Glossary of terms for Katana/Japanese Sword

[Daniel Bespalko]

This glossary is intended to provide a basic vocabulary to beginning sword collectors and practitioners. Terms are listed alphabetically, I hope this helps beginners get familiar with terms used here.

Aikuchi : A type of Tanto, a subgroup, without a Tsuba or Kurikata.

Batto : The drawing of a sword for action/combat.

Bokken : A wooden Katana used for practice in class.

Bo-Hi : Sword grooves. Many different types. Used either for decoration or to cover up flaws in the sword. Sometimes called a "blood-groove".

Bonji : Buddhist Sanskrit characters on a sword, usually representing a deity or prayer.

Boshi : The continuation of the Hamon through and around the Kissaki. Many different types. An important characteristic in Kantei.

Bu Jin: "People of the Samurai Spirit." A philosophy of honor, respect, and contemplation of life's mysteries developed in both women and men, and the people who lived by the samurai code.

Budo: Martial ways. The way of the warrior.

Bugei: The military arts, including the use of the sword.

Buke: Military man; Samurai.

Bukuro: Bag. As in Katana-Bukuro (sword bag).

Bushido: The Way of the Warrior. A code of ethics and moral principles for Samurai. The first works were by Yamaga Soko (1622-85) in Bukyo (The Warrior Creed) and Shido (The Warrior's Way).

Chiburi: The act of slinging blood off the blade before re-scabbarding.

Choji: A clove-shaped type of Hamon with numerous varieties and styles.

Choji Oil: Traditional oil used to clean a sword blade.

Chokuto: Prehistoric straight single edge sword, often found in burial mound. Very rare.

Daisho: A matched pair of long and short swords. Literally "big/small".

Daito: Long sword; Katana.

Do: 1. The way. 2. The mid-section target in Kendo (stomach).

Fuchi: Tsuka collar resting before the seppa. Usually matched to the Kashira as a set.

Fukure: A type of sword flaw where air pockets have created a dark blemish. Sometimes accompanied by a Ware.

Gendai: Blades made post-WWII through today.

Gimei: A false signature on a blade. Usually a copy of a famous smith to increase the sword's value.

Gokaden: The 5 traditional school of swordsmithing during the Koto period.

Gunome: A wavy type of Hamon with regular and irregular peaks. Many varieties.

Ha: The cutting edge of the sword; The sharp edge.

Ha-machi: The notch where the Ha descends into the Nakago. This notch is used to set the Habaki in place. Is moved up when the blade is shortened.

Habaki: One or two piece blade collar around the Nakago, above the tsuba, used to secure the blade into the scabbard. Sets securely into the notches of the Ha and Mune-Machi's. Made from a variety of metals, usually copper, and sometimes gold-plated.

Hachimaki: Like a bandana. A long piece of cloth wrapped around the head to keep out sweat during fighting or training.

Hada: The grain in the sword produced by the method of hammering and folding the steel during forging. Many varieties, often associated with specific schools. An important characteristic in Kantei.

Hadari: Left. As in left-hand side.

Hakama: Baggy pants used by the Japanese.

Hako: A box-type of Hamon. Numerous varieties.

Hamadatsu: Also called Kwaiken. A small woman's knife, usually fully tempered, used for protection and Jigai.

Hamidashi: A shorter Wakizashi or larger Tanto with a smaller guard. Often Hira-Zukuri in shape.

Hamon: Heat temper line the outlines the Yakiba. An endless variety of types and shapes often associated with certain schools. Originally mostly straight in design, then becoming more wavy and elaborate as time passed. A vital component of Kantei.

Hara-Kiri: The name of the lateral cut across the belly used during Seppeku. Often mistaken for Seppeku itself.

Hira-Zukuri: A type of Sugata with no Shinogi or Yokote: a flat surface. Often seen in Tanto's and smaller Wakizashi's.

Horimono: Engraving on blades. Like in Bo-hi, sometimes used to cover up flaws.

Iaido (Iai-jitsu): The art of drawing the sword. The art of the "fast-draw".

Ito (Tsuka-Ito): Cotton or Silk braid used to wrap the Tsuka over the Same.

Ji: The area of the blade between the Ha and Shinogi.

Jigai: Suicide by cutting your own throat. Often done by disgraced women.

Kai-Gunto: During WWII, a type of Naval sword.

Kamae: Sword Stance. Several varieties, varied amongst schools and styles. Sometimes spelled Gamae.

Kanji: Chinese written characters used by the Japanese.

Kantei: Sword appraisal and study. Being able to judge a sword by the various characteristics attributed to it.

Kashira: End cap of the Tsuka held on by the Ito; pommel. Usually matched to the Fuchi as a set. Called a kabuto-gane on Military blades and some Tachi.

Katana: Long sword; Daito. Evolved from the Tachi for foot & close-quarters combat.

Katana-Kake: Sword stand/rack . Called Tachi-Kake for Tachi stands.

Keiko: Practice battle; Scrimmage.

Ken: "Sword". Often used to refer to the double-edged long swords of ancient Japan.

Kendo: The art of fencing using Shinai. Equivalent to European fencing in rules & scoring. Originally used as a supplement to Kenjitsu & Iai-jitsu.

Kenjitsu: The art of combative swordsmanship once the sword has been unsheathed.

Kenshi: An expert swordsman.

Kissaki: The point of the blade. Several varieties depending on it's Fukura and Yokote.

Kizu: Sword Flaws. Numerous types.

Kogai: Hair arranger fitted in the Saya pocket opposite of the Kozuka on some Wakizashi's and Tanto's.

Koi-Guchi: Opening of the Saya. "Mouth" of the Saya.

Kojiri: End piece on the Saya; Butt cap. Sometimes made of buffalo horn or metal.

Kore: Swordsmith Kanji meaning "this" as when matched with Saku Kore "Made This". As in "Kane Nori Saku Kore"; "Kane Nori Made This".

Koshirae: Sword mountings including Saya, Tsuka, and all fittings.

Koto: "Old Sword" period. From 900AD to around 1530AD

Kozuka: Small utility knife fitted into the saya pocket of some Wakizashi's and Tanto's.

Kurikata: Knob on the Omote side of the Saya with a hole for the Sageo to go through.

Mei: Signature. Usually of the swordsmith. Usually on the Omote side of the Katana. On the opposite side for the Tachi. Sometimes faked (Gimei) to increase value.

Mekugi: Bamboo peg used to secure Tsuka to Nakago.

Mekugi-Ana: Hole for the Mekugi.

Menuki: Decorative pieces fitted above the Same and under the Ito on the Tsuka to enhance grip on the sword. Can be placed in various positions. Sometimes used as currency.

