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Difference between Katana(刀) and Tachi(太刀)
First of all, you may think the Tachi and the Katana of the Japanese sword to be basically
the same one. Because so as not to beat the umahara(馬腹) / horse belly, with the sword
when riding on the horse, the blade is directed downwards and worn the same as the
sword. A lot of historical plays also have those who research swords by saying that the
historical investigation is not accurate in the respect. However, the sword/Tachi is roughly
used in the equestrian, and the sword/Katana is the one using it on foot(徒歩). It is likely to
to be called a sword/Tachi, recently chiefly in the age because the part where the fight in
the equestrian was mainly occupied before the Muromachi(室町時代) period. Because the
fight on foot(徒歩) becomes important since the Muromachi Period, it becomes the age of
the sword/Katana. On the other hand, there is a theory that clothes fashion change by the
development of the industry in the Muromachi Period, and the wearing a sword form
changed along with it, too Futher polished and many Tachi[太刀] was used as a
sword/Katana and a short sword/Wakisashi(脇差) afterwards.
Let's enumerate one difference between a Tachi and Katana at the end. In its having the
signature (銘) in Sashiomote（差し表、指し表）, it is a Katana(刀) and its having the
signature (銘) in the Hakiomote(佩表) in the sword it is a Tachi(太刀).
By Shozo Kato
Translated by Gordon Small