Question Hanami

This is a bit of a long shot but I'm after the kanji for the technical term of 'hanami', not the sakura viewing party but the angle through which a sword is swung when cutting. Hasuji refers to the orientation of the blade as it flies through the air (typically aligned perfectly in the direction of travel) but it seems that hanami refers to the angle of the direction of travel a blade is swung…like this…

I understand this might be a flowery (no pun intended… well maybe a bit), descriptive term rather than one of geometry but on the off chance, I thought I'd ask!

Should be 刃並 (and hasuji should be 刃筋)

Awww fantastic!! Thank you so much!

Konnichiwa Ukigumo-san!

If you read the kanji correctly, you will understand the meaning.

Hasuji is written "刃筋". "刃：Ha" means "blade", "筋：Suji" means "line".

Literally, it means the trajectory of the blade when swinging a sword.

"Hanami" is written "刃並". "刃：Ha" means "blade", "並：Nami" means "parallel" and nothing to do with flowers.

What is "刃並" parallel to? It's about the trajectory of blade. "刃並" measn "trajectory of the blade" which is the same as "刃筋".


So what is the difference between "刃筋" and "刃並"?

"刃筋" means the trajectory of the blade when swinging a sword. The illustration "Happo-Giri" explains "刃筋".

"刃並" describes the cut angle of the object. "Do-Giri" is a horizontal cut and requires a horizontal sword swing.

If the blade is swung correctly, the cut will also be horizontal. The swing and cut are parallel, resulting in a clean cut.

"刃筋" is the trajectory when swinging the sword, "刃並" is the trajectory of cut surface(or cut line).


Nowadays, "刃筋" is commonly used. Because Japanese people practice sword swinging, but they don't kill people by Katana.

NANGI

Thank you, Nangi san, I think I understand this. High grade, Western teachers suggest correct hasuji when cutting, is when the blade's angle being the same as the direction of the sword swing; it should not be twisted at all and the edge makes contact with the target completely squarely. But when we advance, it is suggested that for a horizontal cut the blade's edge should be inclined slightly downwards as in this video screenshot…
Haruna Sensei 8th Dan

You can see Haruna sensei pointing to the top image and he says, "No good." Then lower image and says "Good.". He does this several times. I was told by a Western 7th Dan that the lower image is called 'hanami' and the upper image is called 'hasuji'. I now think this is incorrect and hanami is swing's angle and hasuji is zero degree twist in relation to that direction!

Incidentally, a few of my Iai friends suggest that slightly twisting the blade as Haruna sensei suggests, risks the possibility of bending one's blade and we can't workout any advantage of this twist anyway

Konnichiwa Ukigumo-san!

Wow, You need a more advanced grade.

Yes, that's right. Some of the ancient schools have teachings that are different from modern schools.

Before starting a new story, let's recap the last one about "刃並" and "刃筋".

"刃筋" is the trajectory when swinging the sword, "刃並" is the trajectory of cut surface(or cut line).

But "刃筋" originally means refers to the vertical center line of the sword.



If the blade of the sword is not placed perpendicularly, it cannot cut anything. Therefore, when swinging a sword, "刃筋" must always be straight in the direction of the swing.

For this reason, "刃筋" which originally meant the central axis of the sword, came to mean the swing of the sword.

If "刃筋" is not aligned with the direction of the swing, the target will not cut. If you try to cut with the side of the sword "平地：Hiraji", the sword will bend or, worse, break.

Now onto the main topic.

However, some ancient schools have teachings that differ from those of modern schools. They teach you to cut along the "刃並" rather than the "刃筋". In this case, "刃並" should be at an angle of about 15 degrees from the "刃筋" in the direction of the swing. It's almost the same angle as "平地".


"Women in iaido" ai tempi del Coronavirus

If you cut on a "平地", the sword will bend or break. However, some ancient schools still teach cutting with this special angle of "刃並". Because you can cut a target clean off.

The "刃筋" and the "刃並" are different angles, but the target can be cut clean off. Why? Unfortunately, I don't know why either...

This is just my speculation, but I think it's probably a remnant of the time when people fought with swords. The ancient schools probably passed down this teaching as a technique for cutting the human body.

Of course, in modern times, we don't cut the human body with swords. And the ancient teachings were forgotten. And "刃並" measn "trajectory of the blade" which is the same as "刃筋" nowdays.

At least, I have never seen anyone wield a sword at a 15-degree angle.


YASKAWA BUSHIDO PROJECT / industrial robot vs sword master.

The number of inheritors of the ancient schools is decreasing. In particular, there are only a few people who handle genuine Japanese swords. The teachings of the ancient school are being forgotten, and in modern times robots wield swords.

NANGI

NANGI said:

Konnichiwa Ukigumo-san!

Wow, You need a more advanced grade.

Yes, that's right. Some of the ancient schools have teachings that are different from modern schools.

Before starting a new story, let's recap the last one about "刃並" and "刃筋".

"刃筋" is the trajectory when swinging the sword, "刃並" is the trajectory of cut surface(or cut line).

But "刃筋" originally means refers to the vertical center line of the sword.

View attachment 132376

Click to expand...

