Samurai Swords: Evolution and Overview
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- An overview and look into the evolution of the iconic swords of the Samurai. This video will dive into into early designs like Tachi to later sword designs like the Katana, while also going over each component of the sword. We will also look to understand why Japanese swords became so world-renowned.
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Sources Used:
"Samurai Swords: A Collector's Guide" by Clive Sinclaire
"Mastering the Art of the Samurai Sword" by Cary Nemeroff
"This is Kendo" by J. Sasamori and G. Warner
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Music:
"Kugo-Ka" by Akira Ifukube
"Battotai" Japanese Army March
Video footage (In order):
"The Secret World of the Japanese Swordsmith"(1997)
"Gohatto"(1999)
"Iaido - ippon me mae"
Kendo motion picture from 1897
"Welt der Wunder: Katana vs Longsword"
"Kill Bill: Volume 1" (2003)
Artwork/Images:
Classical art, which in most cases can be considered public domain.
Art from Osprey Publications.
Museum Exhibits.
Other modern artist renditions, if you see your work in this video please contact me so that I can give you proper credit!
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Social Media:
Facebook: / theshogunateyoutube
Twitter: / shogunatethe
Support the channel on Patreon! www.patreon.co...
#Samurai #Japan #History
Small correction at 10:49 the Menuki is actually a decorative fitting while the actual peg simply called Mekugi.
Great commentary.
Please tell us about "武士道 BUSIDOU".
Many Westerners don't understand this.
Samurai philosophy and change of SENNGOKUZISAI and EDOZIDAI. Meaning of SEPPUKU. Loyalty. Simple life.Suppression of emotions.葉隠 HAGAKURE.
"武士道 Bushido" Nitobe Inazo
”葉隠入門 Introduction to HAGAKURE" Yukio Mishima is very interesting.
Another correction for you at 8:31. The term is "uchigatana" 打刀 not "uichigatana".
@@jamesfrankiewicz5768 It can be translated either way, the translation I took was from the sources I listed.
i know most of the beginning of this video is following the legends rather than actual findings.. but another one should be said:
Single edge daos that would bare a remarkable resemblance to the pre taichi style japanese single edged swords were already being made in China by 200bc, in many many hundreds of thousands and eventually millions., Almost certain many of this old chinese army surplus single edged swords were exported to korea and eventually japan.
Also the chinese did fold their steels and their quality was remarkably good for the time.
Could you post a link to where one could purchase a real sword?
Remeber, switching to your secondary is faster than reloading your bow.
Modern warfare 2 flashbacks
Call of Duty : Feudal Japan
Dunn lmao
Your fruit killing skills are remarkable
Too close for missiles switching to guns
Binge watching some samurai stuffs after playin ghost of tdushima
Facts 💯
Nailed it
XD
I want the game but I have a dumbass Xbox, I have sekiro tho
@@arrowsaurus7561 Xbox is the better system, but PS does have the better exclusives.
The Honjo Masamune is probably sitting in some American’s basement who’s great grandpa smuggled it back home and doesn’t even know what it is
💯
lmao. sad but quite possibly true.
Most case it’s sitting in some rich ass private collectors or corrupt officials home. Worst case it’s rusted away in some idiots basement.
@@therealoxcooper4616 only as a reply I inherited from my uncle a samurai sword that he received from an officer during the Japanese surrender of the 2nd word war this is not a factory version but a sword that was passed down generations of this officer's family as the officer explained. This swords history is well documented and thru my research a highly desirable sword. I recognize the historical value to the history of sword smithing as well as Japanese culture I'm neither rich or influential but am a caretaker of this artifact and value its significance. It is my most valuable possession I am humbled to possess it and have taught my children and their children of its importance that's all I'll say aragoto.
@@robertdibella408 *arigato
the US: BAN THE SWOOOOORDS!
Kurosawa: Yo check out these badass movies I made lmao
The US: GIMME THE SWOOOOORDS!
Like that Old school meme with the knights opening and closing the gates
yeah irony is a bitch lol. Intact gunto with the imperial seal are worth a fortune, while other either purposly destroyed or thrown into some boomers closet for 60 years rusting away.
Wait so the katana can't cut thourgh robots or space and time?
Btw: absolutely love this channel!
Mainly they cut through peasants.
Hey kisamaaa!
@themailman43 The Katana isn't meant for that. It was perfect for it's purpose.
Ahem they cut through thieves
I plan on traveling to Japan in October I would love to be able to meet with you someway somehow so I can see where to go get the best summarize swords and the best kimonos possible in Kyoto
Technically Jin Sakai shouldn't be using a Katana but a Tachi..
Actually in the Japanese dialogue he specifically refers to his sword as a tachi, not a katana. Idk why Sucker Punch just didn’t roll with that into the sword design too.
I also noticed some parts of the translation into english is also wrong..
The game calls it a tachi even though he wears it like a katana . And he could have used either one. Dont know where you get he wouldn't be using a katana. The katana was used from 1180s and on . The Mongols invaded Japan in 1274. It would also depend on what he wanted to use. The Katana was shorter than the tachi and was quicker to draw and better for close quarters fighting. It's a myth that the samurai created the katana after Mongol invasion. The samurai used the katana for around a hundred years before this. Japan did make better katanas after the invasion.
