View source for Wakizashi

{{Short description|Shorter sword in a daishō (Japanese)}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = {{Nihongo|Wakizashi|脇差}}
| image              = 脇差 Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi).jpg
| caption            = Blade and mounting for a ''wakizashi''. The blade was made by Soshu Fusamune. Blade, late 15th–early 16th century; mounting, 18th century. There were many different makers for the katana. [[The Metropolitan Museum of Art]]
| type               = [[Sword]]
<!-- Type selection -->| length             = 
| sheath_type        = [[Japanese lacquerware|Lacquered wood]]
| head_type          = 
| haft_type          = 
| image_size         = 350
| origin             = Japan
| is_bladed          = yes
<!-- Production history -->| production_date    = [[Muromachi period]] (1336–1573) to present
<!-- General specifications -->| weight             = 
| part_length        = approx. {{convert|30,–60|cm|abbr=on}}
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->| blade_type         = Curved, single-edged
| hilt_type          = 
}}

The {{Nihongo|'''''wakizashi'''''|[[wiktionary:脇差|脇差]], 'side inserted sword'<ref name="Ogyû Sorai's Discourse on government (Seidan)">[https://books.google.com/books?id=tgOY9Cnxh3UC&pg=PA105 ''Ogyû Sorai's Discourse on government (Seidan): an annotated translation''], Sorai Ogyū, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 1999 p. 105</ref>|lead=yes}} is one of the traditionally made [[Japanese sword]]s (''[[Commons:Category:Nihonto|nihontō]]'')<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PtBci2GslUkC&pg=PA150 ''The Development of Controversies: From the Early Modern Period to Online Discussion Forums''], Volume 91 of Linguistic Insights. Studies in Language and Communication, Author Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani, Publisher Peter Lang, 2008, {{ISBN|978-3-03911-711-6}}  p. 150</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=f-RsCs5dJRwC&pg=PA144 ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology, Complete Idiot's Guides''], Authors Evans Lansing Smith, Nathan Robert Brown, Publisher Penguin, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-59257-764-4}} p. 144</ref> worn by the [[samurai]] in [[History of Japan#Feudal Japan (1185-1603)|feudal Japan]]. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger ''[[tachi]]'' sword was worn slung from a cord.

==History==
[[File:Long Sword and Scabbard LACMA AC1999.186.1.1-.16.jpg|thumb|Antique Japanese ''[[daishō]]'', the traditional pairing of two Japanese swords which were the symbol of the ''samurai'', showing the traditional Japanese sword cases (''[[koshirae]]'') and the difference in size between the ''katana'' (bottom) and the smaller ''wakizashi'' (top).]]
[[File:Wakizashi Soshu Akihiro.jpg|thumb|Although the number of forged swords decreased in the [[Meiji period]], many artistically excellent mountings were made. A ''wakizashi'' forged by Soshu Akihiro. [[Nanboku-chō period]] (top). Wakizashi mounting, Early Meiji period (bottom).]]

The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:<ref name="nagoyatrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20201029155106/https://www.touken-world.jp/tips/10024/ Transition of kotō, shintō, shinshintō, and gendaitō.] Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World</ref>

* ''Jokotō'' (ancient swords, until around AD 900)
* ''Kotō'' (old swords from around 900–1596)
* ''Shintō'' (new swords 1596–1780)
* ''Shinshintō'' (newer swords 1781–1876)
* ''Gendaitō'' (modern or contemporary swords 1876–present)

''Wakizashi'' have been in use as far back as the 15th<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=IQ3FAZG94ZsC&pg=PA87 ''Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior'', Clive Sinclaire, Globe Pequot, 2004 P.87]</ref> or 16th century.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wExlaM1ov0sC&pg=PA138 ''Samurai: The Code of the Warrior'', Thomas Louis, Tommy Ito, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2008 P138]</ref> 

