Table of contents
Foreword
Between history and legend
Nipponto - the divine katana
Periods in japanese history
Ancient Period
Nara Period
Heian Period
Kamakura Period
Nambokucho / Muromachi Period
Momoyama Periodo
Edo Period
Modern Period
Japanese eras in relation to swords classification
Synoptic chart
Hystorical periods of the japanese sword
Jokoto
Koto
The 5 Koto Schools
The Yamashiro School
The Yamato School
The Bizen School
The Soshu (Sagami) School
The Mino School
Shinto
Shinshinto
Gendaito
The japanese sword in modern times
Types of blades and their classifications
Explicative charts
Mounting parts
Tsurugi and Tsurugi no Tachi
Shin-gunto
Further details: japanese military swords
Shin-gunto NCO
Spade Kyu-gunto
Le Kai-gunto
Fakes
Classification based on shapes
Design evolution related to combat needs
The period of Tachi
Koto of the earlier Kamakura period
Koto of the middle Kamakura period
Koto of the latter Kamakura period
Koto of the Nambokucho period
Koto of the first Muromachi period
Middle Muromachi period
The end of the Muromachi period
Beginning of the Shinto Period
The Keigen-Shinto period
Kanbun-Shinto of the Edo period
Distinctive features in Edo and Osaka fabrication
Genroku-Shinto of the Edo period
Beginning of Shinshinto period
The Edo period, first hald of the Shinshinto
The Edo period, second half of the Shinshinto
The mountings of japanese swords
Mounting Types
Koshirae of particular interest
Notes on components
Katana - mounting parts
Metal parts of the mounting
A few methods for inlaying and embroidering
Tsuba's craftmans
The themes
How to read signatures [mei]
Old provinces
Swordsmiths
Nihonto Origami
written authentication of japanese swords
Making of the blade
Steel and forging techniques
Fabrication
Quench
How to judge japanese swords
Blade damaging caused by temperature
Cracks and blade's flaws
How to judge cutting quality
How to evaluate japanese swords
Cutting tests
Care and maintenance
Cleaning
Display
Signature as status symbol
Martial arts today
The birth of Kendo
The birth of Iaido
Cutting tests
Glossary
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Photographic fonts
Credits
Index of tables
| Tav. I-a | Evolution of the shape | |
| Tav. I-b | Evolution of the shape | |
| Tav. II |
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| Tav. III | Stamping | |
| Tav. IV | Blade parts | |
| Tav. V |
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| Tav. VI |
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| Tav. VII | Fukura | |
| Tav. VIII | Kissaki Types | |
| Tav. IX |
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| Tav. X |
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| Tav. XI | Nakago shape | |
| Tav. XII | Nakago extremities | |
| Tav. XIII | Yasurime | |
| Tav. XIV | Hi types | |
| Tav. XV | Hi endings | |
| Tav. XVI | Hada types | |
| Tav. XVII | Hamon types | |
| Tav. XVIII | Boshi types | |
| Tav. XIX | Blades structure | |
| Tav. XX | Variations in the shape | |
| Tav. XXII | Tsuba, with negative and positive silhouette | |
| Tav. XXIII | Kazaritachi | |
| Tav. XXIV | Kenukigatatachi | |
| Tav. XXV | Efunotachi | |
| Tav. XXVI | Itomachinotachi | |
| Tav. XXVII | Itomakinotachi in Shirizaya | |
| Tav. XXVIII | Handachi | |
| Tav. XXIX | Uchigatana | |
| Tav. XXX | Katana | |
| Tav. XXXI | Wakizashi | |
| Tav. XXXII | Shirasaya | |
| Tav. XXXIII | Tanto | |
| Tav. XXXIV | Aikuchi | |
| Tav. XXXV | Hamidashi | |
| Tav. XXXVI | Kaiken | |
| Tav. XXXVII | Saya accessories | |
| Tav. XXXVIII | Tsuka shapes | |
| Tav. XXXIX | Tsuba | |
| Tav. XL | Buke-zukuri mountings, exploded diagram | |
| Tav. XLI | Tsuba shapes | |
| Tav. XLII | Tsuba, edge types | |
| Tav. XLIII | Tsuba, section types | |
| Tav. XLIV | Inlay types | |
| Tav. XLV | Ancient provinces in Japan | |
| Tav. XLVI | Quench | |
| Tav. XLVII | Masame and Itame hada | |
| Tav. XLVIII | Placement of refractory clay prior to quenching |
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| Tav. XLIX |
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| Tav. L | Tameshigiri |