The Difference Between the Odachi Sword and the Katana Sword in One Piece Comics Japanese Katana Sword
1. The era of odachi sword and katana use is different
The odachi sword was mainly used from the late Heian period (12th century) to the early Muromachi period. The sword is later than the odachi sword, and it was used from the middle of the Muromachi period (the second half of the 15th century) to the end of the Edo period (the middle of the 19th century). So it can also be said that the katana sword is the successor of the odachi.
2. The use of odachi sword and katana is different
The main form of warfare in the Heian period was horse warfare, so the odachi sword was mainly used during horse warfare and was used on horses. From the Muromachi period to the Edo period, the main method of warfare and combat was ground combat, so the sword was mainly used when people stood on the ground.
3. The way of wearing the odachi sword and the katana is different
The odachi sword is worn on the waist. When equipped, the blade is down. The katana is directly inserted into the waist. When inserted in the waist, the blade is upward. When the Japanese display the odachi sword and knives today, they also inherit this tradition. Whether it is a museum or a sword speciality store, when displaying the odachi sword, the blade is downward; when displaying the katana, the blade is upward.
As for why one is up and the other is down, there is no conclusion yet. The information that can be found is as follows: First, the katana is down to avoid hurting the horse, because if the blade is up, the tip of the katana is down, which is easy Stoke the horse. Second, in the wars of the Heian period, samurai usually wear piercing armour, because the arm also has armour, which is very heavy. If the blade is upward, when the sword is drawn, the already heavy arm will be lifted very high, which is too laborious. So it is more suitable for the blade to be down because the arm is a little easier when the katana is drawn. After the Muromachi period, samurai mainly wore kimonos, and they were much more flexible and easier to move than wearing armour, so it was okay to have the blade pointed upward and the arm raised a little higher when drawing the sword. And if the blade is upward, the speed of the katana will be faster, and the confrontation will be more dominant.
4. The shape of the odachi sword is different from that of the sword
1) Different lengths
Because it is used when riding, the odachi sword can be longer, the length is usually: 2 feet 3 inches (70 ~ 80cm). Considering the convenience of use, generally speaking, the katana sword is is slightly shorter than the odachi sword, but the length is generally more than 2 feet. What we are talking about here are the odachi swords and katana commonly used by samurai at that time, excluding special types such as wild odachi swords that are 3 ~ 5 feet long.
2) The radians are different
The arc of the odachi sword is usually larger, that is, more curved. Compared with the odachi sword, the sword is generally straight. Of course not absolutely.
3) Sword installation is different
Because the way of wearing is different, so the Swords are also different. Because the odachi sword is worn on the waist, the most obvious feature of the sword set is that there are two ring-like parts above the scabbard for hanging. Because the sword is directly inserted into the waist, there is no part of the hanging ring like the odachi sword, but there is a chestnut shape on the side of the scabbard, which is said to be named because it looks like a chestnut.
5. The odachi sword is different from the method of drawing a katana
Because the odachi sword is used in horse battles, it can be drawn from the bottom up with one hand, while the other hand grabs the reins. The method of drawing the katana is much free. You can directly pull it from the bottom to the top, or you can use your left hand (left-handed is the right hand) to press down the katana body, press the katana body from the oblique insertion state to the horizontal state, and then pull it out.
6. The speed of the odachi sword and the katana from drawing to swinging is different
Coolkatana-Hand Forged 53inch Nodachi Japanese Samurai Long Sword
Because the odachi sword is equipped with the blade down, the blade will face down when it is pulled out. Therefore, two actions are generally required from drawing a katana to slashing a person with a katana. With the katana sword, because the blade is upward, after pulling it out, you can draw an arc in the air, just with one movement, you can slash directly at the opponent in one move. Therefore, it can be said that the speed of the katana is slightly better than the odachi sword, and it is faster and more agile to use.
7. The odachi sword is different from the way of punching and inserting a katana
When inserting the odachi sword, the mouth of the scabbard is slightly pressed down, and the scabbard is completely horizontal, and the knife is inserted into the scabbard. When the knife is inserted, the scabbard's mouth is still upward, and the scabbard as a whole maintains the original inclined state and is inserted into the scabbard from top to bottom.