@@chadhumphries1445 During the Kamakura period, a proto-katana did exist in the form of a shorter tachi as you said, but it was called an uchigatana or a tsubagatana and was normally used by lower-ranking samurai, which clearly Jin is not. Katanas didn't see wide use until around the Muromachi period. In addition, tachis were better for horse-mounted combat, and in the intro sequence that is clearly what Jin's sword is supposed to be.
@@456MrPeople IIRC it was the mongol invasions that really started the development and (later) popularity of the Katana as the Tachi weren't as good against the mongols for various reasons.
Being used to read and watch lots of bulls**t about the Samurai and the Katana, is truly refreshing to watch a really well documented video, my respects.
Please dont censor yourself...
The evolution of the katana was well detailed, I greatly appreciate.
What a great content about the samurai sword. I'm very amazed by the fact when you mention about the Gunka song Battotai lyrics. I also think that it's quite ironic for Hideyoshi to initiate the sword hunt policy whilst he is not originally from the samurai class when he rose to power. Haha.
Lord Shimura sent me here
I hate him. He killed Kage
Reward: +2 Silk and massive legend upgrade
Garrett OHara a Random Samurai killed our horse in the game
Lemon Squezee but Kage still died because of lord shimura
Don't bring a tachi, in a fight of glockchi
Lmao
Lmfao
Goddammit 😆
Lmfao
Lmao
The Tachi and masamune blades have my total 👍
Thanks for this video. If anyone is interested in researching the classical schools (koryu) of swordmanship, mentioned at 8:08 , some of the oldest schools (ryu-ha) from the Muromachi period are Nen-ryu, Kage-ryu, Kukishin-ryu and Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu. They are the ancestor schools of many other fighting styles that developed later in the 16th and 17th centuries.
It is fascinating that some of these schools survived through direct transmission. Katori Shinto-ryu is still practiced and taught today. Kukishin-ryu survived through different branches. These were sogo bujutsu schools - a comprehensive martial systems that taught not only the use of various weapons like yari, naginata, sword, jutte, sticks of different lengths, concealed weapons (kakushi buki) and unarmed fighting, but also tactics and strategy (hyoho), information gathering, espionage and other esoteric knowledge.
Hi, one thing I think you missed talking about is, that besides mass produced "Samurai Swords" made in china in the present, there is also the creation of the Iaito in post WW2 Japanese society. The Iaito being made of an aluminium-zink alloy makes it technically not a weapon and a piece of sports equipment. So it is easily purchasable by the average citizen, and is used for Iaido practice a lot more often that a steel sword. (mostly for Kata, for Tamashigiri you still need a steel sword) Also If you wish to travel with an Iaito you need the proper paperwork showing it is an Iaito and not a steel sword when boarding a flight. (I've had to go through this extra security headache several times.)
I was actually very close to elaborating on modern Iaido a little more but ended up cutting it just for the sake of time. That is a great thing to point out though!
@@TheShogunate Thanks
Iaito is easily recognized by a magnet. Since it's made od non-ferrous metal, the magnet doesn't stick. I know people who traveled from Japan with a iaito and the magnet test was sufficient. Steel swords definitely require paperwork though.
@@goldenrootsnet, all swords are steel unless aluminium. Some are stain;les and some are carbon.
@@KaptainCanuck I have never seen a stainless steel practice sword. As far as I know stainless steel is only used for props or wall hangers.
This is a great video! Thanks for your work, I just finished watching Akira Kurosawa’s films Ran and Yojimbo. I was confused as to why some of the swords worn by the Samurai looked different, however this video helped me understand that some of the samurais in the movie were wearing tachi and not katanas. I did notice that mainly cavalry and other mounted samurai were wearing tachis.
Mongolian scholar Zheng Si-xiao (1241-1318)."The Japanese are brutal and not afraid of death. Even if ten Japanese people encounter 100 enemies, they will fight against them. If they don't win, they all fight until they die.If they do not die in the war, they will be killed by the king's hand when they return.Japanese women are also very temperamental, don't rape them.katana is extremely sharp.
Mongolian scholar Wang Yun (1228-1304)"Japanese soldiers are equipped with bows, katana, and armor.There was no spear. The cavalry are united.katana is long and extremely sharp. All the soldiers are brave and do not seem to be afraid of death. "
Chinese Ming Dynasty General Qi Jiguang (1528-1588) "This was the first time I knew this when a Japanese samurai attacked China.
They moved like a dance, and the forward rushing force seemed to flash light, and our Ming soldiers were just distracted. The Japanese are very active and move about 3m at a time.
Since the length of katana is 1.6m, it will be attacked even at a distance of 4.8m. It is difficult to approach with my soldier's sword, it is too late with a spear, and if we encounter them, everyone will be cut off and killed. This is because their weapons are sharp and they are free to use powerful and heavy swords that can be swung with both hands. " "For Japanese, a fowling gun from a distance is effective. But the Japanese have absolutely no fear and charge at point blank range where they can attack or stab. It also takes time while our gunners load their bullets, That's why Our soldiers often allow them to approach.
