Nodachi? Odachi? Uchigatana? Japanese Sword Types Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2024
- Some of the more commonly known types of Japanese swords are the katana, wakizashi, and tachi.
The type classifications for Japanese swords indicate the combination of a blade and its mounts as this, then, determines the style of use of the blade.
In modern times the most commonly known type of Japanese sword is the Shinogi-Zukuri katana, which is a single-edged and usually curved longsword traditionally worn by samurai from the 15th century onwards.
Japanese swords are still commonly seen today, antique and modern forged swords can easily be found and purchased. Modern, authentic nihontō are made by a few hundred swordsmiths. Many examples can be seen at an annual competition hosted by the All Japan Swordsmith Association, under the auspices of the Nihontō Bunka Shinkō Kyōkai (Society for the promotion of Japanese Sword Culture).
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Have you seen those Nords? They carry straight katanas. Straight. Katanas.
Have to admit, that made me chuckle.
Nirrael chokutō?
You mean Ninjato?
I prefer gay Katanas
LMAO
Love the video! So a Japanese sword that has a total length the same as the average longsword, which is three-four foot, would be called a nodachi. But when you say nodachi people usually picture the huge greatsword equivalent nodachi like the one you own (around five - six foot). I wish there were two terms to differentiate the difference in lengths of nodachi. Could we call longsword equivalent length japanese swords, nodachi, and greatsword equivalent length, Zanbato?
the lengths he was stating here were minimum range, a nodachi will be at absolute smallest around 3 and a half foot, with larger ones being much bigger
+Cornered Fox I agree with your statement. Although the lengths of historical Uchigatana and Tachi tended to be a bit short, there was quite a variety of blade lengths and degree of curvature among Japanese swords. Before the Tokugawa Shogunate imposed strict laws on swords in the 16th century, that is.
In fact, there isn't really a rule regarding the length of Japanese swords, aside from the fact that the blades of Daitos (long swords - Katanas and Tachis) should range from 2ft to 3ft. It really depends on what the swordsmanship school or the individual prefers to use. Certain sword manufacturing companies today like to call Katanas that are longer than 30' in blade length as O Katanas (large swords), which further adds to the confusion. (Although they aren't technically wrong, per say.)
I believe that certain HEMA sources struggle from the same problem, actually. One Portugese manual that was recently discovered discusses the use of "Longswords". However, many people would find that the manual was really about using the Montante, which a lot of people would call a greatsword. There is a very thin line (or none at all) which separates the typical Longsword and greatsword, as certain Longswords (hand-and-a-half swords) can get quite large, sporting around 39" blades.
Am I the only one who reads this comment with Shad's voice playing in head?
Nice keep up the great work
nope I do too
ahh, nothings better than watching a metatron video at 3 am
Top Donut im guessing you are also us central time?
Here it's 10 am :c
Here it's midday :-/
Here it's 10:40...
Oh shit, I'm in class
Ah whatever, Metatrons lessons are more interesting
4:16 am got off gaming on the Xbox one to watch this lol
i want a movie made in which they cast Skallagrim, Metatron and Shadiversity and these three go on an adventure and fight people and monsters throughout their journey.
MetaTron would be a Samurai
Skallagrim would be a Viking
and of course Shadiversity would be a Knight.
Now that would be a movie i'd pay good money to watch.
this
what about shad
Hamza B
Metatron: "You can count on my nodachi."
Shad: "And my kite shield."
Skall: "And my pommel!"
Matteus Silvestre like LOTR you "have my nodachi" etc
I love this! Hamza B and Matteus Silvestre that's amazing!
nodachi? more like yesdachi
badumtss
That was bad, and I respect you for it.
Your pun power levels are over 9000!
i prefer gentle version , nopedachi
You spelled yes daddy wrong
Why sleep when you can watch more Metatron?
RunItsTheCat why sleep at all?
RunItsTheCat. ☆Your username made me chuckle....
