Quote:
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Originally Posted by ariel
Do we have any reliable evidence of the presence or absence of Habakis on Japanese swords before 13 century?
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Per Leon Kapp,
The Craft of the Japanese Sword, 1988: The chapter on habaki contains this historical background,
"Exactly how the
habaki developed in Japan is not known. Like much of sword technology, it may have come from China by way of Korea. All steel swords in Japan, even the oldest straight blades from about the eighth century, have
habaki. Early examples are welded onto the hilt, and are short compared to the ones seen today.
Habaki were a separate metal fitting by the Heian period. A few extant examples date from that time. The earliest
habaki were probably made from iron, and later from pot metal, most of which was copper. Copper remains the metal of choice today... Unlike
habaki today, however, these Heian-period
habaki do not have foil coverings or decorations, and their sides are very thin and flat."
These two paragraphs are worthy of comment and analysis.
1. The author states that the
habaki was a hallmark of Japanese sword construction from the beginning, and proposes a continental origin. I am searching for images of examples of very early Chinese and Korean steel swords (the backswords or pallasches that were the inspiration for the earliest swords made in Japan) that corroborate this. Unfortunately, all those that I am aware of are excavated pieces so seriously corroded (often rusted into their scabbards) that blade details are not discernible.
2. He states that the earliest
habaki were of iron and have "very thin and flat" sides. This is in keeping with the proto-
tunkou sleeves which we see on so many of the so-called "nomad swords" which are the focus of this thread. Thin and flat sides do little if anything to provide the function of a later
habaki which is to seal the mouth of the scabbard (with sword fully sheathed) AND to keep the sides of the blade from rubbing against the wood of the scabbard channel and thus degrading the finely polished finish. The fully-developed
habaki addresses these needs in an admirable fashion due to its complex lateral contours and distal taper. Likewise for the fully functional
tunkou of substantial gauge as seen on many Ming / Qing transitional era sabers -- the thickness of the metal which is in relief to the blade surface, and the extended "tongue" along the edge, both stabilize the blade quite well within the scabbard.
3. Mr Kapp makes an interesting comment in that the earliest
habaki "are short compared to the ones seen today". A modern
habaki is also quite short compared to just about any Chinese
tunkou or its functional and stylistic equivalents seen on medieval Eurasian (OK, "nomad") sabers, or on some of their Ottoman or Persian descendants. Furthermore, the extended "tongue" along the edge side which is a common feature of these continental types is not seen in Japan. This consideration leads me to suggest that perhaps the
habaki had an independent origin in Japan and that an historical analysis should distinguish it from the
tunkou (and its Inner Asian antecedents).
Ariel, to answer your previous question, yes I have Rivkin's book. I like the range of material covered and the quantity and quality of its illustrations but I also share some of Kubur's critiques. All in all, it's a valuable contribution to the literature and we are the richer for it.