Migi: Right. As in the right side.

Mune: Spine of the sword. Usually beveled. Several varieties.

Mune-Machi: Notch where the Mune ends and descends into the Nakago. Used to set the Habaki in place. Can be moved up when shortening a sword.

Nagasa: The length of the blade from Mune-machi to the end of the Kissaki.

Naginata: Short sword blade on long shaft/pole; Halberd. Many varieties.

Nakago: Unseen extension of the blade under the Tsuka; Tang. Many varieties and characteristics. Holds the Mei and Mekigi-ana. It's rust and condition is a vital characteristic in Kantei.

Nakago-Jiri: End of the Nakago. Many varieties.

No-Shu: The condensed Kanji on a sword meaning "Mino Province".

Notare: A wavy type of hamon; a swell. Many varieties. Like in between Sugu(ha) and Gunome.

Obi: Silk sash used to hold Kimono, Haori, and sword in place at the waist.

Omote: Side of the sword AWAY from the body when worn. The Signature side. Opposite of the Ura. Also considered the FRONT of the sword. Opposite on Tachi.

Origami: Certificate of appraisal for a sword.

Oshigata: Rubbing taken of the Mei and the Nakago. Used for Kantei.

Patina: Rust; The level and color of rust on the Nakago.

Ronin: Masterless Samurai, by choice or circumstance. Often considered vagrants.

Ryu: Martial traditions; School or style of martial arts.

Samé: The belly portion of stingray skin used on top of the wooden Tsuka and below the Ito to improve grip.

Sageo: Cord or Braid attached to the Kurikata of the Saya used to secure it to the Obi or Hakama when worn.

Sakazuno: Obi-hook on the Omote side of some Wakizashi and Tanto Saya.

Saku: Kanji character used after a maker's name. Literally means "Made" or "Made this". As in "Kane Nori Saku". Sometimes combined with Kore.

Saya: Scabbard for the sword.

Saya-Ate: Scabbard striking. Hitting one's own scabbard against another's. Considered a grave insult worthy of dueling to the death.

Seiza: Respectful/Formal kneeling position; considered non-threatening in social situations.

Seppa: A pair of washers used between the Habaki and Tsuba and Tsuba and Fuchi. Many varieties, sizes and widths.

Seppeku: The ritual act of taking one's own life by using a Hara-Kiri cut to slice one's stomach open from left to right, then finishing with an upward turn. Usually accompanied by a Kaishuken, or Second, who would behead the man after to relieve suffering or if he should falter, to save honor. Usually performed with a purified Wakizashi or Tanto in Shirasaya.

Shikomi-Zue: Cane sword. Often called a Zatoichi.

Shinai: Bamboo practice sword.

Shin-Gunto: WWII Army sword in military mounts.

Shinogi: The straight ridge line on either side of the blade from the Mune to the beveled Ha.

Shinogi-Zukuri: The most common type of Sugata in all periods after Heian. It is characterized by a Shinogi and Yokote.

Shin-Shinto: Literally "New New Sword" period. Swords made after the Shinto period from about 1868-1926AD.

Shinto: Literally "New Sword" period. Between Koto and Shin-Shinto periods; about 1530-1867AD.

Shira-Saya: Plain, natural wood scabbard and Tsuka used to store a blade and Habaki when not in Koshirae.

Shobu-Zukuri: A Sugata type similar to Shinogi-Zukuri except that it has no Yokote. Found most often in the Muromachi period, mostly on Tanto and Wakizashi.

Shoto: Short sword; Wakizashi.

Showa-to: Blades produced from 1926 through 1945.

Sori: Curve. Many varieties.

Suburi: A practice/warm-up exercise with the Suburito involving leaping forward and back in time with striking with the suburito.

Suburito: Large, heavy wooden sword used for sword training. Rumored to be first created by Miyamoto Musashi from a boat oar before a duel.

Sugata: Shape of the blade. Overall shape of blade, many varieties. An important characteristic in Kantei.

Sugu(ha): Straight Hamon. Sometimes called Suguba or Suguha. Many varieties. Used mainly during Koto times.

Suriage: A blade that has been shortened; a blade that has had it's Nakago, Mune and Ha-Machi's altered to shorten the blade. Can greatly decrease the value of the blade.

Tachi: 1. A long sword usually over 27 inches with a great curve. Has it's own unique types, shapes, fittings, & history. Used primarily by warriors on horseback to cut down the enemy from above. 2. Standing sword techniques, as in Tachi-waza.

Tameshigiri: Cutting test for a sword done on Bamboo, Tatami or even condemned criminals. Sometimes tested by professionals who record the event on the Nakago.

Tanto: Dagger, usually under 10 inches. Many varieties and shapes.

Togi: Professional sword polisher.

Tsuba: Hand guard for a sword. Many varieties and schools, often appraised separately from the rest of the blade.

Tsuka: Wood handle of the sword covered by Same and Ito.

Tsuka-Maki: The art of wrapping the Tsuka with Ito. Several styles.

Ubu: An unaltered (not shortened) sword or Nakago.

Uchiko: Powder used to remove acid from the sword blade when cleaning.

Ura: The side of the Katana facing the body when worn. Opposite of the Omote. Often considered the BACK of the sword. Opposite for a Tachi.

Wakizashi: Medium length sword around 15 inches usually worn in conjunction with the Katana. Also called Shoto Not removed, as the Katana is, during formal meetings.

Ware: Stress crack. A type of flaw, usually accompanied by a Fukure, forming a long crack along the blade. Can be considered FATAL and render the blade worthless.

Watari-Kashi: A samurai hired on a temporary basis. Considered above Ronin.

Waza: Techniques or system of techniques. Sword forms; Kata.

Yakiba: The Tempered surface along the edge of the blade between the Ha and Hamon. Outlined by the Hamon.

Yari: Spear.

Yasurime: File Marks on the Nakago used to grip the Tsuka for security. Many types and varieties. Often disappears from older blades, obscured by the Patina (rust).

Yokote: Demarcation line separating the blade from the beginning of the Kissaki.

[Joseph Brower]

I kinda like this one... I had to look around the net to find all these terms.... perhaps sticky?

[J Hashey]

I vote sticky!

[Brian D. A.]

This is a great list. But it brings up another question; how does one pronounce these words?

Thank you for making this.

Brian

[Izyebah vam Mayke]

Originally posted by Brian D. A.
But it brings up another question; how does one pronounce these words?
[/B]

easy, think japanese

[Brian D. A.]

easy, think japanese

But I don't think in Japanese.

[Brad Wicks]

a - ah (as in ahhchoo)
e - eh (as in bed)
i - ee (as in we)
o - o (as in whoa)
u - oo (as in food)

Never any changes in pitch.

