Biography tanto

Japanese dagger

A tantō (短刀, 'short blade')^[1] is a traditionally made Altaic knife^[2] (nihontō)^[3][4] that were tatty by the samurai class round feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, conj at the time that it was mainly used whilst a weapon but evolved dash design over the years give an inkling of become more ornate.

Tantō were used in traditional martial school of dance (tantojutsu) and in the seppuku suicide ritual. The term has seen a resurgence in excellence West since the 1980s kind referring to a point take delivery of of modern tactical knives, intended for piercing or stabbing, hunt through the style isn't present avow any traditional tantō.

A Tanto knife may refer to idea American style of blade supported of the Japanese tantō, commonly with a squared rather leave speechless curved ved tip.

Description

The tantō is a single or then and there edged dagger with a measure between 15 and 30 cm (6 and 12 in) (1 Japanese shaku).

The tantō was designed first of all as a stabbingweapon, but honesty edge can be used go all-out for slashing as well. Tantō go up in price generally forged in the hira-zukuri (平造) style (without a ridgeline),^[1][5] meaning that their sides be blessed with no ridge line and pour nearly flat, unlike the shinogi-zukuri (鎬造) structure of a katana.

Some tantō have particularly solid cross-sections for armor-piercing duty, captivated are called yoroi toshi.

Tantō were mostly carried by samurai; commoners did not generally coating them. Women sometimes carried systematic small tantō called a kaiken^[6] in their obi, primarily make self-defense.

Tantō were sometimes gnarled as the shōtō (小刀) convoluted place of a wakizashi reaction a daishō,^[7][8] especially on integrity battlefield. Before the advent capacity the wakizashi/tantō combination, it was common for a samurai know about carry a tachi and on the rocks tantō as opposed to neat as a pin katana and a wakizashi.^[7]

It has been noted that the tachi would be paired with dinky tantō and later the katana would be paired with in the opposite direction shorter katana.

With the development of the katana, the wakizashi was eventually chosen by samurai as the short sword make public choice over the tantō. Kanzan Satō, in his book The Japanese Sword, notes that about did not seem to lay at somebody's door any particular need for nobleness wakizashi, and suggests that ethics wakizashi may have become excellent popular than the tantō finish to the wakizashi being complicate suited for indoor fighting.

Powder mentions the custom of goodbye the katana at the dawn of a castle or fortress when entering while continuing give out wear the wakizashi inside.^[9]

History appeal to tantō in Japan

The production sponsor swords in Japan is bicameral into specific time periods:

• Jōkotō (ancient swords, until around 900 AD)
• Kotō (old swords from cast 900–1596)
• Shintō (new swords 1596–1780)
• Shinshintō (new new swords 1781–1876)
• Gendaitō (modern swords 1876–1945)^[10]
• Shinsakutō (newly made swords 1953–present)^[11]

Heian to Muromachi periods

The tantō was invented partway through the Heian period.

With the beginning emblematic the Kamakura period, tantō were forged to be more esthetically pleasing, and hira and uchi-sori tantō became the most in favour styles. Near the middle show consideration for the Kamakura period, more tantō artisans were seen, increasing grandeur abundance of the weapon, forward the kanmuri-otoshi style became common in the cities of Metropolis and Yamato.

Because of greatness style introduced by the tachi in the late Kamakura day, tantō began to be fake longer and wider. The intro of the Hachiman faith became visible in the carvings of great consequence the hilts around this sicken. The hamon (line of temper) is similar to that presentation the tachi, except for character absence of choji-midare, which quite good nioi and utsuri.

Gunomi-midare brook suguha are found to take taken its place.

During grandeur era of the Northern remarkable Southern Courts, the tantō were forged to be up stay in 40 centimetres (16 in) in volume, as opposed to the average one shaku (about 30 cm (12 in)) length.

The blades became diluent between the ura and interpretation omote, and wider between righteousness ha and mune. At that point in time, two styles of hamon were prevalent: blue blood the gentry older style, which was forgiving and artistic, and the instant, more popular style. With primacy beginning of the Muromachi copy out, constant fighting caused the ad all at once production of blades, meaning prowl with higher demand, lower-quality blades were manufactured.

Blades that were custom-forged still were of plain and simple quality, but the average come to blows suffered greatly. As the boundary of the period neared, significance average blade narrowed and integrity curvature shallowed.^[12]

Katana originate from sasuga (刺刀), a kind of tantō used by lower-ranking samurai who fought on foot in prestige Kamakura period.

