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Tachi

Type Object Region Japan Time 900–1500

The tachi was the curved long sword worn by Japanese warriors from the late Heian to Kamakura period, a core emblem of samurai military identity.

Timeline

  1. 900–1150Kinai and the western provinces · KinaiIn the late Heian period, continental curved sword influences combined with native forging techniques to produce the tachi form—worn edge-down with a pronounced curve—meeting the mounted slashing needs of mounted-archery samurai.
  2. c. 1180–1200Japan (Genpei battlefields) · JapanDuring the Genpei War of 1180–1200, the tachi was widely used as the samurai's primary weapon in mounted and foot combat; sword mountings, signatures, and master-smith systems matured, making it a symbol of warrior authority.
  3. c. 1200–1333Bizen, Yamashiro, and other swordsmith centers · BizenIn the Kamakura period, regional swordsmith schools diverged; while the tachi retained its mounted-combat function, forging craftsmanship and mounting aesthetics advanced further, laying the foundation for Japanese sword culture from the Muromachi period onward.

Sources