Type of Japanese polearm
The
naginata
(
なぎなた
,
?刀
) is a
polearm
and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (
nihont?
).
[1]
[2]
Naginata
were originally used by the
samurai
class of feudal Japan, as well as by
ashigaru
(foot soldiers) and
s?hei
(warrior monks).
[3]
The naginata is the iconic weapon of the
onna-musha
, a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese nobility. A common misconception is that the Naginata is a type of sword, rather than a polearm.
Description
[
edit
]
A
naginata
consists of a wooden or metal pole with a curved single-edged blade on the end; it is similar to the Chinese
guan dao
[4]
or the European
glaive
.
[5]
Similar to the katana, naginata often have a round handguard (
tsuba
) between the blade and shaft, when mounted in a
koshirae
(furniture). The 30 cm to 60 cm (11.8 inches to 23.6 inches)
naginata
blade is forged in the same manner as traditional
Japanese swords
. The blade has a long tang
(
nakago
)
which is inserted in the
shaft
.
The blade is removable and is secured by means of a wooden peg called
mekugi
(目釘) that passes through a hole (
mekugi-ana
) in both the tang and the shaft.
The shaft ranges from 120 cm to 240 cm (47.2 inches to 94.5 inches) in length and is oval shaped. The area of the shaft where the tang sits is the
tachiuchi
or
tachiuke
. The tachiuchi/tachiuke would be reinforced with metal rings (
naginata dogane
or
semegane
), and/or metal sleeves
(
sakawa
)
and wrapped with cord (
san-dan maki
). The end of the shaft has a heavy metal end cap (
ishizuki
or
hirumaki
). When not in use the blade would be covered with a
wooden sheath
.
[3]
History
[
edit
]
It is assumed that the
naginata
was developed from an earlier weapon type of the later 1st millennium AD, the
hoko yari
.
[6]
[7]
Another assumption is that the
naginata
was developed by lengthening the hilt of the
tachi
at the end of the Heian period, and it is not certain which theory is correct.
[8]
It is generally believed that
naginata
first appeared in the
Heian period
(794?1185).
[9]
The term
naginata
first appeared in historical documents in the Heian period. The earliest clear references to
naginata
date from 1146.
[10]
In
Honch? Seiki
compiled from 1150 to 1159 in the late Heian period, it is recorded that Minamoto no Tsunemitsu mentioned that his weapon was a
naginata
.
[9]
In the early Heian period, battles were mainly fought using
yumi
(longbow) on horseback, but in the late Heian period, battles on foot began to increase and
naginata
also came to be used on the battlefield. The
naginata
was appreciated because it was a weapon that could maintain an optimum distance from the enemy in close combat.
[8]
During the
Genpei War
(1180?1185), in which the
Taira clan
was pitted against the
Minamoto clan
, the
naginata
rose to a position of particularly high esteem, being regarded as an extremely effective weapon by warriors.
[11]
The Tale of the Heike
, which records the Genpei War, there are descriptions such as
? naginata
(lit. big
naginata
) and
ko naginata
(lit. little
naginata
), which show that
naginata
of various lengths were used.
[9]
The
naginata
proved excellent at dismounting cavalry and disabling riders. The widespread adoption of the
naginata
as a battlefield weapon forced the introduction of
greaves
as a part of
Japanese armor
.
?yamazumi Shrine
houses two
naginata
that are said to have been dedicated by
Tomoe Gozen
and
Benkei
at the end of the Heian period and they are designated as
Important Cultural Property
.
[12]
However, according to
Karl Friday
, there were various notations for
naginata
in the Heian period and the earliest physical evidence for
naginata
was in the middle of the Kamakura period, so there is a theory that says when they first appeared is unclear.
[10]
Earlier 10th through 12th century sources refer to "long swords" that while a common medieval term or orthography for
naginata
, could also simply be referring to conventional swords; one source describes a
naginata
being drawn with the verb
nuku
(
?く
)
, commonly associated with swords, rather than
hazusu
(
外す
)
, the verb otherwise used in medieval texts for unsheathing
naginata
.
