The ''naginata'' (, ) is a

pole weapon A polearm or pole weapon is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range and striking power. Polearms are predominantly ...

and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (''

nihontō A is one of several types of traditionally made swords from Japan. Bronze swords were made as early as the Yayoi period (1000 BC – 300 AD), though most people generally refer to the curved blades made from the Heian period (794 – 1185) to t ...

''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the

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 ...

class of feudal Japan, as well as by

ashigaru were infantry employed by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The first known reference to ''ashigaru'' was in the 14th century, but it was during the Ashikaga shogunate (Muromachi period) that the use of ''ashigaru'' became prevalent by various ...

(foot soldiers) and

sōhei were Buddhist warrior monks of both classical and feudal Japan. At certain points in history, they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate. The prominence of the ''sōhei'' rose in parallel wi ...

(warrior monks). The naginata is the iconic weapon of the

onna-musha ''Onna-musha'' (女武者) is a term referring to female warriors in pre-modern Japan. These women fought in battle alongside samurai men. They were members of the ''bushi'' (warrior) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons ...

, a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese nobility. Naginata for fighting men and warrior monks were ''ō-naginata'' (大薙刀). The kind used by women were called ''ko-naginata'' (小薙刀).

Description

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 or the European

glaive A glaive (or glave) is a European polearm, consisting of a single-edged blade on the end of a pole. It is similar to the Japanese naginata, the Chinese guandao, the Korean woldo, and the Russian sovnya. Overview Typically, the blade is arou ...

. Similar to the katana, naginata often have a round handguard (''

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 ...

'') between the blade and shaft, when mounted in a

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 ...

(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 sword A is one of several types of traditionally made swords from Japan. Bronze swords were made as early as the Yayoi period (1000 BC – 300 AD), though most people generally refer to the curved blades made from the Heian period (794 – 1185) to ...

s. 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.

History

A Fighting Monk, Military Costumes in Old Japan

It is assumed that the ''naginata'' was developed from an earlier weapon type of the later 1st millennium AD, the ''

hoko yari ''Hoko yari'' is an ancient form of Japanese spear or ''yari'' said to be based on a Chinese spear. The hoko yari came into use sometime between the Yayoi period and the Heian period, possibly during the Nara period The of the history of ...

''. Another assumption is that the ''naginata'' was developed by lengthening the hilt of the ''

tachi A is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and ''katana'' generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when sheathed, the latter depending on t ...

'' at the end of the Heian period, and it is not certain which theory is correct.Basic knowledge of naginata and nagamaki.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum, Touken World It is generally believed that ''naginata'' first appeared in the

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...

(794–1185). The term ''naginata'' first appeared in historical documents in the Heian period. The earliest clear references to ''naginata'' date from 1146. In ''

Honchō Seiki is a historical text that categorizes and chronologizes the events listed in the ''Six National Histories is a general term for Japan's Six National Histories chronicling the mythology and history of Japan from the earliest times to 887. The si ...

'' compiled from 1150 to 1159 in the late Heian period, it is recorded that Minamoto no Tsunemitsu mentioned that his weapon was a ''naginata''.Kazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p.35. In the early Heian period, battles were mainly fought using ''

yumi is the Japanese term for a bow. As used in English, refers more specifically to traditional Japanese asymmetrical bows, and includes the longer and the shorter used in the practice of and , or Japanese archery. The was an important wea ...

'' (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. During the

Genpei War The was a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo, who appointed himself ...

(1180–1185), in which the

Taira clan The Taira was one of the four most important clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian, Kamakura and Muromachi Periods of Japanese history – the others being the Fujiwara, the Tachibana, and the Minamoto. The clan is divided ...

was pitted against the

Minamoto clan was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were excluded from the line of succession and demoted into the ranks of the nobility from 1192 to 1333. The practice was most prevalent during the ...

, the ''naginata'' rose to a position of particularly high esteem, being regarded as an extremely effective weapon by warriors. ''

The Tale of the Heike is an epic poetry, epic account compiled prior to 1330 of the struggle between the Taira clan and Minamoto clan for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War (1180–1185). Heike () refers to the Taira (), ''hei'' being ...

