Japanese Tachi of the Nanboku-chō Period

Timeline

1. 1336–1340Kyoto · KinaiAshikaga Takauji faced off against the Southern Court, and the warrior class equipped themselves in large numbers with tachi as their primary weapons for mounted and foot combat; swordsmiths forged blades commissioned by various factions.
2. c. 1331–1340Japanese archipelago · JapanNanboku-chō tachi feature bold hamon, broad blades, and strong curvature, with fittings typically using large tsuba and long sageo, embodying an aesthetic that valued both practicality and martial dignity in an age of warfare.
3. 1341–1392Japanese archipelago · JapanThe Nanboku-chō division lasted over fifty years, and the tachi developed in parallel as both a symbol of samurai status and a practical weapon; later Muromachi swordsmiths largely traced their lineage to this period's style.