Editing Japanese sword (section)

=== Signature and date ===
[[File:脇差 固山宗兵衛宗次, Wakizashi forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu 1.jpg|thumb|300px|Example of the signature (''mei'') and date chiseled on a ''[[wakizashi]]''. It is inscribed that Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu forged the sword in August [[Kōka]] 2 and Shōji Zenbei Nobutatsu engraved the blade ''[[horimono]]''. Edo period]]
The ''mei'' is the signature inscribed on to the tang of the Japanese sword. Fake signatures ("gimei") are common not only due to centuries of forgeries but potentially misleading ones that acknowledge prominent smiths and guilds, and those commissioned to a separate signer.

Sword scholars collect and study ''oshigata'', or paper tang-rubbings, taken from a blade: to identify the mei, the hilt is removed and the sword is held point side up. The mei is chiseled onto the tang on the side which traditionally faces away from the wearer's body while being worn; since the katana and wakizashi are always worn with the cutting edge up, the edge should be held to the viewer's left. The inscription will be viewed as kanji on the surface of the tang: the first two kanji represent the province; the next pair is the smith; and the last, when present, is sometimes a variation of 'made by', or, 'respectfully'.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://meiboku.info/mei/index.htm | title=Reading Japanese Signatures}}</ref> The date will be inscribed near the mei, either with the reign name; the Zodiacal Method; or those calculated from the reign of the legendary [[Emperor Jimmu]], dependent upon the period.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://meiboku.info/mei/province/index1.htm |title = Nengou – Japanese Reign Names}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejapanesesword.com/oshigata-gallery |title=Oshigata Gallery {{pipe}} |access-date=2015-06-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913135947/http://www.thejapanesesword.com/oshigata-gallery |archive-date=2012-09-13 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/index.htm |title = Oshigata of Japanese Swordsmiths of the Showa (Ww Ii) Era}}</ref>{{Clear}}