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A '''katana''' is a [[Japan|Japanese]] longsword with a single edge. A [[samurai]] warrior would usually carry a katana into battle, along with either a [[wakizashi]] or a [[tanto]].
[[image:katana.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A katana dating to the 16th or 17th century]]
A '''katana''' (刀) is a two handed [[Japan]]ese saber with a single edge. Although the term is generally applied to any Japanese sword, this is incorrect. For example, the ''tachi'' (太刀) sword was longer and more curved than a katana. The ''katana'' replaced the ''tachi'' as the weapon of choice, as it could be worn blade-up, thus enabling the wearer to draw and cut in one move.
[[category:Japan]]
A [[samurai]] warrior would usually carry a ''katana'' (or other long sword ''daito'') into battle, along with a short sword (either a ''wakizashi'' (脇差) meaning "side arm" or a ''tantō'' (短刀) meaning "short sword"). Worn together, the pair of swords are called ''daishō'', which literally means "large and small".
[[category:weaponry]]
The blades are classified according to their length. A ''daito'' (long sword), for example a ''katana'' or ''tachi'', would be over two ''shaku'' (where one ''shaku'' is equal to approximately 12 inches or 30 centimetres) in length. A ''shoto'' or ''wakizashi'' would be between one and two shaku long. A tantō blade would normally be less than one shaku in length. The length of a sword blade is measured from the pointed tip of the blade, to the notch just in front of the handle or grip.
The katana was considered to be a spiritual object for a samurai, who often named their swords, and it was rumoured their soul was in that blade. After the beginning of the [[Tokugawa Shogunate]], only samurai were permitted to carry these swords.
==External links==
*[http://swordforum.com/forge/js-basicforging.html Basic Japanese Sword Forging]
[[Category:Japan]]
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Knives]]