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Hamon

Hamon (刃文, hamon, literally "blade pattern") is the visible temper line on a blade, formed during to create a hard edge while maintaining a resilient . This boundary appears as a wavy or irregular white line due to the microscopic crystalline structure differences between the martensitic (hardened) edge and the softer pearlitic back, enhancing the blade's cutting performance without risking fracture. The hamon emerges from the yaki-ire quenching process, where a thin clay layer is applied thicker on the to slow cooling there, while the edge cools rapidly in , inducing formation. Traditional patterns—such as the straight suguha, clove-shaped choji, or irregular midare—reflect the swordsmith's skill, regional school (e.g., Soshu or Bizen), and historical period, often appraised for authenticity and quality in tokugendō evaluations. These designs not only optimize mechanical properties through controlled carbon diffusion but also embody aesthetic principles akin to , symbolizing impermanence and craftsmanship. In authentic nihonto, the hamon serves as a forensic marker of traditional forging from tamahagane steel, distinguishable from etched imitations on modern industrially produced blades, which lack the depth and nie (crystalline sparkle) of genuine examples. Collectors and experts prioritize nie-deki (nie-dominant) hamons for their superior clarity and historical value, as seen in famed blades like those by , though forgeries persist due to the technique's complexity.

People

Benoît Hamon

is a politician associated with the (PS) until 2017, known for advocating left-wing economic policies including and reduced working hours. Born on 26 June 1967 in Saint-Renan, , he spent four years of his childhood in , where his father worked, before returning to France. A history graduate, Hamon entered politics through , leading the Young Socialist Movement and participating in the 1986 protests against proposed education reforms. Hamon served as a from 2004 to 2009, focusing on internal market and issues, and later acted as national spokesperson for Ségolène Royal's 2007 presidential campaign. Appointed Delegate for the , , and Anti-Fraud under President in 2012, he resigned in 2014 in opposition to labor market reforms perceived as weakening worker protections. Positioned as a PS rebel against the party's pro-business shift, Hamon won the Socialist primary on 29 2017 with 58.6% of the vote against former Manuel , capitalizing on voter dissatisfaction with Hollande's austerity measures. In the 2017 presidential election, Hamon's platform emphasized a €750 monthly , a 32-hour workweek, legalization, and a tax on robots to address automation, but he struggled against rising centrist and nationalist challengers amid the PS's unpopularity. He received 6.36% of the vote on 23 April , placing fifth and failing to advance to the runoff, marking a historic low for the Socialist nominee. Following the defeat, Hamon left the PS and founded the Mouvement in July to promote ecological and social renewal on the left, though the party garnered limited support, achieving 3.26% in the 2019 elections. By 2021, he publicly critiqued the French left's fragmentation, warning of dominance by identity and immigration-focused discourses in future elections.

Other notable individuals

Jean Hamon (1618–1687) was a physician and author based in , who produced numerous treatises on medical practices and religious devotion, influencing 17th-century discourse on health and spirituality. Jean-Louis Hamon (1821–1874), born in Plouha, , was a painter of school, renowned for allegorical works such as The Human Comedy and exhibitions at the , where he earned recognition for his classical style blending mythology and genre elements. Augustin Frédéric Hamon (1862–1945) was a French sociologist, writer, and pacifist who analyzed anarchist psychology and social movements, authoring Psychology of the Anarchist (1895) and translating major works by into French over several decades. Nancy B. Hamon (1919–2011), a Dallas-based philanthropist and widow of oil executive Jake L. Hamon, directed substantial endowments toward , , and medical research in , including multimillion-dollar gifts to , the , and UT Southwestern Medical Center between the 1970s and 2010s.

Technical and manufacturing uses

Swordsmithing

In , hamon refers to the visible boundary line between the hardened and the softer of a , formed during the differential hardening known as yaki-ire. This line manifests as a crystalline, often wavy or irregular pattern after final polishing (togi), reflecting the martensitic transformation in the edge while the spine retains a more ductile structure. The creation of hamon begins after forging the blade from tamahagane steel, typically in a folded and layered construction. The swordsmith applies a clay mixture (tsuchioki) unevenly: a thin layer along to promote rapid cooling, and a thicker insulating layer on the and sides. The blade is then heated to approximately 800–850°C (austenitizing temperature) and quenched edge-down in water, causing the edge to harden into brittle while the spine cools slowly, forming softer or ferrite. This controlled thermal gradient prevents cracking and balances cutting sharpness with resilience against impact. Historically, the technique traces to the , legendarily developed by smith Yasutsuna to address blade breakage in battle by enabling selective hardening. By the (1185–1333), hamon patterns evolved into artistic expressions of the smith's skill, with schools like Bizen-den favoring irregular midare (wavy) forms over straight suguha. In later eras, such as the (1603–1868), elaborate hamon resembling landscapes emerged, though always rooted in the functional process. Authentic hamon appears cloudy-white under light, with microscopic nie ( crystals) and nashi (softer zones), distinguishable from fakes created by or wire-brushing, which lack depth and glow. The pattern's quality serves as a hallmark of nihonto authenticity, evaluated by connoisseurs for uniformity and activity within the jihada (blade grain).

