詞彙表

Dark linear activities appearing in the jihada

The uniquely Japanese technique of repeatedly folding and hammering steel

The structural design combining hard and soft steel layers

The technique of forge-welding steel at high temperature

The process of drawing out forged steel into a blade shape

The process of shaping the blade's features by hammering

Rough grinding performed by the swordsmith before quenching

The process of heating and rapidly quenching the clay-coated blade in water

Re-heating at low temperature after quenching to add toughness

The side of the blade facing the body when worn at the waist

The side of the blade facing outward when worn at the waist

The raw steel produced by the tatara smelting process, used for Japanese swords

The application of clay mixture on the blade before quenching to create the hamon

The traditional Japanese iron-smelting method using sand iron and charcoal

A certificate authenticating and evaluating a sword

An appraisal certificate issued by the Hon'ami family; origin of the phrase 'origami-tsuki'

Attribution of an unsigned blade to a specific smith or period

A provenance certificate issued by a feudal lord's household

Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai; the society that appraises and certifies Japanese swords

The first tier of NBTHK's four-level certification system

The second tier of NBTHK's four-level certification

The third tier of NBTHK's four-level certification

The highest tier of NBTHK's four-level certification

Decorative sword mountings

A metal hand guard fitted at the base of the blade

Decorative ornaments on the handle

Metal fittings at the top and bottom of the handle