Watching this at One Fifteen at night, boiiii
I'm up at 1 right now
very informative...but SHOWING us the weapons would have been nice...
yeah i was also hoping for images or clips for the comparison for reference material i thank him for explaining the difference in names and all that but i'm still wondering which is which visually now i gotta go find another video to help with that
You expected him to own every type of Japanese sword? He's a historian he doesn't own a museum
@@valandil7454 images exist so your answer makes no sense
@@babdobo9816 exactly like....
Don’t want to sound like “that guy” but a google search usually helps in this situation.
The Naginata is a personal favorite of mine. Its truly a beautiful and elegant weapon
Naginata is nic but the Yari is better :-)
I agree love the naginata
edit then again pretty much all japanese swords etc are like art.
Sai Hitaku WAS ABOUT MEIN ZWEIHANDER
But is it an elegant weapon for a more civilized age?
Colin Velius ...not everybody has kyber crystals lying around unfortunately
Japanese sounds like a nightmare of a language to learn and this is coming from a german.
it really depends on your native language, for a chinese or a korean its not as hard.
Lass Dir von einem Mitbürger sagen, dass das Japanisch-Lernen in der Tat alptraumhafte Momente heraufbeschwören kann. ;)
dude they use three types of writhing system in japan their kanji,hiragana and katakana that why its a pain in the ass to learn.
It isn't THAT hard. The pronounciation system is actually rather simple, and Japanese grammar is easy to understand.
But then again I am from Taiwan, so I may have cheated a bit at the "learn kanji" part.
Ja und nein. Die Basics hat man ziemlich schnell verinnerlicht. Von der Grammaktik her geht es wirklich gut. Kanji sind aufwendig zu lernen, aber machbar.
Womit ich zum Beispiel sehr kämpfe ist, dass es sehr viele Worte gibt, die sehr ähnlich sind... Vokabeln bleiben wirklich schlecht hängen für mich und wenn es dann in die Feinheiten geht, schlackern einem irgendwann die Ohren xD.
Aber es gibt wenig wirklich gute Lehrbücher für Japanisch. Hatte jetzt schon viele in der Hand, aber es konnte mich noch keines wirklich überzeugen. Außer der Sprachkurs vom Bochumer Landesspracheninstitut. Aber der bringt einem nur was mit dem Unterricht.
You don't have to do these videos but you do. And I think most of your subscribers are greatful. thanks for all the information most of us are greatful.
Metatron, I find you to be not only very polite and knowledgeable, but also very informative, or should I say very 'able to inform' a more uninvolved and scrolling through TH-cam audience. My favorite thing is that you seem to be able to make references to your own high level of vocation in a more humble tone than pompous, which is what draws me to most of your videos! Thank you man! I have learned so much! Keep it up and tag those pillows my guy, thats a great idea. except the youtube one because well I'm here already
This is the most fascinating breakdown of one of my favorite sword types. Thank you for the thorough research and excellent delivery! YOU DA MAN!
This was helpful.
I might do more side research on more Japanese weapons.
I might do sketches of these differences between the swords you were explaining. Just for personal reseach, that, and I find this very interesting.
Hey man ! Let me know if you find anything, I'm really interested by the subject but I also have to cover other types of armaments...
@@lacageasaad7973lol he never let you know
10:18
Metatron - There are basically two ways to read shaku. "shows five fingers".
Very thorough and well explained video. Best exposition about japanese blades I've seen on the internet. Thank you for the effort.
What a well explained, pleasant and informative video. It is not often I walk away from a TH-cam video feeling like I've actually learned something, but you made it happen, and it is much appreciated. Thank you, subbed!
Someone needs to make a compilation of all the intros.
G'day,
The Intro's come in three basic "flavours", to wit...,
cringe...
Cringe-ier ; and,
CRINGE-IEST...!
They seem to go with the heirarchy72 (O)Pinions required in order to qualify (oneself) as "THE Metatron !" (?).
Lol,
;-p
Ciao !
I'm wondering if he does some of these intros live when he teaches
Sometimes I think that odachi and nodachi became two different words from a mistake. Because they both sound the same when using the connective "a" before it (a nodachi, an odachi), I wouldn't be surprised if it was one word used only, someone made a mistake in understanding it and then the translation became just a mere coincidence.
