Welcome to Dan's samurai swords page. The information available on this page applies to the various swords and other weapons which were used in the feudal age of Japan. Use the links on the left to learn about different weapons used in the feudal age. If there is anything you'd like to know that is not covered on this site, feel free to email me.

A Brief History of The Feudal Age
Japan's feudal age began back in the 13th century, and while historians would debate that the feudal system existed before then, there are few historical records of Japan before then. The orignal Samurai were mounted archers who would call out a challenge before attacking. Over the course of several hundred years wars in different areas and several attacks by Mongolia caused Samurai warfare to evolve into mounted combat in close quarters, unmounted combat on a massive level, and finally swordfighting.
The Feudal era began when the family of the emperor, using their bloodline to claim authority over the land, would start their own regimes all over Japan. This caused civil war on a massive level, with the different feudal lords, or Daimyo, fighting to take each other's territory. The Warring States era took place between the 15th and 16th centuries. It wasn't until the 16th century that Japan began to unite under the rule of Shoguns, an authority based upon military discipline. This led to the Gempei war, which eventually led to the end of shogunal authority and, eventually, the Meiji Restoration, a period of peace and prosperity.
After the Gempei war period of the 17th century, Japan was almost entirely united and the Shogunal system of government became obsolete. It was during this time period that the more common image of the Samurai as a lone wanderer came into being, and when the sword became the symbol of the warrior.