Unlike the older type, the katana was not worn suspended, but thrust through the girdle, edge upward and hilt slightly to the right, making it necessary to turn it before drawing. These primitive swords had heavy ball pommels, and were intended to be used with both hands their scabbards were of wood, covered with a thin sheet of copper, sometimes gilt, and the guards were of the same metal.Ībout the close of the seventh century of our era the old straight swords of both the single- and the double-edged types gave place to the curved single-edged blade, known as the katana, which has become the typical Japanese sword. Instead of being thrust through the girdle, as in later times, they were worn suspended by rings and cords, somewhat after the fashion prevalent in the Occident. Contrary to the common belief, these earliest swords seem to have been single-edged the double-edged type, known as the tsurugi or ken, was probably of Chinese origin both varieties were straight. The earliest known Japanese swords are of bronze but steel had already been adopted before the beginning of history. ![]() It will be the endeavor of this article to give a brief description of this splendid blade, prefaced by a few notes upon the history of the sword in Japan and the part which it has played in the life of that country. Among the recent acquisitions of the Museum is a sword which there is good reason to believe was forged by the famous Masamune, commonly considered the greatest of Japanese swordsmiths.
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