@haloorion405 But, a Nodachi is also, by definition. A "Greatsword" a Sword of War. The normal Katana is, like the long sword, a personal defense item. When you go to war its Bows, Polearms, and Greatswords like everywhere else in the world except Africa who throws their Swords. Because bad bow wood.
This video was very informative. I love the attention to detail. Thank you for sharing
TY for clearing up the different types of japanese swords, a very interesting & informative video Metatron. Keep up the good work.
6:30: He is so calm and cool while savagely wrecking the guy that called him an idiot :D
very informative, great video! as I can read Chinese character, that helps a lot.
I was reading 大太刀 as da'tai'dao
Amazing how historical videos such as this one(and his in general, as well as the other historical youtubers) always tend to give me such a nice feeling. They always manage to cheer me up when I'm near rock bottom. Brother, you and your fellows managed to take me out of the darkest days I've had in the past few years. Thank you.
P.S.
If at all possible, could you make a video about Dacians? Or about the falx? And if you already have, please direct me to it/them.
beautiful video as always! well done
I agree with the video, but I also really like classification like this:
Tanto - below 30 cm
Wakizashi - 30-50 cm
Katana - 50-70 cm
Tachi - 70-90 cm (Curved for cuts)
Uchigatana - 70-90 (Curved, but straighter for better thrusts)
Nodachi - 90-130 cm
Odachi - 130-180 cm
thanks dude
This is merely subjective. Odachis and Nodachis both the same minimum size to be classified as such. He said so himself in the video. There are no differences between the two.
Wow, the wood being lacquered causes more moisture against the blade - increasing the chance of corrosion. I had no idea!
Very interesting video, well done Metatron!!
The most informative video on Japanese swords in a very long time, I am impressed
Thanks a lot, Metatron. This cleared up quite a few things. Just one question: Could Uchigatana refer to a sword made for battle, in the sense that it would have been less decorated, not for "show" just for practical use?
from what i see on the internet, uchigatana where of a lower standard and decor wich made them cheaper and faster to make, they where also more disposable on the battlefield because of this.
its also why they where used by foot soldiers and people of lower rank/status, also because of thier disposability very little to no uchigatana's remain to this day.
Katana where more taken care of and took months to make so some very old blades still remain in beautiful condition.
@@olivierdols5556 The reason you might've read that it was lower quality is because the original uchigatana were developed as a cheap weapon for non-samurai. But by the time the samurai would also start using it it would start to be produced with my much greater quality. And when you consider both the samurai and the non-samurai using the uchigatana the word katana (meaning any sword) became tantamount to referring to the uchigatana. Thus, the value of mentioning the longer and more precise word uchigatana lost its value as you wouldn't need to make a distinction when everyone was using it.
But I believe it's better to use the word uchigatana today as swords have already become historical objects and precise terminology will reduce confusion. Also, Japanese people continue to refer to the sword as an uchigatana, and I'm noticing that newer videogames are becoming more sensitive to this precise usage. That said, even a Japanese person who hears katana will know/assume you were referring to an uchigatana and not something like a tachi.
@@lightningandodinify Any Japanese Sword is a Katana. As far as I can tell, or care to know. All the names after that are almost latterly "Katana but done this way, or with this in mind". Because, just to reiterate across my posts here... people really don't appreciate how garbage the metal was in general nor how rare good quality materials were to come by in through most periods.
You don't get weapons and sword innovation you get, "Geez, my sword is inappropriate. I must add more sword! But not too much, I'm broke and the Blacksmith might dip into the shit-iron or use termite wood to save money."
Recent subscriber here reporting, how about a video about your music and cinema tastes? That would be awesome. ;)
Among the swords I've seen in your videos I am mostly impressed by your Nodachi! This sword is beautiful.
Thanks for a great and very informative vid!
you should link your social accounts on these pillows
that'd be so cool
Do you have any videos about chinese weapons or warfare? If you don't, are you planning on doing some if you have some knowledge? Did your studies include anything China related? And a good video, as always :)
I second that
I third that
I fifth that
Raul Espino Penis
seventh
I really appreciate your professionalism. I've always pondered this question, you really broke it down.
This was a great video, very informative.
Metatron, could you talk about the East Asian cultural sphere, please?
