刀
sword · saber · knife
Details
Description
Sword/Katana - the soul of the samurai, precision and deadly beauty.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of single-edged blade.
Symbolism
Weapon, cutting, craftsmanship. Japanese sword revered as samurai's soul.
Spiritual Meaning
Symbolizes samurais soul, representing spiritual resolve and aesthetic sense through the sword.
Anime & Manga
刀剣乱舞
とうけんらんぶ
Touken Ranbu(2016)
Story of personified famous swords called Touken Danshi
View on Amazon →るろうに剣心
るろうにけんしん
Rurouni Kenshin(2023)
Story of Kenshin with reverse-blade sword. 2023 remake
View on Amazon →Games
刀剣乱舞無双
Touken Ranbu Warriors(2022)
Musou action game playing as Touken Danshi
View on Amazon →Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima(2020)
Features katana sword combat action
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一刀両断
いっとうりょうだん
cutting in two with a single stroke; taking decisive action; dealing with decisively; cutting in two with a single stroke
快刀乱麻
かいとうらんま
solving a problem swiftly and skillfully; solving a problem swiftly and skillfully
単刀直入
たんとうちょくにゅう
straight to the point; point-blank; frank; straight to the point
帯刀御免
たいとうごめん
a non-samurai being granted the privilege of wearing a sword (during the Edo period); a non-samurai being granted the privilege of wearing a sword (during the Edo period)
苗字帯刀
みょうじたいとう
right to bear a surname and to wear a sword (during the Edo period); right to bear a surname and to wear a sword (during the Edo period)
諸刃の剣
もろはのつるぎ
Double-edged sword; Something useful but also dangerous
Proverbs & Idioms
刀折れ矢尽きる
かたなおれやつきる
Sword broken, arrows exhausted
Having exhausted all means of fighting
抜かずの刀
ぬかずのかたな
The undrawn sword
Power that is effective without being used
Related Figures
正宗
(まさむね)Legendary swordsmith who created Japan's finest blades
Founder of Soshu tradition. His swords remain as national treasures