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{{Short description|Japanese sword}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = {{Nihongo|Ōdachi|大太刀}}
| image              = File:大太刀, 銘 正(家), Ōdachi forged by Masaie.jpg
| caption            = An ''ōdachi'' forged by Sadaie, 14th century, [[Nanboku-chō period]], [[Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai#Shinsa (grading examination)|Important sword]]
| type               = [[Sword]]
| used_by            = [[Samurai]], ''[[kenjutsu]]'', ''[[iaido]]'' practitioners
<!-- Type selection -->| length             = 
| sheath_type        = [[Japanese lacquerware|Lacquered wood]]
| head_type          = 
| haft_type          = 
| image_size         = 275
| origin             = Japan
| is_bladed          = yes
<!-- Production history -->| production_date    = [[Kamakura period]] (1185－1333) to present<ref name ="en20p39"/><ref name="rekishi39"/>
<!-- General specifications -->| weight             = {{convert|2.2-14.5|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="norimitsu"/>
| part_length        = approx. {{convert|90.9|cm|abbr=on}} (3 ''[[Shaku (unit)|shaku]]'')–{{convert|226.7|cm|abbr=on}} (7 ''shaku'', 5 ''sun'')<ref name="norimitsu"/>
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->| blade_type         = Curved, single-edged<ref name="norimitsu"/>
| hilt_type          = Two-handed swept, with circular or squared guard. Material: wood, metal, ivory, fish skin, silk
}}
[[File:Odachi-Masayoshi-at-Yahiko-Shrine.png|thumb|upright=1.5|The ''Odachi Masayoshi'' forged by bladesmith Sanke Masayoshi, dated 1844. The blade length is {{convert|225.43|cm|abbr=on}} and the tang is {{convert|92.41|cm|abbr=on}}.]]

An {{Nihongo3|large/great sword|大太刀|'''ōdachi'''}} or {{Nihongo3|field sword|野太刀|'''nodachi'''}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts |first=Serge |last=Mol |publisher=Kodansha International |date=2003 |page=17 |isbn=9784770029416 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&q=nodachi&pg=PA17}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Samurai Fighting Arts: the Spirit and the Practice |author=Fumon Tanaka |publisher=Kodansha International |date=2003 |page=12 |isbn=9784770028983 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sBWasQSsb-UC&q=nodachi&pg=PA12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=State of War: The Violent Order of Fourteenth-century Japan |first=Thomas |last=Conlan |publisher=Center for Japanese Studies, University of Michigan |date=2003 |page=260 |isbn=9781929280230 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=piJ1AAAAMAAJ&q=nodachi}}</ref> is a type of traditionally made {{Nihongo|[[Japanese sword]]|日本刀|nihontō}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Development of Controversies: From the Early Modern Period to Online Discussion Forums |volume=91 |series=Linguistic Insights |author=Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani |publisher=Peter Lang |year=2008 |isbn=9783039117116 |page=150 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PtBci2GslUkC&q=nihonto+refers+to&pg=PA150}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology |series=Complete Idiot's Guides |first1=Evans Lansing |last1=Smith |first2=Nathan Robert |last2=Brown |publisher=Penguin |date=2008 |isbn=9781592577644 |page=144 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f-RsCs5dJRwC&q=traditionally+made+a+Japanese+sword+nihonto&pg=PA144}}</ref> used by the [[samurai]] class of feudal Japan. The Chinese equivalent of this type of sword in terms of weight and length is the ''[[miaodao]]'' or the earlier ''[[zhanmadao]]'', and the Western battlefield equivalent (though less similar) is the ''[[Zweihänder]]''.

To qualify as an ''ōdachi'', the sword in question would have a [[blade]] length of around 3 ''[[Shaku (unit)|shaku]]'' ({{convert|90.9|cm|abbr=on}}). However, as with most terms in Japanese sword arts, there is no exact definition of the size of an ''ōdachi''.

== Etymology ==
The character for {{Nihongo||大|ō}} means "big" or "great"; {{Nihongo||野|no}} means "field". The ''dachi'' here {{nihongo||太刀}} is simply the voiced compounding version of the term {{nihongo|''[[tachi]]''|太刀|great sword}}, the older style of sword that predates the ''[[katana]]''. The second character in ''tachi'', {{lang|ja|刀}}, is the [[Chinese written language|Chinese character]] for "[[blade]]" (see also [[Dao (Chinese sword)|''dāo'']]), and is also the same character used to spell ''katana'' (刀) and the ''tō'' in ''nihontō'' (日本刀 "Japanese sword").