The cultures, history, languages, weapons, martial arts, ect... of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam and the link between them, please?
my favorite Japanese sword is the dragonslayer, hehe.
I never tire of watching this video over and over again...
Please more videos with that format.
I don't think I've ever learned so much about language and weapons in such a short period of time.... This was an amazingly helpful video. Thank you so very much for this. :)
I'm still not clear on what exactly an uchigatana is? Why is a "sword for hitting people" any different than the catch-all term (g)katana?
Think it's more the fact that it's a battllefield weapon, rather than a ceremonial or religious sword
Or it could be like "Combat knife" or "krigsmesser" as opposed to any other kind of knife. My Japanese is basically nonexistent, but I've heard the kanji for "katana" is used for pretty much all single edged blades no matter their size or purpose. If that is the case, a "katana for hitting people" would be there to separate it from a "katana for slicing vegetables" and the like. A rather common etymology for single edged swords, like "Dao", "Dha" or "Messer" show us.
Or maybe people just thought it would sound better that way. Wouldn't be unheard of, the Germans used to call assault rifles "machine carbines" before someone decided "Sturmgewehr" sounded more aggressive.
Meno male che esiste Metatron u.u Tempo addietro, quando avevo uno spiccato interesse per il Giappone, trovavo delle difficoltà a capire bene come funzionassero certe cose e una delle peggiori era proprio questa tematica.
Grazie per il chiarimento☻
Great video! One of my favorite!
Amazing explanation!! Thanks a lot!!
3:57 Eh, no. 刀 doesn't indicate curvature. Just that it is a single edged blade (of any length. A single edged knife is a 刀). There is nothing about 刀, that implies curvature
...and 刀 and 剣 are often used interchangeably (e.g. kenjutsu and kendo, which generally deal with single edged blades ...well, kendo doesn't actually deal with any blades, but...)
BTW: More blades that are 刀 (many of which are very much uncurved):
Razors (剃刀)
Tanto (短刀)
Scissors (剪刀. Scissors are, after all, two single edged blades)
Kitchen knife (牛刀)not to mention the term for knife carving: 小刀細工
...and that's just looking at the terms that are still used today.
To mention one historical example, the word for scalpel used to be 刀 (now the loanword "mesu", is used)
they used to call any kitchen knifes 刀 as well, then they changed it
+lam1991hahaha It's still technically correct. It's just that other words have become more common.
there is no button to follow a comment thread so im commenting
^
He's talking about in terms of swords used for war, which are almost always curved. in that case, 刀 becomes synonymous to having curvature, even though the word itself didn't actually indicate about the blade being curved.
last time i was this early i saw the samurai butchering each other
Love your video. Thank you to provide useful informations to us
wonderful video, with just enough information to clear up the confusion without making everything complicated!
subscribed, keep it coming! :D
Nagaaki looks like it was made for weak small people that need more power in their grip. I love it.
I think it was more so built to be more of a polearm than an actual sword. You are correct, though. The longer handle gives you more leverage, which makes the longer weapon easier to use.
I think that's also the principle behind giant european swords (giant being a relative term) having equally giant handles.
It kinda depends on the case, because they were no laws governing how nagamaki was made. the term itself quite simply means 'longer hilt', as in longer than should be. so you can have a small nagamaki that's actually just 3 feet long, half for blade & the other half for the hilt, or you can have a 7 feet long monster, again half for blade & the other half for the hilt. & to add to the confusion, the hilt can be shorter or longer than the blade, so long as it's not significantly shorter or longer.
Owwwwww............. i liked the other intro more.
Shit was badass
I prefer this one, something about a black samurai armor and huge Nodachi in wrath stance is strangely appealing
this subject is surprisingly complex but when explained it seems beautifully intuitive. now i have to learn more about it.
It's hard to think about a subject for a video since you thought about almost everything a history/fantasy/gaming enthusiast would think of! Good job!
Forgot linguistics!
360p squad
TheSlaugh 1080p?
wait so you're telling me that anime lied and katanas can't cut through buildings and weeaboo souls....I feel so betrayed
Can't believe I've only found this channel now. As a person who has very nominal understanding of Japanese and great interest in both the language and the history of Japan (especially military), this channel is like a match made in heaven.
