It’s Not a “Samurai Sword”
One of the most annoying thing people can do around me, other than driving like an idiot, is to use the phrase “samurai sword”. Here is why using that term is incorrect, disrespectful, and completely idiotic.
1. If you see a western-style sword, you don’t call it a “knight sword.” If you do, please don’t.
2. The real name is katana. Use it. Other perfectly acceptable terms include shinken (live blade), or Japanese sword.
3. The katana changed over hundreds of years. It started out as a straight edge (like most western style or chinese swords) until it earned it’s curved edge.
4. The katana is to be reguarded with the utmost respect. It is part of Japanese culture. By calling it a samurai sword you are not giving the kanata the respect it deserves, and are disrespectful to those who train in Japanese sword arts.
5. Samurai actually carried two swords - the wakizashi and the katana.
6. Other classes were allowed to carry a single sword, the katana, up until the classes were seperated and all swords were taken from anyone who was not a samurai. Samurai were the only class allowed to carry 2 swords.
7. It’s all about respect. Call the katana by a propper name and I won’t call you an idiot (or beat you senseless with a bokken).
I, sadly, am one of the disrespectful idiots that plague the world and thanks to you I am ‘katana’ enlightened. I am slowly becoming aware of all things Japanese as I’m a beginner student of Japanese http://bestlearnjapanese.blogspot.com . Yes, it’s home-school all the way as I have no time to attend a Japanese class as I’m too busy driving around Montreal, hopefully, not like an idiot.
One correction here:
Point #6:
Actually, lower ranking individuals, those considered not Samurai (for sake of simplification) were actually only allowed to carry wakizashi, or shorter (shoto) shinken. This accounts for the larger availability of antique (pre-WWII) wakizashi swords, and the sequent lesser availability of the katana (daito, or larger swords).
Also, I’m not certain of this, but I think lower classes were allowed to carry multiple swords, say a wakizashi and a tanto (which are sometimes nearly as large as a wakizashi.
Hope that sheds a little light.
Cheers,
Kyle
A wakizashi is typically 18 inches long and a tanto is usually 6-12 inches long. Point number 6 was about katanas specifically, not the wakizashi or tanto.
The tanto is worn on the right side and the wakizashi is worn on the left. They are quite obviously shorter than a katana.