Consideration of the japanese sword from the viewpoint of impact engineering

Abstract

The Japanese sword is a weapon peculiar to Japan. The Japanese sword is interesting not only from the viewpoint of traditional crafts of arts, but also from the aspect of modem science and technology because the way of making and its functionality as a weapon are really consistent with science. The present study is concerned with the connection between tohshin (blade) and tsuka (hilt) of the sword. Only one mekugi-take (retaining peg made of bamboo) with about 5mm in diameter holds Nakago (tang) in the hilt. However the slender mekugi might not be broken, even though in the case of violent sword-fighting. This fact has been historically demonstrated in many battles by Japanese swords. In this study, using a Tachi being the typical Japanese sword, it is examined theoretically and experimentally from the viewpoint of impact engineering why a mekugi used in Japanese swords might not be broken. As a result, it is made clear that such a strong force as breaking mekugi-take does not act on it, because of the location of mekugi-ana (a hole for mekugi) in the tang, which has been made by the traditional code of sword-smiths. © 2011 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.