Kusari-fundo

Antique Japanese kusari fundo/manriki.

Kusari-fundo (鎖分銅) is a hand held weapon used in feudal Japan, consisting of a length of chain (kusari) with a weight (fundo) attached to each end of the chain. Various sizes and shapes of chain and weight were used as there was no set rule on the construction of these weapons. Other popular names are manrikigusari (萬力鏈) ("ten thousand power chain")^[1] or just manriki.^[2]

Parts of the kusari-fundo

The chain (kusari)

The kusari of a kusari fundo.

Typically the length of the forged chain could vary from around 12 inches (30 cm) up to 48 inches (120 cm). The chain links could have many different shapes including round, elliptical, and egg-shaped. The thickness of the chain also varied. Usually the first link of chain attached to the weight was round and often larger and thicker than the rest of the links of the chain.^[2]

The weight (fundo)

The fundo of a kusari fundo.

The weight attached to each end of the chain could have many different sizes and shapes. The weights were usually exactly matched in size and shape. On some of the related chain and weight weapons the weights could be completely different from each other, with one weight being much longer than the other like a handle on one end, or one weight could be round while the other weight could be rectangular. Weight shapes include round, hexagonal, or rectangular. The weight could be fairly light or quite heavy with the typical weight being from 2 ounces (56 grams) to 4 ounces (112 grams).^[2]

Use

The use of the kusari-fundo was taught in several different schools, or ryū (流), as a hidden or concealed weapon and also as a self-defense weapon. The kusari-fundo was useful when carrying a sword was not allowed or impractical, and samurai police of the Edo period would often use a kusari-fundo as one of their non lethal arresting weapons.^[3]^[2]

History

There are several chain and weight weapons. One type known as a konpi is mentioned in manuscripts as far back as the Nanbokucho period (1336-1392).

Masaki Tarodayu Dannoshin Toshiyoshi (1689-1776), founder of the Masaki ryū, is said to have developed a version of the kusari-fundo^[1] while serving Lord Toda, as a bloodless weapon that could be used to defend the grounds of Edo castle.<^[2]

Gallery

A replica kusari fundo
An antique kusari-fundo. Close-up of the weight fundo.

References

1 2 Ratti, Oscar; Westbrook, Adele. Secrets of the samurai: a survey of the martial arts of feudal Japan, Tuttle Publishing, 1991 p. 317
1 2 3 4 5 Mol, Serge. Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts Kodansha International, 2003 pp. 125-136
↑ Frédéric, Louis. Japan Encyclopedia Harvard University Press, 2005 p. 160, p. 607

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