[Paul Loatman]

You should also put that the Buke is the privileged military/warrior class, including both women and men, Bushi and Samurai and both gender specific for the males, in other words there were no women Samurai or women Bushi, but there were Onna no Bugei-sha.

Dr. T, wrote a very descriptive article about this and stated that the misunderstanding of terms is usually the main cause of debate.

[Jeff Ellis]

Originally posted by Brad Wicks
a - ah (as in ahhchoo)
e - eh (as in bed)
i - ee (as in we)
o - o (as in whoa)
u - oo (as in food)

Never any changes in pitch.

er.. e is more eh as in the word you relate canadians saying, eh?

a long "A" really.

[Brad Wicks]

Originally posted by Jeff Ellis
er.. e is more eh as in the word you relate canadians saying, eh?

a long "A" really.

I thought that too until I last visited Japan.
I heard "eh" a lot more than that long a sound.
Actually, don't recall ever hearing the long a sound.

I subsequently changed my pronunciation over the course of the next few weeks due to that.

For reference, I was in "Edo" castle (Tokyo Imperial Palace). It was pronounced both in english and nihongo as "Ehhh do". E as in end.

[Paul Loatman]

http://www.kids-japan.com/hira-chart.htm

The .au files under each character is an audio file that pronounces it correctly.

I've also never heard the long "a" either, and my mom hardly ever speaks english. It's actually an odd sound to a person fluent only in Japanese.

[Jeff Ellis]

Originally posted by Brad Wicks
I thought that too until I last visited Japan.
I heard "eh" a lot more than that long a sound.
Actually, don't recall ever hearing the long a sound.

I subsequently changed my pronunciation over the course of the next few weeks due to that.

For reference, I was in "Edo" castle (Tokyo Imperial Palace). It was pronounced both in english and nihongo as "Ehhh do". E as in end.

Really.. hmm, I was always told it was a long A.

Learn something every day.

Hmm.. could be the dialects...

[Jeff Ellis]

Originally posted by Paul Loatman
http://www.kids-japan.com/hira-chart.htm

The .au files under each character is an audio file that pronounces it correctly.

I've also never heard the long "a" either, and my mom hardly ever speaks english. It's actually an odd sound to a person fluent only in Japanese.

No, actually, that's the sound I was thinkng, perhaps "long a" isn't the description I meant. It's the pronnciation I've always been told.

Dialects are fun, aren't they?

[Brad Wicks]

Well, I've been pretty much everywhere on the main Island... Never heard the long a.

[Joshua Darrell]

An 'e' (‚¦/ƒG) by itself is pronounced like in "bed."

When it is a double "ee"/"ei" (‚¦‚¢/ƒG�[), it can sound sort of like a long A. Maybe in between "bed" and a long A, but still mostly just like in bed (only dragged out a tiny bit.)

edit: And it looks like this forum doesn't like my Japanese characters :\

[Paul Loatman]

Originally posted by Jeff Ellis
No, actually, that's the sound I was thinkng, perhaps "long a" isn't the description I meant. It's the pronnciation I've always been told.

Dialects are fun, aren't they?

Maybe i'm on the same page, because the way they say the characters in that page are how i hear them, granted there are different speech patterns for different people in Japan, so who knows, maybe it's just one way of saying it, i've heard people say Sugouy and Sugey, but mean the same thing (amazing).

[Brad Wicks]

Originally posted by Joshua Darrell
An 'e' (‚¦/ƒG) by itself is pronounced like in "bed."

When it is a double "ee"/"ei" (‚¦‚¢/ƒG�[), it can sound sort of like a long A. Maybe in between "bed" and a long A, but still mostly just like in bed (only dragged out a tiny bit.)

edit: And it looks like this forum doesn't like my Japanese characters :\

I can affirm the double ee thing. The word for english is pronounced like Eggo (as in leggo my eggo)... It's hard to describe as it is not pronounced like english. Anyway, that's how I've heard it.

"Eego ga dekimasu ka?"

[Jeff Ellis]

Originally posted by Brad Wicks
I can affirm the double ee thing. The word for english is pronounced like Eggo (as in leggo my eggo)... It's hard to describe as it is not pronounced like english. Anyway, that's how I've heard it.

"Eego ga dekimasu ka?"

How about a cutoff long a? like in "egg!"

:-D

[Brad Wicks]

Lol, that would work. :P

[Daniel Bespalko]