The word ''tachi'' itself is derived as the stem or noun form of verb {{nihongo||[[:wikt:断つ|断つ]]|tatsu|"to cut off"}}.  The [[kanji]] spelling is an example of [[jukujikun]], applying a semantically based kanji spelling without regard to the usual phonetic values of the characters.

== History ==
''Ōdachi'' became popular in [[Kamakura period]] (1185－1333). Until the middle of the Kamakura period, high-ranking samurai mainly fought on horseback with ''[[yumi]]'' (bows), but as group battles by foot soldiers increased from the late Kamakura period, the importance of weapons possessed by those who did not have horses and did not have sufficient training in bows increased. Until then, they mainly used ''[[naginata]]'' with a long handle, but they also started to use ''ōdachi''. The Kamakura period was the first time that samurai ruled Japan, and powerful men were valued, and those who wanted to show off the honor of being a warrior preferred to use ''ōdachi''.<ref name ="en20p39">Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p39. {{ISBN|978-4651200408}}</ref><ref name="rekishi39">''歴史人'' September 2020. p.39. {{ASIN|B08DGRWN98}}</ref>

In the [[Nanboku-chō period]] in the 14th century, huge Japanese swords such as ''ōdachi'' were at their peak. The reason for this is thought to be that the conditions for making a practical large-sized sword were established due to the nationwide spread of strong and sharp swords of the [[Japanese sword#Classification by school|Sōshū school]]. In the case of ''ōdachi'' whose blade was {{convert|150|cm|abbr=on}} long, it was impossible to draw a sword from the [[scabbard]] on the waist, so people carried it on their back or had their servants carry it. Large naginata and [[kanabō]] were also popular in this period.<ref name="tworld1">[https://megalodon.jp/2020-0718-1607-44/https://www.touken-world.jp:443/tips/10064/ 日本刀の歴史 南北朝時代] Touken world</ref> However, infantry units gradually came to be equipped with ''[[yari]]'' (spears) in addition to ''naginata'', and because ''ōdachi'' was disadvantageous for mountain battles and surprise attacks, and only a few powerful men could use it effectively, this trend ended for a short time.<ref name="rekishi39"/> Furthermore, from the [[Sengoku period]] in the latter part of the [[Muromachi period]] to the [[Azuchi-Momoyama period]], as tactics shifted to fighting with ''yari'' and ''[[Tanegashima (gun)|tanegashima]]'' (guns) by a large group of infantry, ''ōdachi'' became even more obsolete. As ''ōdachi'' became useless, it was often replaced with a ''tachi'' and ''katana''.<ref>[Kazuo Tokunou 日本刀図鑑 保存版] {{ISBN|978-4769401285}}</ref>

[[File:Samurai with Odachi sword on horse.jpg|thumb|280px|[[Magara Naotaka]], a retainer of the [[Asakura clan]] in the [[Battle of Anegawa]]. He was famous as a master of a ''ōdachi'' named ''Taro tachi'' (太郎太刀) with a length of blade of 7 ''shaku'' 3 ''sun'' (approx. {{convert|221|cm|abbr=on}} or the whole length of 9 ''shaku'' 5 ''sun''  (approx. {{convert|288|cm|abbr=on}}).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220617031708/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/watanabedaimon/20211006-00261487 【戦国こぼれ話】君は朝倉氏の家臣で、名刀「太郎太刀」で名を馳せた真柄直隆を知っているか.] Daimon Watanabe. Yahoo News. 6 October 2021.</ref>]]
Even so, [[Daimyo|sengoku-daimyo]] in the Sengoku period dared to equip their own troops with ''ōdachi'' in order to show off their strength and bravery. [[Uesugi Kenshin]] had men more than six ''shaku'' (approx. {{convert|182|cm|abbr=on}}) tall equipped with an ''ōdachi'' guard around his horse. The [[Asakura clan]] made a troop called ''Rikishizei (力士勢)'' equip with an ōdachi with a blade length of 5 ''shaku'' (approx. {{convert|152|cm|abbr=on}}), and fought well against the troop of [[Oda Nobunaga]] in the [[Battle of Anegawa]].<ref name ="en20p39"/>

