Additional
History of the Naginata
Beauty of Movement
This classic
form of Budo is practiced the world over by
men, women and children. Its beginnings can
be traced back over 1000 years and its importance
in warfare was immense. Today it is practiced
for more peaceful reasons, which include etiquette,
respect, self-confidence, self-control and
patience to name just some. Read more to find
out the history behind the ancient art…
Naginata
is a Japanese martial art form for men,
women, and children. The Naginata originated
over 1,000 years ago. It was a powerful
weapon against horsemen and foot soldiers
alike. The naginata's length and weight
made it an efficient weapon against the
sword, and its circular execution made it
one of the most graceful and fluid of classical
Japanese combat systems. Naginata today
is an art form that teaches etiquette, respect,
patience, self-confidence, and self-control.
The practice of Naginata nurtures stamina,
beauty and grace of movement, and the building
of character through discipline and concentration.
Moreover, it prepares individuals to deal
with the rigors of life, and in establishing
a moral code based on chivalry and honor.
The naginata is a halberd-like weapon that
was used extensively
in feudal Japan. Described by some as simply
"a sword on the end of
a long pole", the naginata was actually
a sophisticated weapon, which
required considerable skill and stamina
to use effectively in
battle. It consisted of a curved blade,
1 to 2 feet in length,
mounted onto an oak shaft that was usually
5 to 9 feet long. The
actual dimensions of a naginata were primarily
dependent on personal
preferences and battle conditions. Attached
to the butt end of the
shaft was a sharp end-cap, or ishizuki,
which was used to pierce
between the plates of an attacker's armor.
Although the exact origin of the naginata
is not known, three
theories are prominent today. The first
states that the naginata
evolved from a simple farming tool used
for chopping. In the early
part of the third century BC, farmers attached
sharp stones to the
end of long wooden shafts. Later, metal
was used in place of the
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The second theory is that the naginata evolved
directly as a
weapon. The first prototype blades were
most likely made of bronze,
followed later by steel. This theory sets
the development of the
naginata well after the introduction of
metal to Japan from the
Asian continents (after 200 BC).
The third theory is that Chinese halberds
were carried to Japan
during early migrations, sometime around
200 BC. By the Han and Wei
Dynasties (approximately 200 AD) these weapons
closely resembled the
type of naginata eventually used by Japanese
warriors. Some
historians believe that, although the Chinese
may have invented the
weapon, it was later developed, utilized,
and refined by the
Japanese.
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Despite the uncertainty surrounding its origin,
it is a well-known fact that the naginata
was being fully utilized in battle by the
10th century. Cavalry battles had become more
important by this time, and it was difficult
to repel mounted warriors simply by means
of the bow, arrow, and sword. The naginata
proved to be a superb weapon for close-up
fighting; its sweeping arcs of destruction
were used to cut a horse's legs and kill its
rider once the horse fell to the ground. During
the Gempei War (1180), in which the Taira
clan was pitted against the Minamoto, the
naginata rose to a position of particularly
high esteem. Because of its extensive use
at that time, changes were made in the type
of armor worn by warriors. The addition of
"sune-ate", or shin guards, came
into use
directly because of injuries inflicted by
naginata-bearing warriors.
The naginata was also used extensively by
women warriors. It is a
common misconception that women of that era
were submissive and
subdued. In reality, they were highly trained
warriors who were well
versed in the use of the naginata as well
as many hand-to-hand fighting techniques.
One of the most famous women warriors was
Itagaki. Famous for her naginata skills, Itagaki
was in charge of a garrison of 3,000 warriors
at the Torizakayama castle. The Hojo shogunate
dispatched over 10,000 warriors to crush them.
Itagaki led her troops out of the castle directly
into the Hojo warriors, killing a significant
number of them before finally being overpowered.
Off of the battlefield, the naginata was also
used by women as a means of protecting themselves
and their children while the men were away
in battle or working in the fields. Because
of the size and reach of the weapon, a woman
could keep an attacker at a safe distance.
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The introduction
of firearms into Japan in the mid-17th century
significantly altered battlefield strategies,
and the naginata gradually became a weapon
used solely by women for protection in their
homes. Naginata training was also used as
a means of exercise and character development.
During the Edo period, a time of relative
peace in feudal Japan, all Japanese women
were required to master the naginata by age
18. By this time, naginata were usually ornately
decorated, and were considered an essential
part of a woman's dowry.
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Today, the martial art of Naginata is still
practiced extensively in Japan and elsewhere.
Many different "styles" or schools
(ryu) of Naginata are in existence, with Atarashii
Naginata and Jikishin-kage ryu being the most
popular. Other popular styles are Tendo ryu
and Toda Ha Buko ryu. Regardless of the style,
all naginata training has at its core the
goal of developing respect for traditional
etiquette and spiritual training.
Copyright © 1996 Southern California
Naginata Federation.
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