MORE TERMS:
AIKUCHI Guard less mounted TANTO or dagger. Long sword, rarely.
AMATERASU The Divine Goddess of the Sun. Root of SHINTO religion.
ARAME-NIE ARA-NIE groups into a meshing, or NIE lacing.
ARA-NIE "Coarse NIE." Large NIE. Can be splotchy like.
ASAKI-NOTARE Slight or shallow NOTARE waves.
ASHI "Legs" or "feet." NEZUMI-ASHI is "rat's feet." Describes
NIOI that falls from the line or from valleys, toward
the edge. Notches in the line.
ASHINAGA Long ASHI. Very long "legs."
ATSUSHI "Thick." Thick NIE. Thick NIOI.
AYASUGI "Flowing Cedar." Large undulating wave grain pattern.
Often pronounced and decorative.
BAKUFU Government offices or operations. The army.
BITSU Also as HITSU, as in HITSU-ANA. See HITSU.
BO-HI Large or wide groove.
BOKKEN Wooden sword, often used to practice sword form.
BONJI Sanskrit carvings - spiritual evocation.
BOSHI "Hat." Temper line in KISSAKI. Also, portion of temper
line in KISSAKI closest to the point.
BOSHIGATA An interruption of the temper line in the BOSHI.
BUKE The family of the BUSHI. References a man or men of the military. Fighting men.
Buke is also the whole military class & that included some women, known as "onna no bugeisha".
BUSHI Male Warrior.
BUSHIDO To serve. The Way of the Warrior,
code of conduct and a way of life.
CAO Monogram trademark added to a signature. Also called KAO.
CHIJI-MEN Skein-like or bunched, fine thread. A unique HADA pattern
found in BITCHU AOE.
CHIKEI This term describes dark lines that appear in the JI.
CHIKEI can result from an abundance of bound carbon.
CHOJI BA "Clove Blossom" temper pattern.
CHOJI-ABURA CHOJI Oil. Oil for the care of swords.
CHOJI-MIDARE Uneven or mixed CHOJI temper line.
CHOKUTO Prehistoric straight sword.
CHU Middle or medium. Half, halfway.
CHU-HANDACHI Medium sized TACHI.
CHU-JO CHU-JO SAKU. See JAPANESE VALUE SYSTEM.
CHU-KISSAKI Medium sized KISSAKI or point area.
CHUMON-UCHI "Ordered" - Special-order sword.
CHU-SUGUHA Straight temper line of medium width.
DAIBO-CHOJI High rising CHOJI-MIDARE, also called OBUSA.
DAIJIRI Style of BOSHI turn back with large butting end.
DAI-MEI Large signature. Also a student has honor in signing his
teacher's name.
DAIMYO Feudal lord.
DAI-SHO "Long and Short." Long sword and short sword, either
blades or fittings or both. NOTE: Pieces originally
produced as matched sets inflate "name" trading value
by 100%.
DAITO "Long Sword" (Goes with SHOTO for DAI-SHO).
DENAORI Re-temper. Usually SAIHA or YAKINAOSHI.
EBISU Aboriginal "Barbarians" - the AINU.
EDO TOKUGAWA Capital and former name of the present Tokyo.
FUCHI Fitting on a sword handle that rests against the guard.
Normally paired with the KASHIRA.
FUCHI-KASHIRA The FUCHI and KASHIRA as a pair. A boxed set.
FUKAi (FUKASHI) Also known by the older and rarely used FUKASHI. "Deep."
Deep NIOI or deep NIE. A widening of the HABUCHI. Deep
areas of YAKIBA that exhibit the appearance of
"splashing" can be FUKAi or FUKASHI.
Deep turn back: KAERI-FUKAi. FUKASHI or FUKAi bespeaks
of coordinated dynamics in specific figures. Also used
to describe the state of SORI.
FUKURA The curve of the HA or edge in the KISSAKI.
FUKURE Flaws.
FUMBARI Same as FUNBARI.
FUNAGATA Ship bottom shape to a NAKAGO or sword tang.
FUNBARI SUMO wrestler's "A" shaped stance is likened to a
widening at the base, one foot on the HA-MACHI and
one foot on the MUNE-MACHI, found or emulated of
HEIAN TACHI SUGATA, very old sword style. Any
noticeable tapering in blade width from the MACHIs
to KISSAKI is often mistakenly called FUNBARI for
short. Overt widening at the HABAKI-MOTO
FURISODE The shape of a NAKAGO or sword tang that resembles the
sleeve of a KIMONO.
FUSHI Portions of a temper line that appear like the knots of a
wooden board or tree. This term has been applied to the
GUNOME form that appears much like individual SAKA-CHOJI,
perhaps evenly spaced from one another, with each nodule
having little NIOI YO marks within.
GAKU-MEI "Signature in a frame." An original signature inlaid in
an O-SURIAGE (greatly shortened) tang.
GENDAITO Blades of modern smiths. Traditionally forged.
GIN no HA Long GINSUJI along the HAMON.
GINSUJI "Silver Line."
GIMEI "False Signature."
GOBAN KAJI "Sword smiths to the Emperor."
GOKADEN "The Five Schools" of the KOTO period.
GOMAE KITAE Five laminate blade structure.
GOMABASHI Parallel grooves depicting chopsticks or HASHI.
GUCHI or KUCHI Opening. The mouth of the scabbard or handle.
GUNOME Partially round-shaped temper line patterns.
GUNOME-MIDARE Unevenly spaced or sized round-shaped HAMON.
GUNTO "Army Sword."
GYAKU Reversed or inverted. Term used to describe unique HAMON
patterns.
GYO no MUNE Common or FUTSU-MUNE. IHORI-MUNE.
HA Sword edge. Cutting edge.
HA-AGARI JIRI of a NAKAGO. Like KURIJIRI but raised up higher on
the edge side. "Raised edges"
HABA Width.
HABAKI Multi-purpose collet resting against the MACHIs that
allows an abutment for the SEPPA and TSUBA. It also
holds the sword blade securely in the scabbard (or SAYA).
HABAKI-MOTO Area of blade nearest the MACHIs (notches).
HABUCHI The line of HAMON.
HADA Grain lines. Folded steel. Folding pattern.
HAGI no TSUYU "Bushes of Dew." Abundant and brilliant NIE.
HAGIRE Flaws in the HA. Edge cracks.
HAITO Personal sword. "Wearing sword."
HAKIKAKE "Broom swept" portions in the HAMON.
HAKO BA Box shaped HAMON.
HAKO-MIDARE Uneven shaped or sized "Box" HAMON pattern.
HAKO-MUNE Square shaped back ridge.
HA-MACHI The notch at the beginning of the HA or cutting edge.
HAMAGURI "Edge like a Clam." Thick along the HA. Having JI-NIKU
or "meat" near the HA.
HAMIDASHI TANTO or dagger with a small guard.
HAMIDASHI Pointed HAMON patterns.
HAMITSU KADO Also MITSU-GASHIRA. Point that joins KO-SHINOGI, SHINOGI
and YOKOTE.
HAMON The line of the temper pattern. Signature of the HA.
HANDACHI Mountings resembling that of a TACHI but for dressing a
KATANA.
HANTACHI Half TACHI mounts, same as HANDACHI.
HARAKIRI "To cut" is the meaning of KIRI. HARA is the lower
abdomen and is thought of as being "The Seat of the
Soul." HARAKIRI means to cut open the HARA and release
the soul. Also known as SEPPUKU (translate: "Resolve")
HASHI Chopsticks. HASHI carvings called GOMABASHI.
HATSUYA/HAZUYA Paper-thin finger stones used to bring out the YAKIBA
and HAMON.
HAZURE HAMON like the edge of a forest.
HI Grooves in the body of a sword.
HIGAKI Lattice pattern file marks.
HIRA Plane. Flat surface.
HIRA-MUNE Flat back ridge.
HIRA-DZUKURI Sword without SHINOGI ridges.
HIRA-TSUKURI A blade without a SHINOGI line.
HIRO-SUGUHA Wide straight temper line.
HITATSURA "Full temper." SO-SHU HAMON.
HITSU KODZUKA handle, or short for HITSU-ANA. BITSU.
HITSU-ANA Sword guard holes that are placed so as to allow the
removal of a KODZUKA or utility knife.
HO Dagger or sword's point. Blade in KODZUKA.
HOCHO Kitchen knife. Also a famous MASAMUNE piece.