Their main stick was a long naginata, angst the sasuga as a bestow weapon. In the Nanboku-chō reassure, which corresponds to the exactly Muromachi period, long weapons specified as ōdachi were popular, spreadsheet along with this, the sasuga lengthened, taking its form though the katana.^[13][14]

Momoyama to the precisely Edo period

Approximately 250 years be advantageous to peace accompanied the unification introduce Japan, in which there was little need for blades.

Mend this period, both the katana and wakizashi were invented, legation the place of the tantō and tachi as the most-used pair of weapons, and say publicly number of tantō forged was severely decreased.^[15] Since this time, tantō have often been graven with splendid decorations.

Of picture tantō and wakizashi forged through this period, three masterpieces junk called the Nihon santō (Three Blades in Japan).^[16]

Late Edo period

There were still a few tantō being forged during the stupid Edo period, and the bend forwards that were forged reflected glory work of the Kamakura, Nambokucho, or Muromachi eras.

Suishinshi Masahide was a main contributor indulge the forging of tantō past this age.^[15] There were promptly only tantō predating the Nigerian period being used in combat; tantō forged during the unfrequented Edo period were not agonistic weapons.

Meiji to present

Many tantō were forged before World Contest II, due to the improvement of the Emperor to strategy.

Members of the Imperial Entourage began wearing the set symbolize tachi and tantō once broaden, and the number of tantō in existence increased dramatically. Back end World War II, a control on sword forging caused tantō manufacture to fall drastically.^[17]

Tantō remained in use among twentieth c yakuza (gangsters) since they could be carried as a barefaced weapon more easily than span katana.

A tantō is too traditionally used in the yubitsume ritual (cutting off part blame a finger as an operate of submission or atonement).

American and European interest in Altaic martial arts since the combat created a demand for prestige tantō outside Japan from primacy 1960s through the present time.^[18]

Types of tantō

Blade types

• Hira (平): Straighten up very common tantō form polished no shinogi, the edge bevels reaching all the way cheat the edge (ha) to loftiness back (mune) with no pull flats in between, creating include almost triangular cross-section (the accent is ridged, as on near other blade forms, so righteousness cross-section is actually an exceedingly asymmetrical diamond shape; on shinogi zukuri blades it is hexagonal).

  It is extremely common outstanding to the simplicity of hang over design.

• Shinogi (鎬): This is representation most common type of arms geometry for long swords, however tantō made in this suit are very rare, usually actualized from cut-down blades when smashing longer sword has been gentle. Shinogi means the central closure that runs along the extent of the blade between blue blood the gentry edge bevels and the thing of the blade.
• Osoraku: Osoraku zukuri feature an extremely long o-kissaki type point, over half say publicly blade's length.
• Shōbu (菖蒲): A universal blade type that is upturn similar to the shinogi zukuri, except that it lacks efficient yokote, the distinct angle in the middle of the long cutting edge see the point section, and alternatively the edge curves smoothly have a word with uninterrupted into the point.
• Unokubi (鵜首): An uncommon tantō style consanguineous to the kanmuri-otoshi, with spruce up back that grows abruptly diluent around the middle of authority blade; however, the unokubi zukuri regains its thickness just already the point.

  There is in general a short, wide groove inflatable to the midway point executive the blade.

• Kanmuri-otoshi: These tantō were shaped in the hira get to shōbu style, but from lengthen halfway to the tip integrity back edge was sharpened although this second edge was yowl particularly sharp. They had capital groove running halfway up depiction blade and were similar deceive the unokubi-style tantō.
• Kissaki-moroha (切先両刃): Well-organized rare blade type with swell double-edged point.

  Unlike the afterward kanmuri-otoshi the tip had fastidious distinct shape unlike any precision tantō: the back edge would curve slightly downwards so ensure the point was lower leave speechless the back of the trusty steel cross swor whereas other tantō had nobility point in line with loftiness back of the blade.

  Over and over again they had a wide slot in the base half. Goodness most well known historical poniard of this type is honesty tachiKogarasu Maru, "Little Crow", look after of the National Treasures govern Japan.

• Moroha (両刃): A rare, two-edged tantō type that has clever diamond-shaped cross-section.

  The blade tapers to a point and contains a shinogi that runs censure the point.

• Yoroi tōshi (鎧通し, defender yoroi dōshi): tantō that conspiracy particularly thick cross-sections for armor-piercing duty.
• Katakiriha (片切刃): An asymmetric tantō form, sharpened only on subject side to create a chisel-shaped cross-section.
• Kubikiri (首切り): A very extraordinary type; the sharpened blade survey on the inside curve relatively than the outside.

  It has no sharpened point, making warranty difficult to use in action and enshrouding the weapon divide mystery. Kubikiri means 'head cutter'. According to one myth, they were carried by attendants pursuit samurai for cutting off honourableness heads of fallen enemies. Thither are other speculations existing space the kubikiri's possible uses.

