Nodachi
A nodachi (野太刀:のだち) is a large two-handed Japanese sword. Nodachi approximately translates to "field sword". However, some have suggested that the meaning of "nodachi" is roughly the same as ōdachi meaning "large/great sword".[citation needed] A confusion between the terms has nearly synonymized "nodachi" with the very large "ōdachi". Thus, while the original use of the term may have been to refer to any type of long battlefield sword (daitō), including the tachi, it is frequently misapplied to any type of oversized Japanese sword.
History and Use
Nodachi have the same general appearance and design of a tachi though they are significantly longer. The nodachi was carried by foot soldiers and was designed as a weapon for war versus cavalry and open field engagements. Nodachi were generally used on open battlefields as their length made their use indoors or close quarters difficult. They were an effective weapon against cavalry, though they were not commonly used. Nodachi were infrequently used for several reasons:
- The blade was more difficult to forge compared to a normal-sized sword
- The nodachi required greater strength to properly wield
- Weapons such as the naginata or nagamaki were arguably more effective for the same role on the battlefield.
- The Nodachi is not a cutting sword, per se, but used to basically fold the opponent under the rapidly moving weight.
During times of peace, the sword was worn slung across the back as a symbol of status.[citation needed] This is distinctive because most Japanese swords such as the katana, wakizashi, and tachi were worn at the waist or belt; however, it was not "drawn" from the back. The nodachi was more difficult to wield due to its abnormal size and weight, but -- like any weapon -- could be extremely deadly if the warrior wielding it was skilled. The length of the nodachi's hilt varied between twelve to thirteen inches (30 to 33 centimeters). Its cutting capability and range exceeded that of a katana, due to its weight and size.
In some Chinese martial arts, Pa Kua Chang being perhaps the best known example, over-sized weapons are used for training purposes. This is done to condition the martial artist to handle a normal-sized weapon more efficiently (e.g. in Japanese martial arts with the suburitō, a heavy wooden sword).
The Kage-ryū is one of the very rare schools of Japanese martial arts remaining that trains in the use of the Japanese long-sword (which they call choken).
This sword was also used by Sasaki Kojiro, a very skilled warrior and deadly with the nodachi. He is somewhat famous for losing to Musashi Miyamoto (who many say was the greatest swordsman that ever lived).
Fiction
Nodachi are often depicted in video games, manga, and anime. It is interesting to note the proliferation of nodachi in fiction, even though historically they were very rare.