The katana is the quintessential japanese sword, revered as a symbol of the samurai spirit of honor and loyalty. During the height of the bushido code, samurai would often consider their sword as one of their most important possessions, and treat it with the utmost care and respect. The katana was worn thrust through a belt-like obi (sash) with the sharpened edge facing up, making it easier for the samurai to draw the blade quickly and decisively in combat.
The process of creating a traditional Japanese sword starts with smelting raw steel, known as tamahagane. This is a painstaking process that takes three days and nights to complete. Once the tamahagane has been produced, swordsmiths will use ancient techniques to create a high-quality sword. The swordsmith will continuously fold and hammer the metal to form layers within it, a process that serves multiple purposes, including distributing the carbon evenly throughout the blade and enhancing its strength.
Once the swordsmith has created a layered blade, they will begin the tempering process, which involves heating and cooling different parts of the blade to give it its distinctive curved shape. The final step in forming a katana is to sharpen the blade, a task that requires great skill.
During the sword hunting after World War II, many of the best katana were destroyed, but samurai who had been training with them managed to save some of them. Today, katana are no longer used as weapons, but as tools for martial arts such as Iaido and decent art objects. As long as they are properly maintained and stored, a katana can be treasured for generations to come. Click here
