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Katana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
 | | The weapon was typically paired with the wakizashi or shoto, a similarly made model, but shorter sword both worn by the members of the buke (bushi) warrior class, it could also be worn with the tantÅ, an even smaller similarly shaped blade. |
 | | The two weapons together were called the daisho which literally means big-small, and represented the social power and personal honor of the samurai (buke retainers to the daimyo). |
 | | The long blade was used for open combat, while the shorter blade was considered a side arm, and also more suited for stabbing, close combat (such as indoors), and seppuku, a form of ritual suicide. |
| en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Katana (7582 words) |
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