Though the word is fun, the weapon is very serious indeed. The katana is the primary sword of the samurai, regarded as one of the ancient Orients deadliest weapons. This single-edged sword had a long, curved blade and a chisel-like point. The blade itself ranged between around 23 to almost 29 inches throughout the years of its use. The katana served well as both a slashing and thrusting weapon.
The tale of the mighty katana goes back to the 8th century A.D. when soldiers fondly watching their daughters playing with My Little Archaic Ponies had an epiphany: What if we fought on horseback! Unfortunately, their straight-blade swords werent quite made for equestrian battle, which led to the curved blade that characterizes the katana.
The katanas father was a sword called the tachi, which was worn with the sharp edge facing down. Then during the Muromachi period of 1392-1573, slightly less curvaceous longswords with the katana signature came onto the samurai scene. These swords were worn with the cutting edge facing up, so that the samurai could draw his weapon and strike his opponent in one swift motion, often beheading his enemy! The katana hung at the samurais side in a belt-sash called an obi. Perhaps Mr. Kenobis father was a samurai devotee?
The katana, along with its smaller companion sword the wakizashi, represented the social power and personal honor of the samurai. The weapon also had a spiritual history of sorts: Samurai believed their souls were connected to the katana, and thus, these swords were carefully passed down from generation to generation. All lower-class soldiers were legally forbidden from wearing the katana and would have been executed immediately if found with one!
But when the Edo period of Japan dawned, the role of samurai was eliminated. Eventually, firearms were introduced, and swords were no longer in demand. In 1877, the Haitore Edict was issued, forbidding the carrying of swords in public by anyone except for military, police, and former samurai. Today, the katana is still used by martial arts practitioners and historical re-enactors such as yourself? *wink*