HOKO Halbert, spearhead.
HO-MYO Posthumous Buddhist title. Spirit name.
HONAMI Famous appraisal family.
HONAMI-MEI An affixial on the NAKAGO by the HONAMI attesting origin.
Gold inlay attribution with lacquer appraisers signature.
HONAMI TOGI A particular style of handling the sword blade for every
stone in the polishing process
HONO-TO "Devoted to or toward the Shrine" Gift to Shrine.
HONSANMAI Three piece laminate sword construction.
HORIMONO Carvings on sword blades.
HOSHI Stars. Can be bright NIE or little star-like groups of NIE.
HOSHI YUBASHIRI Star-shaped YUBASHIRI.
HOSO SUGUHA Thin straight temper line.
HOTSURE Strays from HAMON, into the JI or toward the HA.
HYAKKA RYORAN A "Gathering of Many Flowers."
HYOTAN "Bottle Gourd" temper line.
IBUSE Large round shape in certain BOSHI.
ICHI "One." "First." May refer to ICHIMONJI.
ICHIMAI One-piece sword construction.
ICHIMAI BOSHI Point area that is completely hardened.
ICHIMONJI Designation of the sword school associated with the
technical efforts of EMPEROR GOTOBA.
ICHIMONJI BOSHI BOSHI falls perpendicularly to the MUNE.
IHORI-MUNE "Roof-ridge" or single ridge MUNE.
IKUBI "Boar's Neck." Short but wide KISSAKI.
INAZUMA "Flashes of Lightning." Like KINSUJI but arcing in JI
from the YAKIBA. Also, "Violet Lightning."
ITAME "Wood-like." Grain pattern of wood.
ITO SUGU Thread-like HAMON.
JI Sword-body surface plane between the SHINOGI and the HA.
JI-BA A short-cut term in Japanese texts to refer to any
consideration or comparison of or concerning the JI and
HA or YAKIBA.
JI-DAI A reference of time. The time of a generation, or a
particular generation. The historical body of a school
or of the teachings of its individuals. That group
associated by school or lineage.
JIGAI Suicide by cutting the throat.
JI-GANE Surface steel.
JI-HADA Surface pattern and texture.
JINDACHI Same as TACHI. Old TACHI style mounting.
JI-NIE Bound carbon holds heat at quenching and is left as NIE.
When the folding method of an individual smith permits,
NIE can be left in the JI area (outside the YAKIBA).
JITSUYA Paper-thin finger stones used to bring out the JI
(JI-HADA or grain)
JIZO BOSHI "Priest's Head." Head shaped BOSHI.
JO-JO JO-JO SAKU. See JAPANESE VALUE SYSTEM.
JORIN Ring-shaped grain. JORIN MOKUME.
JO-SAKU See JAPANESE VALUE SYSTEM.
JUMONJI YARI "Crossed Arms" spear or ten plane scythe.
JUZU "Priest's Beads" temper line.
KABUTO Helmet.
KAEN "Flame." Term refers to HAMON and BOSHI pattern.
KAERI Technical part of BOSHI: Turn back of temper line in the
KISSAKI toward or down the MUNE.
KAJI Smith. Sword smith.
KAKIHAN Artist's or craftsman's monogram or CAO.
KAKI-TOSHI Groove runs into the NAKAGO.
KAKU-DOME Square termination to a groove.
KAKU-MUNE Square back ridge.
KANJI Written characters.
KANMURI-OTOSHI Back ridge beveled like a NAGINATA.
KANTEI Sword appraisal.
KAO See CAO.
KASAGI Same as TORIIZORI.
KASANE Thickness of blade.
KASHIRA Sword pommel. End of sword handle. Usually paired with
FUCHI. FUCHI-GASHIRA.
KATA-JIRI The single plane that extends along the edge of a groove
on the SHINOGI-JI. RYO-JIRI (two) refers to the flat plane
on either side of a groove running down the SHINOGI-JI.
KATAKIRI Sword style with one side being HIRA. Usually parallel
planes with a bevel. Like a wood-plane.
KATANA Sword worn in the sash, cutting edge up.
KATANA KAKE Sword stand.
KATANA-MEI Sword with signature on the side of the NAKAGO that faces
out when worn cutting-edge up.
KAWAGANE Skin or surface steel. As opposed to SHINGANE or heart
steel.
KAZUCHI "Manufactured" - Swords produced by mass-production.
KEN Straight sword. Can be a style of HORIMONO.
KENDO Name of a sword discipline that has evolved into a sport
in modern Japan using SHINAI.
KENGYO Triangular or pointed NAKAGO JIRI.
KESHO Cosmetic or decorative style option of polish.
KESHO YASURIME Decorative file marks on NAKAGO.
KIJIMATA "Pheasant Thigh." A style of NAKAGO.
KIJIMOMO Pheasant leg NAKAGO.
KIKUBA Chrysanthemum temper line pattern.
KIKU GYOSAKU Swords signed by Emperor GOTOBA with 16 and 24 petal
chrysanthemum. 17 petal on OKI island.
KIKU ICHIMONJI Inscriptions of the ICHIMONJI school.
KIN-MEI Gold inlay or gold lacquer appraiser's inscription.
KINSUJI "Golden Line." Lines of hardened-steel differentiated in
the YAKIBA.
KINZOGAN-MEI Attribution in gold inlay on NAKAGO.
KIRIHA Flat surface sword (parallel planes) having both sides
beveled to the edge.
KIRI KOMI Nick acquired from a parried blow.
KIRI NAKAGO JIRI is straight (often SURIAGE).
KIRI-TSUKURI "Cut Edge." Old style, usually straight, curve less blade
and point with one side beveled to the cutting edge.
KATAKIRI.
KISSAKI Point section. Plane bounded by the KO-SHINOGI, YOKOTE
and FUKURA.
KITAE Forged, or forging.
KIZU Flaws.
KOBAN Gold coins.
KOBUSE Sword construction where soft core-steel is wrapped in
a blanket of hard.
KO-CHOJI Small CHOJI temper pattern.
KODACHI Small TACHI.
KODOGU Term for sword fittings other than TSUBA.
KOGAI Personal grooming utensil often paired with KODZUKA.
KOGARASU Blade having RYOBA double-edge (cutting edge on back ridge)
in the MONOUCHI section.
KOGARASU-MARU One of three extant National Treasure swords. Originally
thought to have been awarded as symbols of Imperial
directive, confirming martial power. Emblems of Imperial
representation, or for national recognition.
KOI-GUCHI The mouth of the scabbard or its fitting.
KOJIRI The end of the scabbard or the piece at the end.
KOKU Rice bale. A value-unit of wealth.
KOKUHO National Treasure.
KO-MARU Small round BOSHI.
KO-MASA Small straight.
KO-MASAME Small or tight straight grain.
KO-MEI Small sized inscription.
KO-MEI Refers to an old signature that once existed on an
O-SURIAGE, or completely cut down NAKAGO.
KOMI "Completion." Referenced to the end of a tang.
KO-MIDARE Small uneven characteristics in the HAMON.
KO-MOKU Small burl.
KO-MOKUME Small or tightly knit burl grain.
KO-NIE Small or fine NIE (differentiated crystalline steel).
KO-NIE DEKI Dressed or made up of - KO-NIE.
KO-NUKA Small or fine texture "Rice Bran" grain. Associated with
HIZEN-TO.
KO-SEKI Old SEKI.
KOSHIBA Style of HAMON where a large figure to the pattern appears
in the YAKIBA near the NAKAGO.
KOSHI-HI Grooves carved in the lower (nearest NAKAGO).
KO-SHINOGI The SHINOGI ridgeline attendant to the KISSAKI.
KO-SHINOGI SAKI The point where the KO-SHINOGI ridgeline meets the
back ridge.
KOSHIRAE Sword mountings. Sword fittings.
KOSHIZORI Curve arc greatest near NAKAGO. BIZEN-ZORI.
KOZORI Sword making school - BIZEN.
KOTETSU Perhaps the most famous SHINTO sword smith.
KOTO "Old Sword." Era to KEI-CHO 1596.
KO-WAKIZASHI Small or short WAKIZASHI (companion sword).
KUICHIGAI "Contrary." Appearance of HAMON line like that of
disintegrating embers. Usually small complex figures seen