The term ''wakizashi'' did not originally specify swords of any official blade length<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=i0ni1NmbYe0C&pg=PA158 ''Handbook to life in medieval and early modern Japan'', William E. Deal, Oxford University Press US, 2007 P.158]</ref> and was an abbreviation of ''wakizashi no katana'' ("sword thrust at one's side"); the term was applied to companion swords of all sizes.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=q5KBjpGSRgkC&pg=PA78 ''Samurai, warfare and the state in early medieval Japan''] (Google eBook), [[Karl Friday]], Psychology Press, 2004 P.78</ref>

However, it was not until the Edo period in 1638 when the rulers of Japan tried to regulate the types of swords and the social strata which were allowed to wear them that the lengths of ''katana'' and ''wakizashi'' were officially set.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zPyswmGDBFkC&pg=PA35 ''The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords'', Kōkan Nagayama, Kodansha International, 1998 P.35]</ref>

== Design ==
The ''wakizashi'' has a blade between {{convert|30|and|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name="Ogyû Sorai's Discourse on government (Seidan)" /> ''Wakizashi'' are not necessarily just a smaller version of the ''katana''; they could be forged differently and have a different cross-section.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wExlaM1ov0sC&pg=PA138 ''Samurai: The Code of the Warrior'', Thomas Louis, Tommy Ito, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2008 P.138]</ref>

''Wakizashi'' were worn on the left side, secured to the waist sash (''[[Commons:Category:Uwa-obi (himo)|Uwa-obi or himo]]'').<ref>Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook (1991). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Z9lmmkvQOpoC&pg=PA260 ''Secrets of the samurai: a survey of the martial arts of feudal Japan'']. Tuttle Publishing. p. 260.</ref><ref name="rekishi200942" /> 

=== Variants ===
''Wakizashi'' close to the length of a ''[[katana]]'' are called ''ō-wakizashi''.

''Wakizashi'' closer to the length of a ''[[tantō]]'' are called ''ko-wakizashi''.<ref name="Ogyû Sorai's Discourse on government (Seidan)" />

== Usage ==
=== By samurai ===
{{Main|Daishō}}

The ''wakizashi'' was used as a backup or auxiliary sword;<ref name="Ogyû Sorai's Discourse on government (Seidan)" /> it was also used for close quarters fighting, to behead a defeated opponent<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=m-XpP_pdANcC&pg=PA240 ''The Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Land Warfare: An Illustrated World View'', Byron Farwell, W. W. Norton & Company, 2001 P.240]</ref> and sometimes to commit [[seppuku]].<ref>''[[A glossary of the construction, decoration and use of arms and armor in all countries and in all times]], together with some closely related subjects'', George Cameron Stone, Jack Brussel Pub., 1961 P.201</ref> 

The ''wakizashi'' was one of several short swords available for use by samurai including the ''[[yoroi tōshi]]'', and the ''chisa-katana''. 

During the [[Edo period]], the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] required samurai to wear ''Katana'' and shorter swords in pairs. These short swords were ''wakizashi'' and ''tanto'', and ''wakizashi'' were mainly selected.<ref name="rekishi200942">''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.42-43. {{ASIN|B08DGRWN98}}</ref> 

The ''wakizashi'' being worn together with the ''katana'' was the official sign that the wearer was a samurai. When worn together, the pair of swords were called ''[[daishō]]'', which translates literally as "big-little". Only ''samurai'' could wear the ''daishō'': it represented their social power and personal [[honour]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=vFS2iT8QjqEC&pg=PA68 ''The Japanese sword'', Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 p.68]</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&q=wakizashi&pg=PA18 |title=Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts |first=Serge |last=Mol |pages=18–24 |publisher=Kodansha International |year=2003 |isbn=4-7700-2941-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZFf9e0DmHZUC&q=wakizashi&pg=PA258 |page=258 |title=Secrets of the samurai: a survey of the martial arts of feudal Japan |first1=Oscar |last1=Ratti |first2=Adele |last2=Westbrook |year=1973 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=0-8048-1684-0}}</ref> 

