Observation and thoughts on......

[MHC]

Inquisitive ponder of the day...

 

I get a blade being shortened via a shorter Nagasa, or even to some degree a shortened Nakago.

 

Please explain to me how one could have shorten the Nakago and move the original Habaki location, but show no sign of the past polishing in the area where the Habaki was originally?

 

Additionally in the event of a new Mekugi ana being placed further up the blade, implies the Tsuka was re-positioned as well, further adding to the "what happened to the previous polished area?

 

Mark

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Mark,

The new nakago/old polished portion may be annealed (unhardened), new yasurime (file marks) are added, and the area is either allowed to develop a patina or is patinated to match the old nakago.

Grey

[MHC]

Hello Grey,

 

Thanks for the reasonable explanation, that makes sense.

 

This is a bit of a wild all encompassing question but, how often did this happen with old swords that are either "too long for the fashion of the day", change in fighting styles or damaged in battle?

 

By the by, still love the Tsuba a bought from you, I paired it with a complimentary Fuchi/Kashira, should look good once the full Koshirae is completed.

 

Mark

 

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

 

too long for the fashion of the day

Mark, there were actually 8 times when shortening a blade was mandatory:

 

    In the second year of Kencho (1250), Hojo Tokiyori prohibited ordinary people from carrying long swords.  This regulation was enforced by Akashi Kanetsuna, since then, common people and all priests carried long Kogatana called Wakizashi no Tachi.

 

    In Tensho XVI (1588), Hideyoshi made a proclamation to obtain from common people the surrender of their swords.  Being a cunning man, he announced that it was his intention to build a Daibutsu Temple in Kyoto, and that he required thousands of nails, and he wished people to hand over their swords so that they might acquire merit towards a future life by stopping their earthly fights and contributing towards a religious cause.  But people were less interested in a problematic paradise than in actually protecting themselves, and they did not rise to his bait.

 

    In Genna VIII, the Shogun Tokugawa Iyetada prohibited common people from wearing swords to avoid brawls; the Tachi was called then O Wakizashi.

 

    In Kwanyei XVII (1640), Tokugawa Iyemitsu prohibited the attendants of Bujin from carrying tachi.

 

    In Kwambun X (1670), Tokugawa Iyetsuna issued a regulation making the length of tachi 2'8"-9", and o-wakizashi 1'8", and anyone carrying a longer sword was liable to punishment.

 

    In Tenna III (1683), Tokugawa Tsunayoshi reiterated the prohibition to common people to wear the long sword, but allowed them to carry a tanto; musicians and painters, even when of the Samurai class, were debarred from carrying a big sword.

 

    In Kwansei X (1798), it was decided that any sword exceeding 1'8" should be termed Naga Wakizashi, and anyone carrying such a sword was liable to punishment.  Later, the length was reduced to 1'5".

 

    Finally, in Meiji IX (1877), the Haitorei was issued prohibiting the wearing of swords, except the one sword belonging to soldiers and police when in uniform.

 

 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Mark,

To add to what Ken has said, shortening was very common.  If the sword was made in Koto (old sword, pre 17th century) time, odds are pretty good that it is now shorter than it used to be.  This was done because of changes in fighting styles and personal preference, as well as to conform to the regulations Ken mentions.  Swords sometimes were shortened to hide defects; a ha-giri close above the machi would disappear into a new nakago if the blade was shortened.  Damage in battle usually affected the other end of the sword and was less likely to be the impetus for shortening.

Grey

[MHC]

Well that is all very, very interesting.

 

It is almost comical the correlations between ancient Japan's attempt to control weapons, as is today's firearm restriction attempts in America.

 

Funny thing that...a short sword kills you just as good as a long one, and a 6 rnd. pistol does the same as a 10+ rnd. pistol...net gain zero.

 

Maybe I should invest in shorter bullets..... ;}.

 

Thanks for all the great info guys, it appears that I need to invest in more books!

 

Mark