(third–fifth centuries A.D.), when the Japanese acquired the knowledge of
iron casting, marked the first significant turning point in the making and
wielding of swords. By the Asuka period (fifth–sixth centuries), the Japan-
ese were making good-quality, straight, single-edged swords that were
placed in a decorated scabbard. These swords were by far more effective in
cutting down an opponent than anything the Japanese had previously pro-
duced. The production and use of the sword as an effective weapon re-
quired warriors to practice wielding and stabbing. The precision with
which a warrior had to wield his sword required more definite, predeter-
mined movements, thus marking the first true swordsmanship, unsophisti-
cated though it may have been.
The transition from sword techniques for the straight sword to those
for a curved sword necessarily occurred at the same time that such curved
swords were first produced. This transition occurred gradually during the
tenth century, when straight swords were still used by warriors but curved
swords had begun to appear. In the tenth century, Japanese makers were al-
ready experimenting with single-edged curved swords and were producing
some double-edged curved swords as well. By the tenth century, with the
rise of the two most important warrior families—Taira (also Heike) and
Minamoto (also Genji)—and consequently, with improvements in military
technology, Japanese warriors chose the single-edge curved sword. The pre-
ferred curved blade allowed for only one effective cutting edge at the outer
side of the blade, while the inner side of the curvature was no longer sharp-
ened, leaving it thick. The Japanese preference for a curved blade resulted
from the nature of Japanese armor and the development of equestrian
fighting skills. The hard leather or metal Japanese armor vis-à-vis the light
Chinese armor, together with limitations incurred due to the seated posi-
tion on a horse, gave the curved sword a better cutting power, and it was
easier to draw while on horseback.
The use of swords was first recorded in the Nihon Shokiand in the
Sujin-ki,where the term tachikakito refer to sword fighting first appeared.
These records provide only fragmentary information on the use of swords.
More specific information on sword fighting in ancient and premodern
Japan appears in the Gunki(War Tales), namely the Hôgen monogatari
(Tale of the Hôgen), Heike monogatari (Tale of the Heike), and Taiheiki
(Record of Great Peace). These and other sources indicate that from the
late Heian period until the late Kamakura period, swordsmanship on the
battlefield was secondary to mounted archery, which was the primary
method of warfare, and to wielding halberds (naginata) and spears (hoko).
Furthermore, it is clear that swords were mostly used after the warrior dis-
mounted from his horse to engage in close combat. Mounted swordsman-
ship is only recorded in some picture scrolls, which rarely show warriors
Swordsmanship, Japanese 591