Tachi

A tachi (太刀) is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword (nihonto) worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Tachi and uchigatana generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when sheathed, the latter depending on the location of the, or signature, on the tang. The tachi style of swords preceded the development of the katana, which was not mentioned by name until near the end of the twelfth century. Tachi were the mainstream Japanese swords of the Kotō period between 900 and 1596. Even after the Muromachi period (1336–1573), when katana became the mainstream, tachi were often worn by high-ranking samurai.

History




The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:


 * {{lang|ja-Latn|Jōkotō}} (ancient swords, until around 900)
 * {{lang|ja-Latn|Kotō}} (old swords, around 900–1596)
 * {{lang|ja-Latn|Shintō}} (new swords, 1596–1780)
 * {{lang|ja-Latn|Shinshintō}} (new new swords, 1781–1876)
 * {{lang|ja-Latn|Gendaitō}} (modern or contemporary swords, 1876–present)

The predecessor of the Japanese sword has been called {{lang|ja-Latn|{{ill|warabitetō|ja|蕨手刀}}}} ({{lang|ja|蕨手刀}}). In the middle of the Heian period (794–1185), samurai improved on the {{lang|ja-Latn|warabitetō}} to develop {{lang|ja-Latn|{{ill|kenukigata-tachi|ja|毛抜形太刀}}}} ({{lang|ja|毛抜形太刀}}) (early Japanese sword). To be more precise, it is thought that the {{lang|ja-Latn|Emishi}} improved the {{lang|ja-Latn|warabitetō}} and developed {{lang|ja-Latn|{{ill|Kenukigata-warabitetō|ja|毛抜形蕨手刀}}}} ({{lang|ja|毛抜形蕨手刀}}) with a hole in the hilt and {{lang|ja-Latn|{{ill|kenukigatatō|ja|毛抜形刀}}}} ({{lang|ja|毛抜形刀}}) without decorations on the tip of the hilt, and the samurai developed {{lang|ja-Latn|kenukigata-tachi}} based on these swords. {{lang|ja-Latn|Kenukigata-tachi}}, which was developed in the first half of the 10th century, has a three-dimensional cross-sectional shape of an elongated pentagonal or hexagonal blade called {{lang|ja-Latn|shinogi-zukuri}} and a gently curved single-edged blade, typical features of Japanese swords. There is no wooden hilt attached to {{lang|ja-Latn|kenukigata-tachi}}, and the tang ({{lang|la|nakago}}), integrated with the blade, is directly gripped and used. The term {{lang|la|kenukigata}} is derived from the fact the central part of tang is hollowed in the shape of ancient Japanese tweezers ({{lang|la|kenuki}}).

In the {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} developed after {{lang|ja-Latn|kenukigata-tachi}}, a structure in which the hilt is fixed to the tang ({{lang|ja-Latn|nakago}}) with a pin called {{lang|ja-Latn|mekugi}} was adopted. As a result, a sword with three basic external elements of Japanese swords, the cross-sectional shape of {{lang|ja-Latn|shinogi-zukuri}}, a gently curved single-edged blade, and the structure of {{lang|ja-Latn|nakago}}, was completed. Its shape may reflect the changing form of warfare in Japan. Cavalry were now the dominant fighting unit, and the older straight {{lang|ja-Latn|chokutō}} were unsuitable for fighting from horseback. The curved sword is a far more efficient weapon wielded by a warrior on horseback; the curve of the blade adds considerably to the downward force of a cutting action. According to historian Karl Friday, before the 13th century, there are no written references or drawings showing swords of any kind were used from horseback. {{fcn|date=July 2024}} However, According to Yoshikazu Kondo, bow and arrows were certainly the main weapons used in cavalry battles, but from around the Genpei War in the 12th century, the use of {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} on horseback increased. Early models had uneven curves with the deepest part of the curve at the hilt. As eras changed, the center of the curve tended to move up the blade.

By the 11th century during the Heian period, {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} were exported to neighboring countries in Asia. For example, in the poem "The Song of Japanese Swords" Ouyang Xiu, a statesman of the Song Dynasty in China, described Japanese swords as follows: "It is a treasured sword with a scabbard made of fragrant wood covered with fish skin, decorated with brass and copper, and capable of exorcising evil spirits. It is imported at a great cost."