We cannot stop their momentum. Japanese swordsmanship is light and long, Our gunners move too slowly after allowing them to approach.
Our swords are not effective weapons for throwing away guns and responding immediately. Therefore, we should equip ourselves with Japanese-style long swords."
"Japanese arrows are heavy and bows are powerful. Anyone shot by this will die. They approached us and shot an arrow, which always hit a man. Chinese were just afraid of this and couldn't use its characteristic bow and arrow. "
Chinese Ming Dynasty Martial Artist Cheng Zongyou (1561-1636) "We call that Japanese weapon dandao. Use a swinging sword with both hands.
This is a technique unique to Japanese people. The technique is well trained, precise and solid. Japanese swords are easy to handle, and each one makes sense, including the handle and scabbard. No other sword can match the Japanese sword. A well-polished Japanese sword reflects the light of the sun and hits our eyes.
The light makes our hearts cold. In Japanese swordsmanship, the change from side to side is strange and mysterious, and it is not predictable to ordinary people.
Therefore, even if you use a long-handled weapon such as a spear, you will always lose to the Japanese sword. "
Chinese Ming Dynasty Poet Qu Dajun (1630-1696) "When the Japanese move with all their might, they move like the wind. They always enter enemy territory in small numbers, and even a large number of soldiers cannot resist. Their katana usage is to defend with the long katana and stab the enemy to death with the short katana. They move low as if crouching and never back down.
They will be treated no matter how many people there are. It is a special technique only for those of the Japanese archipelago. ”
Chinese Ming Dynasty military strategist Heliang chen "The Japanese thief's attack is only hit twice or three times with katana, Often I can't prevent it. You should know the ingenuity of their katana sword technique. "
Spanish missionary Alessandro Valignano (1539- 1606)" Alessandro Valignano told the Philippine Governor that it was impossible to conquer Japan because the Japanese were very brave and always received military training.”
Dutch merchant Jacques Specx (1585 - 1652) "For the execution [of the assault on Manila] we can get great help from Japan, because the Japanese soldiers are as good as ours and the emperor [shogun] has given us his promise that we can take out as many people as we can get hold of.”
British soldier and explorer Sir Edward Michelbourne (1562-1609) "The Japanese seem to have been feared throughout Asia." "The Japons are not suffered to land in any port in India (Asia) with weapons; being accounted for a people so desperate and daring, that they are feared in all places where they come."
Thomas Cowen” At some of the forts men fought at close quarters, bayonet to bayonet, and it was once again shown that, though the Russians have the advantage of size and weight, they are no match for the quicker and more skilful Japanese”
Spanish trader Bernardino de Avila Giron (- 1619)
"I say again that they are very warlike and use very cruel and cutting weapons, made of such refined steel that they cut through iron with ease."
"The quality of its steel shatters European steel with the first blow."
Portuguese Catholic priest Luis Frois (1532 - 1597)
"Western swords have a one-handed handle and are the size of a fist, but Japanese swords are two-handed."
British physician and diplomat Sir Rutherford Alcock (1809 - 1897). "I have seen many a battlefield,"
"but of sabre wounds I never saw any so horrible. One man had his skull shorn clean through from the back and half the head sliced off to the spine, while his limbs only hung together by shreds."
"They have attained the climax of dexterity. The sword is always carried at the side, and adepts in the use of it wound the moment it is drawn."
"The fatal stroke, upwards, is given in the act of drawing. Hence, placing the hand on the hilt is equivalent to presenting a cocked revolver, and if the assailant is not disabled in the act it is too late for defence."
Dutch missionary Arnoldus Montanus (1625-1683)
"Their arms, besides Guns, Bows and Arrows, are Faulchions(katana) and Daggers(wakizashi), which they begin to wear and exercise at twelve years of age !
Their Faulchions or Scimeters are so well wrought and excellently temper'd, that they will cut our European Blades asunder".
British researcher Basil Hall Chamberlain（1850 - 1935）
"Japanese swords excel even the vaunted products of Damascus and Toledo. To cut through a pile of copper coins without nicking the blade is, or was, a common feat."
Personally, the swords of Japan is significant in a way that due to it's history, the process of how to make it and the artistic value of the sword itself makes it a sword above all swords. The legends passed down about it, the knowledge that one's ancestors weilded one into battle and/or the idea of holding a piece of ancient times makes it special.
I remember about wearing the blade up or down also depends where you go to, for example when being an emissary or visiting a friend, having the blade tip pointed down mean you come in peace (as it is harder to pull the sword out).
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna kind of renewed the interest of Kenjutsu in the early Sengoku period and inspired various swordsman at the time to learn their own sword style, like Yagyu clan and then later on Musashi Miyamoto.
I often wonder during Sengoku period, with the famous generals, did they use these cheap mass produced blade during their skirmish while their highly priced swords were left at home and only carried during peace time or as a investment. Although after Imagawa Yoshimoto got killed by Oda Nobunaga, they did find his priced Soza Samonji on his corpse which Nobunaga claimed as his personal sword.
