Daisho

From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings

The daisho (lit. "big and small") are the traditional weapons of the samurai, composed of the katana and the wakizashi. The etymology of this word becomes apparent when the terms daito (meaning big sword) and shoto (meaning small sword) are used: daito + shoto = daisho. The katana, the longer sword, is used on the battlefield and for most purposes, while the shorter wakizashi is more of a sidearm. The wakizashi is also used to commit seppuku. It is treasonous and blasphemous for any non-samurai to wear a daisho. (3E p. 311)

This said, shugenja, who are also considered belonging to the samurai cast, often only wear the wakizashi instead of the full daisho. This makes it more the mark of bushi samurai.

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