Kokuho Senjuin Nagayoshi Odachi's Dimensions For Clarification

[Caleb Mok]

Just wanted clarification: despite one respected website quoting "Moto-haba: 2 Sun 3 Bu 6 Rin (7.15cm)" as i saw it just now:

 

http://www.sho-shin.com/yam2.htm

 

The Cultural Heritage Database (of Japan?) quotes it as "元幅4.1" i.e. motohaba 4.1(cm).  It is probably 4.1...

 

http://bunka.nii.ac.jp/db/heritages/detail/148488

 

But can someone elaborate the difference(s) between "身長" and "刀長"? if any.  Thank you!

-Caleb

[Jussi Ekholm]

Yep it's 4,1 cm I think there was an accidental typo of 1 sun too much which would explain the 3 cm.

 

There are many who know Japanese better than me who can explain differences but they both mean blade length.

 

身, mi ; 上, kami ; 上身, uwami all mean to my understanding the blade above machi, where as nagasa, hacho, hawatari, uwami no nagasa etc. mean the actual length of the blade from machi to kissaki. So in short I believe that both 身長 : 刃長 have the same meaning.

 

For example I have 2 Sano museum books, one uses 身長 and another uses 刃長.