Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The katana
A koto, A shinto, A shinshinto, A gendaito
These are classification by the age of the katana. A katana before 1600 is said as Koto. The age of the war ended in 1600 due to the battle of Sekigahara. Demand for the katana changed after 1600. And, the way of entailing it and making it changed, too. Then, how to make it changed. A katana after 1600 is called Shinto. Masahide Suishinshi advocated restoration of the koto in 1764. A katana after 1764 is called Shinshinto. Then, a katana after the Meiji Restoration ( 1867 )is called Gendaito. Edo shogunate collapses, and a military family administration is finished due to the Meiji Restoration. Then, new government by the Emperor is organized. Various reforms were done. Japan advances to the modern nation. An artistic katana. A katana for the actual fighting. A katana was changing with the age.
