Tachi

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The title of this article is ambiguous. For other meanings, see Tachi (disambiguation).

The tachi [tatɕi] (jap. 太刀) is a long Japanese sword with a sabre-like blade.

In ancient times, the Chokutō - single-edged, straight swords - used until the Nara period (8th century) were also called tachi, but spelled 大刀, unlike the later curved tachi of the Heian period, which are spelled 太刀.

It is more strongly bent and usually somewhat longer than the more well-known Katana (usually the blade length amounted to over 2.5 Shaku, thus more than 75 cm; also the Tsuka, the sword handle, was often longer and exhibited a stronger bend). The tachi was not slipped under the obi (cloth belt) like a katana with the edge pointing upwards, but was carried at the hip in a weir hanger with the edge pointing downwards. This becomes also clear by the placement of the signature of the swordsmith (mei). This is usually on the side facing away from the wearer and therefore differs between katana and tachi (then also called tachi mei). To protect against damage by the armor, the scabbard of the tachi was also often provided with a wrap.

This weapon was not only the early predecessor of the katana, but also continued to be used later alongside the katana. First and foremost, the tachi was the preferred slashing weapon of the cavalry due to its longer range. The samurai wore the katana as part of their civilian clothing, while the tachi was worn when they were in full armor. A tantō or aikuchi (a fighting knife) was usually carried as a secondary weapon to the tachi, instead of the short sword called wakizashi that belonged to the katana. In addition, the usually elaborately decorated tachi found its place as a ceremonial splendor weapon at the side of daimyo (princes) and officials of the imperial court.

Later models of the tachi resembled the katana in shape and length and often differed from it only by the usually more ostentatiously crafted saya (sword scabbard) and the different way of carrying. Variants of the tachi are the shorter kodachi, resembling a wakizashi, and the excessively long Ōdachi, usually used as a ceremonial sword. The longest Ōdachi still in existence today probably dates from the 15th century and has an overall length of 3.77 meters (2.26 meters blade length).

Questions and Answers

Q: What is a tachi?

A: A tachi is a Japanese sword that has a strongly curved blade and is longer than a katana. It was used on the battlefield before katanas were, so it is considered to be older. The word Tachi translates as "the soul of bushi" (soul of samurai).

Q: How long was the standard length of a tachi blade?

A: The standard length of a tachi blade was around 30.70 inches (about 75cm).

Q: How did Samurai use their tachis in battle?

A: Samurai made the smallest possible moves with their tachis to kill the enemy. Thus when both swords were about to collide, the samurai both turned their swords and let only the blunt back (mune) of the blades hit one another. The cutting edge was used for finish touches, namely for cutting the human body.

Q: What type of sword became popular after the introduction of katanas?

A: After katanas began to be widely used, tachi swords became court swords for ceremonies.

Q: Was it possible to wield a tachi with one hand?

A: Yes, even though it was very long, it was light enough to be handled with one hand. However, it also had a long enough hilt to hold it with two hands if desired.

Q: How did Samurai wear their tachis?

A: Samurai wore their tachis hung from their belt with the cutting-edge down, unlike katanas which were worn with the cutting-edge pointing upwards.