Shirasaya

infobox martial art term
title = Shirasaya
pic = Saya-bois.jpg
picsize =
picc

kanji = 白鞘
hiragana = しらさや
revhep = shirasaya
kunrei = sirasaya

A nihongo|shirasaya|白鞘, literally "white scabbard" [In this context, "White" could be inferred as "plain" or "undecorated".] , is a plain wooden Japanese blade mount consisting of a "saya" (scabbard) and "tsuka" (hilt), used when a blade was not expected to see use for some time and needed to be stored. They were externally featureless save for the needed "mekugi-ana" [Holes in the hilt, meant for the mekugi (pegs) that secure the blade (See katana).] to secure the "nakago" (tang), though sometimes "sayagaki" (blade information) was also present. The need for specialized storage is because prolonged "koshirae" mounting harmed the blade, owing to factors such as the lacquered wood retaining moisture and encouraging corrosion.

Such mountings are not intended for actual combat, as the lack of a "tsuba" (guard) and proper handle wrappings were deleterious; as such they would likely never make their way onto a battlefield. However, there have been loosely-similar "hidden" mountings, such as the "shikomizue". Also, many blades dating back to earlier Japanese history are today sold in such a format, along with modern-day reproductions; while most are purely-decorative replicas, a few have functional blades. [Most manufacturers will note that such mountings are only meant for storage, display and transport purposes, not actual usage.]

Notes