" the metal by transforming brittle martensite or bainite into a combination of ferrite and cementite or sometimes Tempered martensite...

 spot within the ji not connected to the main temper line (hamon). - curvature (sori) of the blade in which the center of the curve lies roughly in the center of the blade resembling the horizontal bar of torii

Torii

A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred...

. - an ancient (jokotō) very short knife with blade length (nagasa) of 10 cm (3.9 in) or less. - sword guard; generally a round metal plate with a central wedge shaped hole for the blade and if needed up to two smaller holes for the kozuka or kōgai - symmetrical double-edged thrusting weapon popular in the Nara

Nara period

The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...

 and early Heian period

Heian period

The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...

U

- curvature (sori) of the blade with a slight curve toward the cutting edge (ha). - misty reflection on the ji or shinogiji usually made of softer steel.

W

- blades with a length (nagasa) between 30 centimetre. Shorter of the two swords worn by warriors in the Edo period

Edo period

The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

.

Y

- without turn-back (kaeri); a bōshi that continues directly to the back edge (mune). - file marks on the tang

Tang (weaponry)

A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...

 (nakago) applied as a kind of additional signature and before engraving the real signature (mei). (see image) - activity (hataraki) in the temper line (hamon) that resembles fallen leaves or tiny footprints. After the late Sengoku period

Sengoku period

The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

 (late 16th century) referred to as nioi kuzure. - line perpendicular to the ridge (shinogi) which marks off the kissaki from the rest of the blade. (see image) - dagger

Dagger

A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...

used for cutting through armour. Their length (nagasa) was originally fixed at 9.5 sun, a value that was later reduced to 7.5 sun. Originally worn thrust vertically through the back of the belt; later carried at the ride side with the hilt to the front and the edge facing up. - spot or spots where nie is concentrated on the ji.