'', which records the Genpei War, there are descriptions such as ''ō naginata'' (lit,. big ''naginata'') and ''ko naginata'' (lit,. little ''naginata''), which show that ''naginata'' of various lengths were used. The ''naginata'' proved excellent at dismounting cavalry and disabling riders. The widespread adoption of the ''naginata'' as a battlefield weapon forced the introduction of

greave A greave (from the Old French ''greve'' "shin, shin armour") or jambeau is a piece of armour that protects the leg. Description The primary purpose of greaves is to protect the tibia from attack. The tibia, or shinbone, is very close to the ski ...

s as a part of

Japanese armor Scholars agree that Japanese armour first appeared in the 4th century, with the discovery of the cuirass and basic helmets in graves. During the ''Heian period'' (794-1185), the unique Japanese samurai armour '' ō-yoroi'' and ''dō-maru'' appe ...

. Ōyamazumi Shrine houses two ''naginata'' that are said to have been dedicated by

Tomoe Gozen Tomoe Gozen (, ) was an onna-musha from the late Heian period of Japanese history. She served Minamoto no Yoshinaka during the Genpei War and was a part of the conflict that led to the first shogunate. Her family had strong affiliations with Yos ...

and

Benkei , popularly known as simply Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk ('' sōhei'') who lived in the latter years of the Heian Period (794–1185) .html" ;"title="/sup>">/sup>. Benkei led a varied life, first becoming a monk, then a mountain ascetic ...

at the end of the Heian period and they are designated as Important Cultural Property. However, according to

Karl Friday Karl F. Friday (born 1957) is an American Japanologist. Friday earned a bachelor's degree in Japanese at the University of Kansas in 1979, followed by a master's degree in East Asian languages and culture from the same institution in 1983. He th ...

, 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. 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'' (抜く), commonly associated with swords, rather than ''hazusu'' (外す), the verb otherwise used in medieval texts for unsheathing ''naginata''. Some 11th and 12th century mentions of ''hoko'' may actually have been referring to ''naginata''. The commonly assumed association of the ''naginata'' and the ''

'' is also unclear. Artwork from the late-13th and 14th centuries depict the ''sōhei'' 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. Depictions of ''naginata''-armed ''sōhei'' in earlier periods were created centuries after the fact, and are likely using the ''naginata'' as a symbol to distinguish the ''sōhei'' from other warriors, rather than giving an accurate portrayal of the events. From the

Onin War Onin may refer to: * Ōnin, a Japanese era ** Ōnin War * Onin peninsula, on the Bomberai Peninsula of Indonesian Papua * Onin language Onin is a minor Austronesian language of the Onin Peninsula Onin may refer to: * Ōnin, a Japanese era ** � ...

in 15th century in the

Muromachi period The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...

, large-scale group battles started in which mobilized (foot troops) fought on foot and in close quarters, and (spear), (longbow) and (Japanese matchlock) became the main weapons. This made and obsolete on the battlefield, and they were often replaced with and short, lightweight .Arms for battle - spears, swords, bows.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum, Touken WorldKazuhiko Inada (2020), ''Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords''. p42. ''歴史人'' September 2020. pp.40-41. In the peaceful

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 characteriz ...

, 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". 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. 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 is the Japanese martial art of wielding the . The naginata is a weapon resembling the medieval European glaive and the Chinese guan dao. Most naginatajutsu practiced today is in a modernized form, a ''gendai budō'', in which competitions al ...

'' 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. In the US, there are an estimated 201 practitioners.

Contemporary construction

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 and 225 cm in length and must weigh over 650 grams.''Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation'', Thomas A. Green, Joseph R. Svinth, ABC-CLIO, 2010 P.161
/ref> 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 ''koryū'' practitioners has an oak shaft and blade, carved from a single piece of wood, and may incorporate a disc-shaped guard (''

''). It is called a ''kihon-yo''.

Contemporary usage

''Naginata'' can be used to batter, stab, or hook an opponent,Katz 2009 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 ''

''. Most ''naginata'' practice today is in a modernised form, a ''

gendai budō , or Draeger, Donn F. (1974) Modern Bujutsu & Budo - The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan. New York/Tokyo: Weatherhill. Page 57. are both terms referring to modern Japanese martial arts, which were established after the Meiji Restoration (1866–1 ...

'' called ''atarashii Naginata'' ("new Naginata"), 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 The is an international martial arts organization based in Japan and headed by Masaaki Hatsumi. The combat system taught by this organization comprises nine separate ryūha, or schools, which are collectively referred to as ''Bujinkan Budō Ta ...

