Shirasaya

[Manny]

The shirasaya is only a katana blade with a wooden handle enclosed in a woden saya only? or has another fetearus diferent from the katana? katana and shirasaya have the same dimensions and weight? Who invented the shirasaya and why? was the shirasaya the sword of the humble japanese people?

Manny

 

[Sukerkin]

Shirasaya is for storage of a blade that is not going to see action for a while, Manny. The wood used (honoki (Japanese magnolia)) is chosen for it's lack of excretions harmful to steel (primarily moisture resistance) and the fit is, if anything, even tighter than with a 'working' blade so as to keep the air out better.

 

[Manny]

so the shirasaya is not to be used, I mean the shirisaya it's not a weapon to be use but only a storage compartment? I am asking this because: a) there were a movie perfomed by Ruther Howard where he plays a blind man who has a something like a walk stick but it's a shirasaya and there is a lot videos were people use this "storage compartment" as a a sword actually performing katas and doing tameshigeri.

Manny

 

[Sukerkin]

Aye. "Blind Fury" and "Zatoichi" are 'Hollywood' and thus forgiveable. Those purporting to be doing genuine swordwork with a shirasaya blade need a date on the dojo floor with the likes of me, Chris, Ken or Brian for the lesson would be brought home rather quickly that a blade with no ito and no tsuba is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard (being of greater danger to its wielder than anything else) :lol:.

 

[kroh]

a blade with no ito and no tsuba is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard (being of greater danger to its wielder than anything else) :lol:.

Yep... I am typically a lurker in all of this but you just un lurked me for that one. FANTASTIC!

 

[Chris Parker]

Just to add to Marks answer there, as he said, a Shirasaya (white scabbard/saya) is utilised to protect the blade itself, and is not a practical mounting for use. The tsuka is way too wide, for example, and there is no grip, as well as other aspects. Typically while the blade was placed in the shirasaya, though, the "regular", or "dress mountings", the koshirae, would be on display... with a wooden or bamboo "blade" in it to hold it all together. What is funniest is when people buy shirasaya mounted "swords" (they rarely are when bought like that, unless antiques) as display pieces, as that is exactly the opposite of their use!

For the record, though, the type of weapon seen in Zatoichi (and Blind Fury with Rutger Hauer, which really was just a Holywood take on Zatoichi in the first place) it not a shirasaya, it is a shikomi zue (literally: prepared stick, as in a stick with a hidden weapon 'prepared' inside it, such as a sword or knife blade, or chain, or spear tip).

 

[Manny]

Thanlk you to all, so Shirasaya is a storage white saya with the pourpose to keep the blade in good condition till the saya and handle is ready to be mounted in the blade. The shirasaya is only a storage is not a sword and because of that is good for only display.

Manny

 

[Chris Parker]

No, the shirasaya is not suited to display, it's for storing the blade while the mountings (koshirae) are being displayed. It has nothing to do with the koshirae being ready or not... think of it like the way a museum puts out molds of its items, while keeping the real ones safe.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Nothing really to add as Chris and Mark summed everything up nicely for you Manny!