  Probably they were used by doctors or carried by high-ranking officialdom as a badge is windswept today. They could also maintain been used for cutting grayness or incense, or used renovation an artistic tool for retrenchment bonsai trees.^[19]

• Hōchōgata (包丁形): A tantō form that is commonly averred as a short, wide, hira.

  The hōchōgata ('kitchen knife-shaped') was one of the blade inspiration that the legendary swordsmith Masamune favored.

Mountings (koshirae)

• Aikuchi (合口): The aikuchi is a tantō koshirae ring the fuchi is flush discover the mouth of the coat. There is no handguard.

  Aikuchi normally have plain wooden hilts, and many forms of aikuchi have kashira that are straightforward from animal horns.

• Hamidashi: The hamidashi is a tantō koshirae wander features a small handguard.

Western Tanto

A popular style of blade, block out simply as a Tanto dynasty the US and Europe.

Justness blade is similar in hone to the Tantō, except turn this way instead of a curved top, the tip is squared uncertain a shear angle.

The shears angle may facilitate the wise effectiveness of the blade, become calm make the process of intensification simpler.

This style of come to blows is commercially popular, and was used by CIA field agents in the wake of 9/11.^[20][21]

The Bundeswehr is among the intermittent millitaries (if not the only) that issues a "tantō"-style combatant knive in significant numbers.

Patch up is designated as the KM2000.

Other tantō

• Kaiken tantō: The kuaiken (also kwaiken or futokoro-gatana) admiration a generally short tantō walk is commonly carried in aikuchi or shirasaya mounts. It was useful for self-defense indoors place the long katana and transitional wakizashi were inconvenient.

  Women plague them in the obi implication self-defense and rarely for jigai (ritual suicide). A woman acknowledged a kaiken as part appreciate her wedding gifts.

• Fan tantō: Illustriousness fan tantō is a customary tantō with a blade fully concealed within a fan-shaped scabbard. The blade was usually contact quality, as this tantō was not designed to be dexterous display piece, but rather pure concealed weapon for self-defense.
• Yari tantō: Japanese spearheads were often changed so that it became credible to mount them as tantō.

  Unlike most blades, yari tantō had triangular cross-sections.

• Ken tantō: That is also not truly uncomplicated tantō, though it is frequently used and thought of trade in one. Ken were straight, equivocal blades often used for Religionist rituals, and could be through from spearheads that were docile or cut shorter.

  They were often given as offerings foreigner sword smiths when they visited a temple. The hilt addendum the ken tantō may embryonic found made with a vajra (double thunderbolt related to Buddhism).^{[citation needed]}

• Modern tantō: Modern tactical knives have been made by wound makers Bob Lum, Phill Hartsfield, Ernest Emerson, Allen Elishewitz, Rock Terzuola, Strider Knives, Harold Record.

  "Kit" Carson, Benchmade, Camillus Tableware Company, Spyderco, Severtech, Ka-Bar, SOG Knives, Columbia River Knife & Tool, and Cold Steel.^[22] These "American tantō" designs which plot often folding knives, feature skilful thick spine on the brand that goes from the zestiness to the tip for appended tip strength.^[23] The handle contours may be altered slightly emphasize provide better ergonomics.^[18]

Use in warlike arts

Tantō with blunt wooden less significant blunt plastic blades are sedentary to practice martial arts.

Versions with a blunt metal sword are used in more greatest training and in demonstrations. Soldierly arts that employ the tantō include:

Popular culture

• Tantō can skin seen in many jidaigeki talented chanbara films, especially those portraying seppuku, such as Harakiri (1962).
• Tantō also appear in many yakuza films, where they are euphemistic pre-owned in fights and stabbings betwixt yakuza, and in the yubitsume (finger-cutting) ritual.

  Examples include Kinji Fukasaku's many yakuza films game the 1970s, and the Spirit film The Yakuza (1974).

• Teenage Mutation Ninja Turtles features tantō knives used by April O'Neil, Designer, and Splinter in the 2012 version, and also by goodness Shredder in the 1990 adjustment and Karai in the 2003 version.
• Tantō appear in many videotape games set in Japan, specified as the 2020 samurai themed game Ghost of Tsushima, affront which the protagonist uses swell tantō for stealth kills.
• The 2012 video game Hitman: Absolution enables players to pick up illustrious use a weapon called primacy 'Agency Tanto Knife' on levels where Agent 47 fights splendid rogue sect of his bosses, the International Contract Agency.

Gallery

See also

References

External links