[10]
Some 11th and 12th century mentions of
hoko
may actually have been referring to
naginata
.
[13]
The commonly assumed association of the
naginata
and the
s?hei
is also unclear. Artwork from the late-13th and 14th centuries depict the
s?hei
with
naginata
but do not appear to place any special significance to it: the weapons appear as just one of a number of others carried by the monks, and are used by
samurai
and commoners as well.
[14]
Depictions of
naginata
-armed
s?hei
in earlier periods were created centuries after the fact, and are likely using the
naginata
as a symbol to distinguish the
s?hei
from other warriors, rather than giving an accurate portrayal of the events.
[15]
After the
?nin War
(1467?1477) in the
Muromachi period
, large-scale group battles started in which mobilized
ashigaru
(foot soldiers) fought on foot and in close quarters, and
yari
(spear),
yumi
(longbow), and
tanegashima
(Japanese matchlock) became the main weapons. This made
naginata
and
tachi
obsolete on the battlefield, and they were often replaced with the
nagamaki
and short, lightweight
katana
.
[8]
[16]
[17]
[18]
In the
Edo period
(1603?1867), the hilts of
naginata
were often cut off and made into
katana
or
wakizashi
(short sword)
. This practice of cutting off the hilt of an
?dachi
,
tachi
,
naginata
, or
nagamaki
and remaking it into a shorter
katana
or
wakizashi
due to changes in tactics is called
suriage
(
磨上げ
)
and was common in Japan at the time.
[8]
[19]
In Japan there is a saying about swords: "No sword made by modifying a
naginata
or a
nagamaki
is dull in cutting" (?刀(長?)直しに鈍刀なし). The meaning of this saying is that
naginata
and
nagamaki
are equipment for actual combat, not works of art or offerings to the
kami
, and that the sharpness and durability of swords made from their modifications have been proven on the battlefield.
[19]
[20]
In the peaceful Edo period, weapons' value as battlefield weapons became diminished and their value for martial arts and self-defense rose. The
naginata
was accepted as a status symbol and self-defense weapon for women of nobility, resulting in the image that "the Naginata is the main weapon used by women".
[8]
In the
Meiji era
, it gained popularity along sword martial arts. From the
Taisho era
to the post-War era, the
naginata
became popular as a martial art for women, mainly due to the influence of government policies.
[8]
Although associated with considerably smaller numbers of practitioners, a number of "koryu bujutsu" systems (traditional martial arts) which include older and more combative forms of
naginatajutsu
remain existent, including Suio Ryu, Araki Ryu, Tendo Ryu, Jikishinkage ryu, Higo Koryu, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, Toda-ha Buko Ryu, and Yoshin ryu, some of which have authorized representatives outside Japan.
Contemporary construction
[
edit
]
In contemporary
naginatajutsu
, two types of practice
naginata
are in common use.
The
naginata
used in
atarashii naginata
(新しいなぎなた), the
shiai-yo
, has an oak shaft and a bamboo "blade" (
habu
). It is used for practice, forms competitions, and sparring. It is between 210 cm (83 in) and 225 cm (89 in) in length and must weigh over 650 g (23 oz).
[21]
The "blade" is replaceable. They are often broken or damaged during sparring and can be quickly replaced, being attached to the shaft with tape.
The naginata used by
kory?
practitioners has an oak shaft and blade, carved from a single piece of wood, and may incorporate a disc-shaped guard (
tsuba
). It is called a
kihon-yo
.
Contemporary usage
[
edit
]
Naginata
can be used to batter, stab, or hook an opponent,
[22]
but due to their relatively balanced center of mass, are often spun and turned to proscribe a large radius of reach. The curved blade provides a long cutting surface without increasing the overall length of the weapon.
Historically, the
naginata
was often used by foot soldiers to create space on the battlefield. They have several situational advantages over a sword. Their reach is longer, allowing the wielder to keep out of the reach of opponents. The weight of the weapon gave power to strikes and cuts, even though the weight of the weapon is usually thought of as a disadvantage. The weight at the end of the shaft (
ishizuki
), and the shaft itself (
ebu
) can be used offensively and defensively.
