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| A {{nihongo|'''Uchigatana'''|打刀|}} is a type of ] worn by the ] class of feudal Japan. The ''uchigatana'' was the descendant of the ]. | |||
| ==History== | |||
| From the ] to the ], the primary battlefield sword was the ]. Its long blade and sharp edge made it ideal for use on horseback. During the fifteenth century, the ''uchigatana'' came into use, and by the ] (1336 to 1573) the ''uchigatana'' rivaled the ''tachi'' as the sword of choice by samurai warriors.<ref></ref> | |||
| The word ''uchigatana'' can be found in literary works as early as the ], with ''uchi'' meaning "to strike" and gatana (katana) meaning "sword", so that uchigatana means "sword to strike with".<ref></ref> The ''uchigatana'' was originally used only by individuals of low status or rank, such as the '']''.<ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
| Most ''uchigatana'' made during the early ] were not of the highest standard, and because they were considered disposable,<ref></ref> virtually no examples from these early times exist today. It was not until the ], when ] began to use ''uchigatana'' to supplement the longer ''tachi'', that ''uchigatana'' of higher quality were made. During the ], the ''tachi'' was almost totally abandoned and the custom of wearing a pair of long and short ''uchigatana'' together (called the '']'') <ref></ref> became the dominant symbol of the samurai class. | |||
| ==Description== | |||
| ] | |||
| The length of the ''uchigatana'' during the 1500s is said to be from 60 cm to no more than 70 cm, with a stout ''sugata'', a steep ''saki-zori'', and it could be used as a one handed sword due to its thin ''kasane'' and short ''nakago'' (tang) making it relatively light.<ref></ref> | |||
| As opposed to the '']'', the ''uchigatana'' was worn edge-up in the belt,<ref></ref> this and usually being slightly smaller than the ''tachi'' was the main difference between the ''tachi'' and the ''uchigatana''.<ref></ref> Since the ''uchigatana'' is worn differently than the ''tachi'', the signature ] carved into the tang ] of the ''uchigatana'' is also opposite to the ''tachi'' ''mei'', making the words still upright instead of upside down as when one wears the ''tachi'' in the manner of the ''uchigatana''.<ref></ref> | |||
| ''Uchigatana'' became popular for several reasons, the ''uchigatana'' was more convenient to wear and did not get in the way of using a polearm as much as a ''tachi'', also the frequency of battles fought on foot<ref></ref> and the need for speed on the battlefield, were major reasons for the ''uchigatana'' being rapidly accepted and indicated that battlefield combat had grown in intensity.<ref></ref> Since the ''uchigatana'' was shorter than the ''tachi'', it could be used in more confined quarters, such as inside a building. | |||
| ==Use== | |||
| Unlike the ''tachi'', with which the acts of drawing and striking with the sword were two separate actions, unsheathing the ''uchigatana'' and cutting the enemy down with it became one smooth, lightning-fast action.<ref></ref> This technique was developed in the arts of ], ], and ]. | |||
| The curvature of the ''uchigatana'' blade differs from the ''tachi'' in that the blade has curvature near the sword’s point (''sakizori''), as opposed to curvature near the sword’s hilt (''koshizori'') like the ''tachi''. Because the sword is being drawn from below, the act of unsheathing became the act of striking. For a soldier on horseback, the ''sakizori'' curve of the ''uchigatana'' was essential in such a blade, since it allows the sword to come out of its sheath ] at the most convenient angle for executing an immediate cut.<ref></ref> | |||
| == See also == | |||
| {{div col}} | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| {{Div col end}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{commons category|Nihonto}} | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 22:58, 14 January 2023
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