The ōdachi was used as a weapon, but because of its magnificent appearance, it was often used as an offering to [[kami]], a [[Shinto shrine]]. For example, [[Ōyamazumi Shrine]], which is said to be a treasure house of Japanese swords and armor, is dedicated to the national treasure Ōdachi, which was dedicated by [[Emperor Go-Murakami]], and ōdachi, which was dedicated by Ōmori Naoharu and killed [[Kusunoki Masashige]].<ref>[https://megalodon.jp/2020-0718-1647-45/https://www.touken-world.jp:443/religious-building/6526/ 大山祇神社（愛媛県今治市）] Touken world</ref>

In the peaceful [[Edo period]], ''ōdachi'' was no longer regarded as a practical weapon and came to be recognized only as an offering to the kami of Shinto shrines.

According to the historical book ''Wakan Shuyo'' ({{lang|ja|和翰集要}}), the {{nihongo|''nodachi''|野太刀}} had a blade length of 3 ''shaku'' (traditional Japanese feet) and 9 ''[[Cun (unit)|sun]]'' (traditional Japanese inches; approx. {{convert|148|cm|abbr=on}}) and ''ōdachi'' had a blade length of 3 ''shaku'' 3 ''sun'' (approx. {{convert|125|cm|abbr=on}}), but in fact, they were not strictly distinguished between ''nodachi'' and ''ōdachi'', and it is thought that the term ''ōdachi'' indicated a long ''tachi'', and the term ''nodachi'' indicated an ''ōdachi'' used in field battles<ref name ="en20p39"/> (in keeping with the name, since the initial {{nihongo|''no''|野}} literally means "field").

==Production==
{{refimprove section|date=December 2022}}
''Ōdachi'' are difficult to produce because their length makes traditional [[heat treatment]] more complicated: The longer a blade is, the more difficult (and expensive) it is to heat the whole blade to a homogeneous temperature, both for [[Annealing (metallurgy)|annealing]] and to reach the [[Hardening (metallurgy)|hardening]] temperature. The [[quenching]] process then needs a bigger quenching medium because uneven quenching might lead to warping the blade.

The method of polishing is also different. Because of their size, ōdachi are usually hung from the ceiling or placed in a stationary position to be polished, unlike normal swords which are moved over polishing stones.

==Method of use==
As battlefield weapons, ōdachi were too long for [[samurai]] to carry on their waists like normal swords.  There were two main methods in which they could be carried.
One was to carry it on one's back and unsheathe before battle starts. The other method was simply to carry the sheathed ōdachi by hand. The trend during the [[Muromachi]] era was for the samurai carrying the ōdachi to have a follower to help draw it.<ref name = "tworld1"/>

An exception does exist, though. The ''Kōden Enshin-ryū'' taught by [[Fumon Tanaka]] use a special drawing technique for "short" ōdachi allowing it to be carried on the waist. The technique is to pull out the sheath rather than drawing the blade. While this move is also used in other schools, for example, [[Yagyū Shinkage-ryū]], [[Shin musō Hayashizaki-ryū]] and [[Iaidō]], only Enshin-ryū seems to have used it to improve the drawing speed of an ōdachi, the other schools having used it with classical katana. The [[Kage-ryū]] style is also used to draw from the belt, using blades of approximately 2.8 shaku ({{convert|84.9|cm|abbr=on}}.

Ōdachi swordplay styles differed from that of other Japanese swords, focusing on downward cuts.

One possible use of ōdachi is as large anti-cavalry weapons, to strike down the horse as it approaches. Alternatively, it could be used as a cavalry-on-cavalry weapon comparable to the Chinese [[zhanmadao]], with the long reach, increased weight and slashing area of the blade offering some advantages over spears, lances, and smaller swords.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="220px">
File:Hiyoshimaru meets Koroku on Yahagibashi, showing nodachi or odachi.jpg|Edo period ukiyo-e shows an ōdachi worn on the back of a samurai.
File:Samurai wearing a nodachi (field sword).png|A wood block print of a samurai carrying a ''nodachi/ōdachi'' on his back
File:Nodachi.jpg|A sheathed ōdachi
</gallery>

