The first official classification of japanese swords according to length emerged during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1603). The Great Sword Hunt also occurred during this era. The Azuchi-Momoyama period linked the Sengoku jidai (Warring States period) and the Edo period, and was ruled by Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The era is named after Nobunaga’s Azuchi Castle and Hideyoshi’s Momoyama Castle (also known as Fushimi Castle).
The Azuchi-Momoyama period began when Nobunaga entered Kyoto in 1568 and ended with the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603. Other major events include Nobunaga’s death in 1582, Hideyoshi’s Kyushu Campaign (1587), his unification of Japan (1590), and his invasion of Korea (1592-1598). Despite lasting only half a decade, the Azuchi-Momoyama era is one of the most popular in Japanese samurai history.
Culture
Christianity in Japan and the art of the tea ceremony flourished during this period. Both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi spent time and money on the latter, collecting tea bowls and caddies, and funding high-end social events.
The era also saw a flamboyant development in clothing and architecture. Hideyoshi’s castle had tiles covered with gold foil, a sharp contrast from the monotones that were preferred in the Muromachi period.
Sword classification
The first official criteria for differentiating types of hand forged samurai swords according to length came about in the Azuchi-Momoyama period. In earlier times, any sword that was used as a backup sword and worn through the obi (belt sash) was referred to as wakizashi, regardless of its length. Nowadays, a blade must be between 12 and 24 inches to qualify as wakizashi.
The Great Sword Hunt
In 1588, Hideyoshi ordered the Great Sword Hunt, banning farmers from owning samurai swords, short swords, firearms, bows, spears, and other types of japanese weapons. Confiscated swords were melted down to build a statue of the Buddha. Although controversial, this move by Hideyoshi effectively brought peasant revolts to an end.