Sign me up, subscribed.
Keep up the good work Metatron!
Thank you very much for subscribing :)
This was very interesting and informative - thankyou!
so much information in one good video!!!
Great clarification I appreciate the time and effort you took to make this understandable. Also these definitions make a lot of sense to me knowing a bit of Japanese culture & custom. Thanks
Most sense I've heard in quite some time. Most inspiring and well researched. Nice to see people come from an informed academic perspective. Superb video. I intend to prescribe this to my Eishin Ryu Iaido students. Greetings from the Katsujinken Kai South Africa! Well done and thank you!
Wow, great video!
Nice investigation
Thank you ❤️
Many thanks, very informative your video has cleared up many things hitherto unclear to me,you explain things in a very clear and decisive way.
A great video. Very informative and accurate as always.
Great vid. Lots of info I never knew.
a very well informed and interesting video, thank you
A really detailed and explanatory video, thank you very much!
This really helped me straighten out a lot of the terms, thanks!
Metatron very big thanks, i love swords and stuff, but now i realy understand what nodachi, tachi, katana and that things mean and what's the difrences, you're doing great job!
wow. incredible video. great job sir
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT SWORD TYPES! THANKS METATRON!
great topic ! great video.
Thank you for all you do. I like to be informed, and your humility has drawn me here. Keep up the good work, friend. :)
Excellent content and presentation. Grazie👍
Thank you for being a so good professor and always be objective and interesting
Thanks Meta' a great explanation of the Japanese use in sword description. I look forward to using my new knowledge on my unsuspecting family and friends!
thank you Metatron!
Thanks for clearing that up!
I’ve accidentally stumbled on this video. I’m so F***ing happy I did 😁 thank you for answering 1 of my questions & bring up new ones. I have liked & now following you. I hope you can teach me more. Thank you
Thank you for the video Metatron. It was very informative. I've come across the 刀 kanji a few times in my studies and this helps explain the wide spread use.
book of five rings! great book read it several years ago may have to read it again Great video as always!!!! very informational
This is great information. Thank you. Cheers!
iv been looking for the name for the "nagamaki" for a very long time thanks a lot for this it clarified a lot about these blades for me
Well then. I was wondering about this particular subject and tried googling a bit. Much appreciate this video mate!
Very good and interesting video!
Have really good clear voice. Iv learned alot. Thanks.
I must say that your knowledge is quite impressive. I enjoy watching your videos. A few critiques On your actual Martial arts technique, but your knowledge is impeccable.
Wow... stumbled upon this gem, and gosh I have so much wrong info before this. Thank you very much Metatron!
Excellent video: thanks a lot.
Amazing video and it was super helpful, i'm currently writing a book about an Canadian vampire who took a interest at a young age in learning Japanese sword fighting techniques. I want to be as accurate as I can be with terms and how the fighting should be written and your channel has been a great help for my research. If anyone else has knowledge of good youtubers or just books and websites, I will greatly appreciate it.
Great explanation!
Very informative I love it
Thank you for this video.
hi I am a blade smith who lives in Barbados and u have thought me a lot thanks a million and keep up the good work
wow, that was a lot more detailed than i expected
that said i'm kind of surprised tjhat you didnt relate the method of tachi mounting to the obi as being similar to a sabre
Great discussion!
Very informative video. My favorite is nodatchi.
I'm learning the way of Bushido No Kendo, but I never Knew that there are lots of Japanese Swords. I really like this, I'm really Learning a lot. Thank You!
Very informative Video Matraton. I found it especially intersting when u were explaning the meaning of the Kanji. I am more a fan of the japanese pole weapons like the Naginata. A Tachi als also quite interesting though.
that was a lot of amazing information, I'll have to watch this a few more times. I'd like to get a set of three some day that are hand crafted. But this is the education that needs to come first. Thank you.
Great video thank you - really helpful. Could you do one on types/ classes of samurai please.
metatron slowly turning into a British vlogger with those pillows hahaha nah I'm liking the quality of your videos keep it up. good work my man