as though fighting or collapsing in upon themselves.
KUMO Grain appearing like cloud swirls.
KUNI Province or country. Also pronounced, "KOKU"
KURIJIRI Rounded or "Chestnut" shaped tang end.
KURIKARA Dragon HORIMONO.
KURIKATA "Chestnut Shaped." SAGE-O or cord fixture found on the
scabbard or SAYA.
KURO "Black." - Or dark. Used for steel color.
KUZURE Crumbling. Disintegrating. Term for HAMON descriptions.
KYO-DEN KYOTO School (SHINTO).
KYO GOKAJI "The Five Smiths." (SHINTO KYOTO)
- HISAMICHI
- KINMICHI
- KINMICHI
- MASATOSHI
- YOSHIMICHI
KYO-ZORI Even curve - TORIIZORI. KYOTO style curve.
MACHI Notches in the HA and MUNE that act as a stop for the
HABAKI called HA-MACHI and MUNE-MACHI. Separation
between blade and tang. Also called SEKI.
MACHI-OKURI Length reduction where the notches are moved up. This
reduces trading value against an UBU piece.
MADO-AKE "Open a Window." The polishing of one section of the JI.
Can be bounded with TOGI-MEI.
MAGE-SAKI "Change the point." Blurred MONOUCHI seen in SAIHA.
MARU Round. Often used to describe BOSHI.
MARU-DOME Round groove termination.
MARU-MUNE Round back ridge, either blade or tang.
MASA Straight.
MASAME "Straight-like." Used to denote straight grain.
MASAMUNE Reputed to be the greatest sword smith.
MEI A signature.
MEIBUTSU "Especially Notable." A distinguished award.
MEIJI MEI-JI 1868. Emperor MEIJI.
MEKUGI Sword peg.
MEKUGI-ANA Hole for sword peg.
MEMPO Armor face mask.
MENUKI Stylized ornaments found in the handle wrapping.
MI Sword blade. Blade section, not tang.
MIDARE Uneven. Uneven or irregular HAMON pattern.
MIDARE-KOMI Uneven pattern in BOSHI area or turn back.
MI-HABA Width of sword blade.
MIMIGATA "Ear Shaped." Description of temper pattern.
MITOKORO "Three Place." Term for KODZUKA, KOGAI, MENUKI.
MITSU KADO Convergence of YOKOTE, SHINOGI, and KO-SHINOGI.
MITSU KASHIRA Point of convergence of YOKOTE, SHINOGI and KO-SHINOGI.
MITSU-MUNE Three-sided back ridge.
MITSUZURE "In threes."
MIZUKAGE Mark from re-tempering.
MOKU Burl.
MOKUME "Burl-like." Burl grain.
MOKU SHURAI The Invasion of the Mongols.
MOMOYAMA Site of HIDEYOSHI's castle, from which the era was named.
The period prior to the TOKUGAWA.
MON Family crest.
MONOKIRI "The Part for Cutting." Cutting edge.
MONOUCHI "The Part for Stroking." The first six inches including
the KISSAKI.
MOROHA Double-edged sword.
MOTO "Source" or beginning.
MOTO-HABA Width near HABAKI.
MOTO-KASANE "Beginning Thickness." Blade thickness.
MU Nothing.
MU-JI No grain. Little or no grain.
MU-MEI No signature.
MUNE Back. Back ridge.
MUNE-GANE Lamination piece of the back ridge.
MUNE-MACHI Notch resolving back ridge.
MUNE-SUJI Back ridge line.
MUNEYAKI Temper pattern seen on back ridge.
MURA "Village."
MURA-NIE Profuse NIE. Mounded, piled "leaves of a bush."
MUSO No mounts.
MU-SORI No curvature.
NAGAMAKI Halberd-like weapon having no YOKOTE and often used as
a sword.
NAGINATA Halberd.
NAKAGO A tang.
NAMBAN TETSU Foreign iron.
NAMBOKU North and South.
NAMBOKUCHO North and South Courts. YOSHINO Period.
NANAKO Raised dimpling (created by a punch) found as decorative
background on soft-metal fittings.
NENGO Japanese era or time-period names. Year names.
NEZUMI-ASHI "Rat's Feet." A particular pattern in YAKIBA.
NIE Differentiated crystallized steel in the HAMON or
elsewhere. Can appear sphere-like. NIE can be color-
rich crystalline nodules in the better work or appear
as pebbles, granulated or even splotchy and patch-
like particles in the lesser.
NIE-DEKI Outfitted or dressed in NIE.
NIJUBA "Two-fold HA." Double HAMON. Only called such, if
purposefully created.
NIKU "Meat." The degree of convexity in the JI or KISSAKI
planes. Healthy skin-steel. Strength.
NIOI "Scent." Vapor or cloud-like constituent of the HAMON.
NIOI-DEKI Made up of NIOI.
NISE Imitation.
NOKO "Teeth of a Saw" temper pattern.
NOSHI No turn back.
NOTARE Waves pattern in the temper line.
NOTARE-MIDARE Uneven waves in temper line.
NUNOME Overlay metal-work.
OBUSA Rising or extended GUNOME or CHOJI patterns. Same as
DAIBO CHOJI.
O-CHOJI Large CHOJI temper pattern.
O-DACHI Extra long sword.
O-GUNOME Large GUNOME temper pattern.
O-KATANA Large KATANA.
O-KISSAKI Long or large KISSAKI.
O-MIDARE Large uneven or irregular shapes of the HAMON pattern.
OMOTE Signature side of the NAKAGO.
O-NIE Large NIE.
O-NOTARE Large wave patterns in HAMON.
ORIGAMI "Paper." Certificate of Appraisal.
ORIGANE Spiring KINSUJI.
ORIKAESHI MEI Folded signature. Signature folded around and inlaid in
a shortened NAKAGO.
O-SEPPA Large SEPPA. TACHI-ZEPPA.
OSHIGATA Sword rubbing. Tissue with impression of sword tang and
signature created by SUMI-ink rubbing.
OSHIGATA-ZUMI Cake-ink.
OSORAKU WAKIZASHI or TANTO with YOKOTE nearly in the middle of
the blade.
O-SURIAGE Shortened at both the MACHIs and the JIRI. Most of the
original tang missing. All of the original tang missing.
This condition reduces an otherwise applicable price by
half. With some traders, by half again.
O-TACHI Large TACHI. ODACHI.
O-WAKIZASHI Large or extra long WAKIZASHI.
RIN-ZORI "Ring-shaped" curve.
RYO Two, double or double sided.
RYOBA Double-edged. Cutting edge extends down the back some
distance.
RYO-JIRI The two SHINOGI-JI surfaces that border a groove. RYO
means "two", KATA means "one" and refers to a single
surface on the edge of a groove.
RYU Dragon.
SADAHA Repeating patterns on a blade.
SAGE-O Cord used for tying the KIMONO sleeves or as a weapon,
normally found looped through the KURIKATA.
SAGURI Catch-hook on SAYA. Slips under the edge of the OBI,
securing the scabbard when worn.
SAIDAN "Cutting." Term to denotes cutting test.
SAIHATO Re-tempered sword. Sword with a re-tempered edge.
SAIJIN Re-tempered sword.
SAI-JO SAI-JO SAKU. See JAPANESE VALUE SYSTEM.
SAKA "Slanting." Term used with HAMON descriptions.
SAKI "Tip." Point.
SAKI-HABA Blade width at YOKOTE.
SAKIZORI Curve at the MONOUCHI or first third of blade.
SAKON SHOGEN The Imperial Guard has two wings, SAKON-E and UKON-E.
SHOGEN is officer rank.
SAKU "Made." "Made by - " Manufacture.
SAME Skin from the belly of a Manta Ray used for sword handles.
SAMONJI Reversed writing. Reversed signature. Also a name of O-SA
"Great SA" CHIKUZEN sword smith of the "10 Students." SA
School Founder.
SAMURAI Warrior or warrior class. BUSHI or BUSHI class.
SANBONSUGI "Three-cedar" HAMON pattern.
SANKO TSUKA KEN HORIMONO carving of KEN sword with Vajra handle.
SAN-MAI Three-piece sword construction.
SAYA Sword scabbard.
SAYAGAKI Written attribution on a plain wood scabbard.
SAYAGUCHI Mouth of the scabbard.
SEIBATSU Armed siege.
SEKI Also called MACHI, notches at top of NAKAGO.
SEKI-GANE Soft metal plugs.
SENGOKU Hundred Year War. Time of battles. 1490 to 1600.
SEPPA "Pressure wings." Washer-like separators found on either
side of the TSUBA.
SEPPUKU SETSU and FUKU together here become - "Resolve."
