An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old

An Ancient Nambokochu Han Dachi Mounted Nambokochu Period Samurai Koto Era Katana up to 600 Years Old

The sword in many ways looks just as it looked many centuries ago, and it has been lovingly cared for since it came from Japan to England 150 years ago, in the reign of the Meiji emperor .

The blade looks stunning with a typical ancient Koto, very narrow, suguha hamon of great simplicity and elegance.
All original Edo period han dachi mounts and the menuki, under the blue silk ito, are dragon with gold eyes over traditional samegawa.

Made during the late Nambokochu 1333 to 1391 period, to the early Muramachi period, that dates from 1392 to 1573. Han dachi mounted, with a very nice, original Edo period, matching suite of full mounts with gold and silver tendrils inlaid over iron. Round iron tsuba with inlays. Original ishime stone finish lacquer saya.

Han-dachi originally appeared during the Muromachi period when there was a transition taking place from Tachi to katana. The sword was being worn more and more edge up when on foot, but edge down on horseback as it had always been. The handachi is a response to the need to be worn in either style. The samurai were roughly the equivalent of feudal knights. Employed by the shogun or daimyo, they were members of hereditary warrior class that followed a strict "code" that defined their clothes, armour and behaviour on the battlefield. But unlike most medieval knights, samurai warriors could read and they were well versed in Japanese art, literature and poetry.

Samurai endured for almost 700 years, from 1185 to 1867. Samurai families were considered the elite. They made up only about six percent of the population and included daimyo and the loyal soldiers who fought under them. Samurai means one who serves."

Samurai were expected to be both fierce warriors and lovers of art, a dichotomy summed up by the Japanese concepts of bu to stop the spear expanding into bushido (the way of life of the warrior) and bun (the artistic, intellectual and spiritual side of the samurai). Originally conceived as away of dignifying raw military power, the two concepts were synthesised in feudal Japan and later became a key feature of Japanese culture and morality. The quintessential samurai was Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary early Edo-period swordsman who reportedly killed 60 men before his 30th birthday.

40 inches in saya blade 28 inches

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading experience behind us

Code: 24817

7450.00 GBP