![]() Not only was the design of the Tachi perfected, but also its style changed considerably, becoming more attractive, luxurious, and efficient. The importance that the samurai class had gained made Kakamura a mecca for these swords during this time. Soon, all kinds of sword makers began to gather in Kakamura, the most famous of which was Masamune himself, creator of swords so good that they were said to have mystical powers. During this time, Kakamura had been transformed, under the leadership of Minamoto no Yorimoto, into the capital of the country, becoming a hub of both technological and cultural innovation. Out in the Kakamura era (1184 – 1333) emerged the power of the samurai class. Thus it is possible to identify, for example, that the oldest Tachi was forged by Namihira Yukimasa, which was made in the year 1159. Lighter even than a conventional katana, considering its size.īy this time it had become customary for a blacksmith, such as an artist, to sign his creation. Photo by: Rama These Tachi used by mounted samurai were considerably lighter than one might expect when looking at them. It didn’t take long for it to become a famous sword. Its curved shape allowed the full force of the high speeds that could be reached on horseback to be concentrated in the middle of the sword.Īll this momentum concentrated in a smaller area translated into powerful attacks like those never seen before in Japanese history. A weapon that harnessed all the power a horse was capable of generating.Īnd when it emerged, it proved destructive on the battlefield. The Tachi was created with just this in mind, in order to create an even more powerful weapon. Back then, samurai used to fight mainly on horseback with straight swords and bows. This was because it was necessary for the Japanese horsemen to have the greatest possible range, but without the sword being too long to lose its balance when used, which could be fatal in the middle of a battle.ĭuring this time, the cavalry was one of the fundamental pillars of the Japanese army (enhanced by the knowledge gained from the Emishi). At that time, these samurai swords were usually between seventy and eighty-two centimeters in size, making them a little larger than what we are accustomed to seeing in katanas. The Tachi blade first appeared during the Koto period. Battle Ready Tachi T10 Clay Tempered Steel Copper Saya History of Tachi However, it is a sword with its own identity, history, and function. The Tachi is often compared to the Katana (a topic that we discuss below). This type of koshirae had two supports that allowed the blade to be carried horizontally, ready to be drawn. To carry the Tachi properly it must have a koshirae tachi. Traditionally, however, these used to have enormous curvatures, which greatly increased the damage they could do with the right amount of momentum. Today you can find Tachi with all kinds of curvatures. This makes it cut not only on impact, but by the action of sliding over the object as it cuts, something that straight swords cannot achieve. The totally curved design makes the blows especially devastating at high speeds – something that becomes important when we consider that it was a sword used mainly by riders.Īnother advantage of the Tachi’s curvature is that the blade slides over what it cuts following the movement of the body. ![]() By concentrating the entire force of the blow on a smaller surface, such as the belly of the sword, the energy generated is used much better. The Tachi was special precisely because it allowed for greater momentum without the need for a heavy blade. But, in contrast, it will be more difficult for a person to wield it. The greater the weight, the greater the accumulated momentum when wielding the sword, and therefore the more devastating the blow. This factor is also influenced by the weight of the blade. The arc that describes a sword before it hits its target is what gives this momentum. In short, it is the force that a blade achieves when it is wielded. When it comes to Samurai swords, momentum is essential. Its blade curves upwards in the middle, which gives it a balance between momentum and precision when striking, concentrating all the force it can generate in movement in the centre. The Tachi is a Japanese curved sword ( nihonto) that used to be used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Special Features: Has two hangers that allows the sword to be worn horizontally with the cutting edge down Used By: Samurai Class of Feudal Japan Cavalry In this post we will cover everything about the renowned Tachi. It is a sword of war, born for the vast battlefield and with a great history behind it.
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