Interesting bashing weapon

[estcrh]

Unlike the Europeans, the Japanese did not seem to make or use a lot of bashing type weapons. I ran into this one recently and it seems to be old but no telling how old. Although the names kanabo and tetsubo may have different meanings they seem to be interchangeable when used to describe these types of weapons now. This one is 4' 9" tall.

[sanjuro]

I always thought that kanabo were wooden clubs with metal studs or spikes and tetsubo were iron clubs. They were a weapon of the warrior monks notably during the Kamakura period.

This is not my specialty by any means, but the two terms would surely not be interchangeable.

[Bazza]

Keith,

 

KANABO means metal rod/stick and TETSUBO means iron rod/stick, so the two terms could be interchangeable - like HINAWAJU, TEPPO and TANEGASHIMA. Tetsu meaning iron I have also seen rendered KUROGANE - black metal.

 

Regards,

BaZZa.

[sanjuro]

Bazza

 

Thanks for that. I stand corrected. I guess with the proliferation of terms particularly for items such as weapons and armour in Japanese, that it depends upon usage and the sometimes confusing nuances of meaning. :D

 

Of course it all pales into insignificance when theres a big ugly warrior monk bashing your skull in with either a kanabo or a tetsubo. :lol:

[Tsugio Kawakami]

Of course it all pales into insignificance when theres a big ugly warrior monk bashing your skull in with either a kanabo or a tetsubo. :lol:

 

"I am crushed under the weight of your incorrect terminology!" :D

 

That certainly is an interesting weapon. I'm surprised to see nothing to aid in grip or weapon retention.

[george trotter]

Speaking of Kanabo...while slightly off-topic, folks might be interested to know that the Kanabo school of Yamato (Nara) were called this (according to legend) because their swords were considered to be "metal bars"...efficient, but without grace!!! I once owned a good blade by Kanabo Masasane 1532 Mas 849 and it was a very good, sharp blade. Despite the sneers, it appears that the quietly sensible warriors in Sengoku battles prized them highly for their effectiveness in battle when fighting dismounted. These were the prototype of the gunto swords of WWII (I mean in dimensions: 2.0 - 2.3 shaku and in purpose: fighting on foot). It is interesting that my Kanabo Masasane was mounted in shin-gunto koshirae for service again in WWII infantry battles...it was a sword that fitted it's purpose 400 years apart in the two major military upheavals of Japan ...not too many sword types and period styles can make that claim of such perfect design.

Just thought I'd mention it...

regards,

george.

[sanjuro]

Tsugio

 

Notice how I carefully avoided calling them 'bashing weapons?' Be they kanabo or tetsubo, perhaps 'Implements of percussive persuasion' would sound so much nicer and more refined dont you think? :D

[Clive Sinclaire]

Gentlemen

I remember seeing a tetsubo many years ago that contained a large blade inside it! I think the whole thing was from the Bakamatsu period and was not of great quality but interesting nonetheless.

Clive Sinclaire

[IanB]

There used to be quite a selection of these weapons in the now-defunct Arashiyama Museum of Kyoto, at least one of which had a blade inside as Clive describes. Even more cunning was a variation that looked like a length of steel scaffold pole on the end of a wooden shaft. Inside the iron tube was a weight attached to the base of the tube inside by a long chain. By swinging the tube and then stopping it suddenly, the weight flew out of the end, hopefully hitting the opponent. Like Clive, I suspect many of these weapons are relatively late and more for show than utility. Don't forget that many depictions of Benkei show him armed with one of these clubs of Herculean proportions, linking those who carried them to the warrior monk tradition. Interestingly, the situation in Europe required the more belligerent clergy use similar weapon. Bishop Odo is shown carrying a mace on the Bayeux Tapestry. It would seem that it was OK for a cleric to smash someone's skull as long as they didn't spill blood. Even more comic was a Chinese mace I once saw that had the character for 'long-life' in high relief on the ball-shaped end. No doubt it would leave that sentiment imprinted on the crushed skull of the victem.

Ian Bottomley

[estcrh]

Tsugio

 

Notice how I carefully avoided calling them 'bashing weapons?' Be they kanabo or tetsubo, perhaps 'Implements of percussive persuasion' would sound so much nicer and more refined dont you think? :D

Keith, after swinging that thing around trying to see how it could be used "bashing weapon" just seemed appropriate. It is not delicate at all, sort of like a sledge hammer, and even though it is surprisingly light, because of its length it seems like its made for a over head strike as swinging from the side puts you off balance. As for the name, I have been told that tetsubo originally meant an all iron club, but after swinging this one around I can not imagine one of any size being all iron, it would have been an unwieldly monster. Since I do not know how long the terms kanabo-tetsubo have been around and in use I cant say what their original meaning was, but now most people who use either term mean some kind of long wood bat or club ( sometimes with iron coverings on one or both ends) with iron spikes or knobs partway down one end. Here are a couple of pictures of smaller ones....one is an all iron bar with knobs on one end so I would call it a tetsubo and not a kanabo.

[Markus]

At kanabô, I always have to think about these guys...

 

 

(original picture is found here: http://www.neoniigata.com/photo/071014)

 

BTW: "tetsubô" and "kanabô" is basically the same. The kanji (鉄棒・金棒) can be read vice versa, afaik.

I think that no explicite differentiation was made in earlier times between what was called "tetsubô" and

what "kanabô".

[estcrh]

Here is a great picture.

[watsonmil]

Dear Eric,

............ ONE GREAT photo, .... thanks for posting . ... Ron Watson

[Baka Gaijin]

Good Morning all,

Clive wrote:

Gentlemen

I remember seeing a tetsubo many years ago that contained a large blade inside it! I think the whole thing was from the Bakamatsu period and was not of great quality but interesting nonetheless.Clive Sinclaire

 

I also recall seeing such a piece in London about 1981/2.

 

It had two prongs (like the top of a goal post) protruding from the Tsukagashira this was described as a Musket rest. The blade was Mu Sori, massive and I suspect untempered. The octagonal wooden club was graduated and studded as I recall.

 

My take on it was that it was produced more for show or export than actual use.

 

The strength and endurance required to use Tetsubo/Kanabo must have been incredible.

 

As an aside take a look at these demos of Tennen Rishin Ryu and Yakumaru Jigen Ryu, styles which saw active use in the Bakumatsu:

 

 

 

Cheers

 

 

Malcolm