Blade and mounting for awakizashi. The blade was made by Soshu Fusamune. Blade, late 15th–early 16th century; mounting, 18th century. There were many different makers for the katana.The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Thewakizashi (Japanese:脇差, 'side inserted sword'[1]) is one of the traditionally madeJapanese swords (nihontō)[2][3] worn by thesamurai infeudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one'sobi or sash at one's side, whereas the largertachi sword was worn slung from a cord.
The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:[4]
Jokotō (ancient swords, until around AD 900)
Kotō (old swords from around 900–1596)
Shintō (new swords 1596–1780)
Shinshintō (newer swords 1781–1876)
Gendaitō (modern or contemporary swords 1876–present)
Thewakizashi has a blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) in length.[1]Wakizashi close to the length of akatana are calledō-wakizashi andwakizashi closer totantō length are calledko-wakizashi.[1]Wakizashi are not necessarily just a smaller version of thekatana; they could be forged differently and have a different cross-section.[5]
Wakizashi have been in use as far back as the 15th[6] or 16th century.[7] Thewakizashi was used as a backup or auxiliary sword;[1] it was also used for close quarters fighting, to behead a defeated opponent[8] and sometimes to commitseppuku.[9] Thewakizashi was one of several short swords available for use by samurai including theyoroi tōshi, and thechisa-katana. The termwakizashi did not originally specify swords of any official blade length[10] and was an abbreviation ofwakizashi no katana ("sword thrust at one's side"); the term was applied to companion swords of all sizes.[11]
Antique Japanesedaishō, the traditional pairing of two Japanese swords which were the symbol of thesamurai, showing the traditional Japanese sword cases (koshirae) and the difference in size between thekatana (bottom) and the smallerwakizashi (top).
During theEdo period, theTokugawa shogunate required samurai to wearKatana and shorter swords in pairs. These short swords werewakizashi andtanto, andwakizashi were mainly selected.[12] Thewakizashi being worn together with thekatana was the official sign that the wearer was a samurai. When worn together, the pair of swords were calleddaishō, which translates literally as "big-little". Onlysamurai could wear thedaishō: it represented their social power and personalhonour.[13][14][15] During this period, commoners were allowed to wear one legal-lengthko-wakizashi, which made it popular for the general public to wear wakizashi. This was common when traveling because of the risk of encountering bandits.[16][17]Wakizashi were worn on the left side, secured to the waist sash (Uwa-obi or himo).[18][12] It was not until the Edo period in 1638 when the rulers of Japan tried to regulate the types of swords and the social strata which were allowed to wear them that the lengths ofkatana andwakizashi were officially set.[19]
Although the number of forged swords decreased in theMeiji period, many artistically excellent mountings were made. Awakizashi forged by Soshu Akihiro.Nanboku-chō period (top). Wakizashi mounting, Early Meiji period (bottom).
Kanzan Satō, in his book titledThe Japanese Sword, notes that there did not seem to be any particular need for thewakizashi and suggests that thewakizashi may have become more popular than thetantō because it was more suited for indoor fighting. He mentions the custom of leaving thekatana at the door of a castle or palace when entering, while continuing to wear thewakizashi inside.[20]
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