SESSHO Regent. A minister of affairs who governs.
SHAKU Japanese unit of measure similarly near, but not the same
as, one foot. (11.93 inches)
SHAKUDO Copper mixed with gold. Naturally formed ingots that
were originally found on the ground, have arsenic on
the surface. This, mixed with gold and copper allows
the famous patina of browns, blacks, greens and
purples used so effectively in soft metal fittings.
SHI Man or person. Used to denote teacher or master.
SHIBUICHI Copper and silver mixed.
SHIKKEN Military Regency. Governmental ruler, as "HOJO Regency."
SHIKOMI-ZUE Sword cane.
SHINAI Bamboo multi-lath sword. KENDO Sword.
SHINnoMUNE Same as MITSU-MUNE - Three-sided.
SHINOGI Ridgelines on a "fighting sword."
SHINOGI-HIKUSHI Low SHINOGI.
SHINOGI-JI Plane between the MUNE and SHINOGI ridge.
SHINOGI-TAKA Also SHINOGI-TAKAKU, raised SHINOGI.
SHINOGI-TSUKURI Sword with SHINOGI ridges.
SHIN-SHINTO "New-New Sword." 1781 to 1868. The wearing of swords
outlawed in 1876.
SHINTO "New Sword." 1596 to 1781.
SHIRA or SHIRO "White." Can be used to describe steel color.
SHIRA-KE "White-spirit."
SHIRA-KERU "White cloak." Can be a specific steel color. Misty or
hazy white. Turbid-white.
SHIRA-SAYA Plain wood scabbard.
SHITODOME Small collets that fit into the KURIKATA.
SHOBU "Iris Leaf." A blade style where the SHINOGI flows
directly to the point with no YOKOTE.
SHOGEN GOBAN The ICHIMONJI group of 1208 (SHO-GEN 1207 time period).
SHO-GUN "Supreme Military Commander," or General.
SHO-SHIN Correct signature. Perfectly correct signature.
SHOTO "Short Sword" (Goes with DAITO for DAI-SHO).
SHO-WA SHO-WA period, 1926. Reign of Emperor HIROHITO. HEI-SEI
follows.
SHOWATO When so referred, a sword made during the reign of
Emperor HIROHITO. Modern sword.
SORI Curve of a sword.
SOTOBA Buddhist prayer tablet or stupa-shaped NAKAGO.
SUDARE "Bamboo blind" HAMON pattern.
SUE The "end." A prefix meaning later.
SUGATA Style of the body of a sword. Sword shape.
SUGUHA Straight temper line.
SU-KEN Simple line carvings depicting a sword.
SUMI Japanese ink or ink art.
SUMI-HADA Grain areas where carbon remains in the steel creating
small, some times circular black lines.
SUN Japanese measure, somewhat similar to an inch.
SUNAGASHI "Waves in the Sand." Parallel lines (usually NIE) in
and through the HAMON.
SURIAGE A shortened tang.
TACHI Long sword. Sword worn cutting-edge down.
TACHI-MEI Signature on NAKAGO facing away from the body when worn
cutting-edge down.
TAI-SHO TAI-SHO period, 1912. Previous to SHO-WA 1926.
TAKANOHA "Falcon feathers." May be HAMON but most often a pattern
of YASURI (file marks).
TAKENOKO "Bamboo-sprout" SUGATA. Mostly TANTO.
TAMA Round "Crystal-ball" appearing next to HAMON.
TAMABA Ball YAKIBA patterns appearing on or within the HAMON.
"Pearls in an oyster."
TAMA-GAKI "String of beads" or "String of pearls" pattern.
TAMESHIGIRI Cutting test.
TAMESHI MEI Test inscription.
TANAGO Fish in SAGAMI Province used as model for the shape of
the SOSHU NAKAGO - the TANAGO-BARA.
TANAGO-BARA See above.
TANTO Dagger. Less than one SHAKU (12").
TATE "Standing." Standing HADA, standing UTSURI, etc.
TENKA GOKEN "The Five Great Swords." See GOMEIKEN.
TO Sword.
TOBI YAKIBA form seen as if jumping or darting up into the JI
from the HAMON. Island or spot-like shapes in the JI.
TOGARI Pointed. Pointed shapes.
TOGI Polish or polishing.
TOGI-MEI Polishers' signature (found in the SHINOGI-JI just above
the MACHI and on the point).
TORAN "High Waves" HAMON pattern.
TORIIZORI Sword curve like a TORII Gate - even curve. Also called
KYOZORI - a reference to KYOTO and the Emperor which has
its roots with AMATERASU and the TORII Gate.
TSUBA Sword guard.
TSUCHI Sword tool.
TSUKA Sword handle.
TSUKA-BUKURO Cover for sword handle.
TSUKA-GUCHI Mouth of handle.
TSUKA-ITO Handle wrapping or tape.
TSUKURI Shape or body-style of a sword.
TSUKURU Made by or produced by.
TSUNAGI Wooden or bamboo sword meant as a manikin for mountings.
TSURUGI KEN sword. Old double edged, straight sword.
TSUYO "Strong." Strongly done, strongly phrased.
TSUYU "Dew-drops." A term of beauty for abundant or fine NIE.
UBU "Original." Usually applied to the condition of the NAKAGO.
UBU allows maximum trade value.
UBU NAKAGO Sword tang in original condition (not altered).
UCHIGATANA Long sword mounted with TSUBA (guard).
UCHIKO Finely filtered whetstone powder gathered in a dauber. For
use in sword care.
UCHIKOMI A cut injury to the steel from a sword strike.
UCHINOKE "Thrown in the Air." Specific curved HAMON figures.
Shapes likened to the new moon.
UCHIZORI Inward curve. Curved toward the HA. MUNE curved toward the
point.
UMABARI Horse needle.
UMA-HA Horse teeth HAMON pattern.
UMA-MIDARE Uneven or irregular horse teeth HAMON pattern.
UMEGANE Plugged or otherwise repaired KIZU.
U-no-KUBI U-no-KUBI-TSUKURI. Cormorant's head - SUGATA.
URA Side of the NAKAGO facing toward the body when worn.
Reverse side from that of the OMOTE.
URA-MEI "Signed on the URA." URA is usually the date.
UTSURI "Reflections." Sometimes called "ghost temper" or
reflections of the HAMON. Temper-mark caused by
temperature differentials at the quench.
UZU Whirlpool grain. Excited grain.
UZUMAKI Whirlpool HADA. Swirling grain.
WAKIZASHI Companion Sword. Blade length between one and two
SHAKU (12 and 24 inches).
WARE Crack. Used to describe "open grain" or "tired steel."
WARI-BARI Chop-sticks for sword mountings.
YA-HAZU "Of an arrow." Description of HAMON. Shapes of an arrow.
Feathers of an arrow.
YAKIBA "Fired edge." Area of hardened steel on the cutting edge.
The YAKIBA is outlined by HAMON.
YAKIDASHI "Beginning YAKIBA." Area of YAKIBA just above the HA-MACHI.
Shape of the HAMON just above the HA-MACHI. Often used to
refer to the shape of a SUGU YAKIDASHI when appraising
SHINTO.
YAKIHABA Width of YAKIBA.
YA-no-NE "Arrow end." Arrow-head HAMON. Forged arrows.
YARI Spear. Various shapes. Usually straight, double-edged with
triangular cross-section.
YASURI File marks.
YO "Leaves." Dot-shaped NIOI pattern in YAKIBA.
YOKOTE "At the Side." Line separating the JI from the KISSAKI.
YOROIDOSHI Armor piercer (TANTO).
YOSHINO YOSHINO Mountains in YAMATO.
YOSHINO Period GODAIGO-SAMA fled to the YOSHINO Mountains from where he
conducted his rebellion against the HOJO and later, the
ASHIKAGA. Short name for the Southern Court. Period
between 1336 and 1393.
YUBASHIRI This term has been used to describe small YAKIBA shapes
in the JI. The translation is, "running or boiling water."
These forms may appear as swirling, drawn out, or
island-like cloud wisps. YUBASHIRI also refers to a
running or swirling form of HADA.
ZAI-MEI Inscription - the opposite of MU-MEI.
ZOKUMYO The character-group of a first or personal name within a
signature. A signifier of superior quality in SUE-BIZEN.
A sword with a personal name in the MEI.

