naginata - halberd

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naginata 薙刀 / 長刀 / 眉尖刀 Japanese halberd
Hellebarde

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one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (nihonto) in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei (warrior monks).



A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved blade on the end; it is similar to the Chinese guan dao or the European glaive. Naginata often have a sword-like hand guard (tsuba) between the blade and shaft when mounted in a koshirae. The 30 cm to 60 cm long 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 (nagaye or ebu). The blade is removable and is secured by means of a wooden peg (mekugi) that passes through a hole (mekugi-ana) in both the nakago and the nagaye (ebu).

The nagaye (ebu) ranges from 120 cm to 240 cm in length and is oval shaped. The area of the nagaye (ebu) where the naginata nakago 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 nagaye (ebu) had a heavy metal end cap (ishizuki or hirumaki). When not in use the naginata blade would be covered with a wooden sheath (saya).

Naginata can be used to batter, stab or hook an opponent', but due to their relatively balanced center of mass, are often spun and turned to proscribe a large radius of reach. The curved blade makes for an effective tool for cutting due to the increased length of cutting surface.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Women’s Weapons: The Naginata
Barbara Lazar

Between the 12th and approximately the 15th centuries women defended themselves, their families and their homes. They concealed daggers in their sleeves or sashes and delivered their deadly blades with great accuracy. Women also used the naginata, which is a pole having a long, curved sword at the top. For an ambush, women swung naginata in narrowed places, cutting the legs of horses to disable the enemy soldiers.



Sometimes women fought alongside their husbands in battle. And they were expected to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) if dishonored. There is a case of a woman using suicide to protest her husband’s abuse.

Even in modern times, Japanese girls learn the ancient art of naginatajutsu— wielding the naginata.
- source : barbaralazar.com


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. ashigaru 足軽 common foot soldier, "light legs" .

. soohei, sōhei 僧兵 monk-warrior, monk-soldier .


. WKD : naginata hoozuki 長刀ほおずき / 薙刀酸漿 whelk's egg capsules .
Rapana venosa - akanishi アカニシ


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- - - - - H A I K U - - - - -

. Kumasaka Choohan 熊坂長範 Kumasaka Chohan .
a famous robber of the 12th century




by Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳


熊坂が大長刀を秋の風
kumasaka ga oonaginata o aki no kaze

blowing on Kumasaka's
great halberd ...
autumn wind
Tr. David Lanoue



熊坂が大長刀をあられ哉
kumasaka ga oonaginata o arare kana

hailstones
on the great halbeard
of Kumasaka . . .
Tr. Gabi Greve

The cut marker KANA is at the end of line 3.



熊坂が長刀にちる螢哉
kumasaka ga naginata ni chiru hotaru kana

fireflies
scattered by the halberd
of Kumasaka . . .
Tr. Gabi Greve

The cut marker KANA is at the end of line 3.

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The Six Realms ("Paths") of Karma-Bound Existence (rokudoo)
by Issa and Kakuro

4. Fierce, angry Ashura demigods

chiru hana ni tachi naginata mo kazarikeri
-- Kakuro

when blossoms fall
they get out their
swords and halberds

. rokudoo　六道 the six realms .
and the hungry ghosts


. Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 in Edo .


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長刀の影おぼろなり橋の月　
naginata no kage oboro nari hashi no tsuki

the shadow of a halberd
in the haze -
moon on the bridge　

. Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規 .
written in 1898


. WKD : oborozuki 朧月 hazy moon .





Benkei at the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto 京の五条の橋
. Benkei and Ushiwakamaru 牛若丸と弁慶 - 武蔵坊弁慶 .





Benkei with a halberd 長刀弁慶 - ema 絵馬　votive tablet

. Otsu-E 大津絵 paintings from Otsu .


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夕月や長刀鉾の静なる
yuuzuki ya naginataboko no shizuka naru

evening moon -
the halberd float
becomes quiet
Tr. Gabi Greve

Tsunoda Chikurei 角田竹冷




Gion Festival in Kyoto
. naginata boko 長刀鉾（なぎなたぼこ）halberd float .



長刀のもつとも揺れて鉾廻る
naginata o mottomo yurete hoko mawaru

the halberds
shake most when the float
is turned round

Inamatsu Kinkoo 稲松錦江 Inamatsu Kinko


turning around a festival float during the Gion festival

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