Originally, the samurai’s main weapon was the bow and arrows. Warriors mainly moved around on their horses. The sword was only an accessory weapon hung under the belt with the blade pointing downwards on the left side. The swords were called TACHI. Their sets were called TACHI KOSHIRAE.
Both the blades and the sets evolved and were modified over the centuries according to their purpose. Social events in the country and changing rulers had a significant influence on the appearance of the sets. Events that led to these changes:
- the original appearance of the sword was influenced by China and Korea,
- further changes in the development and appearance of the sword occurred during the Mongol invasion of the country in the second half of the 13th century,
- the great rivalry between the two imperial courts in the 14th century,
- a long period of civil wars throughout Japan in the 15th and 16th centuries,
- the first unification of the country at the end of the 16th century,
- the first long period of peace in the 17th-19th centuries brought a major change in the appearance of the sets,
- the arrival of capitalism and the opening of Japan to the world at the end of the 19th century,
- from the 20th century to the present day, the types of sets have been repeated and copied from earlier designs.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, during a period of prolonged wars and the establishment of a new combat unit, the ASHIGARU infantry, a new type of shorter KATANA sword was created for them, the UCHIGATANA KOSHIRAE set. The set had no hinges and was worn tucked into the belt with the blade facing upwards.
Both types of weapons were accompanied by a short TANTO dagger and later a longer WAKIZASHI.