Tantō
Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox weapon A Template:Nihongo3<ref name="books.google.com">The Samurai Sword: A Handbook, John M. Yumoto, Tuttle Publishing, 1989 p .47</ref> is a traditionally made Japanese knife<ref>Handbook to life in medieval and early modern Japan, William E. Deal, Oxford University Press US, 2007 P.161</ref> (Template:Transliteration)<ref>The Development of Controversies: From the Early Modern Period to Online Discussion Forums, Volume 91 of Linguistic Insights. Studies in Language and Communication, Author Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani, Publisher Peter Lang, 2008, Template:ISBN p.150</ref><ref>The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology, Complete Idiot's Guides, Authors Evans Lansing Smith, Nathan Robert Brown, Publisher Penguin, 2008, Template:ISBN P.144</ref> that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The Template:Transliteration dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. Template:Transliteration were used in traditional martial arts (Template:Transliteration) and in the seppuku suicide ritual. The term has seen a resurgence in the West since the 1980s as referring to a point style of modern tactical knives, designed for piercing or stabbing, though the style is not present on any traditional tantō.
A Tanto knife may refer to an American style of blade based of the Japanese Template:Transliteration, usually with a squared rather than curved tip.
DescriptionEdit
The Template:Transliteration is a single or double edged dagger with a length between Template:Convert (1 Japanese Template:Transliteration). The Template:Transliteration was designed primarily as a stabbing weapon, but the edge can be used for slashing as well. Template:Transliteration are generally forged in the Template:Nihongo style (without a ridgeline),<ref name="books.google.com"/><ref>Styles in the Shape of Blades</ref> meaning that their sides have no ridge line and are nearly flat, unlike the Template:Nihongo structure of a katana. Some Template:Transliteration have particularly thick cross-sections for armor-piercing duty, and are called Template:Transliteration.
Template:Transliteration were mostly carried by samurai; commoners did not generally wear them. Women sometimes carried a small Template:Transliteration called a Template:Transliteration<ref>Kaiken</ref> in their Template:Transliteration, primarily for self-defense. Template:Transliteration were sometimes worn as the Template:Nihongo in place of a Template:Transliteration in a Template:Transliteration,<ref name="FS2iT8QjqEC P.68">The Japanese Sword, Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 P.68</ref><ref>Shotokan's Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins, Bruce D. Clayton, Black Belt Communications, 2004 P106</ref> especially on the battlefield. Before the advent of the Template:Transliteration combination, it was common for a samurai to carry a Template:Transliteration and a Template:Transliteration as opposed to a katana and a Template:Transliteration.<ref name="FS2iT8QjqEC P.68"/>
It has been noted that the Template:Transliteration would be paired with a Template:Transliteration and later the katana would be paired with another shorter katana. With the advent of the katana, the Template:Transliteration was eventually chosen by samurai as the short sword of choice over the Template:Transliteration. Kanzan Satō, in his book The Japanese Sword, notes that there did not seem to be any particular need for the Template:Transliteration, and suggests that the Template:Transliteration may have become more popular than the Template:Transliteration due to the Template:Transliteration being more suited for indoor fighting. He mentions the custom of leaving the katana at the door of a castle or palace when entering while continuing to wear the Template:Transliteration inside.<ref>The Japanese Sword, Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 P.68</ref>
History of Template:Transliteration in JapanEdit
The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:
- Jōkotō (ancient swords, until around 900 AD)
- Kotō (old swords from around 900–1596)
- Shintō (new swords 1596–1780)
- Shinshintō (new new swords 1781–1876)
- Gendaitō (modern swords 1876–1945)<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Dead link</ref>
- Shinsakutō (newly made swords 1953–present)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Heian to Muromachi periodsEdit
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The Template:Transliteration was invented partway through the Heian period. With the beginning of the Kamakura period, Template:Transliteration were forged to be more aesthetically pleasing, and Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration became the most popular styles. Near the middle of the Kamakura period, more Template:Transliteration artisans were seen, increasing the abundance of the weapon, and the Template:Transliteration style became prevalent in the cities of Kyoto and Yamato. Because of the style introduced by the Template:Transliteration in the late Kamakura period, Template:Transliteration began to be forged longer and wider. The introduction of the Hachiman faith became visible in the carvings in the hilts around this time. The Template:Transliteration (line of temper) is similar to that of the Template:Transliteration, except for the absence of Template:Transliteration, which is Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration. Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration are found to have taken its place.
