Display of Katana

[Soulend]

I have what may be a stupid question (or two). When displaying the katana in a horizontal stand, is it more correct to have the sword ha up or ha down? I had thought only tachi were displayed ha down. Also, in a vertical stand, should the kojiri or the tsukagashira be resting on the base of the stand(down)? I see katana displayed all these different ways and was wondering if it depends on the school or is there a correct and an incorrect way?

[ghp]

Soulend,

Katana are always displayed edge up. Most will position the swords so the handle is to the left. A few will have the handle to the right, since it is easier to draw the blade from this position.

When tachi are displayed horizontally, it is always edge down, and I've only seen "handle to the left" in these cases. When tachi are displayed on the vertical stand, it is always with the handle's kashira-gane towards the floor. Reason: inside the house the bushi would sit usually in anza (cross-legged). If the handle is propped on the floor, it is easier to draw the sword from this position than if the handle were facing the ceiling.

Also, I generally get into trouble whenever I say *always* in regards to Japanese culture, etc. Be aware that exceptions may exist.

Regards,
Guy

[hyaku]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Soulend
[B]I have what may be a stupid question (or two). When displaying the katana in a horizontal stand, is it more correct to have the sword ha up or ha down? I had thought only tachi were displayed ha down. Also, in a vertical stand, should the kojiri or the tsukagashira be resting on the base of the stand(down)? I see katana displayed all these different ways and was wondering if it depends on the school or is there a correct and an incorrect way?

.....................
The first thread I ever joined on e-budo was on the same subject. Edge up Tsuka to the right. You should turn it so the Tsuka faces left if you have visitors, as it means you wish them no ill will or intent.

Hyakutake Colin

[Soulend]

Thanks gentlemen! Guy, I guess that the katana would also be tsuka down in a vertical stand, like the tachi. What got me thinking was a picture in one of the posts in the Ninpo section. http://images.chi.il.honesty.com/cgi-bin/honesty-image/8100412/ph-Wide-5.JPEG

[Earl Hartman]

Guy:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am under the impression that katana are always displayed on a horizontal stand, and that only tachi are displayed on a vertical stand.

Also, I would imagine that there is another good, practical reason for displaying a tachi with the tsuka downward: balance and safety. The tsuka is heavier, and with the tsuka up, the blade will be more likely to fall over. Kind of a problem if you're entertaining guests, and the nice tachi in the tokonoma tips over, crashes into the ikebana display, and splashes water all over the nice kakejiku you commissioned from the master calligrapher especially for the occasion (doh!).

Earl

[Tim Atkinson]

I agree with Guy that the Katana is always presented with ha upper most. However I was under the impression that tsuka was to the right in your own home for easy use. But if at anothers home as a guest then the tsuka was to the left due to the need to reverse the blade in order to draw. Also if a blade is on display, in a sword shop for example, then the tsuka was to the left as the blade will be warn in the obi like this and it shows the blade in a similar manner.

[Mark Brecht]

David,

i do not mind you putting up the url to the pic on ebudo, but you should have posted the copyright notice (Japanese Treasures 2000. All Rights Reserved).

Hm, this an interesting conversation. BTW, LOL the katana was displayed in this picture for the purpose of size comparsion. As some of the pics with scrolls and vertical shaped hangboards can be confusing.

I do agree with Earl, that the vertical stand is "usually" for tachi. I also think that on a horizontal stand the sword handle is supposed to be on the left side. :D Neverthless i have seen a Japanese home recently, where the family swords were displayed with the handles to the right... As always nothing it written in stone in Japan...

[Kennesten]

I was wondering -- are katanakake and tachikake traditional? Or rather, were they intended more for display or for function (as a sword stand, keeping place)? Also, was the idea of the sword as an art object as prevalent as it is today?
Sorry to shift directions. =) Thank you.

Nicholas Lauridsen

[Soulend]

Sorry for linking to your picture. :cry: <HTML> <b> Be it known that the picture of the scroll and vertically displayed katana are copyrighted by Japanese Treasures, and that any and all foolish enough to steal this image for their personal use are subject to immediate annihilation by Tengu and assorted ninja. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

[socho]

Nicholas,
I believe the katana kake were meant to be functional as well as decorative, as are so many things in Japan. I have seen some quite old ones, both plain and decorative. I think tachi stands would be less functional than decorative, as it would cause the oil (on a sword that was used or meant to be used) to pool in the tip of the scabbard, a 'bad thing'.
Others on this list far more knowledgable than I can tell you more about the sword as art, but I would say that the idea was more prevalent in a) the mid to late Edo period - when there was relative peace and samurai had little real function ('flower samurai', as sensei would say), and b) since WW2, when US occupation authorities initially prohibited ownership of swords and then relented when presented with arguments for preserving 'art' swords. Prior to the Edo period, a well made sword would certainly be an item of prestige or status, but I wouldn't think they would be thought of as 'art'. (imho)

[Nathan Scott]

Hello,

Just to add to the mix, here's a couple of other factors to consider:

1) you wouldn't want to display a katana horizontally edge down - not only because it wasn't worn that way - but also because you don't want the cutting edge resting against the inside of the saya. The same goes for drawing and resheathing a katana/wakizashi when it's not worn. You position the sword edge up so that it does not scar up the inside of the saya.

2) Positioning the katana with the tsuka on the left is not only more polite, but it shows off the "better side" of the sword to those that would view it. Tsuka to the left allows others to view the blade the same way they would see it if it was being worn. This side, the Omote, is often more decorated than the Ura side which is worn inwards against the body and out of view. The same goes for the decorations on tsubas.

I've never seen any authority of swords display a katana on a verticle tachikake. Only Karate & Taekwon do instructors! :D

FWIW,

[Erik Tracy]

I think that the issue of how to display the katana has been thoroughly discussed, but here's a bit more on the display of tachi.

(Hope my hackers HTML works)

<br>
<img src="http://www.users.cts.com/king/e/erikt/Pictures/tachi-1.jpg">
<br>
<br>
<img src="http://www.users.cts.com/king/e/erikt/Pictures/tachi-2.jpg">
<br>

[These pictures are copyrighted and "borrowed" for the purposes of this discussion from the book "The Samurai Sword" by John Yumoto.]

I was surprised to see tachi displayed like this, and when I posed the question to the iaido-l listserv, I received a reply from a curator at the British Museum who stated that simply put a Japanese sword is displayed as it was worn.

So, quite naturally, the tachi is displayed edge down.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.

Erik Tracy
Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu
Jikishin-Kai

[Nathan Scott]

Cool pictures.

Again, "displaying it how it was worn" means that the omote side of the sword is facing outwards, which makes sense.

It seems like displaying a tachi on a horizontal katanakake is a better way of showing the sword, as opposed to the vertical tachikake which might be viewed as a "historically more functional" type of stand, as Guy-san pointed out.

Regards,