# What would the Japanese call this sword? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-japanese-call-this-sword/293492 "2005-03-08T03:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-japanese-call-this-sword/293492/1 "2005-03-08T03:54:56Z")
Ahoy. I just picked up a pair of swords that really interest me. They were made in China, but I study Japanese martial arts more than any others and was wondering what I should call these. They slide in both ends of a single sheathe. I’d say the blade is around 15" long, somewhat shorter than my wakizashi but longer than my tanto. The thing that really throws me off is that they have a straight, double-edge blade. I don’t know any names for Japanese double-edge swords. I hope one of you guys can give me a better name for them than short sword. I’ve been mistakenly calling them kodachis, but all my research suggest they have a single-edge blade. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-japanese-call-this-sword/293492/2 "2005-03-08T05:08:07Z")
The Japanese would call a double-edged straight-bladed sword _ken_ or _tsurugi_, alternate readings of the character Œ•. The Chinese would probably call it _jian_, and use the ancient form of the same character. The only swords like this in Japan are very old swords that were initially imported from China. Swords of this pattern go back to literal pre-history as they date from around the 2nd century B.C.E. Without a picture or better yet seeing them in person, I can’t be sure, but my guess is that you’ve bought a martial arts set intended for use in a _wushu_ exhibition or competition. If I’m right and the blades are very light and flexible, they are definitely not intended for any kind of contact. If this is the case, under no circumstances should you strike _ **anything** _ with them as they are not designed for the stresses involved and there is a high risk of them breaking and causing injury. Exhibition swords are used in solo forms for cutting nothing harder than air. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-japanese-call-this-sword/293492/3 "2005-03-08T06:07:03Z")
I believe you’re right about that last part. The swords are rather flexible. I wouldn’t strike anything with them, except maybe something really soft. On the other hand, they’re so short I couldn’t get much power behind them anyway. By the way, I thought ken was used for swords in general, hence my usual internet nickname Kenshi, meaning swordsman. Is this not the case? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-japanese-call-this-sword/293492/4 "2005-03-16T06:02:46Z")
> [@snailboy](#): > > By the way, I thought ken was used for swords in general, hence my usual internet nickname Kenshi, meaning swordsman. Is this not the case? Thanks. The Chinese reading of a character is usually used for compounds. It doesn’t match the actual Chinese pronunciation; it reflects a Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation at the time of importation. The character _ken_ (Œ•jis used in most compounds related to sword fighting and swords in general. Something I missed in my last post is that the word for sword in general, regardless of form factor or country of origin, is _kento^_ iŒ•“jmade up of the character I talked about earlier and the other common character for sword or blade.@“@(usually read: _katana_ or _to^_) is used for uniquely Japanese-pattern swords and traditional bladed tools. It’s also used for words related to making those items. That character also has a few special readings for words related to Japanese sword stuff, like _shinai_ which is made up of the character for bamboo and this character. There’s not a total and complete separation, but the _ken_ character is used for sword fighting, non-Japanese swords, and swords in general while _to^_ is usually reserved for things related to Japanese bladed weapons and tools. If you’re using the character for sword and military man (@Œ•Žm@), then _kenshi_ has the connotation of your profession being sword-fighting, i.e. you make your living by using/teaching the sword. I’m guessing you probably got that from an _anime_.@Œ•‹q@is a more literary word for “swordsman.”