Ah, that's interesting! I'll have to borrow that picture!

NANGI said:

If the blade of the sword is not placed perpendicularly, it cannot cut anything. Therefore, when swinging a sword, "刃筋" must always be straight in the direction of the swing.

Click to expand...

Yes, I think that's got to be true.

NANGI said:

For this reason, "刃筋" which originally meant the central axis of the sword, came to mean the swing of the sword.

Click to expand...

That is very useful. Thank you!

NANGI said:

If "刃筋" is not aligned with the direction of the swing, the target will not cut. If you try to cut with the side of the sword "平地：Hiraji", the sword will bend or, worse, break.

Click to expand...

Hiraji…another term for my Iai vocabulary!

NANGI said:

Now onto the main topic.

However, some ancient schools have teachings that differ from those of modern schools. They teach you to cut along the "刃並" rather than the "刃筋". In this case, "刃並" should be at an angle of about 15 degrees from the "刃筋" in the direction of the swing. It's almost the same angle as "平地".

View attachment 132377
"Women in iaido" ai tempi del Coronavirus

If you cut on a "平地", the sword will bend or break. However, some ancient schools still teach cutting with this special angle of "刃並". Because you can cut a target clean off.

The "刃筋" and the "刃並" are different angles, but the target can be cut clean off. Why? Unfortunately, I don't know why either...

This is just my speculation, but I think it's probably a remnant of the time when people fought with swords. The ancient schools probably passed down this teaching as a technique for cutting the human body.

Of course, in modern times, we don't cut the human body with swords. And the ancient teachings were forgotten. And "刃並" measn "trajectory of the blade" which is the same as "刃筋" nowdays.

At least, I have never seen anyone wield a sword at a 15-degree angle.

View attachment 132378
YASKAWA BUSHIDO PROJECT / industrial robot vs sword master.

The number of inheritors of the ancient schools is decreasing. In particular, there are only a few people who handle genuine Japanese swords. The teachings of the ancient school are being forgotten, and in modern times robots wield swords.

NANGI

Click to expand...

This is true for vertical, or near vertical kesa cuts. But a declined hasuji is only recommended for horizontal cuts. I haven't heard a convincing argument for doing this; "prevents the blade skittering off the skull" and "it counters the tendency of the blade to angle upwards due to arrangement of the wrists bones" are the only ones offered which both seem tenuous to say the least. I do wonder if it might be done for purely aesthetic reasons; sometimes things are done simply because they're beautiful.

I agree with you that any twist might bend or break one's blade.

It's so nice to talk about swordsmanship with a fellow enthusiast!

Ukigumo said:

This is true for vertical, or near vertical kesa cuts. But a declined hasuji is only recommended for horizontal cuts. I haven't heard a convincing argument for doing this; "prevents the blade skittering off the skull" and "it counters the tendency of the blade to angle upwards due to arrangement of the wrists bones" are the only ones offered which both seem tenuous to say the least. I do wonder if it might be done for purely aesthetic reasons; sometimes things are done simply because they're beautiful.

Click to expand...

The angle swing is used in very special circumstances that only a master should attempt. Typically it's used in the case where you have two people -- or targets -- side by side and you only want to decapitate one of them, then you would adjust the angle to roughly 15 degrees. This increases the frictional coefficient just enough to slow the blade and modify the trajectory such that it doesn't hit the other person. Otherwise your blade would go straight through both necks like butter. Also in the case where the recipient of your wrath is standing next to a temple column or other sacred items and you don't want to damage the column after you've sliced through their neck.

This reminds me that I should never upset you guys ever. For any reason whatsoever.

You guys are the best! Two thumbs up!

mdchachi said:

The angle swing is used in very special circumstances that only a master should attempt. Typically it's used in the case where you have two people -- or targets -- side by side and you only want to decapitate one of them, then you would adjust the angle to roughly 15 degrees. This increases the frictional coefficient just enough to slow the blade and modify the trajectory such that it doesn't hit the other person. Otherwise your blade would go straight through both necks like butter. Also in the case where the recipient of your wrath is standing next to a temple column or other sacred items and you don't want to damage the column after you've sliced through their neck.

View attachment 132386

Click to expand...

These secret teachings are valuable and they are wise. Thank you, mdchachi Sensei

The uninitiated may be thinking that using a katana to dispatch miscreants is difficult. It really isn't. Anyone can swing a sword like a baseball bat whilst shouting, "JŌBUTSU SEYO!" You may well bend/break your sword in the process but to quote Doug Marcaida, "It will kill".

But Iai in particular is about the beauty and grace of movement as well as being a repository of techniques that continue to exist after undergoing the 'natural selection of lethal combat'. As custodians of the art, we tend to become a bit preoccupied by minutiae but that's just the nature of enthusiasm or dare I say, obsession.

About a year ago, I was contacted via email by a British 7th Dan asking for some assistance with purchasing a gift voucher for one of his cancer-ridden students. We had an exchange of pleasantries and small talk before he asked me if I could help him with the purchase. To confirm his identity I asked if he'd explain the differences between hasuji and hanami since he'd know this like the back of his hand. I heard nothing from the emailer again