The craft of Samurai sword making has long been considered an art form. Various towns in Japan would have sword makers who would develop their own techniques to treat and shape the steel. The swordmaker would create a "school", where locals from the village could learn the art of sword making.
The techniques of sword manufacturing were well guarded secrets. Having the ability to create light weight swords that had the strength to make it through battles, and hold an edge capable of cutting through armor would make the difference between life and death.
Each school would develop ways in which to marke their creations. Often times this was done by developing a heat temper pattern for the blade and signing the tang.
ANCIENT SWORD PERIOD (Until AD 900)
These swords were made primarily by Chinese and Korean swordmakers. The quality of the steel was not very good. The swords would break during combat. The swords were primarily straight, instead of having the iconic curve look of the traditional Samurai sword.
Some samples of these swords have been found in tombs. Many of them were not very thick, indicating the possibility that they were ceremonial swords instead of combat weapons.
OLD SWORD PERIOD (900 to 1530)
The following list of schools flourished during the old sword era:
A. BIZEN SCHOOL
B. YAMASHIRO SCHOOL
C. YAMATO SCHOOL
D. SOSHU SCHOOL
E. MINO SCHOOL
The schools were located in different regions of Japan. The characteristics of each sword are partly dictated by the geographical location because of the source of the ore needed to produce the steel for the sword.
Most of the modern swordsmiths produce blades using the Bizen style.
NEW SWORD PERIOD (1530 to 1867)
The following is a list of the provinces and the sword smith's who represent some of the finest expressions of the art generated during this time period:
1. YAMASHIRO PROVINCE
2. SETTSU PROVINCE
3. MINO PROVINCE
4. MUSASHI PROVINCE
5. OMI PROVINCE
6. IWASHIRO PROVINCE
7. RIKUZEN PROVINCE
8. WAKASA PROVINCE
9. ECHIZEN PROVINCE
10.KAGA PROVINCE
11.BITCHU PROVINCE
12.AKI PROVINCE
13.KII PROVINCE
14.BIZEN PROVINCE
15.HIZEN PROVINCE
16.SATSUMA PROVINCE
MODERN SWORD (1868 to now)
It is during these years that Japan begins to open to the rest of the world and modernizes. This period rushed the end of the Samurai era. Swords could no longer be worn and the swordmakers started to vanish.
The Showa era (1926 to now) is considered to be a part of the modern sword period. It is during this time that WWII occurs and helps revive the art of swordmaking. However, it is to no extent comparable to what it once was.
The years after the WWII (1945) marked a very grim period for the art of sword making. Many of the elder swordsmiths died without leaving an apprentice to continue the trade. Many of the students quit under the intense scrutiny of regultions. The country had been defeated and destruction was everywhere.
Swordsmiths today are regulated by a set of rules established in 1953. The rules are set to ensure that the craftsmen produced pieces of art and not weapons of war. The rules are as follows:
| Rule 1 | All swordsmiths must be licensed. to obtain a license the person must serve an apprenticeship under a licensed sword maker for a period no less than five years. |
| Rule 2 | The maximum production of swords from a licensed sword maker is two long swords (over 2 feet) and three small swords (under 2 feet) per month. |
| Rule 3 | All swords must be registered with the police. |
| Rule 4 | Any cutting instrument with a length of under 6 inches, which has no hole in the tang is considered to be a knife an is exempt from these rules. |
The art of sword making in Japan has seen a resurgance. An organization has been formed to preserve the art and sword making and promote the appreciation of the swords. The Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (The Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Tokyo.
The group holds an anual competition where swordsmiths can enter a blade. There is a panel of 15 judges that review the workmanship. The judges come from a variety of trades; swordsmiths, polishers appraisers and others decide the outcome of the contest.