Engineering and industry

The hamon technique, involving to produce a hardened and softer , is applied in modern and to optimize cutting performance by balancing for retention with to absorb . This results in blades capable of maintaining during repeated use while resisting , a rooted in metallurgical where the martensitic (typically 58-62 HRC) transitions to softer or ferrite in the spine. In industrial settings, select manufacturers employ controlled clay application followed by or quenching to generate the visible hamon line, which serves as both a functional and indicator of successful differential hardening. For example, production knife makers use this on high-carbon steels like 1095 or 52100 to achieve consistent results, often the process with precise to minimize defects like warping or cracking. Modern adaptations incorporate engineering tools such as oxy-acetylene torches or heaters for selective edge hardening, replicating the hamon effect without traditional clay while enabling scalability for tool production. These techniques are particularly valued in custom and semi-industrial fabrication, where the hamon's aesthetic undulations—formed by martensite-austenite phase transformations—enhance market appeal without compromising structural integrity. However, in broader applications like automotive or machinery components, equivalent differential treatments (e.g., hardening) are used but rarely produce or reference a "hamon" , prioritizing uniformity over visible transitions.

Fiction and media

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Hamon (波紋, Hamon, lit. "Ripple") denotes a form of generated via precise respiratory control within the martial discipline Sendo (仙道, lit. "Way of the Hermit"). This technique channels internal vitality to emulate 's radiant properties, enabling users to conduct the energy through their bloodstream and external mediums for combat, healing, or utility purposes. Its destructive potency stems from biological resonance with solar wavelengths, incinerating entities like vampires upon contact due to their inherent aversion to sunlight. Hamon debuts in Part 1, (serialized January 1987 to October 1987 in , spanning 44 chapters across 5 volumes), where protagonist trains under Will Anthonio Zeppeli to master it against the vampiric antagonist . Zeppeli imparts foundational exercises, such as the "Sendō Wave Starter," involving rapid inhalation to build energy reservoirs, followed by exhalations that propel ripples outward. Core applications include Overdrive punches that amplify striking force by 5–10 times normal human limits through vibrational transfer, and object infusion, as seen in Jonathan's use of Hamon-charged wine glasses or swords to extend lethal range. Advanced variants, like the Zoom Punch leveraging elbow hyperextension for telescopic reach, or the Ripple Cutter—a projected energy disc slicing through stone—demonstrate Hamon's precision and adaptability. Part 2, (serialized November 1987 to April 1988, 69 chapters across 7 volumes), expands Hamon's role through , Jonathan's grandson, who inherits and innovates upon the technique during confrontations with the Pillar Men—immortal, biologically superior humanoids created 3,000 years prior and weakened only by sunlight or equivalent energies. Joseph's training under and alongside Caesar Zeppeli introduces squad-based tactics, such as synchronized bubble barriers infused with Hamon for defensive refraction or clacker volley weapons that detonate on impact with enemies like the Ultimate Life Form . protocols, including soft tissue regeneration via energy transfer (e.g., mending severed limbs), and sensory extensions like tracking vibrations over distances underscore its multifaceted utility, though proficiency demands rigorous physical conditioning and risks backlash from disrupted breathing, potentially causing . Author discontinued Hamon as the primary power system from Part 3, (1989 onward), replacing it with Stands—psychic entities born from mental fortitude—to sustain narrative freshness amid serialization pressures, as Hamon's physicality limited escalation in prolonged battles. Vestiges appear sporadically, such as Joseph's Hermit Purple Stand manifesting via latent Hamon reserves, or spin techniques in alternate-universe arcs echoing ripple propagation principles, but Sendo masters dwindle, symbolizing the Joestar lineage's evolution toward esoteric confrontations.

Etymology and other meanings

Linguistic origins

The term "Hamon" in personal names and surnames, especially in Breton, French, and English (Channel Islands) contexts, originates from the Old French and Middle English personal name Hamon, the oblique case form of the ancient Germanic Ha(i)mo. This is a shortened form of various compound names featuring the element haimaz, meaning "home" or "homeland". The name was introduced to England by Normans after the Conquest of 1066. In Hebrew, hamon (הָמוֹן) denotes a large, noisy multitude or crowd, derived from the verbal root h-m-n, connoting murmuring, roaring, or tumult. This root underlies biblical usages, including in compound names like Hamon-gog, interpreted as "multitude of the rooftop" in prophetic contexts. In Japanese, hamon (刃文) is a technical compound noun specific to metallurgy, combining ha (刃), meaning "" or "," with mon (文), signifying "," "text," or "." It literally translates to "blade pattern," referring to the visible on a differentially hardened blade resulting from selective . This term emerged in the context of traditional nihontō (Japanese swords) craftsmanship, with patterns classified into types like suguha (straight) or midareba (irregular) based on historical forging techniques dating back to the (1185–1333).

Miscellaneous references

In the Hebrew Bible, hamon (הָמוֹן) denotes a multitude, crowd, tumult, or abundance, derived from the root hamah meaning to murmur or roar. This term appears over 80 times, often describing noisy assemblies, overwhelming numbers, or chaotic uproar, as in Joel 3:14 where it refers to "multitudes in the valley of decision." Scholarly analyses link it to contexts of divine intervention against vast hosts, emphasizing causal dynamics of judgment over mere numerical superiority. A specific biblical toponym, , in 39:11 and 39:15, translates as "multitude of ," signifying a site for Gog's defeated forces, symbolizing the end of existential threats through overwhelming . Interpretations in prophetic treat this not as neutral aggregation but as causal in eschatological warfare, where hamon underscores the futility of human multitudes against transcendent power. As a , Hamon occasionally evokes Hebrew connotations of fervor or in some etymological traditions, though primary derivations tie to Germanic haim () in contexts; biblical usage prioritizes the tumult without conflating origins. Sources like affirm the empirical frequency and semantic range, cautioning against overinterpretation amid translational variances in ancient texts.

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