Kanzan Satō, in his book titled ''The Japanese Sword'', notes that there did not seem to be any particular need for the ''wakizashi'' and suggests that the ''wakizashi'' may have become more popular than the ''tantō'' because it was more suited for indoor fighting. He mentions the custom of leaving the ''katana'' at the door of a castle or palace when entering, while continuing to wear the ''wakizashi'' inside.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=vFS2iT8QjqEC&pg=PA68 ''The Japanese sword'', Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 P.68]</ref>

=== By civilians ===
During the Edo period, commoners were allowed to wear one legal-length ''ko-wakizashi'', which made it popular for the general public to wear wakizashi. This was common when traveling because of the risk of encountering bandits.<ref>''Taiho-jutsu: law and order in the age of the samurai'', Don Cunningham, Tuttle Publishing, 2004 P,23</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zPyswmGDBFkC&pg=PA48 ''The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords'', Kōkan Nagayama, Kodansha International, 1998 P.48]</ref> 

==Gallery==
{{Gallery
|align=center
|width=200
|height=145
|File:Wakizashi sword - Ishida Sadamune.jpg|''Wakizashi'' ''Ishida Sadamune'' made by [[Sadamune]]. [[Nanboku-chō period]]. [[Important Cultural Property (Japan)|Important Cultural Property]]. [[Tokyo National Museum]].
|File:Wakizashi sword, by Motoshige, Japan, Nanbokucho period, dated 1356 AD - Tokyo National Museum - Tokyo, Japan - DSC08930.jpg|''Wakizashi'' made by Osafune Motoshige. Nanboku-chō period. Tokyo National Museum.
|File:脇差 南紀重国, Wakizashi forged by Nanki Shigekuni 1.jpg|''Wakizashi'' forged by Nanki Shigekuni ([[:ja:南紀重国|ja]]) with a ''[[horimono]]'' engraved on the blade by Ikeda Gonsuke Yoshiteru. Edo period, 1622, [[Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai#Shinsa|Important Sword]]
|File:脇差 固山宗兵衛宗次, Wakizashi forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu 3.jpg|''Wakizashi'' forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu with a ''horimono'' engraved on the blade by Shōji Zenbei Nobutatsu. Edo period,
|File:Wakizashi Sword Mounting.jpg|''Wakizashi'' mounting. The metal parts are made by Goto Ichijo. [[Edo period]]. Tokyo National Museum.
|File:Koshirae for a wakizashi featuring the Shimazu clan’s mon.jpg|''Koshirae'' (mounting) for a ''wakizashi'' Sairen featuring the [[Shimazu clan]]'s ''[[mon (emblem)|mon ]]'' (family crest), Edo period, [[Mitsui Memorial Museum]]
|File:Mounting for a Wakizashi.jpg|''Wakizashi'' mounting. Edo period. [[The Metropolitan Museum of Art]].
|File:Wakizashi with koshirae and related parts.jpg|An antique Japanese ''wakizashi'' with ''[[koshirae]]'' and related parts, shown disassembled. The ''[[Hamon (swordsmithing)|hamon]]'' (temper line) is clearly visible.
|File:Wakisashi-IMG 4686-87-88.jpg|''Wakisashi'' by [[Sanpin Masatoshi]], early 1600s. The disassembled ''koshirae'' shows the ''[[tsuba]]'' (guard), the twin ''[[kōgai]]'' (hair pin) and the ''[[kozuka]]'' (small knife). On display at the [[British Museum]].
}}

==See also==
* [[Japanese sword mountings]]
* [[Kodachi]]
* [[Ōdachi]]
* [[Tsurugi (sword)|Tsurugi]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category multi|Wakizashi|Nihonto}}
* [http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm Richard Stein's Japanese sword guide]
* [http://militariaclub.ru/_directory/%D1%88%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B8-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B8/wakizashi-sword-%E8%84%87%E5%B7%AE/ Wakizashi Japanese Sword] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302170608/https://militariaclub.ru/_directory/%D1%88%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B8-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B8/wakizashi-sword-%E8%84%87%E5%B7%AE/ |date=2020-03-02 }})

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