page_title: Tachi
section_title: History and description
hierarchical_section_title: Tachi / History and description
caption_attribution_description: English: Tachi / katana comparison. Lt:Katana, katana mei (bishu osafune katsumitsu), possibly Koto, middle of the Muromachi period 1500's, 24 5/8 in cutting edge. Rt:Koto Bizen tachi, tachi-mei , 71 cm / 27.95in nagasa, very early Muromachi Period (650 yrs old). Possibly Lesuke or Kozori Bizen.
context_page_description: A tachi was a type of traditionally made Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Tachi and katana generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when sheathed, the latter depending on the location of the mei, or signature, on the tang. The tachi style of swords preceded the development of the katana, which was not mentioned by name until near the end of the twelfth century; tachi are known to have been made in the Kotō period, ranging from 900 to 1596.
context_section_description: The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:
  Jōkotō (ancient swords, until around 900)
  Kotō (old swords from around 900–1596)
  Shintō (new swords 1596–1780)
  Shinshintō (new new swords 1781–1876)
  Gendaitō (modern swords 1876–1945)
  Shinsakutō (newly made swords 1953–present)
  Authentic tachi were forged during the Kotō period, before 1596. The tachi preceded the katana; the latter was not mentioned by name to indicate a blade distinct from a tachi until near the end of the twelfth century. With a few exceptions, katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other if signed by the location of the signature (mei) on the tang. In general the signature should be carved into the side of the tang that would face outward when the sword was worn on the wielder's left waist. Since a tachi was worn cutting edge down, and the katana was worn cutting edge up the mei would be in opposite locations on the tang of both types of swords.
  An authentic tachi that was manufactured in the correct time period had an average cutting edge length (nagasa) of 70–80 cm (​27 ⁹⁄₁₆–​31 ¹⁄₂ in) and compared to a katana was generally lighter in proportion to its length, had a greater taper from hilt to point, was more curved and had a smaller point area.
  Unlike the traditional manner of wearing the katana, the tachi was worn hung from the belt with the cutting-edge down, and was most effective when used by cavalry. Deviations from the average length of tachi have the prefixes ko- for "short" and ō- for "great, large" attached. For instance, tachi that were shōtō and closer in size to a wakizashi were called kodachi. The longest tachi (considered a 15th-century ōdachi) in existence is more than 3.7 metres (12 ft) in total length with a 2.2 metres (7 ft 3 in) blade, but believed to be ceremonial. In the late 1500s and early 1600s many old surviving tachi blades were converted into katana by having their original tangs cut (o-suriage), which meant the signatures were removed from the swords.
  For a sword to be worn in "tachi style" it needed to be mounted in a tachi koshirae. The tachi koshirae had two hangers (ashi) which allowed the sword to be worn in a horizontal position with the cutting edge down. A sword not mounted in a tachi koshirae could be worn tachi style by use of a koshiate, a leather device which would allow any sword to be worn in the tachi style.
caption: Comparison between the tangs (nakago) of a katana (left) and tachi (right). The signature (mei) on the tachi tang was inscribed in such a way that it would always be on the side of the tang facing outward when either sword was worn.
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