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Post by Draco Sezeski on Oct 7, 2004 5:12:32 GMT -5
I have seen many misspellings of the various Japanese swords and many more engilsh translations which get confusing in my eyes. I will put up a key on what sword is what(along with a polearm).
Katana-Long Sword (Everyone should know that!) Wakizashi-Short/Companion Sword Tanto-Dagger No Dachi-Extra Long Sword (I think) Naginata-Long Sword-On-A-Stick
If I missed any swords please point them out.
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AJBryant
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Post by AJBryant on Oct 7, 2004 23:34:35 GMT -5
Points:
The "companion sword" is spelled "wakizashi."
There is no such thing as a "dai katana" -- that combination of syllables isn't even Japanese. It would be either Daitô (which, surprise, it IS! and is just another name for the katana) or ookatana which isn't a Japanese word.
Tony
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Post by Draco Sezeski on Oct 9, 2004 8:07:59 GMT -5
Actually, Musashi tells in "The Book of Five Rings" that some dojos used the "Extra Long Sword" and in another book, I cannot remember which, mentioned a "DaiKatana", which was, indeed, an Extra-Long Katana. It had a good extra 6 inches in both handle space and blade length.
And Dai is Japanese for Extra or Giant. Such as "Daikaiju"
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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Oct 9, 2004 16:49:08 GMT -5
The question is not whether extra-long swords existed, but what they are called. Here is a link to a japanese-english dictionary. It will be more useful if you have Japanese fonts installed on your computer. www.csse.monash.edu.au/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/jwb/wwwjdic?1CChoose the "Japanese Keyword in Romanji" option Enter the keyword "daikatana" Press the "Begin Search" button. This word is not found (Note that the replies are for the "longest match found") Try again with "daitou" or "daito" The first match is 大刀 which is pronounced daito and means "long sword" (as in longer than a katana). Note that the Japanese kanji and the meaning for "katana" and "tou" are the same: 刀 If I understand correctly, you use one as a standalone word (katana) and the other in combination (daitou, battousai). Note that I don't speak Japanese so I may have this point wrong. The trailing 'u' in tou or Tatsuzou indicates the long 'o', the one with a line or caret over the top.
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AJBryant
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Post by AJBryant on Oct 9, 2004 18:31:41 GMT -5
Sigh. The word used for a sword "longer than normal" is "nagai". Not "dai." If anything, it would be a "nagatsuki no katana" -- a long-hilted katana. Katana was the generic sword of the era. There is NO Japanese word "daikatana" despite what the makers of a pathetic video game would like to believe. That is, simply, an impossible combination in Japanese. There already IS a word using those kanji, and that word is "daitou," which is another name for "katana" -- as distinct from "shoutou" which is another name for "wakizashi." The creation of the concept for daitou and shoutou is rather late (Sengoku or Edo). Only sometimes. Sometimes the character is read "ookii" -- and when the character is read "dai" (the Sino-Japanese reading, called on'yomi), the other words in the compound are also read in the on'yomi. The word "katana" is the native Japanese reading (kun'yomi) of the character; the on'yomi is "tou" -- if you have a kanji combination with the two characters, they will be read "daitou" (or "daito" if the site isn't picky about long vowels -- there should be a macron over the "o"). Trust me. I speak Japanese. Tony
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Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Oct 9, 2004 18:38:08 GMT -5
daitou + shotou = daishou ?
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Saionji Shonagon
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Oct 9, 2004 21:46:21 GMT -5
Trust me. I speak Japanese. I ususally do, Sensei. Makiwara
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AJBryant
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Post by AJBryant on Oct 10, 2004 18:17:03 GMT -5
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Post by Draco Sezeski on Oct 12, 2004 7:03:40 GMT -5
Oooookay. I got your point, but which one of the dozen spellings you handed me do you prefur I use?
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AJBryant
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Post by AJBryant on Oct 13, 2004 2:12:59 GMT -5
Split the difference. Use "katana."
Tony
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Post by Draco Sezeski on Oct 13, 2004 21:33:32 GMT -5
Consider it done.
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Post by Takeda Hirotsune on Apr 22, 2005 13:26:04 GMT -5
Maybe I could offer an update if you guys don't mind . I have been researching weapon names for quite some time now and think I might be able to provide a usefull list with some elaboration of the names. Tanto - Dagger. Kodachi - The word kodachi refers to a lone short sword (just like the word shoto). I myself like to use it to destinguish short blades style in the same way as a tachi. Wakizashi - Means 'slung at side', nothing more, nothing less. Longsword + dagger or longsword + shortsword, it makes no difference. Nowadays however, the term is mostly used to refer to shortswords styled like a katana. Katana - The word actually described blades we now call shortswords and daggers. The original name is 'uchi-gatana'. But for sake of ease, katana describes the longsword we all love. Remember - 'thrust through the belt'. Tachi - The tachi is the original sword type used by samurai. In late medieval periods, it was the weapon of choice to show you're of high rank. It is usually slightly longer than an average katana and much more extensively decorated (and the center of the curve is located more towards the rear). Worn hung from the belt. Nodachi - Funnily enough, nodachi originally refered to shortswords and daggers. The nodachi we refer today is a longer katana. Why do I describe it like this? Because it is one. The blade is longer. Not thicker nor differently curved, just longer. And the style matches. Odachi - Odachi that were found however, are not just elongated tachi. The blades were actually slightly thicker and larger. Besides that, it is formed like a large tachi with the same style of curve and decoration. When a general leads a group of warriors armed with nodachi's, the general would look well to wield an odachi. Naginata - Our beloved scythe/halberd/glaive (whatever you want to call it). Just remember, smooth handle. Nagamaki - Ok, I want people to know, a nagamaki does NOT look like a naginata. A google search will show you (sadly enough) a short naginata and call it a nagamaki. Don't be fooled. A nagamaki can best be described as a nodachi with a tsuka elongated till it's as long as the blade. So keep in mind, nodachi blade, wrapped tsuka (very important. this means you can't slide your hand up and down as you can with a yari or naginata). I hope this list is helpfull. I can also provide the same for almost every weapon in existence in medieval japan. If you'd like it, just ask .
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Post by Saito Takauji on May 14, 2005 16:18:01 GMT -5
The way I was told, it goes like this.
Daisho - The Katana and Wakizashi together.
Katana - It be the long sword, yo.
Wakizashi - it be the shorter one, yo. Kill yourself with it.
Tanto - Dagger.
Aiguchi - Handle-less dagger.
No-Dachi - curved greatsword.
Yari - Spear.
Naginata - Halbred/glaive.
Yumi/Dai-kyu - Bows. Yumi is standing bow, Dai-kyu is horse bow.
Kama - Little scythe.
Tonfa - Nightstick.
Ono - Axe.
And, for those of us in the late Sengoku:
Musket/Arquebus - Gun.
I think this is correct, but I'm not claiming 100 percent accuracy.
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Post by Takeda Sanjuichiro on Jun 1, 2005 9:23:32 GMT -5
Well.... some people on here know my argument about it but, the name for japanese swords is tachi. Possibly one could then also state ken or tsurugi.
All other names are descriptions, like the words bastard sword, broad sword, great sword, short sword, bowie knife...
Katana btw are a knife.... big knives, but still knives by the fittings and how they are carried.
-Takeda (hopeing to inspire friendly debate)
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Yvarg
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Post by Yvarg on Jun 6, 2005 23:09:24 GMT -5
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