What is the Proper Way to Wear a Samurai Sword – Blade Up or Down?

“Yes, I can rely on my katana if I want to. Don’t stare! “The samurai could wear his sword any way he wanted, as there were no laws governing sword fashion in feudal Japan. But does that mean they will? Of course, the samurai weren’t afraid to die because of their ingrained Bushido values, but losing battle could have dire consequences for those they served. No warrior wants to be humiliated like that.

So tongue up or down?

Contents

Both up and down can be appropriate depending on the era, sword type, and dress code.

History of the Samurai Sword: How does the type of sword affect how it is worn?

Samurai wore a combination of two swords, one long and one short. The shorter swords were used as a backup and, in the Edo era, were worn as a symbol of power. Let’s skip the short swords (Wakizashi and Tanto) and focus instead on the main sword for attack and defense. Ancient Chinese sword. Essentially the ancestor of all Japanese swords, it was produced and used before the 10th century. Chokuto Tachi In response to the Mongol invasion, and having experienced how deadly effective curved swords can be, Tachi was forged with a curvature near its hilt. This sword will be longer than all of its successors, perhaps due in part to the battles on horseback. advanced downward. So a samurai using a Tachi would always wear it with the blade facing down. Next are the descendants of Tachi and the predecessor of Katana, Uchigatana. Unlike its predecessor, the Uchigatana is shorter and has a smaller curvature. The curve has also been moved to the prominent blade. As a result, the Uchigatana was worn with its state-of-the-art function facing up. Easier to uncase, it was widely used between 1336 and 1573.Katana The last one is the Katana. Throughout its history, the katana has varied in length but on average its length is shorter than that of the Uchigatana. The popularity of the katana marked a shift towards close combat. Imagine the relatively peaceful Edo period. You will most likely be attacked in a room. In an enclosed space, the katana is a much better sword to maneuver. If you carry a Tachi at the time, you will be more likely to hit walls than your opponent. Katana

Time in History: Battle Armor or Kimono

Warring States – Battle Armor During the Warring States period, Japan descended into chaos as the domains fought endlessly with each other. Thus, battle armor was the norm and so was horseback combat. Japanese armor impedes range of motion and greatly restricts arm movement upwards. Trying to unsheath while wearing armor is less difficult and faster if the blade is facing down. The samurai simply drew the katana by extending the arm forward. Edo era – kimono with hakama In contrast to the Edo era, a peaceful period when Japan was unified under Tokugawa Bakufu, the samurai would wear kimono and hakama. Without armor, upward sheathing was possible and essential for defending against an attack. Tachi by design still has to be sharpened from the blade side down.

Why did samurai often like their blades worn?

For the sake of Tachi with its puzzling curvature, why did the samurai default to wearing swords with the blades pointing upwards? Human mechanics made unsheathing a sword worn with the blade facing up, allowing the samurai to strike quickly from unsheathing the sword (the modern warrior we call it). is Iaido). Moreover, the position of the sword is also very favorable against surprise attacks.

To keep the sharpness of the blade. The gravity and friction of a downward blade against the scabbard can cause the blade to tarnish.
Reduces the chance of getting slashed to a leg or finger when the blade’s neck loosens due to wear and tear.

So what is the answer to this!?

So, what’s the answer!? The question specifies that the Samurai sword is a katana, in which case, here is the answer.When wearing armor, wear the katana with its point facing down; Without armor, wear the katana with the blade facing up.But does it really matter where you wear your sword, if your samurai outfit resembles what you see below? Haha! Read more: How to deal with a woman with trust issuesHmm… is this even a samurai?