During the era of the Northern and Southern Courts, the Template:Transliteration were forged to be up to Template:Convert in length, as opposed to the normal one Template:Transliteration (about Template:Cvt) length. The blades became thinner between the Template:Transliteration and the Template:Transliteration, and wider between the Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration. At this point in time, two styles of Template:Transliteration were prevalent: the older style, which was subtle and artistic, and the newer, more popular style. With the beginning of the Muromachi period, constant fighting caused the mass production of blades, meaning that with higher demand, lower-quality blades were manufactured. Blades that were custom-forged still were of exceptional quality, but the average blade suffered greatly. As the end of the period neared, the average blade narrowed and the curvature shallowed.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Katana originate from Template:Nihongo, a kind of Template:Transliteration used by lower-ranking samurai who fought on foot in the Kamakura period. Their main weapon was a long Template:Transliteration, with the Template:Transliteration as a spare weapon. In the Nanboku-chō period, which corresponds to the early Muromachi period, long weapons such as Template:Transliteration were popular, and along with this, the Template:Transliteration lengthened, taking its form as the katana.<ref name="rekishi200940">歴史人 September 2020. p40. Template:ASIN</ref><ref>List of terms related to Japanese swords "Sasuga". Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World.</ref>
Momoyama to the early Edo periodEdit
Approximately 250 years of peace accompanied the unification of Japan, in which there was little need for blades. In this period, both the katana and Template:Transliteration were invented, taking the place of the Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration as the most-used pair of weapons, and the number of Template:Transliteration forged was severely decreased.<ref name=sat68>Satō (1983) p. 68</ref> Since this period, Template:Transliteration have often been carved with splendid decorations. Of the Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration forged during this period, three masterpieces are called the Template:Nihongo3.<ref>崇高なる造形－日本刀 名刀と名作から識る武士の美学－. Bijutsu techō</ref>
Late Edo periodEdit
There were still a few Template:Transliteration being forged during the late Edo period, and the ones that were forged reflected the work of the Kamakura, Nambokucho, or Muromachi eras. Suishinshi Masahide was a main contributor towards the forging of Template:Transliteration during this age.<ref name=sat68/> There were now only Template:Transliteration predating the Edo period being used in combat; Template:Transliteration forged during the late Edo period were not combative weapons.
Meiji to presentEdit
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Many Template:Transliteration were forged before World War II, due to the restoration of the Emperor to power. Members of the Imperial Court began wearing the set of Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration once more, and the number of Template:Transliteration in existence increased dramatically. After World War II, a restriction on sword forging caused Template:Transliteration manufacture to fall drastically.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Transliteration remained in use among twentieth century yakuza (gangsters) since they could be carried as a concealed weapon more easily than a katana. A Template:Transliteration is also traditionally used in the yubitsume ritual (cutting off part of a finger as an act of submission or atonement).
American and European interest in Japanese martial arts since the war created a demand for the Template:Transliteration outside Japan from the 1960s through the present time.<ref name=steele/>
Types of Template:TransliterationEdit
Blade typesEdit
- Template:Nihongo: A very common Template:Transliteration form with no Template:Transliteration, the edge bevels reaching all the way from the edge (Template:Transliteration) to the back (Template:Transliteration) with no separate flats in between, creating an almost triangular cross-section (the back is ridged, as on most other blade forms, so the cross-section is actually an extremely asymmetrical diamond shape; on Template:Transliteration blades it is hexagonal). It is extremely common due to the simplicity of its design.
- Template:Nihongo: This is the most common type of blade geometry for long swords, but Template:Transliteration made in this form are very rare, usually created from cut-down blades when a longer sword has been broken. Template:Transliteration means the central ridge that runs along the length of the blade between the edge bevels and the body of the blade.
- Template:Transliteration: Template:Transliteration feature an extremely long Template:Transliteration type point, over half the blade's length.
- Template:Nihongo: A common blade type that is very similar to the Template:Transliteration, except that it lacks a Template:Transliteration, the distinct angle between the long cutting edge and the point section, and instead the edge curves smoothly and uninterrupted into the point.
- Template:Nihongo: An uncommon Template:Transliteration style akin to the Template:Transliteration, with a back that grows abruptly thinner around the middle of the blade; however, the Template:Transliteration regains its thickness just before the point. There is normally a short, wide groove extending to the midway point on the blade.
- Template:Transliteration: These Template:Transliteration were shaped in the Template:Transliteration or Template:Transliteration style, but from about halfway to the tip the back edge was sharpened though this second edge was not particularly sharp. They had a groove running halfway up the blade and were similar to the Template:Transliteration-style Template:Transliteration.
- Template:Nihongo: A rare blade type with a double-edged point. Unlike the later Template:Transliteration the tip had a distinct shape unlike any other Template:Transliteration: the back edge would curve slightly downwards so that the point was lower than the back of the blade whereas other Template:Transliteration had the point in line with the back of the blade. Often they had a wide groove in the base half. The most well known historical blade of this type is the Template:Transliteration Kogarasu Maru, "Little Crow", one of the National Treasures of Japan.
- Template:Nihongo: A rare, double-edged Template:Transliteration type that has a diamond-shaped cross-section. The blade tapers to a point and contains a Template:Transliteration that runs to the point.
- Template:Nihongo: Template:Transliteration that have particularly thick cross-sections for armor-piercing duty.
- Template:Nihongo: An asymmetric Template:Transliteration form, sharpened only on one side to create a chisel-shaped cross-section.
