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Short katana (small katana) is also known as wakizashi. It belongs to a group of Japanese swords, second only to the katana and tachi, and is usually carried on the waist of a samurai as a pair with a tachi or katana, Wikizashi began in the mid-to-late Muromachi period, was basically finalized in the Azuchi-Momoyama period of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and flourished in the Edo period of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
What is the purpose of a wakizashi?
wakizashi is used as a back-up weapon, seldom used in normal times, but only when the main weapon, the tachi, or katana, has been destroyed.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Wakizashi is that the sword was used for harakiri, but it was not, the tanto was used for harakiri. and it was also a weapon of self-defense that was permitted to be carried by ordinary people, citizens, merchants, and others who were not samurai. This is why in many of the ancient rebellions, this weapon was used by the leading warrior.
Wakizashi length
The wakizashi is shorter than the katana, generally between 30 and 60 centimeters in length, and can essentially only be held in one hand. As such, it is ideal for use by a two-handed practitioner (katana in one hand and wakizashi in the other), or for use in confined spaces. When worn, it is placed in the arms along with the katana.
What is the difference between a katana vs
wakizashi?
Prior to the advent of the wakizashi, samurai generally wore only a tachi, because in the early days samurai fought mainly on horseback, and the tachi was primarily used as a cavalry sword. Until the end of the Heian period to the beginning of the Kamakura period, Japan's wars began to slowly change to the infantry, so more suitable for underfoot combat katana slowly eliminated the tachi became the mainstream weapon, After the establishment of the Edo Shogunate, the Shogunate directly decreed that samurai should wear two swords, and the shape of the "big and small swords" was specified, and the specifications of wakizashi were then formalized. samurai warriors to wear two swords as a matter of pride, and then now we all know, wearing a long and a short wakizashi vs katana Japanese samurai image began to appear.
Although wakizashi and katana were originally intended to be used in different situations, and were hardly ever used at the same time, as the wearing of "big and small swords" became the norm, many schools developed the combat technique of holding katana in one hand, and wakizashi in the other, known as the "two-sword style". The "Two Sword Stream", of which the most famous is Miyamoto Musashi. Even schools that specialize in one sword have techniques for using wakizashi to surprise or aid in defense in the middle of a battle, depending on the situation.
Wakizashi for sale
If you already own a katana and want to wear one long and one short sword like a true samurai, a wakizashi is essential. Or if you're just starting out with Japanese swords and just want a short sword, then a wakizashi of the right length is the way to go. Experience the glory and splendor of the samurai by choosing a handmade wakizashi from Xingyu Sword, and add a piece of historic Japanese sword culture to your collection as you embark on your quest!
