Swords & knives
Tachi
太刀
The slung sword.
Form and name
Tachi is worn suspended on cords with the cutting edge down. Wearing style and mounting therefore matter when distinguishing sword terms.
Read more: terms and context
Jutsu · technique and art
Jutsu (術) can mean technique, skill or method. In weapon terminology, we distinguish the implement from the art practised with it.
Source for the word jutsu: Kanjipedia
Tradition and context
The Met dates the blade of object 36.25.1679a–c to the late twelfth or early thirteenth century. This is a museum example, rather than a claim about a particular Follo syllabus.
Sources and further reading
Practitioner sources describe the tradition’s practice and terminology. They are not used alone as evidence for early historical claims.