Just some comments about Japanese swords, to clear up some historical facts
(and the ninjato)...
----- Original Message -----
From: andrew norris <atn6581@silver.sdsmt.edu>
To: Brendan <brenda02@m4.sprynet.com>; <ffml@fanfic.com>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 3:24 AM
Subject: [FFML] Re: Way of the Ninjitsu Chapter 2
----- Original Message -----
From: Brendan <brenda02@m4.sprynet.com>
To: <ffml@fanfic.com>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 12:25 AM
Subject: [FFML] Re: Way of the Ninjitsu Chapter 2
On Mon, 22 Nov 1999, "Parson aka Deunan" <gte132q@prism.gatech.edu>
wrote:
Katana is a traditional combat sword - some versions conflict about
whether
the 'official katana' is straight or curved - but I take the curved
version.
The Katana is the long sword which was created because the earlier
swords weren't very effective against Mongol invaders in the (I think)
13th
century.
Katanas came about during either the Toyotomi, or Tokugawa Shogunate..
They were a a shortened version of the Daito (commonly known as Tachi).. The
shortening of the blade, and handle, was done for convience, since most of
the major civil wars were over by this time... There are no artifacts of a
"Ninjato" that I know of, and the only recorded straight Japanese swords
were copies done aroung 800 AD of Chinese blades... The curved, properly
tempered, Japanese sword (Katana, Daito, ect.) dates to 900AD... Basically
what I'm trying to say is that Ninjatos are a figment of some movie execs.
imagination, and never really existed.. If someone has some historical proof
of one, please tell me, I always enjoy learning something new about
swords... ^^
The blade is fairly straight when it's being forged, aquiring
it's
curvature in the tempering process. Creating one of these swords is a
long
involved process deeply steeped in Shinto traditions. And after the
blade
is
completed the lower quality are tested on straw dummies, and the best
are
tested on the bodies of executed criminals.
It is generally a two handed slicing blade, but ninjas have been known
to
wield two. It's size can range from 3 to 5 feet or so.
I was wondering where you got that fact about the use of two katanas.
In
all the literature I've have seen and read I've heard of no mention of
that.
I've always heard that was simply a "myth" and popularized in comics
like
TMNT or other anime.
In point of fact paired swords was the ultimate symbol of the
Samurai. Only the Samurai were allowed to wear two swords. So a Ninja
with
two swords, even if they weren't the Daisho long and short, would be a
calculated insult to any Samurai who saw them. Usefull to the degree
that
an
enraged opponent gets careless, but with the drawback that any samurai
aware
of the paired swords used by a non Samurai would be that much more
dedicated
and persistant in trying to obliterate the blasphemer.
Oh and the two sword style is a clasic samurai swordsmanship style
created by Miamoto Musashi.
Thanks... what trying to remember HOW to spell that name (and remember the
family name.)
This I have no clue on, but the Musashi part is right, and the long sword
was also considered off-limits to anyone not of Samurai class... But, if no
one knew you had one, you could probably get away with it... ^^
I would definately consider any Kitana armed Ninja a rareity. First
off the Kitana is extremely expensive, and while it's a fantastic
cutting
weapon, it's not much good for anything else. You can't stab with one
effectively unless you're highly trained, it's hard to parry with one
because
the edge is very fragile, and it's both easy to recognise and hard to
conceil.
Stabbing with a katana is suprizingly easy, though it is a two handed
affair, one hand to guide the blade (holding the back edge)... The edges on
well forged katana are not fragile, and will hold up to parries, it's the
cheap improperly tempered ones that can, and will, chip... Part of this
comes from the way the blade is sharpened.... I'd say a Ninja would be more
likely to carry one (or two) wakazashi(s), since they would be availible to
him/her, and small enough to conceil...(I'm currently working on an original
character that uses two Wakazashi, held backwards, in his usual hand to hand
techniques...) Plus, they would not be totally defenceless facing a Samurai,
an improperly forged blade could break easily, and I've seen a 16th century
katana cut through untempered steel.... Swords weren't near as expensive
then as they are now (Close to $1200 for anything worth using for cutting
practice nowadays)... During the civil war periods, swords were made well up
into the millions of blades, though as the demand for swords diminished, so
did the number of sword-smiths, and the prices went up for a newly forged
sword.... I'd say if a Ninja were good enough, he/she would be able to
afford an average to good blade during pre-restoration Japan, post-, though,
swords got real expensive and illegal to carry... ^^
*Grin* yup, that's why most would use Ninja-to's (short concelable blades,
and not all that well made.)
See above..... (I personally would never go into a life or death situation
without competent equipment... *grin*) ^^;;;;
However, it's NOT too unlikey that a clan of Ninja's would be Samurai...
(esp in various times.) Esp, if they are the emporer's own, or something
like that, or the best at what they did, and they asked for that prize
instead of cash...
Most Ninja probably wouldn't go for the title of "Samurai", while it would
afford them greater respect, they would have most of the Samurai families
asking way too many questions, plus the name alone carries responciblities a
ninja would never agree to.. We all know how secretive Ninja like to be,
that would go completely against that... ^^
However, IF a Ninja was "disgusied" as a Samurai, they would carry the
dashido...
Daisho, gomen, swords are my "thing".. ^^ (I practice Iaido (draw of the
sword), Kendo, and a little Kenjustu [yes, there is a difference], but it's
hard to find a sensei for the latter.. ^^;;;;)
It's all in the way you write the story. (Also, it's a GREAT weapon, for
the style of swordmanship of Nippon, one strike, one kill, would make
sense...)
Andrew
-Deunan
Yes, when you have the pinnacle of sword-making you use it........ hehehe ^^
I hope I didn't bore anyone to dead with all the sword trivia... ^^;;;
-Toshiro