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The Template:Nihongo—"large and small"<ref>The Japanese sword, Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 p.68</ref>—is a Japanese term for a matched pair of traditionally made Japanese swords (nihonto) worn by the samurai class in feudal Japan.
The etymology of the word daishō becomes apparent when the terms daitō, meaning long sword, and shōtō, meaning short sword, are used; daitō + shōtō = daishō.<ref>The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords, Kōkan Nagayama, Kodansha International, 1998 p.62</ref> A daishō is typically depicted as a katana and wakizashi (or a tantō) mounted in matching koshirae, but originally the daishō was the wearing of any long and short katana together.<ref>The Japanese sword, Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983</ref> The katana/wakizashi pairing is not the only daishō combination as generally any longer sword paired with a tantō is considered to be a daishō. Daishō eventually came to mean two swords having a matched set of fittings. A daishō could also have matching blades made by the same swordsmith, but this was in fact uncommon and not necessary for two swords to be considered to be a daishō, as it would have been more expensive for a samurai.<ref name=":0">Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior, Clive Sinclaire, Globe Pequot, 2004 p.53</ref><ref>Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts, Serge Mol, Kodansha International, 2003 p.18</ref><ref>The Japanese sword, Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 – Antiques & Collectibles – 210P.68</ref><ref>Katana: The Samurai Sword: 950–1877, Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing, 2010 P.20</ref>
HistoryEdit
The concept of the daisho originated with the pairing of a short sword with whatever long sword was being worn during a particular time period. The tachi would be paired with a tantō, and later the katana would be paired with another shorter katana called a chiisagatana. With the advent of the katana, the wakizashi eventually was chosen by samurai as the short sword over the tantō. Kanzan Satō, in his book titled The Japanese Sword, notes that there did not seem to be any particular need for the wakizashi and suggests that the wakizashi may have become more popular than the tantō as the wakizashi was 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 wakizashi inside.<ref>The Japanese sword, Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 P.68</ref>
Daishō may have become popular around the end of the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573)<ref name=":0" /> as several early examples date from the late 16th century.<ref>The Japanese sword, Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 p.68 & p.84</ref> An edict in 1629 defining the duties of a samurai required that daishō be worn when on official duty.<ref>Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum, Victor Harris, Tuttle Pub., 2005 p.26</ref> Wearing daishō was limited to the samurai class in 1683, and became a symbol of their rank<ref>刀の明治維新: 「帯刀」は武士の特権か?, 尾脇秀和,2018</ref> Samurai could wear decorative swords in daily life, but the Tokugawa shogunate regulated the appearance of swords for formal attire such as when samurai came to a castle. The daisho for formal attire was limited to the scabbard in solid black, the hilt winding thread and the hilt wrapped with white ray skin.<ref name ="en20p46">Kazuhiko Inada (2020), Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords. p46. Template:ISBN</ref>
According to most traditional kenjutsu schools, only one sword of the daisho would have been used in combat. However, in the first half of the 17th century, the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi promoted the use of a one-handed grip, which allowed both swords to be used simultaneously. This technique, called nitōken, is a main element of the Niten Ichi-ryū style of swordsmanship that Musashi founded.<ref>Serge Mol, 2003, Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts Kodansha International Ltd, Template:ISBN (pp. 22–23)</ref>
During the Meiji period an edict was passed in 1871 abolishing the requirement that daishō be worn by samurai, and in 1876 wearing swords in public by most of Japan's population was banned; thus ended the use of the daishō as the symbol of the samurai. The samurai class was abolished soon after the sword ban.<ref>Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior, Clive Sinclaire, Globe Pequot, 2004 p.58</ref><ref>New directions in the study of Meiji Japan, Helen Hardacre, Adam L. Kern, BRILL, 1997 p.418</ref><ref>Katana: The Samurai Sword: 950–1877, Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing, 2010 P.28</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Daishō (Katana and Wakizashi) forged by Minamoto Kiyomaro 2, 源清磨嘉永元年八月日.jpg
Daishō forged by Minamoto Kiyomaro (ja), Edo period, Designated as Special Important Sword
- Daishō (Katana and Wakizashi) forged by Suishinshi Masahide, 水心子正秀文政元年八月日.jpg
Daishō forged by Suishinshi Masahide (ja), Edo period
- Daishō (Katana and Wakizashi) forged by Taikei Naotane, 大慶直胤天保七年仲春.jpg
Daishō forged by Taikei Naotane (ja), Edo period, Designated as Important Sword
- 黒蝋色氷割紋螺鈿鞘大小拵, Katana koshirae, Daisho koshirae.jpg
Daishō mountings with ice crack pattern design. Edo period, Designated as Important Mounting, The Japanese Sword Museum
- 黒蝋色塗鞘大小拵, Black Waxed Scabbards with Sword Fittings.jpg
Daishō, black waxed scabbards. 19th century, Edo period. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.
- Daisho katana and wakizashi 1.jpg
Antique Japanese (samurai) daisho, showing the matched set of mounts (koshirae).
- Daisho-p1000661.jpg
An Edo-period daishō koshirae on its stand. The long-sword is generally stored above the wakizashi, curving downwards. When hung for display, the tip points to the right.
- Daisho kashira 1.jpg
Daisho kashira (pommel)
- Daisho habaki.jpg
Daisho habaki (wedge-shaped collar)
- Daisho fuchi.jpg
Daisho tsuba and fuchi (hand guard and hilt collar)
- Daisho tsuka 1.jpg
Daisho tsuka (hilt)
- Henmisosuke samurai.jpg
A 19th century samurai wearing his daisho
- Musashi vs. Bokuden.jpg
A print depicting the fictional encounter between swordsmen Miyamoto Musashi and Tsukahara Bokuden, the former using both swords in the Niten Ichi-ryū style.