Daisho

The daishō (大小, lit. "big and small") are the traditional weapons of the samurai, composed of the katana and the wakizashi. The etymology of this word becomes apparent when the terms daito (meaning big sword) and shoto (meaning small sword) are used; daito + shoto = daisho. The katana, the longer sword, is used on the battlefield and for most purposes, while the shorter wakizashi is more of a sidearm. The wakizashi is also used to commit seppuku.

Related Topics:
Samurai - Katana - Wakizashi - Daito - Shoto - Seppuku

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The daisho were limited exclusively to the samurai caste. Other bushi and ashigaru might carry one or the other, but the matching set were only worn by a true, noble samurai.

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