[Paul Loatman]

Buke doesn't only refer to men, but bushi and samurai do...

Buke is the whole military class and that included some women, known as "onna no bugeisha".

For bushi you should note that it was only men who were called bushi, and that buke is everyone in the class, actually it is the class. Samurai and bushi are only sub classes within the buke, a bit complicated but i think it's worth noting.

[Daniel Bespalko]

Paul,
I made the change as you suggested, let me know if I got it right.
Thanks

[Paul Loatman]

Originally posted by Daniel Bespalko
Paul,
I made the change as you suggested, let me know if I got it right.
Thanks

Looks good to me, i think this would be a very good list for beginners, then they can know a bit more than the very basics of Japanese swords.

To the designer of this forum, i have to say that a search function for individual threads would be useful, i've seen that before on other forums and it's very useful to find a particular post in a particular thread, it would be especially useful for threads like the one about Tony Long (i'm sure everyone remembers that). I was trying to find something from that thread so i could comment on it but ended up spending about half an hour to no avail.

[Jeff Ellis]

Originally posted by Paul Loatman
Looks good to me, i think this would be a very good list for beginners, then they can know a bit more than the very basics of Japanese swords.

To the designer of this forum, i have to say that a search function for individual threads would be useful, i've seen that before on other forums and it's very useful to find a particular post in a particular thread, it would be especially useful for threads like the one about Tony Long (i'm sure everyone remembers that). I was trying to find something from that thread so i could comment on it but ended up spending about half an hour to no avail.

In the search function, you can tell it to specifically find your terms only in thread titles...

[Jonathan Hanni]

Moderator, it seems like it might be a good idea to sticky this so n00bs like myself can reference this stuff much easier and know what is going on in conversations.