Basic Terms of Japanese Antique
Koshirae (ornaments for sword), Daito (long sword), Wakizashi (middle length sword), Tanto (short sword), Mimi (rim), Fukurin (rim cover)
PARTS: Tsuka (hilt), Tsuba (handguard), Saya (scabbard), Fuchi & kashira & Menuki (ornamental metal fittings of a hilt), Tsunagi (wooden blade to display fittings), Kozuka (sword's attachment: a handy knife), Kogai (sword's attachment: portable comb)
Shape (-gata): Mokkogata (four lobed shape), Kakugata (square shape), Kikugata (chrysanthemum shape)
MATERIAL: Shakudo (copper-gold alloy), Suaka (pure copper), Shibuichi (copper-silver(quarter or more) alloy)
SURFACE (-ji): Migakiji (smooth surface), Mokumeji (surface like the grain of wood), Ishimeji (surface like the grain of stone), Tsuchimeji (hammer marks surface), Nanakoji (raised dimpling surface like fish roe)
CARVING (-bori): Takabori (high relief carving), Kebori (fine line carving), Katakiribori (carving with a cross section like "|/"), Katabori (carving with real form), Suemon (embedded carving parts)
OPENWORK (-sukashi) : Sukashi (inlay), Kosukashi (small openwork), Jisukashi (positive design openwork)
COLORING: KinIroe (gold coating/paint), KinMekki/Tokin (gilding), Makie (gold[silver] lacquered painting), Takamakie (raised lacquerwork), Kawarinuri (fancy lacquer)
SIZE: sori (curvature), Nakago-Ana (center cut-out for blade), Nakago: (tang), Nagasa (point of the sword ~ edge notch)
PERIOD: early Edo (17c), mid Edo (18c), late Edo (1800-1867), Meiji (1868-1911), Taisho (1912-25), Showa (1926-88)