Tanto

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The Tanto is a Japanese short sword or dagger.

Its traditional overall length was 11.93 in (1 shaku). Blade's length was about 5" to 12". Blades that were bigger (13" to 14" inches) were called ko-wakizashi, or "small short sword." The tantos which had untraditional size were referred to as O-tanto or Sunobi tanto.

Tanto represents a weapon with single-edged blade and a curved shape. It was designed for soft targets and was considered a hidden weapon of the samurai. Tanto was extremely effective in close fighting.

Tanto appeared during the Heian Period (795-1192 A.D.) and evolved as a weapon during Kamakura Period (1192-1333 A.D.). It is the period when tanto is not just a weapon but also a work of art. It is richly decorated using the most spread styles - hira-tsukuri and uchi-sori. Later in Nambokucho period (1336-1392 A.D), tantos become longer than 15.75 inches. Blades become thinner and broader and thus even more dangerous. There are developed different styles and the shape is considerably changed. During Muromachi Period (1336–1573 A.D.) the tanto becomes again narrow-bladed.

The quality of the blade is better. It is the time when professional smiths appear and there are distinguished several styles of tanto making. The most known smiths were: Sukesada and Norimitsu (Bizen-den); Kanemoto and Kanesada (Mino-den); Muramasa and Masashige (Ise).The beginning of Edo period (1603-1867 A.D.) was a period of relative peace after Japan unification and the production of tantos changed from quantity to quality. The heat treated blade's edge (hamon) becomes more waved and thus more aesthetic.

There is a great number of tantos made in the last 700 to 800 years. Some of them were for civil use; others were made especially for samurai. One of the classifications is based on the hand guard type:

  • tanto with a guard called tsuba;
  • tanto with a aikuchi style of guard;
  • tanto with hamadashi style of guard.

The most popular of the three tantos were aikuchi and hamadashi. This was because of the fact that these two types had a small guard and they were easier to hide and carry. Tanto was not widely used on battlefield, so the guard was mostly unnecessary.

Other styles of tantos differed by the shape of the blade. The most known are:

  • Hira-zukuri - with a flat, narrow and thick blade, this was designed for slashing and piercing blows.
  • Shobu-zukuri - with a ridge line and with a blood groove.
  • Moroha - it is double edged and very rare tanto
  • Kissaki-moroha-zukuri - with a very long and sharp point (o-kissaki)
  • Kaikan - short tanto with small guards usually carried by women.

The direct function of a tanto on the battlefield was to penetrate the armor of the opponent when he is at a close distance. The best tantos for this were those with a long, narrow blade and with a thick spine. The blow was applied with the point directed under or through the armor. The tanto was usually carried in a wide cloth belt (obi) with the edge up and the handle turned to the right. In the samurai house the tanto often was placed with the wakizashi (short sword). Samurai women were taught to use the tanto in case they needed to defend themselves or, if violated, to take their own life.

It is also considered that tantos of different type were used for suicide ritual (seppuku, also hara-kiri). Still, it was mainly used by women samurai whose suicidal ritual was to cut their own throat. The men samurai used a wakizashi sword for the suicidal ritual which was different from the women's one (disembowelment).

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