Ninjatō
Ninjatō |
A straight-blade ninjatō |
Type |
Sword |
Place of origin |
Japan |
Specifications |
Weight |
0.42 kilograms (0.93 lb)[1] |
Length |
48 centimetres (19 in)[1] |
The Ninjato (忍者刀, ninjatō?), also known as ninjaken (忍者剣?) or shinobigatana (忍刀?)[2], is the most common name for the sword that the ninja are portrayed to have carried in movies, on television, and in numerous books written by modern ninjutsu practitioners including Masaaki Hatsumi[3], Stephen K. Hayes[4], and Ashida Kim[5]. Replicas of this weapon 'legendarily used by ninjas'[6] are prominently on display in both the Koka Ninja Village Museum[7] in Koka city, Shiga prefecture, Japan and the Iga-ryū Ninja Museum[8] in Iga city, Mie prefecture, Japan.[9] Historically, there is no physical evidence for the existence of the ninjato, though it is believed that they are based on the design of the Wakizashi or Chokutō type swords.[1]
Appearance
The ninjato is typically depicted as being a short sword, often portrayed as having a straight blade (similar to that of a Shikomizue or Joto) with a square guard.[1] Usually of a length "less than 60 cm", the rest of the sword is comparatively "thick, heavy and straight". The sheaths of the swords were often designed to allow them to be used "as a respiration pipe in underwater activities or for secretly overhearing conversations."[10]
History
The ninjatō, when used in film, was commonly utilized as a substitute for a katana, having been used by actors as a "nearly identical" stage combat style.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d Dorling Kindersley. Knives and Swords. Penguin Books. p. 281. http://books.google.com/books?id=2YyzvbDjrEsC&pg=PA281&dq=%22Ninjato%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xeTzTuSwDomLiALK89mvDg&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Ninjato%22&f=false. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Lewis, Peter (1988). Art of the Ninja. Gallery Books. p. 53,122. http://books.google.ca/books?id=6xyB1eS_EdQC&q=%22art+of+the+ninja%22&dq=%22art+of+the+ninja%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MRL5TpuiC-b10gGihdSiAg&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAA. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- ^ Hatsumi, Masaaki (1981). Ninjutsu: History and Tradition. Unique Publications. p. 13,93,102-103. ISBN 0-086568-027-2. http://books.google.ca/books?ei=t9X5TvrzBMLm0QHbs5iDAg&id=9gOqwzsX0uYC&dq=ninjutsu+history+and+tradition&q=straight+single. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
- ^ The ninja and their secret fighting art, Stephen K. Hayes, p.89
- ^ Kim, Ashida (1981). Secrets of the Ninja. Citadel Press. pp. 59-60. http://books.google.com/books?id=luDcP8E5SFoC&pg=PA59&dq=%22ninja-to%22+sword&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gO7zTsr9HoWMiAKj26GZDQ&ved=0CGYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22ninja-to%22%20sword&f=false. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Boughn, Jenn Zuko (2006). Stage combat: fisticuffs, stunts, and swordplay for theater and film. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 192. http://books.google.ca/books?id=1p75iBtJD24C&pg=PA156&dq=%22Ninjato%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xeTzTuSwDomLiALK89mvDg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Ninjato&f=false. Retrieved January 02, 2012.
- ^ "Tour of Koka Ninja Museum". http://cjj2004.tripod.com/tour_of_koka/index.album/koka-ninja-museum?i=11. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
- ^ "Tour of Iga Ninja Museum". http://cjj2004.tripod.com/tour_of_iga_ueno/index.album/iga-ninja-museum?i=14. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
- ^ JapaneseWarrior.org. "Ninja sword". http://japanesewarrior.org/index.php/ninja-weapons/14-ninja-sword. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
- ^ Virtual Museum of Traditional Japanese Arts. "Shinobi Gatana ("Ninja" swords)". http://web-japan.org/museum/others/ninja/ninja02/tools07.html. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ Boughn, Jenn Zuko (2006). Stage combat: fisticuffs, stunts, and swordplay for theater and film. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 156. http://books.google.com/books?id=1p75iBtJD24C&pg=PA156&dq=%22Ninjato%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xeTzTuSwDomLiALK89mvDg&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22Ninjato%22&f=false. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
External links
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