I heard that the Showato or Shingunto as it is called from WW2 has been disowned by the Japanese katana society as they view it as an "Evil blade" who committed alot of atrocities during WW2.
Katana is so heavy it need to be pointed down to come out of scabbard ROFL
I doubt they actually used a sword very often, so they probably didn't need another one.
They used their swords to chop off the heads of their POWS. British, Canadians, Australians, chinese in the Nanking Massacre, innocent civilians, etc.
@@fujiwaramichaelm6686 And? They should have finished the job in china.
@@romanstaniszewski1030 A katana is no heavier than most other types of swords. A well-made katana actually has a well balanced feel to it, and can be drawn from its saya smoothly worn edge up, bringing the well-practiced Iaidoka gracefully into various kamae
I read that the Yumi and Ya accounted the 70% of the kills , 20% from the Yari and remaining 10% attributed to the other weapons like katana. Would you do a video about this specifically? Btw I'm new to your channel, great work there ! Would be great if you could do a video about the evolution of the yumi too!
Japan never lost it's sword culture hence the the reputation the Katana has. Europe lost its sword culture due to the rise of firearms if they hadn't you'd see that European blade while different were just as effective for their designed uses.
A common misconception is that the lesson of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century gave rise to Katana. In the Mongol invasion, the innovative forging method of the Soshu school appeared. Katana has appeared since the 15th century. This mistake is in Katana, Masamune. Many of them were cut at their roots and converted into katana after the 15th century. In other words, the swords Masamune forged is not Katana but Tachi.
@The Shogunate: what you're displaying in your video as Kendo is acutally Gekiken, which is the predecessor of Kendo and was taught along kenjutsu as acutal sparring training. Also Iaido is the wrong term for the older periods. The correct term would be iai-jutsu or even batto-jutsu which were taught also along kenjutsu. In modern times (starting ca. 1920) these two teachings were seperated as sole arts called Iaido and Kendo.
Iai-justu! I could't seem to find the actual term during my research but that makes a lot more sense.
@@TheShogunate historic mistakes can happen often, when you're not studying koryu kenjutsu which is still using the old curriculum (kenjutsu, batto-jutsu, naginata-jutsu, gekiken etc.) and teaching samurai warfare history, such as Hokushin Itto-Ryu Hyoho or Tennen Rishin Ryu etc.
I also wished to add this bit of Information , but since you did I find no need!
Between
Great Video
I would very much love for you to do an extended video of the nodachi and lesser known nagamaki.
Would it have hurt to run the words through Google translate to figure out the proper pronunciation? Hearing them being said in a stereotypical Japanese accent while screwing up nearly every single vowel sound is really cringe-inducing.
The exact reason I couldn't make it more than 3 minutes into this video
The Japanese language is, out of it, Korean, Chinese and most other East Asian ones,is the easiest to pronounce but gaijin murder it with ignorance.
I absolutely loved this video thank you for providing so much incredible detail! I can really tell how much passion you have for this subject and sharing it with the world :) thank you for your channel, incredibly glad i found it! the quality is truly amazing ❤
Japan did not have access to better steel unlike other countries, hence their swordsmiths had to come up with another way to make swords. It's truly ingenious how they use tamahagane to create a steel that is similar to modern high carbon steel, then use differential hardening to bring out a sharp edge to cut, but a soft spine to absorb shock. It was more likely to bend than break which made it easier for a swordsmith to repair. The arduous craftsmanship and intricate beauty of the katana makes it a real work of art.
@P Ciprian There is always that one guy. I guess you are that guy. 😂
Excellent video. , I started cosplaying in mid 2000 and I was into characters who wields the katana and of course you can’t carry a real one cosplaying . So I disassembled a real but cheapo katana and learned the parts and remade them with plywood and other materials. I used the real tsuba and made sure it slides out well . Silly way to learn katana isn’t it lol .But I practiced the correct etiquette even with my plywood katana😉 because At that time I was studying aikido with kenjutsu as well.
While I do think that samurai swords are more intertwined culturally with their users than in Europe, I think the reasons are different and more nuanced than what you state, because those reasons were true in Europe at different times as well. The wearing of swords, particularly in a town and in peacetime, would have been often likewise prohibited by anyone outside of the nobility or someone performing their duties (e.g. guards) during the high middle ages and early Renaissance Europe. In the areas of the Holy Roman Empire (now German-speaking areas), the messer (literally "knife") was a single-edged weapon that was specifically designed around skirting the legal definitions of what a "sword" was by only having one edge and having a handle affixed to the tang similarly to a katana or kitchen knife. Only after the rise of the merchant middle class in the 15th-16th centuries did civilian sword wearing become acceptable (in some parts of Europe anyway, some it was never allowed officially), and not until the 16th-17th centuries did it become common. The sword was likewise an extremely powerful symbol of professional warriors and the nobility in Europe and the West, and remains so today (see: knighting ceremonies, military dress uniforms). Not that these aren't reasons why the swords of Japan are so deeply associated with the samurai, but in addition to these, the samurai's image did not change as drastically as in Europe, where swords changed in shape, length, and use remarkably from the early middle ages ("viking" swords), to single-handed arming swords, two handed longswords, greatswords, other military sword forms such as the messer, sidesword/early rapier, sabre, cutlass, and basket-hilted swords (e.g. claymore, schiavona, etc.) and civilan swords for duelling (rapier, smallsword). Some of these are single-edged weapons, and some double. You could barely go over a hundred years in Europe without seeing a major difference in the shape of the most commonly used swords. In Japan, although there are swords of differing sizes, the overall form (single-edged, curved) and aesthetic of the swords remain very consistent over hundreds of years, which makes the weapon iconic. Since, during most of that time, the primary (and some cases, only) users of those weapons were samurai, those swords become intrinsically associated with them. In the end, though, who could use swords and the cultural context of the sword, was much more similar between Europe and Japan, than different. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Thanks that is good information - will have to watch your talk sometime.
