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The term "National Treasure" has been used in Japan to denotecultural properties since 1897. The definition and the criteria have changed since the inception of the term. The weapons in thislist of swords designated as National Treasures of Japan span from the lateKofun to theMuromachi period.
During theYayoi period from about 300 BC to 300 AD, iron tools and weapons such as knives, axes, swords or spears, were introduced to Japan from Korea and China. Shortly after this event, Chinese, Korean, and eventually Japanese swordsmiths produced ironwork locally. Swords were forged to imitate Chinese blades: generally straightchokutō with faultytempering. Worn slung from the waist, they were likely used as stabbing and slashing weapons. Swordmaking centers developed inYamato,San'in andMutsu where various types of blades such astsurugi,tōsu and tachi were produced.
Flat double-edged (hira-zukuri) blades originated in theKofun period, and around the mid-Kofun period swords evolved from thrusting to cutting weapons. Ancient swords were also religious objects according to the 8th century chroniclesNihon Shoki andKojiki. In fact, one of theImperial Regalia of Japan is a sword, and swords have been discovered in ancienttumuli or handed down as treasures ofShinto shrines or Buddhist temples. Few ancient blades (jokotō) exist because the iron has been corroded by humidity. The transition from straightjokotō orchokutō to deliberately curved, and much more refinedJapanese swords (nihontō), occurred gradually over a long period of time, although few extant swords from the transition period exist.