A is a specialized
weapon
A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, ...
that was used by police in
Edo period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characte ...
Japan (1603 – 1868).
History
In feudal Japan, it was a crime punishable by death to bring a sword into the ''
shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamak ...
''s palace. This law applied to almost everyone, including the palace guards. Due to this prohibition, several kinds of non-bladed weapons were carried by palace guards. The jitte proved particularly effective and evolved to become the symbol of a palace guard's exalted position.
In Edo-period Japan, the jitte was a substitute for a badge, and it represented someone on official business. It was carried by all levels of police officers, including high-ranking samurai police officials and low-rank
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...
law enforcement
Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules
Rule or ruling may refer to:
Education ...
officers (called ''okappiki'' or ''doshin''). Other high-ranking samurai officials carried a jitte as a badge of office, including hotel, rice and grain inspectors (''aratame''). The jitte is the subject of the
Japanese martial art
Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts.
The usage ...
of ''
jittejutsu
is the Japanese martial art of using the Japanese weapon '' jitte'' (also known as ''jutte'' in English-language sources). Jittejutsu was evolved mainly for the law enforcement officers of the Edo period to enable non-lethal disarmament and ap ...
''.
[Serge Mol]
''Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts''
Kodansha International, 2003
Description and technique
Jitte may have a small pointed tip or blade attached to the handle (''tsuka'') and hidden in the shaft (''boshin''). Jitte could be highly decorated with all manner of inlays and designs or very plain and basic depending on the status of the owner and the jitte's intended use. Jitte could range in length from around 12 to over 24 in ().
The modern jitte is about long with no cutting edge and a one-pronged tine (''kagi'') about long starting just above the hilt and pointing toward the tip (''sentan''). A popular misconception is that the ''kagi'' is used to catch a sword. It could possibly be used for this purpose, but the hook's proximity to the hand would make it rather dangerous; a more likely use for the hook would be to capture and arrest the blade after blocking it with the ''boshin''.
[Serge Mol]
''Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts''
Kodansha International, 2003; p.80 The ''kagi''s more common use is to hook into clothing or parts of the body like the nose or mouth, or to push into joints or other weak points on the body. It also could be used to hook the thumb while holding the weapon backwards, to allow different techniques such as punches and blocks, very similarly to a
sai. The jitte can also be used in much the same manner as other short sticks or batons, to strike large muscle groups and aid in
joint manipulation
Joint manipulation is a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at one or more 'target' synovial joints with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect.
Practice of manipulation
A modern re-emphasis on manipulative ther ...
.
Parts of the jitte
[Cunningham, p.66]
*''
Boshin'', the main shaft of the ''jitte'' which could be smooth or multi-sided. The ''boshin'' of most ''jitte'' were usually iron, but some were made from wood.
[Thomas Louis, Tommy Ito]
Samurai: ''The Code of the Warrior''
Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2008; p.129
*''
Sentan'', the tip or point of the ''jitte''.
*''
Kagi'', the hook or guard protruding from the side of the ''jitte''. ''Jitte'' may have more than one ''kagi'', with some ''jitte'' having two or three ''kagi''.
*''Kikuza'' ("chrysanthemum seat"): if the ''kagi'' is attached to the ''boshin'' through a hole in the ''boshin'', the protrusion on the opposite side is called a ''kikuza''.
*''
Tsuka'', the handle of the ''jitte'', which could be wrapped or covered with various materials, or left plain.
*''
Tsukamaki'', the wrapping on the handle (''tsuka''). Materials such as ray skin (''
same''), leather, and cord were used.
*''
Kan'', the ring or loop at the pommel of the ''tsuka''. A cord or tassel could be tied to the ''kan''. Also note its 'skull cracker' design.
* ''
Tsuba
Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings ('' tosogu'') that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. ''katana'') used when the ...
'', a hand guard present on some types of ''jitte''.
* ''
Koshirae
Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings ('' tosogu'') that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. ''katana'') used when the ...
''. ''Jitte'' can occasionally be found housed in a sword-type case hiding the ''jitte'' from view entirely. This type of ''jitte'' can have the same parts and fittings as a sword, including ''seppa'', ''tsuba'', ''menuki'', ''koiguchi'', ''kojiri'', ''nakago'', ''mekugi-ana'' and ''mei''.
Other jitte types and similar weapons
*''Karakuri jitte''
[Serge Mol]
''Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts''
Kodansha International, 2003; p.221
*''Marohoshi''
*''Naeshi'' or ''nayashi'' ''jitte'' have no hook or ''kagi''.
*''
Tekkan
The , also known as ''tetsu-ken'' or , is a Japanese weapon that was used during the Edo period until the beginning of the 20th century. It was an iron truncheon; it could closely resemble a wakizashi-sized sword with a blunt iron blade, or it c ...
''
*''
Hachiwara
The , also known as ''hachiwari'', was a type of knife-shaped weapon, resembling a ''jitte'' in many respects. This weapon was carried as a side-arm by the '' samurai'' class of feudal Japan.
Types
''Kabutowari'' were usually around 35cm long; s ...
''
Gallery
File:Jutte sentan (tip or point).jpg, The ''sentan' (tip or point) of a jitte with a hexagon ''boshin'' (shaft)
File:Jutte tsuka and tsukamaki 2.jpg, The ''tsuka'' (handle) showing the ray skin ''(same')'' tsukamaki (handle wrap)
File:Jutte kan 2.jpg, The ''kan'' (end loop)
File:Jutte kagi close up.JPG, The ''kagi'' (hook)
File:Naesshi or nayashi jutte 1.jpg, Naesshi or nayashi jitte, a hookless ''jitte''
File:Antique Japanese (samurai) jutte with a wooden boshin.JPG, A ''jutte'' with a wooden shaft
File:Antique Japanese (samurai) jutte with a hexagon boshin.JPG, An antique jitte with a hexagon ''boshin'' (shaft)
Image:2 sai jutte.JPG, A matched pair of iron ''jutte'' and two ''kagi'' (hooks), similar to a sai, copper covered ''tsuka'' (handle) and iron ''kan'' (end loop) with tassel
Karakuri_jitte.jpg, Karakuri jitte
References
External links
Samurai Weapons, Samurai Armors and the Samurai way of life.* [http://seishinninpodojo.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/roles-and-techniques-of-the-police-during-the-edo-period-1603-1867-by-dr-kacem-zoughari// ROLES AND TECHNIQUES OF THE POLICE DURING THE EDO PERIOD (1603–1867)’ by Dr. Kacem Zoughari]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jitte
Clubs and truncheons of Japan
Samurai clubs and truncheons
Samurai police weapons