Katana was not the primary weapon in ancient Japan warfare, it was more a status symbol aka a decoration.
They look beautiful. I feel like the simpler the design, the more elegant it is. I did practice Iaido, and I intend to try Kendo once this damn plague is over (I really miss sports).
I would love to see a video about all the other weapons that the Samurai used, that weren't the 'samurai sword'.
The samurai are fascinating culture. And the sword is legendary.
A wonderfully informative video. you cover all aspects regarding the swords of Nippon. It was refreshing to hear the kodachi mentioned and placed in its importance as part of sword developement. Also, I was impressed that your closing comments point to the important relationship of Nihonto and Samurai culture. Well done Sir.
At about 3:53 it says that the low carbon steel core makes the sword lighter. Actually the difference in density between high and low carbon steel is negligible. In fact high carbon steel is usually the one that is slightly less dense. Also at 10:50 you say that the retaining peg is called menuki. The correct name is mekugi while menuki refers to decorative parts tucked under the hilt wrap.
日本は奇跡の島。
もう少し中国に近ければ併呑されてたし。遠すぎてれば、中国の文明が入って来なかった。
本当絶妙な位置に島が出来たもんだw
そうだね
併合する価値がある資源が無かったのがでかい
@1i3usgd 4i18f ok. cocacola imperialist
22:44 i don'think that'is an original katana maded with the original matherial(tamahagane) because the katana cost is very very very expensive,the cost of an original katana start from 50.000€
It's not an original, The guy who made it is a master blacksmith who accurately created both that Katana and a long sword to test their strengths. The scene is from a German educational TV series comparing both weapons.
@@TheShogunate i understand but you cab't recreate the original sword without the original material
Katana are a thing of beauty.
Thats why I collect them. I fascinated in there craftsmanship. The wrap, the rayskin, and that shinny blade with a nice hamon line. Love em.
Excellent video!! Only a minor correction. At 10:49, the sword peg is called mekugi, while menuki are two decorative fittings wrapped in the tsuka, one being (normally) near the fuchi and the other near the kashira.
Thanks for pointing that out! the diagram I was looking at in Clive Sinclaire's book doesn't mention that!
@@TheShogunate You're welcome 😊
im sorry ghost of tsushima brought me here.
I think that the samurai sword is so great and influential because of how beautiful it is. Obviously, this is suggestive, but i think most people would agree that the samurai sword, of any period, is far more beautiful, and aesthetically pleasing, than any other sword of the west, or the east.
If anyone knows the name of the ukiyo-e pieces used in this video, can you please tell me?
Awesome video by the way! Very informative for my story writing and art!
Another day, another video by The Shogunate! ngl these videos are sooo well produced! Hoping for more samurai content in the future! Keep up the good work!!!
Such a great,well put together,and narrated video. this channel needs many many more subscribers!
rurouni kenshin is singlehandedly responsible for almost every edgelord katana myth that still exists today. I still hear people claiming that iaito strikes are simply faster due to being drawn from the sheath
there is a lot of old american movies and HQ with "ninjas swords" cutting bullets, metal and stuff, and older japanese media as well, rurouni kenshin was not the origin of the myth of the "katana that cut everithing and never breake"
Soo cool man... samurai swords have always held some sort of deep fascination for me.. this was a very well done and informative video.. thank-you !!
amakuni didnt invent folding, chinese steel swords that predated the chokuto had been doing that since the 3rd century. I think his first curved sword was just a happy accident, as clay quenching was likely being first fully utilised in japan at the time. You only leave one side clay free, and make the sword thin in the right way, and that was amakuni's real revolution; it gives you that beautiful bend.
So Muramasa sword was basicaly the Kalashnikov of it's time.
Despite its mythical-defying flaws, this sword in my subjective taste is the most beautiful, awe-inducing sword in the world.
Peace and Mabuhay from the Philippines!
As a Martial Artist and History enthusiast, I'm really loving your content so far. You definitely earned a subscription from me. 🙏
You're definitely right about the Samurai being intrinsically linked to the Katana in a way many other Warrior cultures do not with their weapons of choice. You really can't say the same for our warriors here in the Philippines using the bolo or something similar in a way that it's linked to their "spirit as Warriors", sadly.