==Notable ''ōdachi''==

===''Ōdachi Norimitsu''===
One of the longest ''ōdachi'' is the ''Odachi Norimitsu'', with a total length of {{convert|377|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="norimitsu"/> It was forged by the Japanese master bladesmith Norimitsu Osafune in the former [[Kibi Province|Bishū]] province in August 1446.<ref name="norimitsu"/> It is kept in the [[Yahiko Shrine|Yahiko jinja (弥彦神社)]] in [[Yahiko, Niigata|the village of Yahiko, Nishikanbara District, Niigata Prefecture, Japan]].<ref name="norimitsu"/> A special attribute is that this blade was forged from one piece, similarly to the conventional Japanese [[katana]];<ref name="norimitsu"/> it was not forged from multiple pieces or sections.<ref name="norimitsu"/> This required the skill of a master bladesmith.<ref name="norimitsu"/> The blade, ''hada'', and ''hamon'' are authentic.<ref name="norimitsu"/> This ''ōdachi'' has a ''bo-hi'' (fuller).<ref name="norimitsu"/> Norimitsu was a famous line of swordsmiths that began in the ''Oei Bizen'' school (1394) and continued until the end of Bizen.<ref name="norimitsu"/> Around 2000, it was polished and named "''Kibitsu maru''" by the priest of [[Kibitsu Shrine (Bitchū)|Kibitsu Shrine]] in [[Okayama Prefecture]].<ref name="norimitsu"/> 

====Specifications====
These are the specifications of the ''Ōdachi Norimitsu''.<ref name="norimitsu">{{cite web |title=Ôdachi Gallery - Norimitsu Ôdachi |website=Japan Trip |url=https://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/norimitsu.html |date=July 6, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507104241/https://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/norimitsu.html |archive-date=May 7, 2021}}</ref>

*Total length: {{convert|377|cm|abbr=on}}
*''Nagasa'' (cutting edge): {{convert|226.7|cm|abbr=on}}
*''Sori'' (curvature): {{convert|5|cm|abbr=on}} 
*''[[Japanese_sword_mountings|Nakago]]'' (tang): {{convert|151|cm|abbr=on}}
*Blade thickness (maximum): {{convert|2.34|cm|abbr=on}}
*''[[Japanese_sword_mountings#Habaki|Habaki]]'' (collar to hold blade in scabbard): {{convert|5.85|cm|abbr=on}}
*Weight: {{convert|14.5|kg|abbr=on}}
*''Mei'' (blade signature; 銘): Bishu Osafune Norimitsu (備州)
*Location: [[Kibitsu Shrine (Bitchū)|Kibitsu Shrine]], Okayama.
*Production date: August 1446 ([[Muromachi period]])
*''Sugata'' (blade shape): ''Shinogi-zukuri'', ''maru-mune'', ''bo-hi'' with ''maru-dome''
*''Hada'' (grain pattern; 肌): ''Itame''
*''[[Hamon (swordsmithing)|Hamon]]'' (temper pattern): ''Ko-gunome'', ''choji'' with ''tobiyaki'' and ''kinsuji''.

===''Haja-no-Ontachi''===
The longest known ''ōdachi'' is the ''Haja-no-Ontachi'' (Great Evil-Crushing Blade).<ref name="ontachi"/> Its length is {{convert|465|cm|abbr=on}} with an overall weight of {{convert|75|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name="ontachi"/> In 1859, this ''ōdachi'' was donated to the Hanaoka Hachiman Shrine in [[Yamaguchi (city)|Yamaguchi]] during an imperial memorial ceremony by parishioners who sympathized with imperial patriots.<ref name="ontachi"/> It is kept in the Treasure House which is not open to the public.<ref name="ontachi">{{cite web |title=Great Evil-Crushing Blade (Haja-no-Ontachi) |website= Visit Kudamatsu |url=https://visit-kudamatsu.com/recommended/hajya-no-ontachi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508045005/https://visit-kudamatsu.com/recommended/hajya-no-ontachi/ |archive-date=May 8, 2022 }}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Changdao]]''
* [[Great sword]]
* ''[[Miaodao]]''
* ''[[Nagamaki]]''
* ''[[Zhanmadao]]''
* ''[[Zweihänder]]''

== Sources ==
* [[Nick Evangelista]]: ''The Encyclopedia of the Sword''. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995, p. 419, {{ISBN|978-0-313-27896-9}}.
* [[Stephen_Turnbull_(historian)|Stephen Turnbull]]: ''The Samurai Swordsman: Master of War''. Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, 2008, {{ISBN|978-4-8053-0956-8}}.

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Odachi}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204081704/http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm Richard Stein's Japanese sword guide]
* [https://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/odachi_gallery.html Pictures of some blades]

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[[Category:Japanese sword types]]
[[Category:Samurai swords]]