Korean JinGum and Japanese Katana?

The name I hear most Korean swords collectors use for Jingum is Ssong Soo do, Jingum tends to be used more by martial artists. Most historians say this style of sword was adapted during the Japanese occupation where many older swords where either destroyed or taken back to Japan. The majority of antiques are form this time but have seen a couple that where considerably older. Most of the antiques I have seen tend to be a bit shorter than a Katana with a very board shobu like geometry, also I have never seen any antiques that have a Kurikata on the Saya like a katana they generally have mounts similar to a Tachi. Most Korean swordsmanship schools use this type of sword, very few use any of the other configurations.

I do not particle any Korean sword s arts currently but after reading some articles and dissuading them with some practitioners on SFI Korean sword arts tend to have maneuvers that are either circular or linier and can be applied to any style of sword. It probably sounds easier to describe it as they focus on the technique rather than any specific style of sword.

If you are interested these are the Six main architectures of traditional Korean swords.

SSON SOO DO

Refers to the shorter variation of the Japanese Katana.





GOM

A straight double edged sword similar to the Chinese Jian, most antiques seem to be slightly more tip heavy than Chinese examples.





KAL

Roughly translates to knife, what we would call a knife or Tanto Koreans would cal a camp knife and use it as such. The Kal is more like a Wakizashi.

TO

A single edged saber which is similar in many ways to the Chinese goose quill saber.



[http://www.swordsofkorea.com/sword_11a.jpg/img]





WEOL DO

Basically a smaller variation of the Chinese Kwan Dao, the length of the handle is six feet, four inches; the length of the blade is two feet, eight inches and the weight is three pounds fifteen ounces.



HYUP DO

The “sword spear” similar to a Naginata, they are all a bit different depending on which region they come from.



AH DO

While the average soldier might use a Sson Soo Do or To those who relied entirely upon their sword for battlefield defense preferred the ah do. Strictly a military weapon, it had a groove running the length of its 39 inch long blade for added strength. Both edges were sharpened near the tip, and the main cutting edge was sharpened its entire length.



These more than anything are the basic shapes in some cases there a many variations on each style. There is very little information on Korean swords these days while I do not know much a bout the martial arts side I hope what little I know about the types was of some help to you. Just to find out this was Difficult and time consuming. I f you are interested you might want to pick yourself up a copy of the Muye Dobo Tong Ji which is an old military manual and describes many of the ancient swords and their uses.

These links may also be of help:

www.arscives.com/historysteel/korean.swordlist.htm

www.swordsofkorea.com/