However, they are definitely (not the only ones) to share that distinction.
I.E.) The Szabla (Sabre) is very much intrinsically linked to the mighty Winged Hussars of Poland and Polish culture/history overall..
tuwang tuwa ka sa mga ponjaps na yan, e, kadaming Pinoy pinugutan nila nun sinakop nila yan Pinas.
@@fujiwaramichaelm6686
Brother, Arnisador and proud Filipino ako.
I'm aware of what they did to us in the past and am not absolving them of it.
Hindi Naman sa "tuwang tuwa" ako sa mga Hapon. Pero I can RESPECT them as a Martial Artist and History enthusiast. I also practiced Shotokan Karate here at the Baguio chapter of Sphinx Karatedo since my childhood. Hence, I have a certain degree of respect for Japan that I (do not) have towards our people.
Why...? Because we champion our pop idols and "kilig love teams" more than our National Sport of Kali-Arnis! There's even a channel here on TH-cam called "Fuji Arnis Club" which has Japanese people who practice/study Kali-Arnis more than we do! th-cam.com/users/fujiarnisclub
NAKAKA-HIYA.
Ikaw nga eh, "Michael Fujiwara" pangalan mo. If you're so against the Japanese, what in the name of Ronnie Ricketts are you doing here then?! 🤣
I hope you're kidding, brother. Because I sure am not amused by your sentiments if you're being serious. 🙏🥋👊
@@KamenRider1 Gomen kudasai. I should never have replied to a person posing as a fictitious character. Sorry.
@@fujiwaramichaelm6686
Pusang alaws... bastos Ka Pala, eh!
So what if I'm "posing" as a fictional character...? It's called maintaining anonymity online and having fun while doing it.
You're one to talk. You started the ad hominem attacks and I can't believe I'm being condescended by a guy who's literally using a Japanese name and speaking half-baked "Japanese" despite his being Filipino. Hypocrisy!
I applaud your sentiment though, Kababayan. Please don't ever talk to me again and if you're ever in Baguio (and you're probably from around here considering the videos you saved on your channel) best hope we don't cross paths at baka gawin pa kitang pinikpikan. Hatawin kita ng rattan, bagtit! 😑
Learn to show respect for people first.
the Nodachi wasn't cumbersome it was actually as easy to use as it was generally used as a polearm rather than a sword.
Its very similar to how people assume that European Two handed swords are unwieldy when that's just not the case
very nicely made! i really enjoy it. you should have mentioned that the americans destroyed lot of japanese nihonto after world war II for a period of time, also not all Chinese made katana are bad decoration metalbars, there are a few really good companies that mass-produced really good reproductions .companies such as hanwei, bugei etc. i don't know if you know it, but there is also HEMA , which is instead of european olympic fencing historically accurate and focused more in the old style and techniques from the middle ages: longsword , sword and buckler, langes messer....anyway: really enjoyed it! thx and greets from germany!
Knew I would know somebody in this comment section. Hahahaha
Light sabers and Jedi had to be strongly inspired by this.
Well George Lucas was a fan of samurai movies at the time of writing star wars. This also lead to the unique design of Darth Vader :)
VaaP hilariously enough in and out of the Star Wars mythos the person inside the darth vader suit was a fencing master however soon he was also a kendoka which is why darth vader in the comics is a master of forms 2 and 5 with 2 being fencing and 5 being kendo
@@michaelterrell5061 Cool to know!
VaaP Thanks
@@squabblewobble2472 My dumbass thought his helmet was based on a sallet until I saw some later japanese armours.
I really appreciate this post. Thank you so much for sharing this information. One of the things that I find to be deeply concerning is that I sense from some what seems to be almost a resentment of Japanese swords by those from other cultures or ethnic backgrounds. Rather than present things in a balanced way, it seems that said persons go out of their way to talk about the shortcomings of the blades rather than assess them as one would any other physical tool: by its strengths and weaknesses and overall utility.
You very thoughtfully brought up all the areas that are deeply pertinent: strengths, weaknesses, history, cultural significance, successes, failures, evolution, and context. Great work and thank you again, Sir.
23:50 actually I believe the iconic double-edges cross hilted sword was at least in some areas at sometimes restricted to knights. it is my understanding this is one of the major reasons that swords such as the falcion and messer exist
Messers and falchions were also used by knights
Nuh-uh, ALL the myths are true.
MOst informative !!! Great presentation. Thank you for taking the time to document this video
Great video essay on a brief history of Japanese swords and your love for them. Love your channel bro, a lot of info that checks out with what I’ve learned in university with images
The evolution of both western and the Japanese blade is always dictated by the changes in the way battles were fought. As with everything else, it’s a never ending waltz between offence and defense: what’s effective and what’s not. It is not disparaging to say that the Japanese sword design is somewhat static (curved, single side blade) for hundreds of years compared to the western one. It works for them in the way they fight their battles.
in general, not better than all the other good swords. Unless you have to slice armoured vehicles and plasma shields. Only a katana can do that. Obviously.
to me, the most beautiful swords.
