Japanese sword mountings

Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings () that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. 拵え refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. katana) used when the sword blade is being worn by its owner, whereas the is a plain undecorated wooden mounting composed of a and that the sword blade is stored in when not being used. Fuchi: The is a hilt collar between the and the . Habaki: The is a wedge-shaped metal collar used to keep the sword from falling out of the and to support the fittings below; fitted at the ha-machi and mune-machi which precede the . Kaeshizuno: a hook shaped fitting used to lock the saya to the obi while drawing. Kashira: The kashira is a butt cap (or pommel) on the end of the tsuka. Kōgai: The is a spike for hair arranging carried sometimes as part of katana-koshirae in another pocket. Koiguchi: The is the mouth of the saya or its fitting; traditionally made of buffalo horn. Kojiri: The is the end of the saya or the protective fitting at the end of the saya; also traditionally made of buffalo horn. Kozuka: The is a decorative handle fitting for the kogatana; a small utility knife fit into a pocket on the saya. Kurigata: The is a knob on the side of the saya for attaching the sageo. Mekugi: The is a small peg for securing the tsuka to the nakago. Menuki: The are ornaments on the tsuka (generally under the tsuka-ito); Originally menuki were a cover for the mekugi to hold the peg/s in place. On Tachi worn edge down orientation at palm to orient the sword. On Katana orientation is at fingertips to orient the sword. Mekugi-ana: The are the holes in the tsuka and nakago for the mekugi. Sageo: The is the cord used to tie saya to the belt/obi when worn. Same-hada: literally the pattern of the ray skin. Same-kawa (samegawa): is the ray or shark skin wrapping of the tsuka (handle/hilt). Saya: The is a wooden scabbard for the blade; traditionally done in lacquered wood. Seppa: The are washers above and below the tsuba to tighten the fittings.

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Related concepts (10)

Katana

A katana is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the tachi, it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge facing upward. Since the Muromachi period, many old tachi were cut from the root and shortened, and the blade at the root was crushed and converted into katana. The specific term for katana in Japan is uchigatana (打刀) and the term katana (刀) often refers to single-edged swords from around the world.

Japanese sword mountings

Iaido

, abbreviated iai, is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes being aware and capable of quickly drawing the sword and responding to sudden attacks. Iaido consists of four main components: the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard (or saya), striking or cutting an opponent, shaking blood from the blade, and replacing the sword in the scabbard. While beginning practitioners of iaido may start learning with a wooden sword (bokken) depending on the teaching style of a particular instructor, most of the practitioners use a blunt-edged sword called an iaitō or mogitō.