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A was a type of traditionally made Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tachi style of swords preceded the development of the katana—the first use of the word ''katana'' to indicate a blade different from ''tachi'' appears toward the end of the twelfth century. Chokutō, straight swords, were also called ''tachi'', but written as . ==History and description== The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: * Jōkotō (ancient swords, until around 900 A.D.) * Kotō (old swords from around 900–1596) * Shintō (new swords 1596–1780) * Shinshintō (new new swords 1781–1876) * Gendaitō (modern swords 1876–1945) * Shinsakutō (newly made swords 1953–present) Authentic tachi were forged during the Kotō period, before 1596.〔''The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords'', Author Kōkan Nagayama, Publisher Kodansha International, 1997, ISBN 4-7700-2071-6, ISBN 978-4-7700-2071-0 P.48〕 With a few exceptions katana and ''tachi'' can be distinguished from each other if signed , by the location of the signature (''mei'') on the tang. In general the signature should be carved into the side of the tang that would face outward when the sword was worn on the wielder's left waist. Since a ''tachi'' was worn cutting edge down, and the ''katana'' was worn cutting edge up the ''mei'' would be in opposite locations on the tang of both types of swords.〔''The new generation of Japanese swordsmiths'', Tamio Tsuchiko, Kenji Mishina, Kodansha International, 2002 P.30〕 An authentic tachi that was manufactured in the correct time period averaged 70–80 centimeters (27 9/16 - 31 1/2 inches)in cutting edge length (''nagasa'') and compared to a katana was generally lighter in weight in proportion to its length, had a greater taper from hilt to point, was more curved with a smaller point area.〔''The Japanese sword, Volume 12 of Japanese arts library, Author Kanzan Satō, Photographs by Joe Earle, Translated by Joe Earle, Contributor Joe Earle, Edition illustrated, Publisher Kodansha International, 1983, ISBN 0-87011-562-6, ISBN 978-0-87011-562-2 P.15〕 Unlike the traditional manner of wearing the katana, the tachi was worn hung from the belt with the cutting-edge down,〔''Nippon-tô: the Japanese sword'', Author Inami Hakusui, Publisher Cosmo, 1948, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized May 27, 2009 P.160〕 and was most effective when used by cavalry.〔''A distinguished collection of arms and armor on permanent display, Issue 4 of Bulletin, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History History Division, Issue 4 of Bulletin, Author Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, History Division, Publisher Ward Ritchie Press, 1969 Original from the University of Virginia, Digitized Aug 13, 2010 P.120〕 Deviations from the average length of tachi have the prefixes ''ko-'' for "short" and ''ō-'' for "great or large" attached. For instance, tachi that were ''shōtō'' and closer in size to a ''wakizashi'' were called ''kodachi''. The longest tachi (considered a 15th-century ''ōdachi'') in existence is more than 3.7 meters in total length (2.2m blade) but believed to be ceremonial. In the late 1500s and early 1600s many old surviving tachi blades were converted into katana by having their original tangs cut (''o-suriage''), the signature would be lost in this process.〔''The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords'', Author Kōkan Nagayama, Edition illustrated, Publisher Kodansha International, 1998, ISBN 4-7700-2071-6, ISBN 978-4-7700-2071-0 P.48〕 For a sword to be worn in "tachi style" it needed to be mounted in a ''tachi koshirae''. The tachi koshirae had two hangers (ashi) which allowed the sword to be worn in a horizontal position with the cutting edge down.〔''Art of the samurai: Japanese arms and armor, 1156-1868'', Authors 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tachi」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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