Tameshigiri
Tameshigiri is a cut test with Japanese swords, often katana . In the Japanese Middle Ages, sword testers, and occasionally samurai , tried new blades on the bodies of those who were executed or on the living. Up to three bodies were used at the same time. The results of this cutting test were noted on the blade tang ( Nakago ). This entry can often be found on the blades of the swordsmith Kotetsu (* 1600 to † 1673). Samurai had this done on living convicts.
Today specially wrapped mats (Tatami-Omote) are made from Igusa grass (= flutter rush ( Juncus effusus )), which are left to soak in water 12 hours before cutting and then dried for about 4 hours, or green bamboo poles with a diameter of about 5.7 cm to about 12.7 cm used. Different cuts are practiced with a sharp sword: diagonal, horizontal, vertical, one-handed or two-handed cuts. The quality of the blade and the cutting technique of the practitioner can be seen on the cut surface. It is important here that the angle of the blade exactly matches the angle of the cut, otherwise the sword will be tilted, which prevents the clean cut and can even lead to bending or - rarely - breaking of the blade.
Tameshigiri has nothing to do with Iaidō , but is practiced by some Iaidoka to test their cutting technique. It was also an important component in European historical sword fighting , which was practiced regularly. The cut test improves the blade guidance, the posture and the feeling for the weapon sustainably.
Every cut test carries risks for the blade and can damage the polish , for example . For this reason, particularly valuable or historically significant blades were usually excluded from the tests, such as blades from the famous Masamune and Muramasa forge .
Individual evidence
- ^ Leon Kapp, Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara, The craft of the Japanese sword , Verlag Kodansha International, 1987, ISBN 978-0-87011-798-5
swell
- Kokan Nagayama: The connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords . Kodansha International, Tokyo et al. 1997, ISBN 4-7700-2071-6 .
- Information on the Yamada family of sword testers courtesy of Mark Robinson.