Kunai Rural LLG

A is a Japanese tool thought to be originally derived from the masonry trowel. The two widely recognized variations of the kunai are short kunai (小苦無 shō-''kunai'') and the big ''kunai'' (大苦無 ''dai-kunai''). Although a basic tool, in the hands of a martial arts expert, the ''kunai'' could be used as a multi-functional weapon. The ''kunai'' is commonly associated with the ninja, who used it to gouge holes in walls.

Design

A ''Kunai'' normally had a leaf-shaped wrought blade in lengths ranging from 20 cm to 30 cm and a handle with a ring on the pommel for attaching a rope. The attached rope allowed the ''kunais handle to be wrapped to function as a grip, or to be strapped to a stick as a makeshift spear; to be tied to the body for concealment; to be used as an anchor or piton, and sometimes to be used as the Chinese rope dart. Contrary to popular belief, ''kunai'' were not designed to be used primarily as throwing weapons. Instead, ''kunai'' were primarily tools and, when used as weapons, were stabbing and thrusting implements.

Varieties of ''kunai'' include short, long, narrow-bladed, saw-toothed, and wide-bladed. In some cases, the ''kunai'' and the ''Nishikori'', a wide-bladed saw with a dagger-type handle, are difficult to distinguish.

Uses

The ''kunai'' was originally used by peasants as a multi-purpose gardening tool and by workers of stone and masonry. The blade is made of soft iron and is left unsharpened because the edges are used to smash relatively soft materials such as plaster and wood, for digging holes, and for prying. Normally, only the tip is sharpened.

Weapon

Many ninja weapons were adapted from farming tools, not unlike those used by Shaolin monks in China. Since ''kunai'' were cheaply produced farming tools of proper size and weight and could be easily sharpened, they were readily available to be converted into simple weapons. As a weapon, the ''kunai'' is larger and heavier than a shuriken and with the grip could also be used in hand-to-hand combat more readily than a shuriken.

As with ninjutsu, the exaggeration persistent in ninja myths played a large role in creating the popular culture image of ''kunai''. In fictional depictions of ninjas, the ''kunai'' is commonly portrayed as a steel knife that is used for stabbing or particularly throwing, sometimes confusing it with the shuriken.

Masonry

The ''kunai'' was used in masonry to shape stonework.

See also

* Dart (missile)
* Entrenching tool
* Flechette
* Hori hori
* Shuriken
* Tantō
* Tent peg
* Throwing knife
* Trowel

References

Sources

Further reading

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{{Knives

Gardening tools
Japanese martial arts terminology
Ninjutsu artefacts
Mechanical hand tools
Throwing weapons
Weapons of Japan