The martial art of wielding the
naginata
is known as
naginatajutsu
. Most
naginata
practice today is in a modernised form, a
gendai bud?
called
atarashii Naginata
("new Naginata"
[3]
), which is organized into regional, national, and international federations, who hold competitions and award ranks. Use of the
naginata
is also taught within the
Bujinkan
and in some
kory?
schools such as
Suio Ryu
and
Tend?-ry?
.
Naginata
practitioners wear an
uwagi
,
obi
, and
hakama
, similar to that worn by
kendo
practitioners, although the
uwagi
is generally white. For sparring, armor known as
b?gu
is worn.
B?gu
for
naginatajutsu
adds shin guards
(
脛?
,
sune-ate
)
and the gloves
(
小手
,
kote
)
have a singulated index finger, unlike the mitten-style gloves used for
kendo
.
Gallery
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani (2008).
The Development of Controversies: From the Early Modern Period to Online Discussion Forums, Volume 91 of Linguistic Insights. Studies in Language and Communication
. Peter Lang. p. 150.
ISBN
978-3-03911-711-6
.
- ^
Evans Lansing Smith, Nathan Robert Brown (2008).
The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology, Complete Idiot's Guides
. Penguin. p. 144.
ISBN
978-1-59257-764-4
.
- ^
a
b
c
Thomas A. Green, Joseph R. Svinth (2010).
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation
. ABC-CLIO. p. 158.
ISBN
9781598842449
.
- ^
Encyclopedia technical, historical, biographical and cultural martial arts of the Far East
, Authors Gabrielle Habersetzer , Roland Habersetzer, Publisher Amphora Publishing, 2004
,
ISBN
2-85180-660-2
,
ISBN
978-2-85180-660-4
P.494
- ^
Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior
, Author Clive Sinclaire, Publisher Globe Pequot, 2004
,
ISBN
1-59228-720-4
,
ISBN
978-1-59228-720-8
P.139
- ^
Draeger, David E. (1981).
Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts
. Kodansha International. p. 208.
ISBN
978-0-87011-436-6
.
- ^
Ratti, Oscar; Adele Westbrook (1999).
Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan
. Castle Books. p.
241
.
ISBN
978-0-7858-1073-5
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Basic knowledge of naginata and nagamaki.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum, Touken World
- ^
a
b
c
Kazuhiko Inada (2020),
Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords
. p.35.
ISBN
978-4651200408
- ^
a
b
c
Friday, Karl F.
(2004).
Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan
. Routledge. p.
86
.
ISBN
978-0-203-39216-4
.
- ^
Ratti, Oscar; Adele Westbrook (1991).
Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan
.
Tuttle Publishing
. p. 484.
ISBN
978-0-8048-1684-7
.
- ^
"?yamazumi Shrine"
. Nagoya Token Museum Nagoya Token World.
- ^
Friday (2004), page 8 f**k 7
- ^
Adolphson, Mikael S. (2007).
The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha: Monastic Warriors and S?hei in Japanese History
. University of Hawai'i Press. pp.
130
?133.
ISBN
978-0-8248-3123-3
.
- ^
Adolphson (2007), pp. 137, 140
- ^
Arms for battle - spears, swords, bows.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum, Touken World
- ^
Kazuhiko Inada (2020),
Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords
. p42.
ISBN
978-4651200408
- ^
?史人
September 2020. pp.40-41.
ASIN
B08DGRWN98
- ^
a
b
長?とは
(in Japanese). The Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Nagoya Touken World. Archived from
the original
on 18 January 2022
. Retrieved
10 June
2023
.
- ^
?刀の魅力とは?現代にも受け?がれる長柄武器について解?します
(in Japanese). The Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Nagoya Touken World. 22 July 2022. Archived from
the original
on 27 March 2023
. Retrieved
10 June
2023
.
- ^
Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation
, Thomas A. Green, Joseph R. Svinth, ABC-CLIO, 2010 P.161
- ^
Katz 2009
Sources
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Naginata
.
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