When did Japanese swords first start becoming differentially tempered? I mean for example, the hamon along the length of the edge, where it was coated with clay during quenching to produce a harder edge than the spine of the blade? and there are various blade geometries to different types of tachi and katana. My favorite is the 'dotanuki' style of blade geometry EDIT: Sorry, weapons nerd here
Since the first swords they started making. Diffrential tempering was already standard practice on the mainland (since they were all working with early steel and iron (although iron use had been around for nearly a thousand years by than, technological progress was a lot slower back than) making technology and powerful furnaces of the later eras were not available yet (Probably until around the eastern Han dynasty where semi-modern refining techniques were developed and the technology proliferated across East Asia)). Some Japnaese Chokuto had diffrential tempering, but perhaps due to labour and time costs, some weren't given the treatment and hence broken blades. Due to the fact that Japanese iron deposits were poor, so despite the improved smelting capabilities they still stuck with diffrential tempering.
Anecdote: Bought my only katana imitation because it had a black blade, I would later find out it was Bleach Ichigo's zanpakuto.
Nodachi gang
Sword pegs are called mekugi usually made of bamboo. Menuki are the metallic ornaments placed under the tsukamaki that helps with grip. Terrific video. Thanks for making it.
Absolutely fascinating. A wonderful journey about a beautiful work of art.
Thank you for the history of Samurai sword.
Thank you for this. A lot of people think Katana were made of only crappy pig iron, but rich Samurai had swords made of quality European steel.
I think one important element in the myth of the Japanese sword being an all-powerful cutting machine comes from the fact that in the 19th century most European swords were carried in steel scabbards, which resulted in edges becoming blunt much faster while Japanese swords were still carried in wooden scabbards which helps to preserve the edge. So it's not necessarily that Japanese swords were inherently superior in this way so much as that they were slightly better taken care of and thus the typical Japanese sword would be sharper than the typical European sword.
Yes I’ve got both and handled both ancient European swords and I own one. They are sharp but nothing like ancient Japanese swords which you can shave with. My dullest katanas from WW2 are sharper than the sharpest European swords. There are some BS tall tales out there though that Katanas can cut through a machine gun barrel which was totally false.
Slightly? they were much better taken care of then European swords
@@Dre-yd2xh japanese have been recycling for 1,000 years. scarce resources of all kinds are shown immense respect. I lived with Japanese in Van. for a decade, and didn't have to "'splain to Lucy" best practices, WHEREAS my cauc. friends it was always such a FIGHT to get them on board. We didn't use the dishwasher for a decade as in Japan they scrape, then rinse. Conserves water. It seems to be bred into the culture.
In the 19th century swords were also kept blunt unless they went to war. While I still could fruit ninja with such a blunt sword. The steel scabbard is not much of a problem as the blade is pinched by two springs, it is also probably a better protection against rust because the leather cover has heavily rusted the scabbard. Besides their blunted swords they had mules (abused swords used in training) and wooden sticks for stabbing exercises.
I would say that the art on how they using each sword is also important.
See, European Longswords were not really sharp, since knights usually relied on strength to deliver blow to enemies. This resulted in knights mostly thrust and stab the sword rather than swing and slash them (like modern Fencing). Therefore they needed a double edged sword to accomodate them. No need to be razor like, but at least sharp enough to poke the pork belly. So long as the knight is strong enough.
Comparing that to Japanese Katana, unlike knights. Samurai relied on agility to deliver blow. So their movement mostly and swing and slash (like modern Kendo). What they need is a razor sharp blade, either single or double edged, to accomodate this. That's why Katana is so sharp, that it can cut bamboo in ease. It's to accomodate how the samurai fight.
Weaboo trash: The katana is the best weapon in the world, it can cut through anything if it's folded 435475430950398 times!
Snobby know-it-all: Katanas are trash, they can't stab and can't cut through real western armor, just that shitty eastern armor!
Rational people: The japanese swords, which shouldn't just be called "katana", since they have specific names, are by no means perfect, and there is a lot of situations where they are ineffective, like for stabbing or cutting through steel. However, they can be greatly used when put on situations they're made for, just like any weapon. When it comes to cutting and slashing, they are highly effective and deliver great results. No weapon is bad or good, they're just created for certain scenarios, and excel at those scenarios.
Folding does not make a sword strong but by folding you remove impurities that make a sword weak so in that way the sword benefits but being folded it’s self isn’t the reason of improved strength.
This is kind of a nitpick, but it's an inaccuracy nonetheless. However I don't want this to diminish this video in the least because it's really well done. The swords that influenced the production of Japanese swords particularly the Tachi was the Chinese Dao, not the strait Jian. Jian outside of Chinese courts and nobility started to be replaced in the Han Dynasty. The single edged clip point Dao became the primary Chinese military sword. Particularly look to the Tang Dynasty dao as a prototype of the Japanese Tachi.
One myth that got spread around during WW2 is that a Katana could cut through a machine gun barrel. That was Total BS. Also as far as a symbol important to a warrior I think you would find the broad sword for a Knights Templar was an extremely important symbol even representing the cross of Jesus Christ when presented hilt up. Not to take anything away from the ancient Japanese swords which I think took more time and skill to make than any other sword in human history.