- Template:Nihongo: A very rare type; the sharpened blade is on the inside curve rather than the outside. It has no sharpened point, making it difficult to use in battle and enshrouding the weapon in mystery. Template:Transliteration means Template:Gloss. According to one myth, they were carried by attendants of samurai for cutting off the heads of fallen enemies. There are other speculations existing about the Template:Transliteration's possible uses. Perhaps they were used by doctors or carried by high-ranking officials as a badge is worn today. They could also have been used for cutting charcoal or incense, or used as an artistic tool for pruning bonsai trees.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Template:Nihongo: A Template:Transliteration form that is commonly described as a short, wide, Template:Transliteration. The Template:Transliteration (Template:Gloss) was one of the blade type that the legendary swordsmith Masamune favored.
Mountings (Template:Transliteration)Edit
- Template:Nihongo: The Template:Transliteration is a Template:Transliteration where the Template:Transliteration is flush with the mouth of the sheath. There is no handguard. Template:Transliteration normally have plain wooden hilts, and many forms of Template:Transliteration have Template:Transliteration that are made from animal horns.
- Template:Transliteration: The Template:Transliteration is a Template:Transliteration that features a small handguard.
Western TantoEdit
A popular style of blade, known simply as a Tanto in the US and Europe, is similar in style to the Tantō except that the tip is squared at a shearing angle instead of curved.
The shearing angle may facilitate the stabbing effectiveness of the blade, and make the process of sharpening simpler.
This style of blade is commercially popular, and was used by CIA field agents in the wake of 9/11.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
The Bundeswehr is among the few millitaries (if not the only) that issues a "tantō"-style military knife in significant numbers. It is designated as the KM2000.
Other Template:TransliterationEdit
- Template:Transliteration: The Template:Transliteration (also Template:Transliteration or Template:Transliteration) is a generally short Template:Transliteration that is commonly carried in Template:Transliteration or Template:Transliteration mounts. It was useful for self-defense indoors where the long katana and intermediate Template:Transliteration were inconvenient. Women carried them in the obi for self-defense and rarely for Template:Transliteration (ritual suicide). A woman received a Template:Transliteration as part of her wedding gifts.
- Fan Template:Transliteration: The fan Template:Transliteration is a common Template:Transliteration with a blade entirely concealed within a fan-shaped scabbard. The blade was usually low quality, as this Template:Transliteration was not designed to be a display piece, but rather a concealed weapon for self-defense.
- Template:Transliteration: Japanese spearheads were often altered so that it became possible to mount them as Template:Transliteration. Unlike most blades, Template:Transliteration had triangular cross-sections.
- Template:Transliteration: This is also not truly a Template:Transliteration, though it is often used and thought of as one. Template:Transliteration were straight, double-edged blades often used for Buddhist rituals, and could be made from spearheads that were broken or cut shorter. They were often given as offerings from sword smiths when they visited a temple. The hilt of the Template:Transliteration may be found made with a vajra (double thunderbolt related to Buddhism).Template:Citation needed
- Modern Template:Transliteration: Modern tactical knives have been made by knife makers Bob Lum, Phill Hartsfield, Ernest Emerson, Allen Elishewitz, Bob Terzuola, Strider Knives, Harold J. "Kit" Carson, Benchmade, Camillus Cutlery Company, Spyderco, Severtech, Ka-Bar, SOG Knives, Columbia River Knife & Tool, and Cold Steel.<ref name="GP">Template:Cite book</ref> These "American Template:Transliteration" designs which are often folding knives, feature a thick spine on the blade that goes from the tang to the tip for increased tip strength.<ref name="customtacticals">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The handle shape may be altered slightly to provide better ergonomics.<ref name=steele>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Use in martial artsEdit
Template:Transliteration with blunt wooden or blunt plastic blades are used to practice martial arts. Versions with a blunt metal blade are used in more advanced training and in demonstrations. Martial arts that employ the Template:Transliteration include: Template:Div col
- Aikido
- Aikijutsu
- Jujutsu
- Wadō-ryū (both Template:Transliteration and katana)
- Koryu bujutsu
- Ninjutsu
- Shorinji Kempo
- Modern Arnis (taking place of dagger)
Popular cultureEdit
- Template:Transliteration can be seen in many jidaigeki and chanbara films, especially those depicting seppuku, such as Harakiri (1962).
- Template:Transliteration also appear in many yakuza films, where they are used in fights and stabbings among yakuza, and in the yubitsume (finger-cutting) ritual. Examples include Kinji Fukasaku's many yakuza films of the 1970s, and the Hollywood film The Yakuza (1974).
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles features Template:Transliteration knives used by April O'Neil, Leonardo, and Splinter in the 2012 version, and also by the Shredder in the 1990 version and Karai in the 2003 version.
- Template:Transliteration appear in many video games set in Japan, such as the 2020 samurai themed game Ghost of Tsushima, in which the protagonist uses a Template:Transliteration for stealth kills.
- The 2012 video game Hitman: Absolution enables players to pick up and use a weapon called the 'Agency Tanto Knife' on levels where Agent 47 fights a rogue sect of his employers, the International Contract Agency
- In the light novel series, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, the Greek deity Hephaestus crafted the Hestia Knife, divine knife designed after a Tanto which became Bell Cranel's signature weapon.
- A tanto is a possible weapon of Fujibayashi Naoe in Assassin's Creed Shadows.
GalleryEdit
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See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Commons category multi
Template:Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment Template:Swords by region Template:Knives