From the Heian period (794–1185), ordinary samurai wore swords of the style called {{lang|ja-Latn|kurourusi tachi}} ({{lang|ja-Latn|kokushitsu no tachi}}, {{lang|ja|黒漆太刀}}), which meant black lacquer {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}}. The hilt of a {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} is wrapped in leather or ray skin, and it is wrapped with black thread or leather cord, and the scabbard is coated with black lacquer. On the other hand, court nobles wore {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} decorated with precisely carved metal and jewels for ceremonial purposes. High-ranking court nobles wore swords of the style called {{lang|ja-Latn|kazari tachi}} or {{lang|ja-Latn|kaza tachi}} ({{lang|ja|飾太刀, 飾剣}}), which meant decorative {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}}, and lower-ranking court nobles wore simplified {{lang|ja-Latn|kazatachi}} swords of the style called {{Nihongo|2=細太刀|3=hosodachi}}, which meant thin {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}}. The {{lang|ja-Latn|kazatachi}} and {{lang|ja-Latn|hosodachi}} worn by nobles were initially straight like a {{lang|ja-Latn|chokutō}}, but since the Kamakura period they have had a gentle curve under the influence of {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}}. Since {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} worn by court nobles were for ceremonial use, they generally had an iron plate instead of a blade.

In the Kamakura period (1185–1333), high-ranking samurai wore {{lang|ja-Latn|hyogo gusari tachi}} ({{lang|ja-Latn|hyogo kusari no tachi}}, {{lang|ja|兵庫鎖太刀}}), which meant a sword with chains in the arsenal. The scabbard of the {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} was covered with a gilt copper plate and hung by chains at the waist. At the end of the Kamakura period, simplified {{lang|ja-Latn|hyogo gusari tachi}} came to be made as an offering to the {{lang|ja-Latn|kami}} of Shinto shrines and fell out of use as weapons. On the other hand, in the Kamakura period, there was a type of {{lang|ja-Latn|tachi}} called {{lang|ja-Latn|hirumaki tachi}} ({{lang|ja|蛭巻太刀}}) with a scabbard covered with metal, which was used as a weapon until the Muromachi period. The meaning was a sword wrapped around a leech, and its feature was that a thin metal plate was spirally wrapped around the scabbard, so it was both sturdy and decorative, and chains were not used to hang the scabbard around the waist.

Features


With a few exceptions, katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other, if signed, by the location of the signature (mei) on the tang. In general, the signature should be carved into the side of the tang facing outward as the sword is worn on the wielder's left waist. Since a tachi was worn cutting edge down, and the katana was worn cutting edge up, the mei would be in opposite locations on the tang of both types of swords.

An authentic tachi had an average cutting edge length (nagasa) of 70–80 cm ($27 9/16$–$31 1/2$ in), and compared to a katana, was generally lighter in proportion to its length, had a greater taper from hilt to point, was more curved and had a smaller point area for penetrating heavy clothing.

Unlike the traditional manner of wearing the katana, the tachi was worn hung from the belt with the cutting edge down, and was most effective used by cavalry. Deviations from the average length of tachi have the prefixes ko- for "short" and ō- for "great, large" attached. For instance, tachi shōtō and closer in size to a wakizashi were called kodachi. The longest tachi (considered a 15th-century ōdachi) in existence is 3.7 m in total length with a 2.2 m blade, but is believed to be ceremonial. In the late 1500s and early 1600s, many tachi blades were modified into katana, their cut tangs (o-suriage) removing the smiths' signatures from the swords.

For a sword to be worn in tachi style, it needed to be mounted in a tachi koshirae. The tachi koshirae has two hangers (ashi) so the sword can be worn in a horizontal position with the cutting edge down. A sword not mounted in a tachi koshirae could be worn tachi style by use of a koshiate, a leather device allowing any sword to be worn in the tachi style.

Gallery
Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. For example, the Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum "Nagoya Touken World", one of Japan's largest sword museums, posts separate videos of the blade and the sword mounting on its official website and YouTube.