_Not to take anything away from the ancient Japanese swords which I think took more time and skill to make than any other sword in human history._
Doubtful. Take a look into blades made of _wootz steel._
@@Spielkalb-von-Sparta Woots steel was developed in South India and Sri Lanka and was used in some Arabic swords but there’s no evidence it was used by the Japanese. Steel used for ancient Japanese swords was pounded into thousands of layers and had a very complex grain. More complex than Damascus steel. It’s also tempered differently that’s why they have temper lines or a Hamon.
Note ,, real samurai swords don’t like to be in the possession of non warriors, the samurai spirit has been reported to haught the owner
Bollocks
Genuine nihonto are also export controlled by the Japanese government. If they are dual use or strictly for combat/military, they cannot be exported. Only those that are deemed to be a "sword of art" can be exported, but must be properly declared and documented. This doesn't guarantee against smuggling, but since the process of ordering these by the traditional craftsmen is limited (I believe only one "family" officially recognized exists today), it is extremely difficult, almost impossible.
The Japanese warriors often parallel Roman legionnaires in the way they can adopt new technologies and massively improve upon them. Ingenuity, that's where true power can be found.
I would add that Japan has done a good job of sifting through the cultures coming from abroad.
I think the biggest success of Japan was not adopting the Chinese bureaucratic examination system and the eunuch system.
Good overview. I would like to see videos on the Field Sword and the Naginata bladed sword.
These videos are perfect to watch whilst playing Ghosts Of tsushima (not at the same time ofc !)
I would not call it a "fine" example, rather a cruel example. What Japan (and of course Germany) did during WW2 is beyond words...
Anime characters often show off their sword techniques to signify their prowess. In the past, a samurai who boasts about his sword skills is tantamount to admitting that he's just really bad with the bow.
That mostly applies to periods when Samurai were dedicated horse archers though. So after the Heian & Kamakura periods, not so much.
Later on Samurai became much more melee oriented; polearms and guns also are much more forgiving weapons than the bow, therefore people were encouraged to spend extra time honing sword skills. (This also happens with arquebusiers in late Ming & Qing, who were armed with either single handed sabres or chang dao).
Samurai will learn Bugei Juhappan (The eighteen skills of martial arts). These include sword and spear, archery, Jiu-Jitsu, Iaijutsu, and Naginatajutsu.
Again the odachi was not suddenly developed... it was a horse cutter and existed alongside. Very poorly researched.... barely academic
To compare katana with western swords is ridiculous.
Western swords were primarily made to cause blunt force trauma and piercing force to harm the soldiers wearing chainmail and accessorily cut limbs.
The katana's role was primarily to cut limbs and chop heads off ... with extreme success.
Samurai warrior would actually sleep with his samurai sword, if he actually lost his sword he would actually be killed or maybe he would commit suicide by seppuku or maybe harakiri. They actually praise his sword as his own life?
There is some speculation that the tachi may have been influenced by the Chinese tang dao. Considering how much came from China, and that the early chokuto were clearly influenced by the Chinese jin, this seems completely plausible.
Actual tachi is being influenced by Korean sword rather than chinese. But pre-tachi koto did have some influences from Tang China as both were using single edge straight and slander ring pommel sword.
However, Chinese began to use slight curved sword by the time of Song dynasty.
Speaking of japanese sword..."katana" will come first in my mind..
Aido..?
居合道(いあいどう iai do)とは違うのかな？
1i3usgd 4i18f お前アメリカ人なんか？
@1i3usgd 4i18f Just because the United States has invaded half the planet doesn't mean that everyone is required to speak English, don't be racist.
Why did the japanese katanas were took away by the US. Cuz the US has no quality swords like them. Jkjk
I recommend that everyone read - The Truth of the Ancient Ways: A Critical Biography of the Swordsman Yamaoka Tesshu
It's agreat book that covers Tesshu's life as well as the decline of swordsmanship during the Edo period. Also, great video. Good information!
I've read Tesshu. I agree, he was enlightened.
An excellent informative and well presented educational, thank you! 👍👌
the ONLY way to make iron or steel (until crucible steel) was to fold and weld - invented a thousand years earlier.
Thank you for this lesson, I want to purchase a Katana blade but I wanted to know the history of it so I can respect the culture it came from this was really great and informative.
May I ask, why the swords at the end are displayed in the museum without the handle?
I wonder just how many "Warrior Classes " we held in such high regard by t all be considered upper class but we
I really enjoyed this great video 👍
forgot to mention that the sword was not allowed to be carried into the tea cerimony and due to the new law in the edo period which forced samuria to display their blades they built new fake swords to maintain the image.
katana is secondary weapon
yari is main weapon
Been waiting for you to do this video!
Im here to see if I can figure out some one piece stuff
Now, there's swords with carbon fiber edge, cuts through just about any steel.
I loved at the beginning how every weapon was called their names, and then my ears bled hearin freaking samurai sword instead of katana
6:14 i have to mention that the Mongol invasion was primarily made up of Koreans and Chinese.
So honored to have a 500 year old Nihonto in my home, in a very special place with proper care.