'' and in some '' koryū'' schools such as Suio Ryu and

Tendō-ryū , also known as , is a koryū (school of traditional Japanese martial arts) founded in 1582 by Saito Hangan Denkibo Katsuhide. The current headmaster (as of 2020) is the 17th sōke Kimura Yasuko. Although Denkibo was already an incredibly tale ...

. ''Naginata'' practitioners wear an ''

uwagi Outside of Japan, an ''uwagi'' (上着/上衣) means a kimono-like jacket worn in Japan. It is believed as most familiar as the top half of a martial arts uniform. The third element, the obi, ties the uwagi closed. In some martial arts, the s ...

'', ''obi'', and ''

hakama are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Originally stemming from (), the trousers worn by members of the Chinese imperial court in the Sui and Tang dynasties, this style was adopted by the Japanese in the form of in the 6th centu ...

'', similar to that worn by ''

kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and has spread ...

'' practitioners, although the ''uwagi'' is generally white. For sparring, armor known as ''

bōgu , properly called , is training armour used primarily in the Japanese martial art of kendo,Uchida, M. (2005)Kendo Bogu (Protective Equipment)(October 2005). Retrieved on 12 May 2010.

'' is worn. ''Bōgu'' for ''naginatajutsu'' adds shin guards (''sune-ate''; 脛当) and the gloves (''kōte''; 小手) have a singulated index finger, unlike the mitten-style gloves used for ''kendo''.

Gallery

File:Antique_Japanese_naginata_blade.jpg, Antique naginata blade,

Tokyo National Museum The or TNM is an art museum in Ueno Park in the Taitō ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the four museums operated by the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage ( :ja:国立文化財機構), is considered the oldest national museum in Japan, ...

File:Naginata(2).JPG, A ''naginata'' made in the

Kamakura period The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle bet ...

. File:Naginata1.JPG, Two Naginata File:Antique Japanese naginata 1.jpg, naginata blade and a saya File:Antique Japanese (samurai) naginata blade 5.jpg, File:Naginata blade.jpg, File:Antique Japanese (samurai) naginata.JPG, File:Antique Japanese (samurai) naginata.jpg, File:Antique Japanese (samurai) naginata 4.jpg, File:Tomoe-Gozen.jpg, The

on horseback with a naginata. File:Minamoto no Ushiwakamaru Battling with the Brigand Kumasaka Chohan LACMA M.84.31.95.jpg, A samurai uses a naginata,

Yoshitoshi Tsukioka Yoshitoshi ( ja, 月岡芳年; also named Taiso Yoshitoshi ; 30 April 1839 – 9 June 1892) was a Japanese printmaker.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric. (2005)"Tsukoka Kōgyō"in ''Japan Encyclopedia,'' p. 10 ...

File:Samurai wearing kusari katabira (chain armor).jpg, 1870 photograph of samurai and retainers wearing mail armour and holding naginata. File:Takayama-Ukon.jpg, Samurai

Takayama Ukon , born and also known as Dom Justo Takayama (c. 1552 – 3 or 5 February 1615) was a Japanese Catholic Kirishitan daimyō and samurai who lived during the Sengoku period that witnessed anti-Catholic sentiment. Takayama had been baptized i ...

with a naginata. Woodcut Utagawa Yoshiyuku (1867) File:Yoshitoshi - Ronin lunging forward cph.3g08656.jpg, A ronin with a katana and naginata. File:Dog - Hata Rokurozaemon with his dog.jpg, Depiction of samurai Hata Rokurozaemon carrying a ''naginata''.

Citations

General and cited references

* Clive Sinclair: ''Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior''. Lyons Press, 2004, , p. 110. *

George Cameron Stone George Cameron Stone (August 6, 1859 – November 18, 1935) was a well-known American arms collector and author as well as an American mining engineer and metallurgist. He authored a glossary of the antique weapons of the world that remai ...

, Donald J. LaRocca: ''A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times''. Publisher: Courier Dover Publications, 1999, (Reprint), p. 463f.

External links

International Naginata Federation

��Southern California Naginata Federation

at Koryu.com {{Authority control * Blade weapons Japanese sword types Polearms of Japan Polearms Samurai polearms Sport in Japan