- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Short Japanese sword, wakizashi, [with sheath .3, knife .5 and kogai .6], forming a pair with 1929.17.3 .2. [El.B 26/4/2007]
- Long description
- Short Japanese sword, wakizashi, [with sheath .3, knife .5 and kogai .6], forming a pair with 1929.17.3 .2. The blade is one-edged, slightly curved. The scabbard sleeve, habaki, is incised to create a rough surface with tiny dots. The guard, tsuba, of copper alloy is incised with wave patterns. The metal sleeve, fuchi, and buttcap, kashira, are of copper alloy with a pattern of waves with tiny dots inlaid in gold. The handle is covered with rayskin, with two palm ornaments, menuki, of a small figure (?a raft). A bamboo pin runs through the handle and the tang of the blade. The handle wrap, tsuka ito, is of greenish silk braid. [El.B 26/4/2007]
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- Japanese
- Date / Period
- Date made: 1600-1620?, uncertain
- Date collected
- By 1929
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1929
- Materials and processes
- Material Steel Metal, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Material Gilt Metal, Material Fish Skin, Material Silk Yarn Animal, Material Gold Metal, Process Forged (Metal), Process Bound, Process Incised, Process Inlaid, Process Cast
- Dimensions
- Length: max 710 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1929.17.3.1
- Research and responses
The following notes are drawn from research compiled by Andy Mills as part of the DCF Cutting Edge Project 2006-2007. This is a daisho or matching pair of swords, as worn exclusively by warriors of the samurai class, and which became the primary insignia of that class among men. The daisho could take two forms – a military form, or a civilian form: In the civilian form, with normal dress, a man would wear a katana and wakizashi (shortsword). The katana was carried blade upwards through the sash-belt, over the left hip-bone. The wakizashi was carried through the same belt, blade upwards, across the belly, with the hilt to the right. The example here is a pair of swords for civilian wear – katana and wakizashi. In the military form, with armour, swords were worn secured to the body through sword-belts and metal fittings on the blades themselves. [SM 17/06/2008]
Related Documents File - Detailed information from Colin Langton, 2001. Type is "Wakizashi, probably a slightly shortened Chisa/Uchi Gatana blade, Koshirae en suite to sword 7B". [CF 7/1/2002]
- Associated publications
- This object features in the Museum's audio guide produced during the DCF-funded 'Cutting Edge’ project, 2007-2009. [HH 20/06/2010] Illustrated in colour on pages 101 and 104 (centre) of Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5000 Years of Combat by R. G. Grant (Dorling Kindersley 2005). On page 101 with the caption 'SAMURAI SWORD / This 17th-century short sword is the kind that samurai would use when committing ritual suicide or seppuku, for which they became famed', and on page 104 with the caption 'WAKIZASHI, 17TH CENTURY'. [JMC 1/8/2019]
1929.17.3.1
Short Japanese sword, wakizashi, [with sheath .3, knife .5 and kogai .6], forming a pair with 1929.17.3 .2. [El.B 26/4/2007]
On display
1929.17.3.1
Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
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