Sori (sword)

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Katana and Wakizashi, type: Torii-zori

The Sori ( Japanese 反 り ) is a name for the curvature of the blades on Japanese swords.

description

There are different shapes of the blades with different curvatures. The degree of curvature and the location of the blade where the curve is most pronounced can provide an indication of the period in which the sword was made. The types of Sori fall into the following classification:

  1. Torii-zori ( 華 表 反 り ): The word torii refers to the gates at Shinto shrines ; in this case the slightly curved crossbeams are specifically meant. The curvature of the blade is strongest in the middle of the blade. The name comes from the Yamashiro swordsmithing tradition , which was also known as Kyo. The swords forged by the Yamashiro school usually had this sori. This type of sori is the most common in Japanese swords.
  2. Koshi-zori ( 腰 反 り ): The word Koshi means "hip, waist". The lowest point of this sori is closer to the munemachi (back heel). This type is also called Bizen- Sori in reference to the Bizen swordsmithing tradition, as their swords were usually forged with Koshi-zori. All tachi made between the Heian period and the Kamakura period usually have a koshi-zori.
  3. Saki-zori ( 先 反 り ). Saki means "in front". The deepest point of the sori is in the front part of the blade, towards the kissaki ( place / point ). This type of sori is commonly found on swords made in the Muromachi period .
  4. Uchi-zori ( 内 反 り ) also Takenoko-zori ( た け の こ ぞ り ): Uchi means "inside" or "inside". In contrast to the other Sori species, the Uchi-Sori bends towards the cutting edge. Tantō combat knives forged during the Kamakura period generally have this type of sori. In Tantō, who have an uchi-zori and practically no fukura , the blade is similar to a bamboo shoot and its shape is therefore also called Takenoko-zori ("bamboo shoot sori").
  5. Mu-zori ( 無 反 り ): Mu means "nothing". The term mu-zori is used exclusively for Tantō versions that have no blade curvature. The term Chūkan-zori ( 中間 反 り ) is also used for these blades , which expresses that the curvature falls between that of the Sori and the Uchi-zori.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kōkan Nagayama: The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords. Kodansha International, Tokyo 1998, ISBN 4-7700-2071-6 , p. 55.

literature

  • Ian Bottomley, Anthony Hopson: Arms and Armor of the Samurai. The history of weaponry in Ancient Japan. Crescent Books, New York NY et al. 1996, ISBN 0-517-10318-4 , p. 184.
  • Victor Harris: Cutting Edge. Japanese Swords in the British Museum. Tuttle Publishing, North Clarendon VT 2005, ISBN 0-8048-3680-9 .
  • Nobuo Ogasawara: Japanese swords . 12th edition. Hoikusha, Osaka 1993, ISBN 4-586-54022-2 ( Color Books 22).
  • John M. Yumoto: The Samurai Sword. A handbook . Tuttle Publishing, Rutland VT et al. 1988, ISBN 0-8048-0509-1 .

Web links

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