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The katana is the Japanese longsword (Daito), although many Japanese use
this word generically as a catch all word for sword "katana" (pronounced
[katana]) is the kun-yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀; the on-yomi
(Chinese reading) is "tou" (pronounced [to:]. It refers to a specific type
of curved, single-edged sword traditionally used by the Japanese samurai.
The scabbard for a katana is referred to as a saya.
It is primarily used for slashing, and can be wielded one- or
two-handed (the second being the most common mode). It is worn with
cutting-edge up. While the art of practically using the sword for its
original purpose is now somewhat obsolete, kenjutsu has turned into gendai
budo - modern martial arts for a modern time. The art of drawing the katana
is iaido, and kendo is an art of fencing with a shinai (bamboo sword)
protected by helmet and armour. Old koryu sword schools do still exist
(Kashima Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shin Ryu, Katori Shinto Ryu).
Production methods: Japanese swords and other edged weapons
were manufactured by an elaborate method of repeatedly heating, folding and
hammering the metal. This practice was originated from use of highly impure
metals, stemming from the low temperature yielded in the smelting at that
time and place. In order to counter this, and to homogenize the carbon
content of the blades, the folding was developed (for comparison see pattern
welding), and found to be quite effective, though labor intensive.
The distinctive curvature of the katana is partly due to the
differential heat treating it is subjected to. Unlike swords produced in
many other locations, Japanese smiths did not harden the entire blade, but
only the cutting edge. The hardening process will make the edge part of the
blade contract less than the untreated steel when cooling down, something
that aids the smith in establishing the curvature of the blade. The
combination of hard edge and soft back of a katana and other Japanese blades
is what cause them to be resilient and yet retain a good cutting edge.
Myths: Many myths surround Japanese swords, the most frequent being that
the blades are folded an immense number of times, gaining magical properties
in the meantime. Note that the number of layers in a sword blade is two to
the power of the number of folds. When speaking of folds, the layers and
actual foldings are often confused. As for magical properties, see above.
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