When you look into a Katana, you will notice the glistening, elegant waves on the blade in a very second.
It is called HAMON(刃文; Blade-Waves). It ranges from the layered, helix, wavy ones that could look like tidal waves, to the straight, thin ones.
You can not help but realize how much of Hamon’s breath-taking beauty there is to be seen in the world of Katana…. Today we are going to introduce the basics of HAMON to you.
INDEX:
HAMON
1.How did they make Hamon?
2.Shape of Hamon
For Advanced Tips:
JIGANE, NIE, and NIOI
1.What is Jigane (Kitae-Hada)?
2. Types of Jigane
3.Nie-Deki, Nioi-Deki
1. How did they make Hamon?
Before you sharpen up the blade to form the Katana shape, the blade goes through the process called “TSUCHI-OKI(土置き; Mud-Put) and YAKI-IRE (焼き入れ; Burn-In).” They put clay on top of the Katana blade, temper it again at 800℃, and rapidly bring down the heat by putting it back in cold water. Depending on how you put clay on it, they could make many different Hamon shapes because each part of the blade is tempered differently in the pot. The Hamon will show much clearer after the polishing process.
2.Shape of Hamon
If you have already seen one or two Katana, you may have noticed that there are generally two types of Hamon; straight Hamon, SUGU-HA (直刃), and wavy Hamon, MIDARE-BA (乱刃). In the Japanese sword terminology, there are many specific terms to describe those Hamon patterns. However, we would just like to touch on these two types today.
I: SUGU-HA
Sugu-Ha never goes out of style. They were a more common, sharper, and martially more sturdy type of Katana throughout history.
Although most Sugu-Ha blades look very similar, there are loads of sub-genres among them as well.
We will show you those in the future episode of this series.
II: MIDARE-BA
Midare-Ba acquired its popularity in the peaceful periods during the Samurai times.
Since they were more aesthetically outstanding, people would often prefer to have the Midare-Ba Katana on display.
However, The Japanese swords with Midare-Ba Hamon were also made in the conflicted eras such as the Sengoku period. (The Warring States period)
Midare-Ba should also be divided into several types. Below shows the four popular Midare-Ba waves.
Now you have probably grasped the difference between each HAMON. However, the blade of the Katana still has a lot more to be seen. We would also like to introduce the basics of Katana’s skin patterns, JIGANE, NIE and NIOI.
1.What is Jigane (Kitae-Hada)?
Jigane, or Kitae-Hada is the sheer pattern of wrinkles seen on Katana that stream through the blade on the surface. They are made in Katana’s layering process of its forging, and they range from straight ones to wavy ones as well as Hamon.
2.Types of Jigane
The figure below shows the four famous instances of Jigane. Since the blacksmiths had smashed the blade so hard to layer the blade’s steel, they were named after this process as ‘Forged-Skin,’ which is Kitae-Hada in Japanese. These Jigane types are generally unique to specific sword artistries, yet were sometimes inherited to individuals who moved to other regions.
1.Ayasugi-Hada
Wavy patterns that look like tidal waves.
2.Mokume-Hada
Patterns that look like tree rings.
3.Itame-Hada
Straight designs that look like lumber.
4.Masame-Hada
Straight patterns that look like trees cut vertically.
2.NIE and NIOI
As you may know, having read the previous episode about TAMA-HAGANE, Katana were usually made out of carbon steel. You can see that there are small crystallized round dots on Katana’s surface.
If the dots are visible in naked eye, we call them NIE.
If not, we refer to those smaller dots as NIOI.
Nie-Deki(沸出来;Boiled-Made) were made when the blade was tempered at higher temperatures as the chemical reaction of carbon and steel gets fast and rough in higher intensity of heat. On the other hand, Nioi-Deki(匂出来;Subtle-Made) were made in the slower burning of carbon steel so that the dots would crystalize more densely. It can also help determine the historical backgrounds about the swordsmiths’ artistry, based on the portion of Nie and Nioi.
Can you now tell the difference of your Katana from the other ones? If you cannot clarify the difference, you are welcome to ask us too. We would be happy to help you make the most of your Katana collection experience, and we appreciate all your aspiration and love for Samurai culture. We will see you in the next episode.
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mountings), Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Wakizashi (SHINTO)
Age
The 6th year of the Enpo era (1678: Early Edo period)
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NTHK Kanteisho Certificate, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Katana (GENDAITO)
Age
late Shōwa period (late 20th century)
Swordsmith
Attributed to Fukuoka Muneshige (福岡宗重: Unsigned)
Certificate
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade
Location
Fukuoka prefecture
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 79.3 cm (31.22 inches) Curvature: 2.4 cm (0.94 inches)
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade, Shirasaya Case (Plain Wooden Case), Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Tanto (KOTO)
Age
Late Muromachi period (1573-1592)
Swordsmith
Attributed to Shimada Yoshisuke (嶋田義助: Unsigned)
Certificate
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade
Location
Suruga province (Today’s Shizuoka prefecture)
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 23.7 cm (9.33 inches)
Curvature: 0.1 cm (0.03 inches)
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Katana (KOTO)
Age
Estimated the early Nambokucho period (around the early 14th century)
Swordsmith
Attributed to Den Rai Kunitsyugu (伝来国次: Unsigned)
Certificate
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
Location
Yamashiro province (Today’s Kyoto prefecture)
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 71.3 cm (28.0 inches) Curvature: 2.3 cm (0.9 inches)
DELIVERY TIME: Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO:
USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED: NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae, Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Katana (SHIN SHIN TO)
Age
The 14th year of the Tenpo era (1843: Late Edo period)
Swordsmith
Chounsai Tsunatoshi (長運斎綱俊)
Certificate
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
Location
Musashi province (Today’s Tokyo)
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 81.4 cm (32.0 inches) Curvature: 2.6 cm (1.02 inches)
DELIVERY TIME: Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO: USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED: NBTHK JUYO TOKEN Certificate, Koshirae Mounting, Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Katana (KOTO)
Age
Late Kamakura- Nanbokucho Period (Early-Late 14th century)
Swordsmith
Attributed to Enju (延寿: Unsigned)
Certificate
NBTHK JUYO TOKEN Certificate
Location
Higo province (Today’s Kumamoto prefecture)
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 69.9 cm (27.5 inches)
Curvature: 1.3 cm (0.51 inches)
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate for the blade and Koshirae, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mountings), Traditional Sword Carrying Bags, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Katana (SHINTO)
Age
Estimated the Edo period
Swordsmith
Bingo no Kuni Tojo Ju Kojima Nobukuni
(備後国東城住小島宣邦)
Certificate
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate for the blade& Koshirae
Location
Bingo province (Today’s Hiroshima prefecture)
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 69.7 cm (27.4 inches) Curvature: 1.0 cm (0.39 inches)
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate , Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mountings), Traditional Sword Carrying Bags, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Katana (SHINTO)
Age
Early Edo period (Early 17th century)
Swordsmith
Shinano Daijo Fujiwara Tadakuni (信濃大掾藤原忠国)
Certificate
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate
Location
Yamashiro-Inaba province (Today’s Kyoto-Tottori prefecture)
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 69.1 cm (27.2 inches) Curvature: 1.4 cm (0.55 inches)
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months *We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO : USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong,Australia *Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category
Katana (KOTO)
Age
Estimated the mid Kamakura period (around the 13th century)
Swordsmith
Attributed to Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字: Unsigned)
Certificate
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
Location
Bizen province (Today’s Okayama prefecture)
Blade Size
Cutting Edge Length: 65.2 cm (25.6 inches) Curvature: 1.1 cm (0.43 inches)
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